Located outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area, JAPAN.

Map of all MIX partner universities in Japan

This program is a great fit for students with no or little Japanese language skills who are interested in teaching and cross-cultural exchange.

• Department of Contemporary English (DCE) - Exchange students may take classes taught in English in Education, Intercultural Communication, and World Childhood Studies.

• Japanese Classes - Japanese language classes are offered through the IC Center for International Understanding.

• Internship - This internship is a terrific opportunity for students in Education, Linguistics, SLS, or related fields. Interns will be supervised by IC staff and assisted by IC students.
  • Assisting teachers and participating in language and culture education during regular classes
  • Tutoring
  • Leading or participating in Chat Hour and other activities
  • Leading or participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, barbecues, and parties
  • Students will be expected to speak English during their intership, but will have opportunities to practice Japanese with their host families and elsewhere.
  • Internship Q & A

More information on Academics at Ibaraki Christian

Fall Semester: late September - early February

Spring Semester: early April - early August

Students may spend either then entire academic year (late Sept to early Aug) on exchange at Ibaraki Christian University, or just the Spring semester.

Internship: Students may participate in an internship during the spring semester, or during the summer (May-early August)

Summer Intership students typically stay with a Japanese homestay family. Students typically commute from their homestay to campus via train.

Students staying for a semester or year may wish to stay with a host family for the first 2 or 3 months, and then rent an apartment for the rest of their stay.

MIX students register as full-time students at UH Manoa and pay regular UHM tuition. They do not pay overseas tuition. 

- Students who normally pay in-state UHM tuition continue to do while on MIX. 
- Students who normally pay out-of-state UHM tuition continue to do so while on MIX.
- Students who normally pay WUE tuition continue to do so while on MIX. 

View UHM tuition & fees online

In addition to UHM tuition, MIX students are responsible for all of their living expenses, including health insurance, books/supplies, room & meals, personal expenses, airfare, local transportation, and any costs associated with obtaining a visa (if applicable). It is recommended that you research online to get an idea of how much these expenses will be.    

Since you are still a registered UHM student while on MIX, you continue to be eligible to receive financial aid and scholarships. If you submit a ‘MIX Student Budget for Financial Aid Purposes’ form, UHM financial aid will take into consideration your overseas living and travel expenses when awarding your grants/loans.  

National Health Insurance Program - International students residing in Japan for one semester or one year may be required to enroll in this program through their host university in Japan. Costs vary by region, but may be approximately $18.00/month. Japanese National Health Insurance may not be required if students purchase adequate health insurance in their home country.

IC Cost Estimates - Monthly train passes are about 10,000 yen/month. Homestays are about 2,000 yen per night, including breakfast and dinner.

Visa Information - The requirements for visas vary depending upon nationality (citizenship), purpose of trip, and length of stay. As a rule, applications must be submitted in person to the Japanese Consulate. The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu has a jurisdiction covering the State of Hawaii and American Samoa. If visa applicants reside outside State of Hawaii or American Samoa, please contact the Japanese Embassy or Consulate that handles visas for your area.

Once you have a valid passport and the other required documents, you will need to visit the Consulate General of Japan at Honolulu and apply for a VISA. The Consulate General of Japan is located at 1742 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817 USA. Tel: 808-543-3111.

If you are studying abroad for a semester or year, please be sure to apply for a “College Student” status VISA. It is a very difficult and sometimes impossible to get your status changed later.

You will need at least the following documents when applying for your College Student status VISA:

1. Visa application form with passport photos attached (download from Consulate General website).

2. Copy of Certificate of Admission to your host university in Japan. (This is a formal letter that will be sent directly to the MIX Office. You will receive an email when it is available for pick-up.)

3. Certificate of Eligibility (Issued about two months before your departure for Japan)

4. Your valid passport

Note: Students doing a summer internship do not need to apply for a visa prior to departure for Japan, as long as their stay in Japan does not exceed 90 days.

Upon Arrival in Japan - When you arrive at the airport in Japan, you will go through an Immigration Inspection. Your passport and Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence will be checked, and your residence status and your formal period of stay will be decided.

Part-time work while studying in Japan - Exchange students who are granted the 'Student' status of residence may be permitted to work part-time (up to 28 hours per week) while in Japan, as long as it does not affect their studies. To apply for permission, please fill out an "Application for Permission to Engage in Activities other than that Permitted under Status of Residence Previously Granted" when you apply for your visa. More information is available at the Immigration Bureau in Japan website.