Details

• Japan
• MAEXINT-24
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the application process at WU, it's worth starting your research early and choosing your preferred universities strategically. You should focus not only on reputation, but especially on whether the courses can be easily transferred for credit. The motivation letter should be clear and personal, showing why the exchange semester is a good fit for you. It's also important to keep track of all deadlines and look at experience reports from other students. When preparing for the exchange semester, it's a good idea to book flights early and arrive a few days before the semester starts to settle in. Important things like your passport, visa, and insurance should be organized well in advance. Housing should also be sorted out as early as possible, and it helps to plan a realistic budget ahead of time. A little preparation on the culture and daily life in the host country makes the start on-site much more relaxed.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation was super easy for me, since everything was organized directly by NUCB. I lived in the Higashiyama Dorm, a student residence. It's a bit outside the city center, but it's very nice and well-equipped, and they even serve breakfast there. The location is quiet and safe, and the surrounding area has everything you need, like supermarkets, small shops, tennis courts, and even a zoo. The commute to the university takes about 30 minutes, which is totally fine. One tip I wish I had known beforehand is that you really don't need to stress about accommodation, because everything is very well organized. Also, it's worth exploring the surrounding area a bit, since there are lots of cool spots outside the city center too (Boulangerie Sun).

3. Academic life at host university

Academic life at the host university differs quite significantly from WU in some respects. You should be prepared for a different teaching style, as classes are often more lecture-based and heavily focused on case discussions. Compared to WU, the level is somewhat lower in places and overall less theoretical or academically oriented. This is partly because it's a business school and many MBA students participate, coming from very different professional backgrounds. The campus facilities are generally good and offer everything you need for daily student life. The courses are all manageable and fine overall, and the ones I took were a positive experience. However, I would not recommend courses with Ted Katagi, as the final assignments are very time-consuming and the requirements are sometimes unclear.

5. Every day life in the host country

Daily life in Japan is overall very pleasant and well organized. Public transport works extremely reliably and is very punctual, so you can easily get everywhere without a car. At the same time, Japan is one of the safest countries, so you can move around without any problems at any time of day or night. Traveling is also very convenient by public transport or rental car (international driver's license). Unfortunately, public transport isn't cheap, but rental cars are, especially if you split the cost with others. There are also plenty of options for free time. There are numerous restaurants, cafés, and events, and there's always something going on. There are options for sports as well, although they're a bit more limited than in Europe. In the city center, for example, there's a padel court, and near my dorm there were tennis courts that were easy to use. Overall, you definitely won't get bored in everyday life.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester in Japan was a unique experience that enriched me greatly, both personally and culturally. What was especially exciting was the combination of studying, traveling, and immersing myself in a completely different culture. The highlights were above all the time spent with friends there and exploring different cities and regions. Overall, it was an unforgettable time that I would repeat in a heartbeat.