Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:Waseda University

City:Tokyo

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Informatics

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The final grade is often based on the "reports" or presentations submitted and sometimes has nothing to do with the material covered in the lectures. Teachers often alternate between English and Japanese so that everyone understands them.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Waseda offered an orientation "party" at the beginning of the semester, where there is team building and refreshments afterwards (free -> recommended), all of which was optional. As part of this, there was also one lecture where important things about studying in Tokyo were explained. Afterwards, there were a lot of events during the semester where one could socialize and meet new people.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Crisis intervention
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:30000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?On the university's official website you can click through to companies that offer accommodation all over Tokyo, these are "guaranteed" by the university that the price matches the quality. In my case it was XROSS house and GG House Management - both OK.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I had to pay 30% of the price of the hospitalisation - you have to be prepared for that too.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Avoid tourist areas. Buy food in supermarkets and not in konbini. Restaurants are mostly well priced, especially chain restaurants. Shinkansen is pretty expensive, better to go by plane for longer distances.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Google maps works fine for intercity trains too, possibly a site from JR.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?neutral

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Free sightseeing tour of the city (and Fuji) at the Tokyo government building (Shinjuku). As a second Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Hokkaido in winter, you will rarely see so much snow. Atami has a beautiful beach and spa.

Share your best experience:It's hard to pick one, a visit to the maid-cafe in Akihabara (the city of all Otaku) was something that can probably only be experienced in Japan. There are many themed cafes and with simple Japanese you can have a good conversation with the waitresses.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?At the Japanese Embassy in Bratislava.

What is needed?COE, valid passport, completed application form (can be found on the website or emailed to you), photo.

How long does it take approximately?About a week

How did you get to the place?Plane
Train

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I recommend having everything and backups and in different places (pockets, backpack) such as backup cell phone, power bank, cash. There are many ways out of the airport, you can always choose slow but cheap or fast and expensive, I recommend buying a prepaid metro card for the first three days while you get your bearings and arrange a permanent recharge card.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Slovak/Czech sweets, biscuits (or beer) - it's a great gift for friends you'll make over time.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Studying on the other side of the world is an unforgettable experience that is worth any extension of your studies.