My Exchange at Keio University – Law
I first found out about this exchange programme through seeing various 360 posters around the campus. I found out more about the Keio Law exchange programme through my own research and also 360’s resources.
Tokyo is very different from Auckland. Tokyo alone has a population of 10 million, so be prepared to squeeze yourself onto the train during rush hour, or walk at a snails pace in the station. It took a lot of getting used to. However, once university started, I was off to the races. University life is also very different at Keio compared to UOA. For starters, a lot of information that I would generally take for granted from Auckland is not readily available at Keio, meaning I needed to be more diligent in doing my own research and asking more questions. Keio campus culture can feel a little isolating, as an English exchange programme means that you only interact with other foreigners. There are many clubs on campus, but they require a certain level of Japanese for you to interact properly. If you put yourself out there, there are of course many opportunities to make friends and interact with locals too. It was overall a very good experience.
My accommodation was at the Omori student dorms. It wasn’t too expensive, at around 69,000 yen per month with meals included. However, the rules of the dorm are quite strict. Floors are separated by gender, and opposite genders are not allowed to enter each other’s rooms. Furthermore, strictly, nobody is allowed to stay in your dorm room for a night. I had my own fridge, sink, bed, desk, and light in the room. The bathroom and showers are shared. There is also a public bath if you so dare.
The courses and teaching depended heavily on the lecturer. Some have strong accents, making it difficult to understand sometimes. Furthermore, there were no exams for the law courses, only final papers, which was quite nice. Overall, the courses were interesting and quite well-structured. I will say that many of them are quite a lot easier than you would expect from a UOA law student.
The cost of living is a lot cheaper than Auckland. In fact, if you find the right places, eating out is cheaper than cooking at home. For example, a bowl of ramen in Auckland might run you around $17, however, in Japan, you can get a better bowl for just $10.
I went travelling quite a lot. The courses did not require too much work, so I had time to go on many holidays. These included multi-day hikes, day trips, and multi-day trips to other prefectures. I was not too involved in any particular university clubs.
Life on campus was honestly a little isolating. Being in law school means that you will be in a single building for all your classes. I hate to admit that I barely ventured out of the law building. Furthermore, there is a whole other campus (I was on Mita) called Hiyoshi, which is a lot fancier. There is a free gym and track, and is overall just a nicer campus. The campus does have a cafeteria that serves delicious food at a ridiculously cheap price. We’re talking $6 for a full meal.
My highlight of the exchange would definitely be meeting students from other countries. The Keio Law exchange puts you into the masters course, so everybody is a foreigner there. Interacting and making friends with people of various backgrounds is definitely a highlight.
The most challenging part was finding information on my own rather than having it given to me. The guidelines for assignments were vague, and I often had to send multiple emails to lecturers to clarify. This also translates over to Japanese life in general. Japan is a very strict country with hard deadlines. Furthermore, a there is a lot of paperwork to be done. The most shocking thing for me was the fact that rent payments came in the mail every time. These required you to get out cash and pay them at the convenience stores (crazy I know). The same went for my mobile phone plan and my national health insurance.
I did not have very much information going into this exchange, so a lot of the application process was me feeling around and getting the hang of things. I would have loved to know how to properly find the Keio University syllabus so as to make my course approvals easier to begin with. I initially had a lot of trouble with this. Overall, it is a good experience. If you want to experience life in Tokyo, this is the course for you, as the classes and assignments are not that difficult.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
The highlight of my academic experience is definitely the comparative aspect of legal learning. Japan’s legal system is completely different from that of New Zealand, and it is interesting to see the comparisons. The courses all actively encourage a comparative view with some requiring it.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I would recommend going to the Keio vs Waseda baseball game. Sports are a big part of university culture in Japan, and the baseball game is one of the best places to showcase this.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
1. Don’t be too overwhelmed by all the paperwork and procedures you need to go through when entering into Japan. Everyone has the same lived experience, and as long as you take it one step at a time, everything will be fine.
2. Be on top of your final assessments. The topic and deadline for assessments are given at the beginning of the course. Although it may be tempting to put them off, they snowball very fast, and you will soon realise that you have a month to complete 8 or 9 final papers!
3. Make the most out of the university cafeteria. The food there is a lot cheaper than eating out.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I allocated myself a certain amount to spend for each month, however, most of this went out the window due to my snacking habits and the accessibility of convenience stores. I learned that although buying one packet of gummies may seem menial, this stacks up day by day, and eventually, you’ll have spent more than you previously envisioned!
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
My most significant takeaway is time management for assignments. This may seem like trite and generic advice that any university student should know, however, it is one of much practical use. If you allocate just a little time each day to chip away at your assignments, you won’t be swamped with over 8 near towards the end of the semester.