PhD in STEM on the Tropical Island of Okinawa, Japan

Sick of cold and breezy weather? Why not have a sip of fresh tropical fruit juice on the beach while analysing your experimental data on your laptop? Okinawa is a southern island located at a 2.5-hour flight distance from Tokyo. It is often known as a holiday destination, but here are several reasons why Okinawa could be the place where you begin your career in STEM.

Geographically advantaged

Okinawa is a hub of economic cities in Asia such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Seoul, Shanghai, Manila and Tokyo. You can relax and enjoy the nature under the mild and tropical weather while securing an easy access to those major cities. Additionally, you will appreciate the safe and sound living environment with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, with one of the lowest living costs in Japan.

Culture and history

Japan is rich in its culture, but Okinawa has its own unique traditions that attracts not only international students but Japanese students from the mainland. Before being integrated into Japan in 1879, Okinawa was an independent state which flourished under the royal of Ryukyu Kingdom for 450 years. You can enrich your life by interacting with the friendly locals who inherited the traditions from this period.

Economy

Okinawa is designated as a special economic zone by the Japanese Government with plenty of room for economic development. Start-ups and entrepreneurs are highly encouraged, and they can benefit from tax incentives. You can be a pioneer in building new businesses which will directly contribute to Okinawa’s advancement!

PhD in STEM

You may wonder by now “Hmm, but I cannot speak Japanese”. That’s where the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) comes in. Having over 200 PhD students in the STEM field, 85% of which are from overseas, OIST represents about 50 countries and regions. All education and research are conducted in English. Moreover, it is fully funded for all the PhD students regardless of their nationality. Generous funding gives you the freedom to conduct the cutting-edge research in the basic science. All those factors summed up and it took less than a decade for the university to be ranked top in Japan and 9th in the world by Nature Index Normalized Ranking in 2019.

This diverse environment in every aspect will indeed stimulate your curiosity and trigger inspiration. Surrounded by the world-class faculty, the state-of-art research equipment and the beautiful coral reef ocean, your true innovation will spark from this island.

For more information, please visit the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University website.

You’ll find Kanako Aono from OIST speaking on our international study 101 talks panel at our Postgrad LIVE Virtual Study Fair. The fair is the perfect opportunity for you to talk to over 70 UK and international universities about your postgraduate study options, and what postgraduate study might look like in these ever changing times. You can talk online to universities privately or in groups with other prospective students, attend virtual talks on the application process and funding and ask some of your most pressing questions, all from the comfort of your own home.