Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:The University of Tokyo International Research Center for Neurointelligence

City:Tokyo

Program:Freemover long-term mobility

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Medicine / General Medicine

Study level abroad:Master

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Medicine
Natural Sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?Recommendation from acquaintances
Other

Other - please specify:I attended a study visit to the institution last year and decided to apply for an individual internship this year.

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?Student intern

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?I learned methods for collecting MRI and clinical data related to psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the I learned how to preprocess and analyse structural and functional MRI datasets using softwares FreeSurfer and MATLAB. Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend a symposium and observe clinical psychiatry practice.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?yes

If yes, can you provide a specific example?Not yet actively, however, the softwares I learned will be definitely useful in my work as a student research intern.

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?perfectly

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?A good letter of motivation showcasing why you chose specifically them. I did a lot pf research into their work, projects, publications and communicated what fascinated me in particular and how it is relevant to my education.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?The internship was individual, not a part of a programme. However, I did send a CV, letters of motivation and a transcript of records. I was the only international intern in my selected lab group at that time.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?Networking! It's a great way to connect with your peers and professionals which gives you more insight into your filed of interest.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?38000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?I contacted the university's housing office who recommended some housing agencies.

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Discount stores, student tickets (museums, public transport...), cooking your own meals.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?no problem at all

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

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?The best app for public transport (busses, metro, trains) was Google Maps (suprisingly). The easiest way to buy a ticket is with a kredit/debit card or a suica card - a digital "wallet", you can add money trough Apple Pay and it also works in some restaurants and supermarkets... everybody uses it.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Oh, so much to see! I recommend walking tour and traveling outside of the city as well, e.g. Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama...

Share your best experience:A trip to Kamakura with a sunset view of Mt. Fuji above the sea!

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?At the airport (for <90 days).

What is needed?Passport and a short document which can be filled online/ onsite after landing in Japan.

How long does it take approximately?15 minutes

How did you get to the place?Plane

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Cash, a small notebook for stamps (a lot of stamp points everywhere), an extra traveling bag (you'll buy a lot of stuff).

🥳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?The perfect balance of academy, science, traveling and getting to know the amazing Japanese way of life.