From The Field | 2008-15

“Greetings from Tokyo! My name is Alex Parsons and I am currently a research student and MEXT scholar at the University of Tokyo. What follows is a quick introduction to my own experiences of applying and later settling into a university in Japan.

My area of interest is public health, which being a bit more niche than, say, engineering or Japanese Literature, meant that I was limited in the universities I could apply to. Nonetheless, whether there is one or there are one hundred universities offering your course of study, make sure you research them all thoroughly before electing to apply to them. You are only allowed to apply to three and once submitted, your application cannot be changed. For instance, many universities will accept you as a research student only to inform you later that the Master's programme requires fluent Japanese, which many of you will not have, so be careful!

Another thing to note is that you will have to directly contact professors for provisional acceptance into their research labs. The only way to do this is to contact them directly, avoid the notoriously bureaucratic offices, and don't be afraid to be forward: most professors will have international experience and are aware of the requirements of the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship. If one professor declines, ask if they can recommend you to another academic in the same overall department (but different research lab).

In terms of admissions, a final important thing to bear in mind is the date of the entry exam for whichever course you are interested in taking. (NB: not all universities require entrance exams for research students however, should you wish to continue your study towards further taught courses, this will apply.) It can vary a lot by department and may be scheduled at a time before your official departure date, in which case you may either have to wait an extra year or make earlier private arrangements to go to Japan for a test. Moreover, most admission systems are old fashioned and require separate forms to be returned by a separate date. By being accepted as a research student you are not automatically accepted as a Master's student, nor are you automatically enrolled into the exam. All of these warnings aside, the process is actually not quite as traumatic as it might seem: it just takes a long time.

I arrived in Tokyo in October 2013, just as the weather was getting cooler. The University of Tokyo itself proved to be quite pretty, with abundant greenery and refreshingly old fashioned brick buildings which seem quite rare these days. I had done my undergraduate degree at the LSE and was surprised that Tokyo felt quite different London. In truth I can't recommend it enough: it's safe, efficient, clean, and filled to the brim with delicious restaurants and hidden parks.

University life here, unlike the UK, is very much centred around your research lab. There tends to be no more than twenty people including a few professors, so it's very intimate. For the most part I've found the environment to be very research-focussed, which is great if you like self-study and working on projects directly with professors and classmates. For me it's been a nice change from the way things are done back home, especially when it comes to going out for meals together. You will never be prepared for your otherwise severe professor bursting out with a goosebump-inducing rendition of "Shima-uta" at karaoke.

It should be said that if learning Japanese is one of your priorities during your time in Japan (it isn't for a surprising number of people) then you might be wise to make friends outside of school, especially if you are studying in Tokyo. In my case I joined an ikebana (flower arranging) class which has been a great way to meet people who don't speak much English whilst also learning a new skill. Also go to local bars and drink plenty of sake: if you drink the good quality stuff you shouldn't have a hangover in the morning.

I'm only at the beginning of my time here in Tokyo and am currently busy revising for my own entry exam. Despite this, I've already contributed to department work in Fukushima and begun planning my own research to do with Health Technology Assessment (HTA), climbed a handful of mountains, and inadvertently started adopting Japanese mannerisms and hand gestures. It has been a thrilling time for me and I hope you all get a chance to have such experiences too. Good luck with your applications!”