Hi all,
I’ve recently been accepted into two PhD programs (AI / Data Science) with scholarships. One is at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, and the other is in Montreal, Canada.
My wife and I have already lived in Japan for a year as exchange students, and living there long-term has been a shared dream. She’s fluent in Japanese, but I’m still learning (rusty N3). Studying in Japan would make it easier to connect with local networks, stay close to the language, and potentially find work after I graduate.
However, I think Montreal offers more career growth opportunities in tech, with a lot of research positions in big companies and universities. I am not sure if Japan, especially Fukuoka, has the same amount of opportunities. My main question is: would gaining experience and career growth in Canada give me a better path back to Japan in a high-level tech or research role than doing the PhD directly in Japan?
Salary isn’t a concern—I’m more focused on long-term career prospects in Japan and making the best choice for a tech research career. I know that salaries in the West are much better, but I value the quality of life in Japan much more.
Thanks for any advice or insights you can share!
by antimemeranger