Mathematics Study Abroad Programs in Japan

In my junior year, I had the opportunity to spend my fall semester studying in Tokyo with Middlebury College. Since I tested into the J5 level Japanese language class, I had the opportunity to take two classes with local students taught entirely in Japanese, challenging myself to not only comprehend lectures at a high language level but also communicate with my peers at a college level. Even though the campus was an hour away from Tokyo's center, the convenient public transportation made it very easy to go out into the city with friends. We even made outside of the prefecture to Saitama, Osaka, Tottori and more on breaks and weekends, exploring Japan while we could. I found that, through this program, we had a lot of space to immerse ourselves in Japan's vibrant and diverse culture and become a part of the city ourselves. Additionally, the program put an emphasis on sustainable development, which taught me how to be more environmentally aware and live sustainably. This instilled positive habits into my lifestyle, which I find myself still enforcing today even though I have returned to my home country. Overall, Middlebury's program gave me an amazing space to advance my Japanese language skills while exploring Tokyo as a city.

Studying abroad in Tokyo with API was one of the most intellectually and personally enriching experiences of my undergraduate journey. As a triple major in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Business Administration, I was eager to explore how technology intersects with culture—and Tokyo offered the perfect environment. From navigating bustling Shibuya crossings to engaging deeply with local life, every day deepened my understanding of global innovation. What surprised me most was how seamlessly I could integrate into daily routines: ordering coffee in Japanese, exploring quiet neighborhoods like Yanaka, and reflecting on how cultural context shapes everything from design to communication. The academic rigor matched my home institution, but the cultural immersion pushed me beyond textbooks. API’s on-site support made logistics effortless—from housing near campus to organized excursions to Kyoto and Hakone. Most importantly, living in Tokyo challenged my assumptions and sharpened my intercultural fluency, which now directly informs my work in equitable AI design. If you’re considering study abroad, choose a place that stretches your worldview. For me, that place was Tokyo—and API made it possible.

Overall, I truly enjoyed every moment I spent in Japan, and am grateful for API giving me this opportunity. However, while I enjoyed each excursion that I went on, the school aspect left a lot to be desired. Though this is more of an issue with the Host University, I would've preferred that there were more interesting courses, and not some that felt somewhat generic and tame. For example, though this may be a nitpick, I feel as if a course involving perhaps the storytelling or creative process for producing an Anime/Manga story, as Japan is well known for animation and manga, and I had met a few people in the excursion who agreed with this idea. Regardless, while my only issue truly lied with the Course Selections, my time in Japan was most definitely worthwhile.

Tokyo was always my dream destination to visit and getting the opportunity to study abroad there was a dream come true. I loved Japan as much as I thought I would all thanks to APIs amazing program offering me so many cultural immersion opportunities. I’m so grateful to Azusa who was our group coordinator in Japan and also a fellow student she was amazing so helpful and knowledgeable being from Tokyo.

I had a lovely time here, although it was not without flaws. The amenities were not great especially considering how much we paid to be here. The company guilt tripped and body shamed us. But I made innumerable new friends and had experiences that I will cherish forever.

Very nice experience, learned a lot. People I’ve met here are now friends I will still be in contact with. The internship was where I learned new skills and networked with people within the fashion industry and got inspired by being here abroad

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

My semester in Tokyo Japan was truly the best! There are so many things to do, new foods to try, delicious foods to eat, etc. I also made lots of friends from Toyo University, which was really great! Toyo University offered classes in English and Japanese and almost all teachers, students and staff spoke English which made my experience a lot greater. I'm so glad that I got to study at Toyo and will never forget my time there!

