How was the application and admission process in TMU?

I came to TMU first as a research student through Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship before I became a regular student. During that time, a fellow student in my lab hired by the university as my tutor helped me with the admission procedures. So although things were initially challenging because of the language difficulties, my tutor, my supervisor, and the staff at the graduate school have always been kind and helpful that I was easily able to go through the application and admission processes.  

How was your experience adjusting to life as a foreign student in Japan?

Coming to Japan was a welcome change for me because everything was safe, convenient, and predictable. Day-to-day systems, transportation, and food were all very good, so I felt like I stopped needing to fight too hard just to survive. The university housing was also really nice and comfortable, and I met many Japaneses students there who helped me adjust to life in Japan and enjoy plenty of activities.

There were certainly difficulties in communicating since I barely had any Japanese ability when I arrived, but everybody has been kind and patient. I do miss home and the community I had in my country, but over time I eventually gained many good friends here who have made life a lot more enjoyable.

How was your experience doing research as part of your laboratory?

Adjusting to doing science in a different language was certainly very rough in the beginning and I often felt overwhelmed with the many things I had to learn. Nonetheless, everybody in the lab was very helpful, I received excellent training for all the new experiments, and my supervisor was always been patient and easy to approach that I eventually became comfortable. I also really do appreciate the many opportunities (e.g. conference participation, overseas exchange, international trainings), the research resources, and all the support that I was given access to in TMU, which really helped me grow as a researcher and allowed me to explore the brain in the aspects that I was curious about.

What challenges did you face as a student and how were you able to cope with them?

Probably the biggest challenges were language and cultural adjustments. I struggled with not being able to understand and be understood from my lack of Japanese especially in the beginning. It was also really hard to restart an entire life in a different country where society functions very differently from what I am used to. I think I really had to learn to be patient with myself, and become comfortable in asking for help from the people around me. Eventually things became easier as I became more familiar with everything around me and also through the persistent support of the people in my lab and my dorm.

Would you recommend prospective students to do their graduate program in TMU?

I believe that every endeavor worth doing will always have its challenges. Studying abroad can certainly be very difficult, but I think it also offers a huge opportunity for growth and gaining important perspectives. Despite the challenges, TMU has offered me so much support during my studies, so I would definitely recommend it for people who want to further their career and are not afraid of putting in the work. ;)