Global E3: Tohoku University

 

Overview: 
Have you always wanted to go to Japan?  Enjoy the Land of the Rising Sun  where ancient traditions are fused with modern life, while studying at Tohoku University!
 

This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Tohoku and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).  For more information about the university, see the Global E3 Tohoku  page and the Tohoku website.

Tohoku offers courses in English for engineering students in their junior year.The  Junior Year Program in English (JYPE), allows students to take science, engineering, and agriculture courses at Tohoku University in English.  

Typically, semesters are: 

    • Fall: early October to early February (Orientation late September)
    • Spring: early April to mid-August (Orientation will be held in early April)

current Academic Calendar for JYPE

 

Learning Objectives: 

 
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Japan.

 

Partner Information: 

 
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Student Exchange Division   |   studyab@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
 

Location Description: 

Tohoku University was established in Sendai in 1907 as Tohoku Imperial University and is the third oldest former Imperial University after Tokyo and Kyoto.  It has a long history of open and progressive policies. It was the first Imperial University to admit women and foreign students, and also pioneered opening the university to the community by offering public lectures. In 1911, Tohoku was the first university in Japan to have foreign students graduates.  and became Japan’s first university to admit female students in 1913. The “Spirit of Open Doors” remains alive at Tohoku today as it welcomes the current student body of 18,019 students including 2,028 international students from 98 countries and areas.

Sendai, a city of more than one million inhabitants, is the largest in the Tohoku Region of Japan.  Located about 350 km northeast of Tokyo, the city can be reached in just two hours via the Shinkansen Super Express, better known as the “Bullet Train.”

An important economic and cultural center in northern Japan, Sendai is home to many universities, government agencies, and corporate branch headquarters.  With Tohoku University at its center, Sendai is regarded by many as an academic city.

Called the “City of Trees,” for its pleasant, tree-lined streets, Sendai is known as one of the most pleasant cities in Japan.  It is bordered by mountains to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east; its northern location ensuring cool summers and moderately cold winters.  Take the time to explore the many historic and scenic sites in Sendai and enjoy its unspoiled natural surroundings!

Housing Description: 

Tohoku will apply for a room at the dormitories, Tohoku University International House and University House Sanjo, on your behalf.
Please see the Global E 3 Tohoku site and the Tohoku housing information site for additional information on housing options.  

Academic Description: 

Tohoku offers courses in English for engineering students in their junior year.The  Junior Year Program in English (JYPE), allows students to take science, engineering, and agriculture courses at Tohoku University in English.  

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  We suggest you review courses available with your academic advisor prior to applying to the program. 
 

Academic Departments: 

Visit the University's website to learn more about specific course offerings on the JYPE program and check the Global E3 Tohoku website for more course information. The following disciplines are available: 

  • Science
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture

Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students 
  • For Tohoku University, students must be in their 3rd or 4th year of study (Junior or Senior) during their term abroad at Tohoku.

 

Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office. 
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   
  • Courses taken at Tohoku will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
  • Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.      

 

 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
University Course Catalog: 
JYPE current course descriptions
Grading: 

For information about the grading scale at Tohoku, please see the website.  

 

Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

 

Experiential Learning Description: 

N/A

Program Fees: 

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 

tems Billed by Pitt
 
 
Tuition: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs:https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Program Fee: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 
Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees
How Much To Budget: 
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
 
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000 
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000 
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000 
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the program's page, as well as our budgeting page for more information. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.  
 

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

 

 
Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at Tohoku for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). Tohoku’s calendar differs from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university.

Application Instructions: 

 You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. (Typically SSoE application deadlines are late September for Spring and early February for Fall.) A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives  is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Tohoku. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to Tohoku's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.) 

Each university might have an additional application.  Please refer to the Global E3 Tohoku website for details.  

Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 

Note: Students applying to start the fall semester should plan to complete the Tohoku application and review the Global E3 website. This unviersity has required an earlier deadline than other Global E3 universities. 
 
Note: Students applying to start the fall semester should plan to complete the Tohoku application, and advisors should submit it directly to Tohoku by 3:00 pm February 20 (Japan Standard Time) - Tohoku's application deadline. Students and advisors should contact Global E3 for the application information.  

Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website. 

 
Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency. Japanese language proficiency is requried to take courses in Japanese.

 

 

Insurance Requirements: 

 

The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program. 

 

Visa Requirements: 

 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.  

In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly) 

 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Japan. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!