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- Leeyon Lim (Singapore), Senior
Leeyon Lim (Singapore), Senior
Hey there! I’m Leeyon, a MEXT undergraduate scholar from Singapore, and I studied Biological Sciences at Osaka University (OU) from 2019 to 2023. I chose this university because biology research here focuses on the micro scale (DNA, proteins, cells etc.) which is what I was more interested in. Furthermore, compared to other universities where you only specialise in Year 3, OU’s programme allowed me to start taking specialised classes in Year 2. OU (and perhaps Japan as a whole) is notably strong in basic research, which is great for those of us who want to pursue knowledge for its own sake.
While I found research to be a lot more boring and tedious than I had imagined, there was the occasional spark of excitement when I hit upon a potential new discovery. If chasing that spark and wanting to contribute to the collective knowledge of humankind is what drives you, then I believe you will thrive in the School of Science.
Of course, I was not only studying at Osaka University for four years, but also living in Osaka for four years. The Toyonaka campus, which houses the School of Science, is quite convenient, with a small shopping arcade within walking distance and the Hankyu train line that will take you directly to the city centre (Umeda). As you may know, Japan is very safe to live in, and living in Osaka in particular grants you easy access to the Kansai region, which is full of travel destinations. Kyoto and Kobe are a stone’s throw away via the Hankyu line, I have been on driving trips to Shiga, Wakayama and Nara, and the list goes on.
One challenge many international students face is the language/culture barrier. Particularly, it is not uncommon to hear complaints that it is difficult to mix with Japanese peers, as the way they interact is apparently quite different from that which international students (including myself) are used to. That said, there are groups in the university for international students to meet new people, Japanese or otherwise. These include the OU International Students Association (OUISA), and the School of Science’s own Science Buddy. I highly recommend active participation in such groups, as I found the support offered there gave me fulfilment in terms of my social life. They also conduct language-learning activities, which could help you brush up on your Japanese.
To anyone considering studying in Japan, I have two pieces of realistic advice. Firstly, try to learn at least some basic Japanese before coming. You could survive without knowing the language, but it helps immensely if you do, and how smoothly your life goes is practically proportional to your level of Japanese. Secondly, Japan has a strong tendency towards collectivism and observing rules or customs. If you are someone who treasures flexibility and individuality, be prepared to adjust your expectations, or you might be in for quite the culture shock.
<Notes>
These articles were posted as they were written by the students. The student’s grade is as of the time the article was written in March 2023.