LIFE / Lifestyle

The pandemic left Japanese students studying abroad scrambling. A year later, what’s happened to their academic dreams?

Balancing costs and benefits with personal goals

All-nighter: Some Japanese students have elected to continue with virtual classes at their international universities, despite the grueling time difference. | GETTY IMAGES

By Kathryn Wortley
Contributing Writer

Mar 20, 2021

Culture shock, academic adjustments, language barriers, finances.

Students departing Japan tend to expect such challenges, viewing them as an inevitable speed bump in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive experience. For many, studying abroad — whether for a semester, a year or an entire undergraduate program — is a dream that cannot be abandoned.

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, is testing the limits of Japanese students overseas. Thousands have had their programs disrupted (and visa status threatened) by the spread of the novel coronavirus, and many are still struggling with 2020’s fallout.

The pandemic left Japanese students studying abroad scrambling. A year later, what’s happened to their academic dreams?

Balancing costs and benefits with personal goals

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