Hitotsubashi University (Business Administration)

Semester-system: April-July and October-February Work load: average ... except for courses that are held by visiting professors or for courses that belong to grad-school - there you really have to work a lot ! Most work is the language !! Grading system: very fair, especially if you are a foreign student (big bonus !!)and if you have to write papers or exams in Japanese. No problem - you will receive a lot of help !

Computer lab: Hitotsubashi University has a large and modern (opened 4/99) computer lab opened weekdays until 20:00. It is therefore not necessary to bring an own computer, but if you plan to work out a long thesis paper, it might be helpful. In this case you might want to buy it there, since you can shop tax free and will get newer technical devices than in Europe. Library: very well equipped !! If you need a book that is not there, they will order it and you will get it as soon as possible. Also a lot of magazines and foreign books. Handicapped Access: average Sport facilities: GREAT, since there are a lot of sport clubs in all fields. Cafeteria: food is ok, but not extremely good - not much change and Japanese food !! You can also eat outside of campus in small restaurants for not too much more money. Sometimes it is definitely worth it !
I got all my papers credited in Cologne and also my \"Freischuss\" extended. Contact Dr. Johannes Antweiler (Seminar fuer Produktionswirtschaft, Universitaet zu Koeln) for further information.

One recruiting event, not really big. Uncommon in Japan.

Japan is extremely expensive. Calculate on a basis of Yen 125.000 per month (including rent) which is realistic to be able survive ...

Every foreign students gets an assistant and he/she will help you with EVERYTHING at ANYTIME !! Great program all based on voluntary services from other students.

Take a plane to Tokyo Narita International Airport (Haneda Airport is mainly for freight and domestic flights). There are many possibilities to get to Kunitachi (the city the university is located). The cheapest (Yen 1.540) is to take a train (Keisei line, Limited Express) from Narita to Nippori (70 min). Change there to Yamanote line to Kanda (8 min) and then change to Chuo line to Kunitachi (40 min). Leave the station at South exit and follow the road in South direction. You will find the University campus in a walking distance of 5 min. You can also take a limousine bus from the airport to Tachikawa Grand Hotel (costs Yen 3.500), duration: 2.5 - 3 hours depending on traffic conditions.

Bank account: you can open one as soon as you get there (I would recommend Sakura Ginko since you do not have to pay fees for normal bank transactions !). You need your passport with the one year student visa. Visa: after applying to the University, you will recieve a \"Certificate of Elegibility\" you send to the Japanese Embassy with your passport. That is all - duration: 2 weeks, if you go there directly: 30 min As soon as you are in japan go to the local city office (shiakushoo) and get the so-called Alien Registration Card which makes you to equal to a Japanese resident ! Medical precaution: Japan is a civilized country with very good medical centers. No precaution measures necessary. If you have to take special medicine, take it along - foreign medecine is difficult to get, even in international hospitals. Clothes: basically you can buy EVERYTHING in Japan. It is just VERY expensive !!! Whatever you bring, think about the hot and very humid summer (!!) and very cold days (but mostly sunny) in January-March. Spring starts in March and from May on, T-Shirt should be enough. You start to need pullovers in the evening in October. Plug adapter: Japanese voltage is 100 V and the plug is pretty unique ... you will get adapters there if you need. One hint: buy electric appliances for daily use there -they are not that expensive and normal things you can possibly buy from departing exchange students. Computer: Hitotsubashi University has a large and modern (opened 4/99) computer lab opened weekdays until 20:00. It is therefore not necessary to bring an own computer, but if you plan to work out a long thesis paper, it might be helpful. In this case aou might want to buy it there, since you can shop tax free and will get newer technical devices than in Europe. Mobile Phone: Japan has a unique system so that a European mobile phone does not work at all. You will have to decide for a mobile company (I would recommend DoCoMo for the quality and for the reception service although it is more expensive than others. Especially for incoming international calls, a DoCoMo has the best sound) and sign a contract. Contracs are not fixed to a certain time - you can quit whenever you want !!! Decide for a plan that fits your telephone habits best and you are set. Japanese mobiles are also a nice souvenir when you get back home !!

Since the prior exchange student from Cologne had not left Japan yet, I stayed with a host family for 10 days and then moved into my appartment. A small place (about 18 square meters in total) in an appartment block called Elm with 40 rooms. Every room had an own kitchen, own bathroom and a huge closet. Usually rooms are not furnished, but it is common to buy furniture from departing students for little money. The house is close to a supermarket, to convenient stores and to a coin laundry. Distance to Uni campus is about 5 minutes by bike, 15-20 min walking distance. The appartment costs Yen 35.000 per month if you get a special scholarship from University you can apply for with inscription. ASK for the form as soon as you get there - you are NOT given this application form automatically !! Otherwise rent is Yen 51.000 per month payable to the international office (Ryuu gakusei ka)in Uni. Gas, water and electricits are very expensive and have to be payed to the suppliers directly by bank transfer. They sum up to an average of Yen 2.500 (depending to season !!).

There are lot of stories and we had a lot of fun - I tell them personally !! I also had some great parties in the German Ambassy and with other sholars of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Nice events with many outstanding people from everywhere.

Contact the DAAD and the Monbusho (Japanese ministry for education and culture) for scholarships. There are many ways to get life in Japan \"sponsored\" this way.