Exchange semester in Japan pros/cons/tips?

So I’m currently doing a bachelor and my university allows us to do our last semester abroad. Obviously I applied even though my grades aren’t that high. Now my university is going to review my application so nothing’s decided yet BUT

It dawns on me that if I manage to go there I will have to pass the exams or else I risk to fail the entirety of my bachelor. My question being: how « hard » is university in Japan? I heard a lot about the high standards of Japanese universities and I’m suddenly getting cold feet. I mean I also have to pass my exams if I don’t go but I won’t have the “added difficulty” of not being in my own country

For me I always thought that university in japan was harder than in, say, Europe but I heard some people say that entrance exams which are for Japanese students are (excessively) harsh but that once you’re in there it’s actually not that much harder than elsewhere. So what’s the truth? For those who have studied in Japan even temporarily how did it go? Do you have advice to give?

To add some information, it’s for a bachelor/undergraduate degree and I had to choose one university in particular so I chose Hokkaïdo University in Sapporo. (So if you also have specific info about that one I’ll gladly take it) and it’s going to be just one semester in spring/summer

Thank you in advance <3

3 comments
  1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

    **Exchange semester in Japan pros/cons/tips?**

    So I’m currently doing a bachelor and my university allows us to do our last semester abroad. Obviously I applied even though my grades aren’t that high. Now my university is going to review my application so nothing’s decided yet BUT

    It dawns on me that if I manage to go there I will have to pass the exams or else I risk to fail the entirety of my bachelor. My question being: how « hard » is university in Japan? I heard a lot about the high standards of Japanese universities and I’m suddenly getting cold feet. I mean I also have to pass my exams if I don’t go but I won’t have the “added difficulty” of not being in my own country

    For me I always thought that university in japan was harder than in, say, Europe but I heard some people say that entrance exams which are for Japanese students are (excessively) harsh but that once you’re in there it’s actually not that much harder than elsewhere. So what’s the truth? For those who have studied in Japan even temporarily how did it go? Do you have advice to give?

    To add some information, it’s for a bachelor/undergraduate degree and I had to choose one university in particular so I chose Hokkaïdo University in Sapporo. (So if you also have specific info about that one I’ll gladly take it) and it’s going to be just one semester in spring/summer

    Thank you in advance <3

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  2. hey I havent been to japan, but I know a lot of people that did even to the sapporo one and uni in japan is much easier than in the west. everyone said that even my japanese teachers

  3. If you’re an exchange student then there are no entrance exams for you to pass.

    Japanese university entrance exams are notoriously difficult, but once you’re admitted many classes are relatively difficult to fail compared to many other countries (though this obviously depends on course and university). If you’re taking classes aimed at exchange students (such as those in English), they tend to be relatively easy. Student exchange is mostly meant to be a cultural experience.

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