I'm a 21-year-old woman, currently in my third year of architecture with good grades (around a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale — so high grades, though not always perfect). I studied abroad for a year, I speak three languages fluently, and I’m planning to perfect two more that I already understand but am not fluent in yet. I also recently started studying Japanese, I'm still a beginner, but I really enjoy it and I'm dedicating a lot of time to it.
This year, thanks to an academic project, I spent two weeks in Japan, during which I also visited the Osaka Expo. It was incredible.
I’ve always been interested in Japanese architecture, but — and I don’t want to sound dramatic, but it’s true — this trip genuinely changed the way I see architecture and made me love it even more than before.
Because of this, I would love to return to Japan for a period longer than just a vacation, maybe for further studies (a master’s degree) or an internship.
I know there are various options, but I want to mention that my financial resources are not very high, and I would need at least partial financial support.
This year I applied for the MIRAI program (for those who don’t know, it’s a government program that allows university students from various countries to spend a week in Japan attending conferences on a specific theme), but unfortunately I wasn’t accepted. The program is very competitive, and the application clearly states that students enrolled in Japan-related majors (e.g., East Asian languages, international relations…) are given preference. So I knew I was at a disadvantage, but I was still disappointed when I didn’t get in.
Yes, it’s a very short program, but it still could have been a helpful addition to my CV for future applications to internships or other opportunities.
Maybe this rejection discouraged me more than I want to admit. I’ll try again next year, but I also want to explore other options.
I still have two and a half years left before graduating (in my country the degree lasts 5 years, so I have five semesters left), but what do you think could be a valid alternative for me?
I’ve been thinking about:
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Doing a master’s degree at a Japanese university with scholarships (university scholarships, JASSO, MEXT)
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Trying to get an internship, either through a program (in my country I only found one, and it’s for STEM fields in general, so very competitive) or by contacting firms directly, though many architecture studios offer unpaid internships.
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Applying to the JET Programme, so I could live in Japan and possibly look for internships/university programs while already there. (I’m a certified C2 in English.) Though ideally, I’d prefer something more directly connected to architecture.
Do you think these are good alternatives? And more importantly, do you think this is realistically possible, or am I aiming too high?
I see so many people on social media moving to Japan seemingly with ease, even people from my own country, but this rejection from the MIRAI program made me rethink things, reminding me that what we see on social media is often far from reality.
My goal isn’t to move long-term (at least not for now), but rather to study Japanese architecture up close, learn the language and experience the culture. So maybe that’s more achievable than trying to relocate permanently. Also, I’m from a European country with excellent relations with Japan, so visas and permits aren’t a huge obstacle.
Given my background, do you think I have a chance? Is it worth investing the next three or four years into trying to make this experience happen? For those of you who have pursued similar paths and persevered, did you ever face rejection from a program/opportunity you really wanted? And how you made it in the end?
by swab04