After several years of research and academic collaboration since 2011 between Professors and students from both Faculties a formal academic agreement was signed in 2012. This was followed by preliminary discussions for a Double Degree Program between our Faculties in 2016 and finally materialize with the signing of the agreement in May 2019. The DD Program has started in October of the same year and it is the combination of the three Master Programs (Bioenvironment, Bioresources and Bioproduction) in the Faculty of Agriculture of YU and the Program of Landscape Sciences in the Faculty of Natural Sciences of LUH. We invite students from all over the world to join this innovative program in Japan and Germany.
Scheme of studies in both Universities
The DD program is a two year program, where students should spend one year (or two semesters) in each country. During this period students should complete 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) in the home and host university respectively. The equivalence of 1 JC (Japanese Credit) is 2 ECTS. If the student does not complete the credits required in 2 semesters, they can prolong their stay in the host university with previous understanding of the university administration.
The official language of the DD program is English. Students at both universities need to have the B2 CEFR certificate to be able to apply. In YU, students are accepted with a TOEIC higher than 700 points.
In LUH you have to pay an annual fee of 600 euros, which is compulsory and it is used for the Regional transportation in Lower Saxony State. In YU there is no school fee to be paid by LUH students.
In Japan you can look for private scholarships once you start the Master program. Japanese students can apply for school fee exemptions (partial or full), depending on the students' family income. In Japan, there are opportunities to find part-time jobs.
You need to follow the same procedures as for applying to a Regular Master Program at each of the universities. In case of YU you choose the DD Program at the application stage, before you start the Program.
In the case of LUH, you have to enter the regular Master Program in Landscape Sciences (in German) and choose once you start (in the second semester).
The total number of credits needed is 120 ECTS. Students are expected to take 60 ECTS in YU and 60 ECTS in LUH. For Students that started in LUH the 30 ECTS assigned to the thesis are recognized by both universities. In the case of students starting in YU, students have to obtain these 30 ECTS through courses.
The approximate cost of living in each city, including rent, food and other basic bills is between 600 to 800 euros.
In YU, there is a dormitory available in the Faculty of Agriculture for 18,000 yen per month. Students can enter in these dormitory in January, April, July and October and the application is a couple of month prior to each of these four months. You can also rent a private room (for one person) for about 30,000 to 40,000 yen. In Japan it is not common to share rooms. In LUH there is a dormitory too, but the probabilities of getting a room are very low and sharing is very common.
A tutor at Yamagata University and a tutor in LUH are available.
In Tsuruoka there are part-time jobs that are announced in the Faculty, where in some cases you do not need to speak Japanese but there are other ones where you can teach English. This part-time jobs are not related to the university and so it is not guaranteed by the university.
In LUH there are formal courses of German language where you can also get credits for them. In Japan this system does not exist in Tsuruoka but there are free courses offered by volunteers but not as intensive as you would expect.
The documents will be slightly different for each university but the most important ones are the bachelor degree certificate, the English certificate and the fees that need to be paid at each university (LUH students do not pay any fee in Japan). Below are the documents needed for students coming to Japan (if possible 4 month before the start of the semester):
1. Bachelor's degree certificate.
2. Certification of Enrollment for Master courses.
3. Recommendation letter from supervisor.
4. English Test Results equivalent to CEFR B2, *TOEIC score of 700-800 or above, etc.
(must be results from within the last 2 years)
5. Letter of Motivation.
6. Application for certificate of eligibility.
7. Copy of your passport.
1. Visa appointment link- book 2 weeks in advance (print and bring the confirmation from German Embassy)
2. Two copies of Web long-term Visa application ( fill- save-print)
3. Written Oath (1 copy).
4. Passport & two copies (only page with personal information)
5. One copy of Japanese residence card and original
6. Two passport photos (3.5x4.5).
7. Two copies of admission for German University and enrollment certificate in YU (English version).
8. Proof of stay costs (10.236 euro; 853 euro per month).
9. Visa fee (75 euro) + letter (520 yen- red one) envelope.
Web long-term application details
1. Family information.
2. German University information.
3. Living in Germany information.
4. Address, Phone number and e-mail address in Japan.
1. Open a blocked bank account ( suggest Fintiba bank).
2. Transfer 10.500 euro (inclued open fee; buffer)- maximum is 3 times transfers. ( open the second bank account in Germany 3. for taking money from this bank).
4. Upload Visa, photo, email address to open the bank account.
5. Upload acceptant letter in LUH to apply for health insurance..
1. Certificate of Eligibility (CoE): original and copy.
2. Passport (original and copy).
3. Non-Germans and non-EU citizens: valid residence permit for Germany.
4. Visa Application form.
5. One passport photo.
6. Fast track confirmation.
1. Certificate of enrollment in LUH.
2. Bachelor transcript.
3. Master transcript (if available)
4. Recommendation letter.
5. Motivation letter.
6. One passport photo.
7. Passport (copy)
1. Go to the city office. Bring the following documents:
Passport, House renting receipt and Certificate of Enrollment in YU.
2. Opening Bank Account (Preferably Shonai Bank)
3. Immigration office (if you want permission for working).
In Japan, students must join the National Insurance System. It is approximately 18 euro per month. in Germany the cost can be around 110 euro per month (Fintiba).
