Overall Reviews
3.98 / 5 based on 197 reviews

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Tim K
Overall
I wish I had known...
Learning the language is hard work, you can't learn it through osmosis. And also enjoy every minute of being there since you wont' be there forever. Keep in touch with the people you meet.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I'd go here again and probably wouldn't change much about my experience. It was a total blast!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Overall a great university. Tons of fun. Easy classes. Japan is a really cool country. Meet new and interesting people. Try and visit Tokyo if you can. It's a bit expensive though, I never got to do that. Probably my only regret about the whole trip.
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“Lots of opportunities to meet diverse people and see the world”
Naoko Y
Germany, Undergraduate
, 2015
Overall
They offer you opportunities to lead you future career. The more hard you study, the more able you are to get yourself into many advanced program, such as studying abroad, participating class with English native speakers, or you name it. As for me studied for two semesters in WA, the United States, it was the most valuable time to not only study with local people but experience different culture. It absolutely allowed me to see things from different angles.
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Pros
Many choices for the programs to study abroad
Cons
Choices for studying abroad are many but not organised well

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anonymous
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had better planned my travel itinerary in Japan. Although I traveled a fair bit, I felt I could have done more had I better planned this aspect of the trip.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I had a great time at Kansai Gaidai. I made a lot of good friends and my Japanese improved immensely. The university has a good program for foreign students, with quality teachers and facilities (ie classrooms, language lab and video equipment). There are further many extra curricular activities to become involved in, including sporting and social clubs. The university’s location in Hirakata City allows access to the fun of Osaka, a fusion of the old and the new in Kyoto, and the rich history of Nara. I highly recommend Kansa Gaidai.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Go there with an open mind, and try to do it all.
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FlatlandDan
Overall
I wish I had known...
Bring medication. REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A LANGUAGE SCHOOL. THE AFTERNOON CLASSES GET F#*(ED OVER A LOT.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Like I've said throughout this review thing, Kansai Gaidai is for people who want to learn Japanese. I didn't. I came based solely on the afternoon courses. So I'm having a really hard time here with the Japanese being the focus. I wish I would have been able to take an introductory course at home before I left, and I would highly recommend that to anyone who is coming and speaks no Japanese. I have friends who have had a year of japanese and they are in the same level as I am. That doesn't seem fair at all.
But, if you're keen on learning the language, this is the place to be.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Bring medication. Have fun. Travel. Don't stress to much. If you have a break down, don't worry...everyone does...several times a month.
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1
Lisel W
Overall
I wish I had known...
That I wouldn't have been accepted for homestay, that certain professors were WAY better than others, that the dorms would be filled with Americans.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
INTEGRATE THE FOREIGN STUDENTS MORE, especially the ones not doing homestay! Less vocabulary lists in the higher levels and more speaking practice! My friends do not correct my grammar!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
You are halfway between Osaka and Kyoto, two of the best cities in Japan. The only good thing about Gaidai? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Take advantage of it!
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“Good Location, Met Some Cool People”
Season
United States, Undergraduate
, 2022
Overall
I did truly enjoy my time there and do not regret going because I experienced a lot of growth as a person, but I would not want to stay any longer than the semester that I was there. Although the university is nice, it seems more appealing on paper than it does when you're there. Kansai Gaidai was a pretty campus, but the English classes that I took were lackluster in content and a lot of the professors were very unprofessional. There is not much to do in Hirakata, but the location of the university is very good because you can easily get to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. I recommend traveling a lot and making the most out of your experience! I stayed in the dorms and it was nice to have my own room. But the caretakers are not super helpful and the girls in my unit were not the best, but that's not the fault of the program. I also wish that there was more of an orientation when you get there, because if I didn't make friends who were in the same boat as me, it would have been hard to get adjusted. I miss the food and the connivance stores so much. When I was there, going out to eat was very cheap and Japanese food is the best so there are a lot of options. Overall, my experience was meaningful because of my friends and because I was in Japan, but the university didn't really add much to my experience.
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Pros
Location, Food
Cons
Classes, Organization, Willingness to Help