Japan – Summer
Student: Summer
Course: Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Program: Trimester exchange 2025
The New Colombo Plan Scholarship truly is a unique experience. I am a 2025 NCP Japan scholar and have completed University studies at the University of Tsukuba and I am currently completing language studies in Sapporo, Hokkaido. This experience has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself, my values and my goals, than I expected when I went into the program.
The professional connections that I made at the University of Tsukuba have been invaluable in guiding my choices when it comes to future studies. I am a biomedical science student, and I was able to learn more about different laboratories in my host country and the kinds of research that they were working on as well as how my countries culture impacted the way research was conducted.
At the University I was also able to join a Taiko (Japanese drum) club that was a mix of international and domestic students. I was able to make Japanese friends, practice Japanese in a casual setting as well as have fun drumming, which is a passion of mine. I’m excited that some of my friends have plans to visit Australia in the future, I’m looking forward to being able to show them around my country soon. It was also highly rewarding to be able to perform for the local community.
Finally, I just want to say if your goal is to improve your language skills or learn a new language then this program is the best way to do so. I completed individual Japanese language study for almost a year before my NCP program began however when I arrived, I found myself unable to use a lot of what I had been studying, especially because I hadn’t been practicing speaking. A lot of people speak highly about the immersion method, I believe there truly is no better way to learn a language. You pick up a language a lot faster when you’re surrounded by, and being taught by, native speakers. I have been studying now at a language school called JaLS Hokkaido for eight weeks. I have gone from barely being able to introduce myself to understanding simple conversations, answering questions about my week and more. It has really helped me in my day-to-day life here.
If you’re wanting to travel, make new friends, learn a new language, and make new connections then I would highly recommend the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.