[Notice] 2026-1 Semester Outbound Exchange Program to Japan

   Dongguk University is now accepting applications for the 2026-1 semester outbound exchange program to its partner universities in Japan. Current students are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this valuable international opportunity.

   The 2026-1 semester outbound exchange program offers opportunities at 23 partner universities. Students can participate for either one semester (6 months) or two semesters (1 year), depending on their academic plans. Undergraduate students applying for the program must have completed at least one semester at their home university and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, including transfer students, while graduate applicants are required to have completed at least one semester with a GPA of 3.5 or above. In addition, all applicants are expected to meet the language proficiency standards and any other eligibility criteria set by their chosen host university. Applicants may apply to up to five preferred partner universities, and selections will be made based on the total evaluation scores, with the highest-scoring candidates chosen for each university.

   The selection schedule for the program was announced on September 12th, 2025, through the university website, with application submissions accepted via nDRIMS and email from September 12th to 2 P.M. on September 22nd. An information session is scheduled for September 17th at 2 P.M. in Hyehwa Hall, Room 315, followed by in-person interviews, assessing personality and foreign language skills, on September 24th. Successful candidates will be notified by email after 5 P.M. on September 29th.

   Students participating in the exchange program must adhere to the specific selection requirements of each partner university (see Attachment 1) and maintain enrollment at their home university throughout the study period abroad, as leaves of absence are not permitted. Even if the overseas semester extends beyond the regular eight semesters (e.g., 9th or 10th semester), full registration at the home university is mandatory, and credit registration abroad is not allowed. Students who complete eight or more semesters, including their time at the partner university, may only graduate one semester after returning, regardless of whether they have fulfilled all other graduation requirements, and transfer students are limited to a single semester (six months) of study abroad.

   The evaluation for the program will be based on the study plan (20%), personality interview (30%), foreign language interview (40%), and academic performance (10%), with additional bonus points awarded for participation in programs such as the International Summer/Winter School, Dongguk Buddy, DISSA, Global Buddy (activities recognized up to the 2nd semester of 2023), and short-term Japanese programs including the Japanese Summer School, Korean Language & Culture Study Program (J), and short-term study tours in Japan organized by the Global Exchange Team at universities such as Sapporo Gakuin University and Seinan Gakuin University.

   Applicants are required to submit a study plan, written in Japanese, although those applying for English-taught programs may submit it in English, along with a completed applicant information form. In addition, a copy of the language proficiency certificate, such as JLPT or TOEFL, must be provided if applicable. Applications must be submitted through nDRIMS by navigating the academic administration menu: [Student Application] → [International Exchange] → [International Exchange Application], following the attached nDRIMS user manual, as using other menus may cause errors. After completing the nDRIMS application, applicants must also email their study plan, applicant information form, and language proficiency certificate to hoonsama@dongguk.edu, naming each file as ‘Name_StudyPlan,’ ‘Name_ApplicantInfo,’ and ‘Name_LanguageCertificate’ (e.g., Kim Dongguk_StudyPlan, Kim Dongguk_ApplicantInfo, Kim Dongguk_LanguageCertificate (JLPT)).

   The study plan should not be entered directly into nDRIMS but prepared in the designated form and submitted via email, indicating ‘submitted separately’ in the nDRIMS study plan section. Language certificates and other attachments should also be emailed rather than uploaded to nDRIMS. While nDRIMS allows applications to a maximum of three preferred universities, students wishing to apply to a fourth or fifth choice should include these in their study plan and applicant information form. Both the nDRIMS application and email submission must be completed within the application period for a valid submission, and in case of errors in nDRIMS, applicants should prioritize email submission and contact the Global Exchange Team for assistance.

   Exchange students will receive a 30% tuition reduction for their home university courses during their overseas semester, provided they meet the scholarship eligibility criteria of completing at least 15 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the semester prior to departure, while students in their seventh semester are required to complete at least 12 credits with a GPA of 3.0. Students studying abroad beyond the regular eight semesters are not eligible for the exchange student scholarship for those additional semesters. International students cannot receive both the home university’s international student scholarship and the exchange student scholarship, and they will also be ineligible for the international student scholarship in the semester immediately following their return.

   Students eligible for the Buddhist College scholarship are excluded from selection for Scholarships A and B in the semester immediately after returning from exchange; however, those who earned at least 15 credits with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the semester before departure may be selected for Scholarship C (for details, contact the Scholarship Office at 02-2260-3044). Additionally, among all exchange student recipients, approximately ten students per semester will be awarded an extra scholarship of 1,000,000 KRW based on income level and submitted academic plans, separate from the tuition reduction, with application details provided to successful applicants.

   For inquiries, applicants can contact the Global Exchange Team on the 9th floor of the New Engineering Building at 02-2260-3463, available on weekdays from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., with a lunch break from 12 P.M. to 1 P.M.