Returning to Academia

Weighing Your Options

Before applying to graduate school there are a few things you should carefully consider. First, you need to consider whether or not you need to go. Pursuing a graduate degree is costly, time consuming and does not always guarantee a good job or salary after graduation. It is important to consider what you will gain from this experience and what you will need to commit in order to pursue it. 

Second, it is important to remember that depending on the country you choose, the reputation of the school you choose becomes your reputation as a working professional in many fields. Meaning that you need to choose not only an institution carefully, but also carefully select your advisors, dissertation panel, thesis panel and or research labs. This will affect your networking ability and chances for further research or study opportunities. It is also important to note that university culture and graduate-level university culture may differ depending on the country. 

Third, you will need to check whether or not the degree program you have chosen will be recognized by the country or place you wish to work at after graduate school. Not all countries accept all institutions and you may find that your degree does not apply in certain job markets or fields. 

Lastly, there is funding. Funding is often highly competitive and difficult to come by. There are a plethora of scholarships, fellowships and research assistantships out there. It may be difficult to secure one, but vitally important, because if you have already received scholarships and fellowships, the chances are much higher that you will receive additional funding in the future. This is in addition to the impact that funding can have on your reputation in some countries. For example, paying for a graduate degree in some fields in the USA is not viewed well, while it is perfectly acceptable in other parts of the world. Thoroughly research the country you plan to attend graduate school in and familiarize yourself with the graduate school culture.  

School in Japan

All of the above concerns apply to Japanese graduate schools, but there are a few additional things you may need to take note of. 

You need to have the financial resources to support your life in Japan in addition to your studies. Student visas also limit how many hours you can work part-time outside of school.

While there are many English programs available, you may find that you will need Japanese for your program or courses. This can be very challenging and you may not receive much support from faculty in this regard.