Kansai Gaidai University (KGU) in Japan is offering SMU students a chance to participate in a 4-week Summer Program on Manga – discover the art, culture, and creative process of Japanese manga!
View Program Poster or View Program Fact Sheet
Program Venue
Kansai Gaidai University, Hirakata-city, Osaka, Japan
Program Name
“Manga Art Institute” Summer Program 2026
Program objectives
Throughout the program, students receive practice-based instruction in:
Drawing fundamentals and visual storytelling
Manga panels, transitions, and pacing
Narrative structure, including 4-koma manga
Character design and illustration
Storyboarding and layout design
Inking tools and techniques
Screentone and typography for manga
No prior manga experience is required.
Eligibility/Language Requirements
This program is designed for undergraduate in good standing who will have completed 1 year of Bachelor studies at SMU by the end of Winter 2026.
The Manga Art Institute is best suited for students from around the world who are passionate about creativity, storytelling, and Japanese culture. To that end, during the application process with the host university, you will be asked to:
describe your creative background and experiences that led you to apply for the Manga Art Institute (600 words)
provide plans for how to apply the skills and knowledge gained through manga creation to your future work as well as your objectives for studying manga (300 words)
describe your intended audience and discuss the strategies you use to connect your work with them (300 words)
upload 3 examples of your work
Language of instruction
The program is delivered in English. Basic Japanese language ability is recommended (but not required).
Program website
https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/asp/academics/manga-program/
Dates:
June 23 – July 18, 2026 (4 weeks)
Program Fee
600,000JPY (approx. CAD$5300)
The program fee includes tuition and accommodation.
Students are additionally responsible for meals, airfare, insurance, local transportation between the university and accommodation, and daily expenses. A $100 SMU Study abroad admin fee will be charged on banner.
If academic credits are earned, students will not be assessed separate SMU tuition at SMU for the transfer credit hours.
Canadian passport holders typically do not need a visa to enter Japan for a 4-week program. If a visa is necessary (depending on your citizenship), consider costs of applying for a visa. It may be necessary to travel to Montreal to visit the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal and apply in person. Please see the Immigration section below.
Transfer credits:
Students may be able to earn credits to the extent that those credits are applicable to the program requirements of your SMU degree. Please meet with your academic advisor of your program (visit https://www.smu.ca/academics/academic-advising.html) to see if any of your remaining degree requirements can be completed at another university. If your advisor confirms that there is room for credits from another institution in your degree requirements, you will request approval to take courses for transfer credits by submitting a Letter of Permission Request Form (found at https://www.smu.ca/academics/student-forms.html) and course descriptions to the SMU Records Office as soon as your acceptance is confirmed.
Alternatively, if not transferring credits, you may receive recognition for extra-curricular experiences through the Co-Curricular Record (see here).
Funding
Limited funding ($500 on average) may be available. Students who are accepted to the program will be invited to request funding.
Immigration:
Citizens of certain countries are required to apply for a short-term visa before entering Japan, while visas are waived for others. Normally, Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Questions related to immigration should be directed to the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal at https://www.montreal.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/en/consular/visa_menu_en.html. See also https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/.
Number of SMU students accepted:
Placements are limited to 30 participants from around the world; a place for SMU students is not guaranteed.
How to apply:
Apply to the host university at https://kansaigaidai-university.form.kintoneapp.com/public/manga-art-institute by March 15 2026 or as soon as possible. After you complete your application, email Global@smu.ca to inform the SMU Global Learning Office of your application submission.
What happens after you apply?
The host university will release the selection result on April 1 2026.
Once the host university accepts you into the program, they will provide all program-related information as well as instruction for the payment of the program deposit of 300,000 JPY (due April 15 2026) and the balance payment of 300,000 JPY (due May 15 2026). You will also be expected to attend our pre-departure orientation meetings. You will arrange your own international travel.
Questions?
Email the Global Learning Office (Global@smu.ca or Miyuki.arai@smu.ca).
