Student Life

I graduated from a university in China with a degree in Japanese language studies. As I was interested in international relations and wanted to further my Japanese language skills, I enrolled in Niigata Prefectural University. From an international perspective, I am re-evaluating world politics and economics. At the same time, my English proficiency is improving rapidly. Currently, I am conducting research on crime rates. Through my studies here, with the help of many excellent friends, kind teachers, language proficiency, and political and economic knowledge, I will do my best to broaden my international perspective in the future.

I became interested in immigration and populist parties in my junior year and decided to enter this graduate school.
Although I am busy because I have to prepare and review for classes, which is a change from my undergraduate days, I spend my days fulfilled since I can learn a lot of things I did not know. Usually, I use the library, which has many materials and allows me to concentrate on self-studying.
This graduate school provides an environment where you can study and research your own interests in depth. Why don’t you come and study at our graduate school?

I was lucky to have a chance to enter UNP and learn international politics because I didn’t have many occasions to study such things before. Students can take classes in either English or Japanese, thus you don’t have to be so afraid of your language skills. It is also a merit of the school that you can gain not only political knowledge but also practical skills. Since every aspect of our life is nowadays required to deal with globalization, I am sure that what I learned in the school will benefit me in the future.

I have researched peace education focused on English education. The reason why I chose this theme was to practice peace education for my future as an English teacher at school. I have taken classes kinds of international politics or international relations mainly at the graduate school, and all of them have become the basis for my main research of peace education. Though it is a minor field of research, I could get an advantage focusing on it.

Two years of study in Niigata is a hard time but also a beautiful time that I wanted to go through. Since I didn’t have any knowledge and experience the first time studying in a foreign country, besides this is the time Covid-19 was a strong outbreak in the world, including in Japan. During that time, I learned a lot of useful knowledge about my research and social life. I was able to attend free Japanese classes at school, from which I gained more knowledge about the new language and Japanese culture. I’m really grateful to receive a lot of attention and help from my friends who are Japanese, as well as other nationalities and now my best friends. This is my best time, I was able to do the things I liked and have many good friends.

I studied methods of data analysis in this graduate school and also conducted my research for my Master’s thesis by using quantitative data. Since local governments are nowadays required to deal with globalization and to use data science, the experience of writing my thesis in English and analyzing data with statistical software at this graduate school will benefit my business career at a local government.

Looking back my two years in the graduate school, I think I have been able to spend much more diverse and meaningful days than I had expected. I also appreciate the curriculum and this university for making it possible for me to improve myself through various experiences continually. Interacting with my Japanese tutors gave me not only the chance to refine language ability but also the opportunity to exchange the differences in culture. Thanks to Prof. Kuroda and other professors who walked with me on this journey so that I am able to complete my master thesis and graduate. I look forward to furthering experiences and challenges in my future life.

Before I graduated from my university in Russia, I knew for sure that my future activities would relate to the international relations of Russia and Japan.
I chose the University of Niigata Prefecture because here you can simultaneously study international relations and the international economy. Also here you can expand your knowledge through communication with outstanding professors and students from different countries.
Thanks to the rich academic program of this university, I was able to compose a special program for myself from the most suitable courses for me, in order to successfully complete my thesis.

Assistance and communication from the school were quick and timely, which supported my study and smoothened my life here. The professors of the school were proficient and erudite with broad intellect not only about international relations but also about economics and social issues. One incredible point of the school system is the connection between the graduate program and undergraduate program. Thanks to that, I could sit in some undergraduate classes and register for several Japanese language courses. To a foreign student who is restrained in the ability of Japanese language like me, those programs were great chances to make new friends, discover a lot of hidden attractions of Niigata, as well as experience the lifestyle of local people.

I attended the graduate school while continuing to work at a full-time job. Although it was often difficult to balance schoolwork and regular work, I managed to complete my research thanks to the support of my colleagues and professors. The intensive, small-class teaching at the graduate school gave me valuable contacts from beyond my own generation, business field, and nationality that benefited not only my academic and business career but also my personal life itself.