38 reviews
3.67 / 5 based on 38 reviews
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3
M C
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Local language was: Different than language of instruction
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Was learning the local language a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language
How much did you improve your the local language?
My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Basic phrases
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
The graduate courses were in English but the administration of the campus was done in Japanese. The institution made it quite difficult for graduate students to enroll in the language program offered.
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18
M C
Academic
Course recommendations
The courses are very repetitive, i.e. numerous courses that are listed as "Asia Pacific Studies" but all cover the same basics. There are a select few teachers that are good, however by and large most of the instructors are very sub-par and the teaching style is through power-points with little analysis. Again there are some good teachers here but most are quite bad.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The manner of assesment at APU is very very sub-par. It amounts to putting in input and then getting a grade back with no comments on performance. In a graduate level course I expect a lot of feedback and comments to aid in producing a sound thesis. This did not happen. I would suggest a complete overhaul of the academic program, one that focused on having a sound rational growth of classes and one that focused on sources rather than emotions, which is what many of the courses reflect. Grading needs to be more open and classes need to have a logical progression (not simply a series of identical introduction courses).
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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2
M C
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Other
Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience
Personal spending habits
Housing, mainly utilities, was more expensive than at home. Travel and transportation was VERY expensive. Again the school is very isolated and at @ $6 a day for the bus it quickly adds up. Nighlife wise the average pint of beer in Japan is $5 but the transportation home is very expensive (taxi is $20 for 2 miles)
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Nightlife, Housing, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Telephone:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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44
M C
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had known that the shool was as isolated as it is from the town and that the town itself is so isolated. Transportation expenses are also high. The quality of instructors and classes is far below what I expected, with many of the graduate classes being of a level below 100 level classes I had as an under-grad. If I had known all of this I would not have choosen APU, as I find that the expenses, quality and opportunities that it offers are at best negligible.
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In my opinion:
Stay home.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
It needs to find a focus. At present it is neither focused on the students nor on the faculty but seems to be focused on the administration. It needs to focus on its customers/students, improve the curriculum and the level of the instructors, support graduate students more and be far more open and conducive to change than it is.
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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
One of the biggest problems is that APU has a very hard time getting capable instructors. This is made clear due to the fact that it is unable to put out a time-table for classes until within 17 days before the semester starts. Grades are not released until two months after the semester ends, which is not very open or transparent. Courses are redundant and non-progressive. Instructors often are sub-par. The administrative staff is less than helpful and seems to operate at their convenience rather than aiding the students. Many of the problems come from a lethargic and entrenched bureaucracy that stifles any reform or improvement to the institution.
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3
M C
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
The school is too isolated but would move closer to the main town of Beppu.
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Personal comments
The dorms are quite small and again are isolated from everything else. Transportation from the dorms to the city costs $4 each way and takes @40 minutes. From where I lived it took @15 min. but cost $3 each way to get to the school. You are not allowed to have a car and the only other way to get to school is by scooter.
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Useful |
7
M C
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Nightlife, Travel, Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
There is very little big city life here. the nearest "big city" is Oita (20 min by train) and Fukuoka is 2 hours by bus. The town itself is nice but the population is mainly older folks near retirement age. Beppu is very isolated making any travel outside quite expensive.
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