Next year I’m doing a bridging year to get my masters in CS in Belgium at a relatively low ranked uni (200-500th worldwide). It offers a scholarship to Kobe uni in Japan. Now I’m wondering what sort of students they want, what kind of selection process they have. I’m prepared to work hard to get my grades up to a high level but I don’t if it’s even possible to get accepted from a regular EU uni.
My Japanese is at a level where I know like 5-6k words and my grammar is pretty good.
I know Japanese unis dont have the best reputation but I still think it would be a cool experience, I could meet new friends and it would look good on my resume.
Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks a bunch in advance!
3 comments
>I don’t if it’s even possible to get accepted from a regular EU uni.
Your school has an exchange agreement with the Uni, so obviously it is possible. Usually these kinds of agreements have a set number of spots available. Exchange programs are not limited to high ranking unis, but top 500 in the world is not “low ranked”. Students of Universities that are not even showing up on ranking are just as likely to be selected for exchange programs.
>Now I’m wondering what sort of students they want, what kind of selection process they have.
Generally they have a set amount of spots per university, and then some extra spots if there are many applicants. The students in each university are ranked by grade or something, and then the top applicants in each university are selected. So you generally only compete against the other applicants at your own university. It depends on the type of exchange program though.
>My Japanese is at a level where I know like 5-6k words and my grammar is pretty good.
Unless anything else is started, Japanese is not necessary and won’t affect the screening. It will help general life, and you’ll might be put in the intermediate Japanese class.
The best is to go to the exchange coordinator at your university and ask about the application process etc. They should be able to answer various questions, like how the selection process is, etc.
It’s not hard but you need to apply from your home country’s university if they have an exchange program. I was an exchange student from Washington State University. My Japanese language instructor helped me set this up.
I had no knowledge of Japanese, and were also from a university ranked around 100-300 (depending on the ranking). But I got accepted. Showing interest to Japanese culture in general is a plus.
> but I still think it would be a cool experience
Totally true. I did a year a Tohoku University and it was an incredible experience. Can’t think of a more intense year I’ve lived.