For many, the idea of studying in Japan is very remote and almost romantic. To have the chance to live and learn in this country can seem out of reach. But there is good news. Not only is Japan trying to increase the number of foreign students studying here, especially from other Asian nations, there are scholarships to help you do it. In fact, there are more scholarships for foreigners than Japanese!
But then what to do about language issues, and earning a bit of extra cash to make it really possible to study in this expensive economy. Undergraduate opportunities are limited to a small handful of programs with courses in English: Sophia (Jochi) University, Ristumeikan, Miyazaki International University are available choices. Another option are the US schools with campuses in Japan (like Temple and Southern Illinois) but you have to spend at least several terms at the main campus to graduate.
Unless you can read and write Japanese, your choices are fewer, but they still exist for graduate schools. Hitotsubashi has started a new MBA that is labeled "bi-lingual." Keio and Waseda business schools, too have some courses in English, but to get a full education some Japanese is needed. ICU (International Christian University) and Tokyo University have graduate classes taught in English. Class selections can be limited in your field of interest, however. Also, staff support for foreign students is limited and very few dormitories are available in the big cities. PhD's are possible from these schools though you need a mentor ready to host you first.
But there is good news. There is one Japanese graduate school that offers ALL coursework in English and offers MA and MBA 2-year degree programs, and a 1 year Masters of E-Business Management. The International University of Japan (IUJ) is located outside the big cities and enjoys 45 nationalities (25% Japanese) on a small residential campus (dorms). The MAs are in International Relations or International Development, and the MBA in International Management. All the programs were modeled after US-based schools, and the staff is bi-lingual and helpful! IUJ is the easiest to access and learn about with full English website, online applications including scholarship requests, and a staff responsive to English e-mails and telephone inquiries. They can help you learn Japanese while getting your graduate degree. They don't have an undergraduate or PhD course though. And you need to be able to put up with some snow!
The good thing about the city-based programs is there are more part-time work chances and more city-life amenities. The good thing about IUJ is it is located in an area that is relatively less expensive and offers a chance to see another side of Japanese culture (country life). IUJ too, has career counseling services to help you find a job after graduation. These services are more mature than other graduate schools, and are based on competitive US school offerings. IUJ has caught the eye of several foundations and scholarship providers so at least some partial funding may be possible. They have a higher percentage of Non-Japanese students on scholarship than just about anywhere.
So if you want a life-time experience to study in Japan, there are several good options opened to you even if you are coming to Japan without Japanese and cultural understanding. See you in the classroom.
This article is written by Gretchen Shinoda, Director of Career Counseling and Services at the International University of Japan http://www.iuj.ac.jp/
