Yokohama College of Commerce

 

Overview: 

Founded in 1989, the Yokohama College of Commerce is a private university located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Grounded in an educational philosophy valuing the completion of education in commerce, the Yokohama College of Commerce is dedicated to developing industry-ready recruits. Aside from cultivating new educational grounds for student research, the College has strengthened relationships with many commercial institutions and tourism organizations from an academic and practical standpoint, contributing to the revitalization of the local community. This program is for University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students only.

Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
  • a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Japan.
Location Description: 

Yokohama is centrally located along the Pacific coastline of Japan.  It is one of 15 government-designated cities. Originally a small village of only 600 people, Yokohama is now the second-largest city in Japan, with a population of over 3 million people.  It is famous for its port, which first opened in 1859, and was known by the world as the entrance to Japan.  Since this time, Yokohama has developed into an international city, the birthplace of Japan's modern culture. Although Yokohama is a modern city, historic areas representing various periods of history have been seamlessly incorporated into the city's infrastructure. This respect for traditional Japanese culture is reinforced by the preservation of facilities such as museums, classical music halls, Noh (a traditional masked dance-drama) theaters, and the revitalization of warehouses and other historical buildings.  Visitors to Yokohama can take advantage of these many cultural offerings while enjoying the lovely neighborhoods, gardens, and seascapes in and around the city. 

Housing Description: 

 

 

 

 

Academic Description: 

The Yokohama College of Commerce offers a number of courses in English. The College's Faculty of Commerce is divided into two departments - the Department of Trade & Tourism and the Department of Management & Information - dedicated to helping students develop the skills and abilities necessary for future careers in business.

Grading: 
Like Pitt, this University’s grading scale follows the practice of assigning letter grades, such as A, B, C, D and F.  
 
The grading system is based off the following scale: 
 
YCC North America
S (90-100%) A (4.0)
A (80-89%) B+ (3.5)
B (70-79%) B (3.0)
C+(2.5)
C (60-69%) C (2.0)
F (below 59%) F

For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.

YCC will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are receive. Copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “SAO Staff.”  
 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received. 

 

 

Program Fees: 
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.  
 
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 
 

Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State
Tuition* $9,314 $16,328
Mandatory Fees $545 $545
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt* $10,259 $17,273
 
*The tuition rate listed is defaulted to reflect the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. For Pitt students of another Pitt school or campus, the tuition rate will reflect the home school or campus. See posted rates on the Institutional Research page.
 
How Much To Budget: 

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by YCC and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages.The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters. Personal expenses vary with individual students. 
 
Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

 

Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at YCC for either a full semester (spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). YCC's academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Unlike Pitt, YCC’s academic calendar follows a Spring-Fall progression, meaning Spring is the first semester followed by the Fall semester as the second. Because YCC’s academic calendar varies significantly from Pitt’s, exchanging for only the fall semester is not possible. However, if a single semester at YCC is desired, then the Spring (or second) semester is the only option. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to Kobe. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review YCC regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at YCC. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to Kobe's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:  

  • Application Form 
  • Copy of Valid Passport 
  • Official Pitt Transcript 
  • Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment 
  • Statement of Intent or Purpose 
  • Resume or CV 
  • Official Language Evaluation 
  • Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations 
  • Up to 2 passport photos 

 

Insurance Requirements: 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, Japan requires Pitt students to purchase additional coverage through their national health plan. Students are required to join the National Health Insurance system while in Japan, costing approximately ¥2,000 per month. This insurance allows the bearer to pay only 30% of the incurred medical costs.

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 
 
For those without Japanese nationality, students must obtain a student visa to study in Japan. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review YCC's website.  Also, check the Japanese Embassy or consulate closest to you for additional information. 
 
YCC will provide general direction after formal admission on for how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.   
 
In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)