At Fukuoka Prefectural University, we encourage our students to become active participants in the global community. In pursuit of this objective, and in recognition of Fukuoka's renowned status as "the gateway to Asia," the university has traditionally looked to its Asian neighbours for the establishment of sister-school relationships and the creation of student exchange programmes.
As part of this ongoing commitment to globalization and the creation of a more culturally-aware graduate body, Fukuoka Prefectural University offers a range of exchange programmes for study-abroad students wishing to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in Japanese language and culture. These programmes are held in conjunction with the universities listed below and are complemented by additional collaborative activities such as the exchange of academic personnel and the hosting of international symposiums.
Furthermore, an elective study-abroad programme to the United Kingdom was established as an accredited course at Fukuoka Prefectural University in 2011 and has been a constant feature of the curriculum ever since.
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Fukuoka Prefectural University encourages its students to take advantage of its long-term (one-year) study-abroad programmes to universities in China and Korea:
Nanjing Normal University (China, agreement concluded in 1994)
Daegu Haany University (Republic of Korea, agreement concluded in 2006)
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (China, agreement concluded in 2009)
Sahmyook University (Republic of Korea, agreement concluded in 2010)
Uiduk University (Republic of Korea, agreement concluded in 2015)
Zhuhai College of Jilin University (China, agreement concluded in 2016)
Alternatively, Fukuoka Prefectural University students may choose to participate in the following short-term study-abroad programmes to the United Kingdom and Korea.
Each summer, students from Fukuoka Prefectural University visit the historical city of Bath, one of the United Kingdom's most beautiful cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While there, they experience the British way of life by doing a homestay, participating in English language classes at the LANGUAGES UNITED English language school, and exploring other world-famous places of cultural significance such as Stonehenge and Oxford. Our students prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime experience by attending a special orientation course prior to departure. Like the programme itself, this course is accredited and focuses on "survival English," critical thinking, and the many cultural differences between Japan and the UK.
Each year and without exception, every participating student has his or her "Eureka!" moment. It occurs all of a sudden when he or she realizes that the English language is not just a classroom language and that they themselves can speak it with considerable expertise! It's a truly wonderful moment!
The city of Bath is named after the Roman baths that were built in what is now the centre of the city approximately 2,000 years ago. Aside from the baths, the city is also renowned for its abbey (also known as Bath Cathedral) and its eighteenth-century architecture, as exemplified by the Royal Crescent.
Jumping for joy at the Royal Crescent, a Bath landmark!
The English language classes at LANGUAGES UNITED are conversation-based and, in accordance with how languages are taught in the UK (and, indeed, at FPU!), extremely interactive and fun. They always provide our students with a highly beneficial and thoroughly enjoyable cultural and educational experience. The students also learn a lot by interacting with their homestay families and with other Bath citizens in places such as cafeterias and restaurants.
A fun classroom atmosphere!
The students are also able to venture beyond Bath to other world-famous places such as Oxford, Stonehenge, and Lacock. In Oxford, the students are able to soak up the academic atmosphere at Christ Church College and enjoy looking around the same dining room that was used as the Hogwarts dining room in the first Harry Potter movie. Also in Oxford, the impressive Radcliffe Camera, home to many of the world's oldest and most valuable books, makes a perfect photo opportunity!
Feeling the magic in the Hogwarts dining room (Christ Church College)!
The Radcliffe Camera, possibly the world's most beautiful library!
The feeling of being in a time machine and traveling back through British history is never stronger than when the students visit the ancient and mysterious monument of Stonehenge. Built more than 4,500 years ago (even before the Egyptian pyramids), the students can only wonder at how an ancient and primitive people could have managed to move the massive stones and set them in the ground with such precision. A mystery indeed!
Sunshine, shadows, and Stonehenge!
Lacock Abbey lies in the beautifully preserved village of Lacock (which itself has served as a movie location for Harry Potter, Mysterious Beasts, and many other movies and TV dramas besides). The abbey was built roughly 800 years ago and, until about 50 years ago, was one of the few places with an original copy of the Magna Carta. For our students, however, its main appeal lies in its resemblance to Hogwarts! It's also where the world's first photograph was taken (a view from one of Lacock's windows) 140 years ago.
Everyone happy in the beautiful abbey grounds!
A particular honour for our students is meeting the Lord Mayor of Bath in the Mayor's Parlour. The Lord Mayor even answers our students' questions on a range of topics. These include social problems affecting Bath, and how our students might be able to facilitate relations between the UK and Japan. A rare honour and an unforgettable experience!
Meeting the Lord Mayor of Bath
The UK Summer Programme represents a tremendous opportunity to learn about British culture, improve your English language ability, make new friends and, perhaps most importantly, gain a more global perspective. At the end of their course at LANGUAGES UNITED, our students even receive a special certificate of achievement, something they will surely treasure for years to come (and which may come in handy when applying for jobs!).
We plan to run the UK Summer Programme every summer ...... we hope very much that you will consider joining us!
Apart from the UK Programme, Fukuoka Prefectural University students wishing to participate in a short-term study-abroad programme may also visit Korea.
In March, Fukuoka Prefectural University students spend a few days at one of our partner universities in Korea, where they are warmly welcomed by Korean students studying Japanese language and culture. The students introduce themselves in the other group's language and then participate in a range of exchange activities.
Fukuoka Prefectural University students are also treated to guided tours of the surrounding cities and are able to immerse themselves in Korean culture.
On Tuesday 8 April, 2025, a welcoming ceremony was held for the three Korean students who will be studying at Fukuoka Prefectural University for the entirety of the 2025-26 academic year. Two of the students are from Daegu Haany University, with the other student coming from Uiduk University. They join our two long-stay students from Nanking Normal University.
The welcoming ceremony was attended by International Committee members and university staff members, and by the many undergraduate students and local citizens who act as supporters to our students from abroad. President Shibata made a speech and the three Korean students introduced themselves in (excellent) Japanese!
