About the Program
The Harvard Summer School Kyoto program allows you to spend two months in the heart of Japan’s old capital city. Held on Doshisha University’s Imadegawa Campus, just north of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and led by senior Harvard faculty with deep ties to the city and the region, the program approaches Kyoto as an extension of the classroom laden with opportunities for cultural engagement and experiential learning. In addition to participating in a uniquely crafted curriculum, you will have ample time to explore Kyoto on your own and develop new friendships.
Program Structure
You take two classes during the eight-week program. Field excursions to relevant historical and cultural sites in the Kansai region are complemented by hands-on, experiential learning opportunities intended to deepen intellectual engagement with the course content. You will spend the summer living with a host family in the Kyoto area, offering further avenues to cultivate local connections while being immersed in the rhythm of Japanese daily life.
Both courses count as two semester-long courses (4 credits each) of degree credit.
Noncredit Japanese language instruction with Doshisha staff is provided for students with little or no previous exposure to the Japanese language.
HARC S-184 Study Abroad in Kyoto, Japan: Japanese Architecture
Yukio Lippit, PhD, Jeffrey T. Chambers and Andrea Okamura Professor of History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University
4 credits
UN, GR Limited enrollment.
This course offers an introduction to the diverse architectural traditions of the Japanese archipelago from the prehistoric era through the twentieth century. Various building types—including the Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, castle, teahouse, palace and farmhouse—will be studied through representative surviving examples. Issues to be explored include the history of architectural style and building types; wood architecture and Japan’s forests; the relationship of buildings to political history, religious ritual, and cultural practice; the basic principles of timber-frame engineering; the artisanal culture of master carpenters; the on-site, archaeological, and scientific study of architecture; the history of Japanese cities; the relationship of Japanese architecture to East Asian and Western architectural traditions; and the transition to the modern era. Taking full advantage of Kyoto as its setting, the course will include excursions to provide students with the opportunity to study architecture on site, as well as visits to craftsmen’s studios and architecture labs.
HSCI S-146 Study Abroad in Kyoto, Japan: Medicine and the Body in East Asia and in Europe
Shigehisa Kuriyama, PhD, Reischauer Institute Professor of Cultural History, Harvard University
4 credits
UN, GR Limited enrollment.
The human body and its afflictions were traditionally conceived very differently in East Asia and in Europe. This course will trace the fascinating history of these differences and explore their implications for medicine and health today. Why do notions such as qi and practices such as acupuncture seem so exotic in the West when they were taken for granted for nearly two thousand years in East Asia? Conversely, why did the Western conception of the body come to place such emphasis on muscles, a concept unknown to traditional Chinese medicine? How did contrasting beliefs about food and health shape different culinary practices and gastronomic tastes? Our course will take advantage of being conducted in Japan to teach through direct experience how studying foreign and past conceptions of the body can enable us to inhabit our own bodies in surprising new ways.
Where You'll Live and Study
Kyoto is a historically rich and culturally vibrant city that offers a wide range of opportunities to deepen one’s understanding of Japan and its place in the world.
Accommodation
For the eight-week program, you will be placed in a homestay with a local host family. You will have a private room. Most meals will be provided by host families. Access to a kitchen, laundry facilities, and a telephone may also be arranged between you and your host family. Host families live within commuting distance of the university. The program will provide commuter passes for use traveling to campus and for course-related field excursions.
Application
To apply, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have completed at least one year of college or be a first-year student
- Be in good academic standing
Students enrolled at any accredited university are welcome to apply. See the How to Apply page for more information.
The Summer 2025 application will be available via link at the top of this page in early December.
Each program has unique requirements included in the online application. Beginning your application early is the best way to ensure that you have sufficient time to review and complete the application requirements by the deadline.
You may apply to no more than two programs; if applying to two programs, you will be asked to rank your two applications in order of preference (first and second choice). Any applications submitted in excess of the maximum of two will be automatically withdrawn. You will be notified of your admissions status in each program in early March.
A complete online application includes:
- Basic personal information
- A statement of interest
- Your most recent transcript
- Program-specific requirements (if applicable; may include letters of recommendation, etc.)
Interviews may be requested at the discretion of the program. Please note that this program requires letter(s) of recommendation as part of the online application process, which must be submitted by the application deadline. Apply early to ensure that your recommender has time to submit your letter(s).
Be sure to read about the funding options available for Harvard Summer School Study Abroad programs.
If you have questions about the application, please contact the Harvard Summer School Study Abroad Office by email at SummerAbroad@Summer.Harvard.edu.
Cost & Expenses
The program fee includes:
- Tuition
- Accommodations
- Scheduled program activities
- Some meals (the program will provide further details)
You will also need to budget for a number of expenses not covered by the program fee. The amounts listed below for these out-of-pocket expenses are approximate, and you may incur additional expenses not noted here. Your actual expenses will depend on a number of factors, including personal spending habits and currency exchange rates. Note that expense categories — especially airfare — may be subject to significant fluctuations.
- International airfare ($2,000–$2,400)
- Ground transportation ($300)
- Meals ($400)
- Personal expenditures, communications, course materials, and miscellaneous ($800)
If you have specific questions about personal budgeting, please contact the program directly.
See Funding and Payment for information on how to submit payments and funding options.
Additional Information
- Questions? Contact Dr. Gavin Whitelaw (Whitelaw@fas.Harvard.edu).
- Need an accommodation? See Students in Need of Accommodations to request one through the Accessibility Services Office.
- Accepted to the program? See Admitted Students for information about predeparture requirements.