Academics: Some students I know have struggled finding classes taught in English that are transferable to their home university, but I know others who have found classes that apply to their degree path. Sometimes, the "Language of Instruction" part on the Hiroshima University syllabus is a lie. It may say "Japanese/English" for some classes, but there is a chance those classes will be taught entirely in Japanese. Living Situation: The living situation is really you get what you pay for. The dorms are small and old, and you have to share showers or toilets with other students (depending on the type of dorm), but the dorms are extremely cheap. Cleaners come in once a week to clean the dorms. The Japanese are generally very clean, so the dorm living situation is really not too bad once you get used to it. Cultural Immersion: It can be difficult for some students to make close Japanese friends. If you are not Japanese, you are immediately considered an outsider by some Japanese and have to work harder than the average Japanese person to become good friends with them. However, there are international exchange events and clubs that exist with the purpose of bringing Japanese and foreign students together. Program Administration: I personally had no issues with administration before entering Japan and upon arrival. I think USAC and Hiroshima University did an excellent job helping students prepare for study abroad. Health & Safety: Japan is extremely strict with COVID, so you can expect to wear a mask almost everywhere. Japanese take masks and sanitation very seriously, so you can also expect to see hand sanitizing stations everywhere. Crime rates in Japan are also very low, and many people feel safe walking alone in the middle of the night. Community: Hiroshima University is located in Saijo, which is a somewhat rural area in Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima prefecture. Saijo Station is roughly 40 minutes away from Hiroshima Station by train. There is not much to do where the campus is located, but some students take frequent trips to Hiroshima City as that is where the closest city life is. You can also take the bullet train from Hiroshima Station to other big cities in Japan. Overall, studying abroad in Japan was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have made many lifelong friends and improved my Japanese immensely. I would highly recommend anyone who is really interested in improving their Japanese and learning the Japanese way of life to study abroad.

I have had a great experience, it is organized and comes at a good cost. The staff on-site is very supportive and helpful (as well as Brooke in Portland), but we had an emergency situation and the Portland higher-ups didn't handle it well, nor did anyone answer the emergency number provided to us.

I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

CIEE is very well-staffed and they do everything they can to make sure you have the best experience possible. Everyone is friendly, the rules and guidelines are laid out for you, and the excursions CIEE plans are a blast!!

This has been the best summer of my life. Everything about CIEE has blown me away. Virginia Niera has been an extremely attentive and helpful program director. She and Antonio Romero were both quick to offer help with any issues I might have. The professors, Amador Fernandez and Antonio Rodriguez, taught with enthusiasm and care. Each class genuinely excited and intrigued me. They graded fairly and truly cared about students understanding and learning. We took informative, fun, and interesting trips. They were all well-planned and extremely enjoyable. The tour guides we had, Adrian and Alicia, were knowledgable and made the tours very meaningful. The trip to Morocco really opened my eyes to other cultures and ways of life. Finally, my homestay could not have been better. I really got close to my host family, and I felt like I had a place in Seville where I could be totally comfortable. I have already recommended this program to two of my friends, and I plan to encourage more to do it if they w

My first experience abroad and I love it here. I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

Study abroad is something that everyone needs to be apart o at least once in their lifetime, and CIEE was a great way to do it. I think I would recommend this because we’re given a place to reside in a foreign country with people who have no problem helping you at the drop of a pen. The CIEE community becomes your family and makes you feel like you’re at home and always offer things to do for free or at least help to make your study abroad experience as great as it can. It’s also nice that you can choose from different programs and either be a student for half and an intern for the other half, be an open campus student and stay for an entire semester, or every 6 weeks choose a new home. It’s an amazing experience for a reasonable price but an opportunity and of a lifetime.

Everyone needs to go abroad. It is awesome experiencing so many cultures. Professors while abroad are very helpful and care about their students. I really enjoyed getting to know my professors and learning not only class content but also from their real life experiences. Traveling on the weekends was obviously my favorite part of this experience. I was able to visit a bunch of different countries. Wish I could stay longer.

By getting outside of my comfort zone as much as possible, I was able to experience parts of the world while figuring out new things about myself! Staying in a home stay is completely worth it because you get to practice your Spanish and meet incredibly interesting locals!

Living in Spain was such a great experience! From the food to culture and things to do, Spain has it all. I´m definitely going to miss my time here and all the great people I met. Studying abroad helped me grow so much as a person, and I won´t ever forget this experience.

This experience allowed me to reflect on the type of person I am, what I like and what I do not like, and really step out of my comfort zone. Studying abroad has allowed me to develop critical values that are important for everyday life. I have always believed that one of the best ways to erase ignorance is by traveling and my experience here has proved that.