Hi!

I'm a undergraduate computer science student at University of Bergen, and I'm thinking of having a semester or two at the Hokkaido University. I have two courses left, which has to be either math or informatics, and four courses which I can choose freely (total of 60 credits). Thus, I plan to take these two or three courses in informatics/math the autumn semester, and then just study Japanese language/culture at the spring semester. However, I can’t find any information about what courses Hokkaido University is offering in English, just some programs.

Is there anyone here who have any knowledge of this school and/or it's courses? If not, do you know where I might find some information about it's courses in English.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I found this on their site.

http://www.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/prospective...-semester/

http://www.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/prospective...-semester/

These appear to be the courses they offer in English that you can take on an exchange program there.

EDIT: Also note that classes/school year starts in Spring in Japan so something like Linear Algebra 1 would be in Spring and the second part of the course, Linear Algebra 2, would be in the Fall.

Thank you!

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they offer any courses in computer science for exchange students... :/

Ya it looks that way. Looking at their graduate level international student admission program; Computer Science isn't a program they offer in English so that may be why there are no computer classes in English.

This is all they have at the graduate level as English programs:
-Environmental Engineering
-Field Engineering for Environment
-Human Environmental Systems
-Human Mechanical Systems and Design
-Materials Science and Engineering
-Applied Physics
-Architectural and Structural Design
-Energy and Environmental Systems
-Engineering and Policy for Sustainable Environment
-Mechanical and Space Engineering
-Quantum Science and Engineering
-Sustainable Resources Engineering

It may be worth it to find an email for the international admissions or the exchange program office and email them. I notice there is a doctoral level English program in Mathematics so there may be some classes available that aren't on that list. So you could email them and find out if there are any other classes that might be available when you attend that you can take.

Yeah I have sent them an email, however I need to apply through our university, and the deadline is in 20 minutes...

So based on the information I have at the moment, I should avoid applying for Hokkaido :/

You can't apply and then if you don't think its a good idea, pull your application later?

Yeah I can, however, I have this list of schools which I apply for. And there are other schools as well that seem interesting. So if I get accepted into Hokkaido, I can't choose not to accept it and then apply for another school. So if I were to be confirmed that the do not offer any courses in computer science, and I chose that school as number one, I would be screwed...

vix86 Wrote:You can't apply and then if you don't think its a good idea, pull your application later?

I'd assume Japanese universities would look down on this, decimating your chances of reapplying. A couple of years ago, I was curious about applying to PhD programs in Japan, so I asked the teachers at my language school (in Sendai) for an overview of the application process. When I asked how many programs is it normal to apply to and they all replied with "one", I decided not to apply to PhD programs in Japan.

When applying to a graduate program in Japan, it generally seems like you contact a potential advisor (i.e. a professor whom you'd like to work with) and, if that prof likes you, then you'll be able to enter the graduate program on a conditional basis (研究生). As long as you keep up with everyone else for a year or so, you'll become a 大学院生. At any rate, the point is that you're supposed to be committed to your professor and program (I'd wager this is tied in to the whole 恩師弟子 thing). I don't know if the same conditions apply for visiting students, but I'd be cautious and ask for the opinion of someone who's in the know. Any sort of flakiness looks like it would be met with disapproval (and I think this principle holds for Japanese society in general, too).