One year at Tsukuba University - should I go?

[opseudo]

Hi there fellow gaijins,

I am a second year undergraduate student in beautiful Berlin, Germany. As an economics major I just got accepted as an one-year exchange student at Tsukuba University. I also have a plausible chance to receive a state-sponsored scholarship.

Tsukuba wasn't my first choice for that exchange program (it was my fifth to be precise) and I am not sure if I should go. What is your honest opinion about Tsukuba University? I have seen some university rankings and they seem to be more of a second-tier school...

[dingdongman]

typical german!

got accepted at a japanese university, even on the japanese tax payers cost.
and flurries about some second tier rumours that he heard in germany ... zzztt ... better stay at home, baby.

[Jacque_S]

Bad news: all schools in Japan are 2nd tier.

Good news: if you're offered a chance to visit and study in a foreign country on someone else's dime, while you're still young and (presumably) single, why would you care how the place ranks out? The worst that can happen is you lose an academic year, very easily rectified.

Caveat: my answer changes dramatically, however, if you have to pay for it yourself. Unless you're loaded, don't do it.

[sunsoul]

I would go. I know a few people who work at Tsukuba university, and it seems a very internationally minded place. Lots of foreign students, and quite a lot of Latinos in that area as well, so quite a mix. Tsukuba is supposed to be a nice place to live, with some space to move, and easy access to the mountains and the onsens dotted around.

Getting to Tokyo is very easy with the new Tsukuba express (under an hour right into Tokyo). Although it is more expensive than other train lines. A few friends tell me that there are lots of decent restaurants and cafes in Tsukuba as well.

The university has a decent reputation. Not one of the best, but definitely a good university.

[edin日本]

Too bad you aren't doing cybernetics. The head honcho of Cyberdine is a lecturer there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7IXfcifHE
The stuff they are doing is quite cool.

[Angry John]

Too bad you aren't doing cybernetics. The head honcho of Cyberdine is a lecturer there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7IXfcifHE
The stuff they are doing is quite cool.

"You gotta be pretty desperate to make it with a robot...."

--Homer Simpson

[opseudo]

Thank you for all your advice!

I have decided to go to Tsukuba. Even it is is a second-tier school, there is still a lot of Japanese to learn and Japanese food to eat!

Now, any advice about housing and student life in general?

[edin日本]

"You gotta be pretty desperate to make it with a robot...."

--Homer Simpson

It depends on the type of robot you want to make it with:D

[cucashopboy]

Thank you for all your advice!

I have decided to go to Tsukuba. Even it is is a second-tier school, there is still a lot of Japanese to learn and Japanese food to eat!

Now, any advice about housing and student life in general?

Never mind about the tier of the school/university, it's the quality of the department that counts. A lot of cutting-edge research goes on at Tsukuba - find out what the people you will be working with are doing.