Student Blog

3-minute read

Hello! I’m Mayumi Nakamura. I’m currently on exchange at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. At APU, we have the amazing opportunity to study and use multiple languages, including English, all while spending time in a unique multicultural environment. At the same time, APU offers many chances to go abroad. Today, I’d like to share what I’ve discovered about the value of studying abroad as an APU student.

Learning Beyond the Campus

Let me start by introducing the overseas experiences — both short-term and long-term — that I’ve had. APU actively encourages learning outside of the campus, and for first-year students, one of the first steps is the short-term overseas training program called FIRST (Freshman Intercultural Relations Study Trip). When I joined this program, we traveled to South Korea. Our destinations in the country were randomly assigned, and after conducting surveys in groups, each group gave a final presentation.

As for long-term experience, I joined a semester-long exchange program at one of APU’s partner universities, which is a great way to study abroad for a semester or a whole year.

The Value of Studying Abroad

Through these experiences, I’ve come to realize four main values of studying abroad as an APU student:

1. Experiencing What It’s Like to Be a Minority

APU has many international students, but Japanese students still make up about half of the student body. However, once you go abroad, you find yourself in the position of an "international student." This made me reflect even more on how we treat people from different cultural backgrounds in Japan. During the FIRST program in South Korea, there were many moments when English wasn’t enough, and I came to understand the importance of learning the local language. I also realized I had to let go of the mindset that “as long as you can speak English, you’ll be fine.”

2. Learning Courses Not Offered at APU

On an exchange program, you can take courses not offered in your APU major. I’m interested in writing my graduation thesis on intercultural education, so at my host university in the UK, I chose to study education, which APU doesn’t offer in its curriculum.

3. Discovering Your Potential for Growth

The teaching and grading style at my host university in the UK is very different from APU. Classes tend to be small and discussion-based, which means that preparation and active participation are essential. Unlike APU, participation doesn’t directly affect your grade; instead, it’s about gaining the insights needed for your final assignments. These are graded anonymously and emphasize critical thinking, so getting high marks isn’t easy. I realized how much I still need to grow in areas like logical thinking, reading comprehension, and persuasive writing. I also developed a habit of looking things up when I had questions, and I’ve found myself reading much more than before.

4. Enjoying Leisure Time in a New Way

In the UK, I had the chance to travel to places like London, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg with new friends. I also visited a friend from APU who’s studying abroad in Finland. In Japan, I’ve always had my favorite local spots and close friends and family nearby, but in the UK, it's easy and affordable to travel to different countries. Through these experiences, I met not only students from Japan studying abroad but also international students from APU doing exchange programs elsewhere and even former exchange students who once studied at APU. These encounters broadened my interests and boosted my motivation. Because APU students are everywhere, you can always find special opportunities and connections wherever you go.

Visiting a friend studying in Finland

Traveling with friends in the Netherlands

In Closing

I hope this blog gives new perspectives to high school students considering applying to APU, and to APU students who are thinking about joining study abroad or overseas programs. I’ll continue to share more about the whole study abroad journey — from preparation to returning to APU — and life at APU itself, so stay tuned!

Be sure to explore the many global programs offered at APU!

Mayumi Nakamura

Hello! My name is Mayumi, and I am a third-year student in the College of Asia Pacific Studies. I would like to share the unique features of APU, as well as my experience studying abroad in the UK for a year. I hope my posts can inspire readers who are considering studying at APU or taking on new challenges. Looking forward to connecting with you!