In addition to lectures and assignments entirely given in English, students at Akita International University face many challenges according to each stage of student life such as living in student residences for a year, getting the required TOEFL® TEST score for study abroad, and studying abroad for a year. It may be hard to face them alone, but their fellow students at AIU share the same goals. You will have many friends, including those you live with in your first year, classmates in EAP, your fellow students you work on assignments with, and students from different countries who study abroad at the same time as you, who will help you overcome various difficulties.
Steps 6 (Basic Education) and 7 (Global Business Program/Global Studies Program) below are subject to change from AY 2021. Please our new curriculum page for details.
STEP1 Entrance examination
Feature 05 - Admissions
You can choose the types of examinations suitable to you from 16 different entrance examinations and try up to 6 times.
STEP2 Admission
The entrance ceremony held in English will be the moment when you feel that you have truly become a student of AIU.
STEP3 1 year at a student dormitory
Feature 03 - Cross Cultural Campus
You will spend time with students from all over the world and Japan learning from each other.
STEP4 TOEFL® placement test
Feature 01 - All Classes are Taught in English
You will take this test to measure academic English skills before lectures begin.
STEP5 English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Feature 01 - All Classes are Taught in English
We train students to think and communicate in English.
STEP6 Basic Education (BE)
Feature 01 - All Classes are Taught in English
Students are working on the development of skills and methods of inquiry necessary to achieve the Five Educational Goals of International Liberal Arts at AIU.
STEP7 Global Business Program (GB)/ Global Studies Program (GS)
STEP8 Compulsory year abroad for all students
Feature 02 - One Year Study Abroad
In our exchange program, you will continue to pay tuition fees to AIU and will be exempt from paying the tuition fee of the overseas university you study at.
STEP9 Job-hunting and preparation for graduate school
Feature 04 - Career Support
We provide personalized support for job-hunting and preparation for graduate school, which is unique for a small university.
STEP10 Career support
Graduating from AIU is more difficult than graduating from other universities in Japan. Graduation feels all the more especially after having a fulfilling student life.