Recently, I received an offer to pursue a fully funded master’s at a top 3 university in Japan in the field of development and stem cell biology. The catch? I’d have to commit to staying in the same lab for my PhD after completing my master’s.
While the opportunity is incredible—top university, the research aligns with my interests, the funding is excellent, and the group is composed of international students, the long-term commitment is daunting. Committing to one lab and research focus for several years feels like a big decision, especially when I might want to explore other options after my master’s.
Another concern is the language barrier. While the lab consists of mostly foreign students, I’m unsure whether the master’s coursework will be in Japanese, which could make things more challenging.
I’m torn between accepting this great offer and keeping my future open for potential alternatives. Has anyone faced a similar dilemma? How did you navigate it? and is doing a STEM masters/PhD in Japan worth it?
by Easy-Education2069