What are international universities in Japan?

What are the most renowned universities in Japan?

• im planning to pursue my college in Japan. and i wonder what university would be the best choice. i want a university with foreign studies. in addition to that, i want to enroll in a university which has good facilities.. and pls explain me why. :) thanks! answers are very much appreciated. :)

• Answer:

  Of all the places to attend, why Japan? There are a few caveats that you should be aware of before taking this venture. As long as you are fully aware of the situation then you can decide what's best for you or not. The most prestigious universities in Japan are generally the 7 public national universities. (Hokkaido Kyoto Kyushu Nagoya Osaka Tohoku universities and the University of Tokyo.) They all have great facilities that are very comparable to each other, just in different locations. The most prominent of these would be Tokyo, Todai. There are many private universities also that are very prestigious. Keio being the most well known. There are links below for further research into facilities and programs. It would be my suggestion that you go to Nagoya university as their International programs are one of the best. The culture there is more geared towards international students and will be able to facilitate an easier transition into education abroad. I have had many friends attend exchange programs involving Nagoya, and all have had positive experiences. It does get cold in the winter so be prepared to bundle up though. In general what you need to look out for the culture of the university. Although you are going there to learn, you also need to consider social lifestyle, extra curricular activities, accommodations and budget. Living in Tokyo is very expensive if you don't eat out of convenience stores everyday. Many people at first will be perceived as a novelty but that soon turns into a mild nuisance. This makes socializing very difficult and is not healthy for people whom are unable to deal with it. Many universities in general now are used to international students but some still aren't. The issue of money is also another concern as tuition could cost double and sometimes triple the amount for regular students. Combine that with living expenses and transportation cost and you have a small fortune spent. One other consideration is the different educational system they use over there in Japan. The level of education at high school education would be equivalent to 2nd year university in North America. University itself is generally research and specialization. You will be expected to have a lot of skills that a first or second year university student in North America may not have yet. The most successful international students are the ones whom have attended university here for a few years and then transitioned into international studies. The language issue is generally your least concern, although a very large one at that. If you can not read the kanji on an exam question, you won't be able to answer it. Many adults have difficulty reading the Japanese newspaper let alone university students. That's where the importance of finding a university that has experience with international students come into play. I hope this helps you see what you'd be getting into with starting university in Japan. Good luck.