Last update: February 2025
The Bridge Program a conditional acceptance undergraduate course, is designed for non-English speakers who need to develop advanced academic language skills. In the Bridge Program, students take both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing courses, all of which help students learn the essential skills needed to succeed in an American university. After completing the program, Bridge students become fully matriculated undergraduate students within the Temple University system. Bridge students can earn up to 15 credits toward their undergraduate degrees before matriculating. The Bridge Program can also sponsor visas for non-Japanese students. Visa-sponsored Bridge students are expected to complete the Bridge Program within one year.
Admission Requirements
- Meet undergraduate admission qualifications A and B
- Applicants whose English test scores fall within the following ranges
Tokyo TUJ Kyoto TOEFL iBT® test 53 - 78 71 - 78 TOEFL ITP® test* 475 - 549 525 - 549 IELTS 5.0 or 5.5 5.5 PTE 40 - 52 50 - 52 DUOLINGO 90 - 109 105 - 109 *Only TOEFL ITP® tests conducted by TUJ are valid
Or, those who meet the English proficiency requirements for direct admission but need additional support to strengthen their academic skills before fully matriculating into the undergraduate program may be admitted to the Bridge Program.
How to Apply
Application procedures are the same as the Undergraduate Program application procedures.
Bridge Program Levels
There are three* Bridge Program levels. Each level takes one semester to complete. Students are placed into a level after our reviewers consider their standardized testing score (TOEFL® Test, IELTS, PTE, or DUOLINGO) and their score on our own placement test. Students cannot choose their own level.
*Bridge level 1 and 2 are not available at TUJ Kyoto. (As of Feb 2025)
Bridge Program Placement Test (Tokyo Only)
Our placement test is given three times a year on campus at TUJ or online. The test checks students’ reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills. The test takes approximately 120 minutes to complete. The test can only be taken one time per semester, and the placement score is valid for only one semester. No specific “test preparation” material exists for our placement test. However, students could build skills around comprehending, analyzing, and creatively and critically discussing and writing about texts as preparation for our placement test. We believe these skills are among the most important for students planning to study at an American university in English.
Bridge 1 (Tokyo)
Estimated English Level:
- TOEFL iBT® Test 53 - less than 61, or
- TOEFL ITP® Paper Edition Test 475 - less than 500, or
- IELTS 5.0, or
- PTE 40 - less than 45
Courses (17 hours / week):
- Bridge Seminar 1001: Introduction to US University (1 credit, 1 hour/w)
- Undergraduate Introductory Course (1 credit, 1 hour/w)
- Undergraduate Introductory Course (2 credits, 2 hours/w)
- Speaking Lab I (Non-credit, 3 hours/w)
- Reading Lab I (Non-credit, 3 hours/w)
- Grammar Lab I (Non-credit, 3 hours/w)
- Academic Writing (Non-credit, 4 hours/w)
Bridge 2 (Tokyo)
Estimated English Level:
- TOEFL iBT® Test 61 - less than 71, or
- TOEFL ITP® Paper Edition Test 500 - less than 525, or
- IELTS 5.5, or
- PTE 45 - less than 50
Courses (16 hours / week):
- Bridge Seminar 1002: Introduction to Academic Research (2 credits, 2 hours/w)
- UNVS 1003 (3 credits, 3 hours/w)
- Speaking Lab II (Non-credit, 2 hours/w)
- Reading Lab II (Non-credit, 2 hours/w)
- Grammar Lab II (Non-credit, 2 hours/w)
- Academic Writing (Non-credit, 4 hours/w)
- Small-Group Tutorial (Non-credit, 1 hour/w)
Bridge 3 (Tokyo & TUJ Kyoto)
Estimated English Level:
- TOEFL iBT® Test 71 - less than 79, or
- TOEFL ITP® Paper Edition Test 525 - less than 550, or
- IELTS 5.5, or
- PTE 50 - less than 53
Courses (15 hours / week):
- Undergraduate General Education (3 credits, 3 hours/w)
- Undergraduate General Education (3 credits, 3 hours/w)
- Speaking Lab III (Non-credit, 1 hour/w)
- Reading Lab III (Non-credit, 1 hour/w)
- Grammar Lab III (Non-credit, 1 hour/w)
- Academic Writing (Non-credit, 4 hours/w)
- Research Tutorial (Non-credit, 2 hours/w)
To matriculate from the Bridge Program
To matriculate, Bridge Program students must complete the program by passing Bridge 3. However, if a Bridge student obtains a new TOEFL® Test, IELTS, PTE or DUOLINGO score while they are studying in the Bridge Program, they can submit it to the UG Admissions Office to be reevaluated. If admitted by the Admissions Office, the student can matriculate without finishing the Bridge Program.
TUJ Kyoto First Bridge Scholarship
To celebrate the launch of the Bridge Program at TUJ Kyoto, all students enrolling in the Bridge 3 program for Summer or Fall* 2025 in Kyoto will receive a special scholarship. Eligible students will automatically be awarded an amount equivalent to the Bridge Program Entrance Fee (¥224,800), with no separate application required.
*New TUJ Kyoto Special Scholarships are now extended to new students enrolling for Fall 2025 as well.
Bridge Program Grading and Advancement
There are no grades in the non-credit-bearing courses. Instead, Bridge Program instructors assess students' linguistic improvement through assignments, activities, and projects. Students must demonstrate linguistic improvement to move higher in the program. There are standard letter grades in the credit-bearing courses. These grades are also considered by the Bridge Program Academic Coordinator for reviewing student movement through the program.
Student Visa Application Fee
Prospective students applying for a Japanese student visa through TUJ must pay a non-refundable visa application fee of ¥20,900 as a part of the Advance Payment.
Housing
All students receiving a new student visa sponsored by TUJ are required to stay in the TUJ Dorm during their first semester unless you complete the Homestay Application or are approved for the Housing Waiver in a timely manner. Please confirm Housing Requirements for Newly Accepted Visa Sponsored Students.
Note: All tuition and fees are subject to change without written notice. Amounts do not include bank charges, for which the applicant is responsible.