On 18 March, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT) published the latest available statistics on the number of Japanese students studying abroad. The data revealed an increase in the number of students by 4.6% in 2012 compared to 2011. This was the first recorded increase since 2004, when the number of Japanese students studying abroad was at its peak.  MEXT commented that this latest trend shows that young Japanese are becoming less “inward-looking”  and with the renewed investment in university internationalisation since 2013, further positive results are anticipated.

Key findings:

  • The total number of Japanese students studying abroad increased by 4.6% in 2012 compared to 2011
     
  • China surpassed the US as the most popular destination for the first time as its market share rose by 18%
     
  • As the US and UK were both down by 2%, Australia fell by 12.4% and Canada by 12.2%
     
  • The UK is now the 3rd most popular destination for Japanese students after China and the US
     
  • Taiwan’s market share rose by 8% in 2012 as it became the 4th most popular study abroad destination
     
  • There was noticeable growth in the number of students studying in Germany (up by 5%)


Analysis:

The increasing popularity of China, Taiwan and Germany can be attributed in part to the reasonable cost of living and studying in those countries.  As an increasing number of Japanese university students look for study abroad opportunities, the cost of studying overseas has become an important factor in selecting destinations for many students. Living and studying in the UK is often perceived by Japanese universities and students as an expensive option.  We recommend UK universities emphasize that studying in the UK can, ultimately, be good value for money because of the excellent quality of education which is highly valued by employers across the world. Any opportunities for financial support should also be actively disseminated to prospective students.

If you have any queries, please contact Ayako Towatari (ayako.towatari@britishcouncil.or.jp), British Council Japan.