Hello everyone I am currently on the JET programme and I was just asked to renew my contract. When I first came my plan was to do only one year then return home and apply for a masters degree. I will probably not renew my contract but I want to keep all my options open. I enjoy living in Japan so I questioned if could attend a Japanese university to get my masters degree. I’m still in the early stages of researching this topic. I thought about asking people here if they have any experiences with this or really anyone who has any advice! Thanks in advance. (Background info. 22, no Japanese, pretty good gpa, currently lives in Tokyo.)
3 comments
I did something similar. Worked as an ALT at Interac 1 year before going through 6 years of grad school for a PhD then working.
For science related work, aim for one of the top 5 Universities like Tokyo, Kyoto or Tohoku University.
You should study Japanese too. When I graduated I was an N2 from which I barely scraped by most language requirements.
Lay out your plan for after grad school early. If you want to work after graduation, you will have to prepare at least 1 year prior to grad.
If you graduate Masters only, you can use the Shinsotsu route, i.e. more available positions for hire but there are more shitty positions too. PhD grad hiring will be a lot tougher, you will have to build meaningful connections while you conduct your research.
Getting a masters degree is definitely an option. If you have no Japanese ability or not enough for academic level you’d have to find an English degree. Some universities offer that since they are aiming to internationalize their student roster. I am here for Master’s degree in an English program too but biology is not my field so I have no idea which uni offers that.
One thing to note is that there’s a lot of variety regarding intake procedures and timelines so you’d have to note each carefully. Some programs are open for April intake (the standard Japanese academic year) and some are open for September intake for the international crowd.
Yes, it’s possible to do so. There are English only postgraduate programs; but you might need to look around a bit to find where might offer the field of study that you’re interested in.
You might find [this page](https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/search-school/daigakukensaku/) useful.
Do pay attention to the application window of the school/courses you’re interested in. They aren’t all the same, and some close as early as July, while others a little later in August, or even September (for April admission, the following year). Some schools have a September intake if you’ve already missed the application period for April 2023 intake.