Study Abroad Programs in Tokyo, Japan

Japan is the world’s third leading economy, and the reasons behind this can largely be found in a culture of efficiency and top-notch education. While Japan is most widely known for its cutting edge technology industry, other popular areas of academic study in Tokyo include business, law, popular media, humanities, and economics.

The University of Tokyo is widely considered Japan’s premier university, and one of the most prestigious academic institutions in all of Asia, making it a fantasitc place to study abroad in Tokyo. Beyond this, Tokyo boasts over one hundred other colleges and universities throughout the metropolitan area, including Musashi University and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

The language barrier can be a hinderance to many students interested in study abroad in Tokyo; attending many local schools can be nearly impossible without Japanese language skills, since classes are taught primarily in Japanese. However many larger institutions are making a push to attract more international students to study abroad in Tokyo, by offering a wider array of English-taught classes. Most study abroad programs in Tokyo will also have their own branches or connections to international schools within the city, making an English education easily accessible to foreign students who want to study in Tokyo.

Another quirk of the Japanese University system is that semesters typically run from April to September and October to March, slightly offset from the academic year of most Western universities. Many study abroad programs in Tokyo take this into account and make adjustments by adding cultural immersion or intensive language programs to compensate for time lost or gained. Prospective students who wish to study abroad in Tokyo should plan accordingly with their home universities on how to work around the term differences.