Number of places available: 2 full year places (priority to MLAC students)

• Hitotsubashi University website
• For Exchange Students - Global & International | Hitotsubashi University (hit-u.ac.jp)
• Incoming Exchange Students - Global & International | Hitotsubashi University
• Hitotsubashi University Fact Sheet

Dates

Term Dates

Hitotsubashi University has four terms, with the school year commencing in early April. As Durham students, you will begin your time at Hitotsubashi at the start of their Autumn term and attend through to the following Summer term. Before the classes begin in September, exchange students at Hitotsubashi must attend the international student orientation. 

Examinations may occur during or at the end of the lecture period.

Application Deadlines (once allocated a place by Durham's GO):

• Fall Semester: 25 March 2026
• Spring Semester: 24 September 2026

Academic Information

Course and Program Information: 

Online Syllabus Service: Web syllabus (Catalogue of all courses offered at Hitotsubashi) 

HGP (Hitotsubashi University Global Program)

JLE (Japanese Language Education Program) 

Study Load

In every term, exchange students shall register for courses with a total of at least six (6) 105-minute slots of class time per week. Typically, two-credit courses meet once a week for a 105 minute lecture over a 14 week long for semester courses or meet twice a week for a 105-minute lecture over a 7-week long for quarter courses. 

Workload

In accordance with the Standards for Establishment of Universities, all Japanese universities have the same benchmark for the workload hours. Calculations of workload hours for credit course is: 1 credit = 45 hours of workload; 2 credits = 90 hours of workload.

To apply, Exchange Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Language Requirements

Courses/Seminar Conducted in Japanese: Both graduate and undergraduate courses in Japanese are available. Students must possess minimum language proficiency in Japanese (JLPT Level 2 or N2).

Courses Conducted in English: Both graduate and undergraduate courses in English are available; however, most courses conducted in English are undergraduate-level courses, and only a limited number of graduate-level courses are available in English.

Accommodation

Hitotsubashi University has two residence halls for exchange students; Residence Hall Kunitachi on Kunitachi campus and Residence Hall Ikkyo-Ryo on Kodaira campus. Exchange students are given priority to reside in a single room of either one of the residence halls with a common area to be shared with residents on the same floor. However, not all exchange students are guaranteed a room due to limited availability. Personal preference of which residence hall to be assigned is not considered. 

Student Support

HU have a Student Support Centre including:

• Health Centre incl. Counselling
• Office for Students with Disabilities
• International Student and Study Abroad Advising Office
• Harassment Consultation Office
• Student Support Centre
• Hitotsubashi University Accessibility Map

Scholarships

The following scholarships might be available for exchange students. The application details are not yet determined, and will be informed via email once confirmed.

•  Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho: MEXT): In order to apply for the MEXT Japanese Studies Students Scholarship, applicants must fulfil all of the following eligibility requirements: 1) starts his/her enrolment at HU in September, 2) to be a one academic year exchange student, and 3) holds a high proficiency of Japanese language. (Please
  note that a selected scholar must pass JLPT Level 2 or N2 before entering to HU.)
• Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship (JASSO)

Summer Opportunities

There are currently no Summer School opportunities at Hitotsubaishi, here is a list of other Summer School opportunities (internal link).