Most international students go to Japan to study Science, Engineering, Medicine and Pharmacy. However, other programs like Liberal Arts, International Relations, Humanities and Social Sciences are also equally looked up to in Japan. Another reason to choose Japan for your higher studies is the scholarships available. Many government and private universities provide scholarships and awards for the eligible students.

SUPRASANNA ARYAL
If you aspire to go to Japan for your further studies, there are numerous reasons why you should follow your instincts. Nepali students studying in Japan say that the country has a welcoming environment for international students. They describe Japanese students as ‘very friendly’ and ‘ready to assist the new-comers to do well in the academics’. Along with that, the education system does not require the students to indulge in rote learning and they get a platform to explore the creative sides of themselves. These and many other plus points, according to the students, will overshadow the shortcomings of compulsory proficiency in Japanese language, which many Japanese universities require.

However, if you don’t wish to spend time learning the Japanese language and still want to study in Japan, there are a few universities in the country that regulate courses in English, too. In these universities, international students can focus on their subjects without having to work hard on the language.

Alisha Tuladhar, 20, is a third year student at College of International Management, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita, Japan. She shares that the students don’t need any Japanese language skills as all the courses in the university she’s studying in are available in English and the professors hail from English-speaking countries too.

“My current Strategic Management class is taught by a German professor and Accounting by a Canadian. Many seminars are also conducted by foreign intellects,” she says. With about 50 per cent international students from about 80 different countries, making friends with people from all over the world is fun, she adds. “The university life is full of activities and everybody is involved in various circles, multi-cultural weeks, and many other activities besides academics,” Alisha further elaborates.

A representative from the Japan Resource Center at the Embassy of Japan in Panipokhari, Kathmandu shares that most international students go to Japan to study Science, Engineering, Medicine and Pharmacy. However, other programs like Liberal Arts, International Relations, Humanities and Social Sciences are also equally looked up to in Japan.Another reason to choose Japan for your higher studies is the scholarships available. Many government and private universities provide scholarships and awards for the eligible students.

“I have received three scholarships till date. One, the university has granted me an 80 per cent tuition fee waiver for all the four years of my study period. The other one is from Japanese Student Services Organization (JASSO), which granted me living cost for six months. And the third one is from ANDO Momofuku Award. The award is given to students who do very well in their academics and extracurricular activities,” shares Alisha.

Besides, students are also allowed to work part time. “We are allowed to work 28 hours a week and get paid 750 Yen per hour, meaning the students can quite easily manage their living cost. I’m personally more involved in in-campus jobs and don’t have a part time work elsewhere. Almost all Nepali students here have part time jobs and are paying their own bills, without having to ask from their parents back home,” Alisha informs.

In the same way, Gaurav Basnyat, 26, completed his postgraduate degree in Business Administration from Japan, and is now back in Nepal, currently working with Avionté Solutions – a US based software company. About his experience of studying in Japan, he shares, “Studying in Doshisha University was a wonderful experience indeed. The university is a hub for students from all over the world, coming together to widen the horizon of their knowledge. MBA program there includes interesting subjects that help the students become more creative. The studies focus on sustainability of business, and its environment friendly operation. Students can also gain lot of ideas about transforming cultural aspects into business, which can become more profitable.”

However, good education system is not the only positive aspect of studying in Japan. Gaurav further shares that one can learn a lot about the corporate culture, as the education there focuses on making the students disciplined, polite, humble and punctual, and to believe in process-oriented work. “The students also learn the significance of working for the benefit of the whole society,” he adds.

Similarly, Nirmal Raj Joshi, 28, went to Japan six months ago, after working as a Project Engineer at Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt Ltd Nepal. He’s equally satisfied with the studying environment of Japan. A student of Structural Material in Saitama University, Saitama Prefecture, Nirmal says, “The structural material laboratory here deals with the design of construction materials (like concrete, steel, etc). I chose this subject to learn about the wise and economic selection of engineering materials by knowing their properties in details. And in Japan, it is taught very thoroughly.”

The courses require extensive research rather than focusing on theoretical books. And students have to spend most of their time in laboratory and experiment rooms, which makes studying all the more fun. The Japan engineering graduates, also readily get jobs in the local engineering companies of Japan, right after the completion of their studies. “This has encouraged the engineering students from all over the world to get enrolled in the university here,” Nirmal says.

For a football lover like him, good news is that he gets to participate in football matches that are held frequently and that serves as leisure. Even though the classes in the university he’s studying are conducted in English, he’s currently taking Japanese language classes to ease his communication with the Japanese people.

Contact the Embassy to learn about the visa process.

source:ARYAL,SUPRASANNA(2013),"Studying in the 'Land of the Rising Sun',republica,28 oct 2013