From the 60-second Short
My best advice for studying in Japan
I studied in Japan for a semester, had an amazing time, and came back with a few things I wish I had figured out earlier. So, here is my best advice: from choosing a university to actually leaving your room once you get there.
Figure out what comes after graduation.
Before choosing a university, think about what you actually want to do afterwards. Especially if you want to work in Japan. A nice campus is great, but you are also going to spend quite a lot of time and money there.
Check what you need before you apply.
Japanese? An English certificate? A previous degree? Specific grades? Check the requirements for your actual programme. Finding the perfect university and then discovering you cannot apply is a fairly annoying plot twist.
Know what the whole thing costs.
I spent around €6,500 on my semester in Japan. And yes, that is quite a lot of money. Your costs could be very different, so work out your own tuition, housing, flights and everyday expenses before booking anything.
You do not have to commit to a full degree.
If a full degree is too expensive, look into exchanges and short-term programmes. I went through my home university. You can still experience studying in Japan without signing up for several years straight away.
A part-time job can help. Plan the money first.
You need the appropriate permission to work as a student. The usual limit during term is 28 hours a week, with other conditions to follow. Treat the income as extra support rather than expecting it to pay for the entire adventure. Check the official conditions here.
Apply for scholarships early.
Please do not leave this until the last minute. Find out what you qualify for, write down the deadlines and give yourself time to apply. Also check funding from your own country. That helped me a lot.
Go to the club. Join the event.
I worried about making friends before studying in Japan. But there were clubs, activities and invitations to do things. You still have to show up, though. It is considerably harder for people to meet you if you never leave your room.
Start looking for work before you graduate.
If you want to stay and work in Japan, start researching jobs and recruitment schedules while you are still studying. You do not need everything figured out immediately. Just do not leave the entire plan until the day you graduate. Here is the longer version.
Actually go and experience Japan.
Study, obviously. But do not spend your entire time staring at textbooks. Go somewhere, try something and spend time with people. You came all this way. It would be a shame to only remember the inside of a classroom.
Still stuck? Ask me.
If you have a specific question, leave it under the Short. Tell me what you want to study and what you are trying to figure out. I will try to help another bro out.