₦airaland Forum

Hello Nairalanders,

I’m planning to start my Master’s degree next year and I’m currently considering Japan and Austria as my two main options.

Please, I’d love to hear from anyone who has studied, lived, or currently lives in either of these countries. I’m especially interested in knowing:
1. Cost of living — rent, feeding, transportation, and general expenses for students.
2. Work opportunities — how easy it is to get part-time jobs while studying.
3. Post-graduation prospects — how realistic it is to get a good job or work visa after finishing the Master’s program.
4. Language barriers — how much not knowing Japanese or German can affect daily life or job chances.
5. Overall quality of life — safety, culture, and how foreigners (especially Africans/Nigerians) are treated.

I want to make a smart decision, especially on which country offers better chances to work, earn money, and build a career after school.

Please share your honest opinions and personal experiences.
Thanks in advance!

I will choose Japan if I was you. The problem with Austria is that it’s very difficult getting dates to legalize your documents and then subsequently getting your visa but with Japan if you do everything right you can be in Japan next year however Japanese is much more difficult to learn than German.

What program do you want to study? How do you intend to fund your postgraduate degree?

I live in Japan, and it is great, but like everything in life, it is tied to the value you offer. The language is extremely crucial in getting a job, and do your best to get the job before you graduate, as most Japanese students do. Here, you get the job BEFORE you graduate, not AFTER. If you can, target the April admission session so you graduate in March 2028. Through this, you participate in the job hunting process like most Japanese. So, more job fairs and companies seeking to employ new grads. Part-time jobs aren't an issue. Scholarships are plentiful (check StudyInJapan).

Japan is incredibly safe. Stay within the laws, follow the rules and social norms, and there would be no problem. However, if you seek a higher currency vis-à-vis remittances, the Yen is not high.

PS. If your intended program isn't engineering or hardcore sciences, you are better off enrolling in a language school before you begin a master's program as jobs in non-STEM fields prioritise above intermediate or almost fluent Japanese. Your competitors are Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and increasingly Nepalese, all of whom study the language before coming here. The first two have a historical linguistic advantage over everyone else.

See the Japan thread here: https://www.nairaland.com/2655545/japanese-visa-travelling-japan

Gerrard59:
What program do you want to study? How do you intend to fund your postgraduate degree?

I live in Japan, and it is great, but like everything in life, it is tied to the value you offer. The language is extremely crucial in getting a job, and do your best to get the job before you graduate, as most Japanese students do. Here, you get the job BEFORE you graduate, not AFTER. If you can, target the April admission session so you graduate in March 2028. Through this, you participate in the job hunting process like most Japanese. So, more job fairs and companies seeking to employ new grads. Part-time jobs aren't an issue. Scholarships are plentiful (check StudyInJapan).

Japan is incredibly safe. Stay within the laws, follow the rules and social norms, and there would be no problem. However, if you seek a higher currency vis-à-vis remittances, the Yen is not high.

PS. If your intended program isn't engineering or hardcore sciences, you are better off enrolling in a language school before you begin a master's program as jobs in non-STEM fields prioritise above intermediate or almost fluent Japanese. Your competitors are Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and increasingly Nepalese, all of whom study the language before coming here. The first two have a historical linguistic advantage over everyone else.

See the Japan thread here: https://www.nairaland.com/2655545/japanese-visa-travelling-japan

Hey boss... I'm a software engineer.

How is the job market for engineers like in Japan?

Gerrard59:
What program do you want to study? How do you intend to fund your postgraduate degree?

I live in Japan, and it is great, but like everything in life, it is tied to the value you offer. The language is extremely crucial in getting a job, and do your best to get the job before you graduate, as most Japanese students do. Here, you get the job BEFORE you graduate, not AFTER. If you can, target the April admission session so you graduate in March 2028. Through this, you participate in the job hunting process like most Japanese. So, more job fairs and companies seeking to employ new grads. Part-time jobs aren't an issue. Scholarships are plentiful (check StudyInJapan).

Japan is incredibly safe. Stay within the laws, follow the rules and social norms, and there would be no problem. However, if you seek a higher currency vis-à-vis remittances, the Yen is not high.

PS. If your intended program isn't engineering or hardcore sciences, you are better off enrolling in a language school before you begin a master's program as jobs in non-STEM fields prioritise above intermediate or almost fluent Japanese. Your competitors are Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and increasingly Nepalese, all of whom study the language before coming here. The first two have a historical linguistic advantage over everyone else.

See the Japan thread here: https://www.nairaland.com/2655545/japanese-visa-travelling-japan

Thanks for the reply.. btw i studied biochemistry.
Do i need ielts to get admission into any uni in japan?

CHUDIEMMA22:
Thanks for the reply.. btw i studied biochemistry.
Do i need ielts to get admission into any uni in japan?

This depends on the university. Some mandate it, others might not. It is your duty to do your research.

Biochemistry is good as it leads to opportunities in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, which are dominant here. To increase your chances as a non-East Asian foreigner, a PhD is recommended. If not, ensure your Japanese is at least intermediate, as your major competitors will likely be native Japanese (many stop at the MSc level, as they are not interested in PhD).

Lorayne:
Hey boss... I'm a software engineer.

How is the job market for engineers like in Japan?

Good, but you have to be good to get a company to employ you while outside the country. To increase your chances, especially against applicants from Southeast Asia and India, a minimum of three years of work experience is vital. The language skills is also important as most companies will be Japanese centric. But being in the country and having the skills supercedes the language. That is, provided you reside in the country and have the skills, your chances of getting a job are higher than having the skills while being outside the country.

Gerrard59:
Good, but you have to be good to get a company to employ you while outside the country. To increase your chances, especially against applicants from Southeast Asia and India, a minimum of three years of work experience is vital. The language skills is also important as most companies will be Japanese centric. But being in the country and having the skills supercedes the language. That is, provided you reside in the country and have the skills, your chances of getting a job are higher than having the skills while being outside the country.

Nice.. thanks.
Seems you are in tech too?
Is C# .Net widely used?

Lorayne:
Nice.. thanks.
Seems you are in tech too?
Is C# .Net widely used?

No, I am not in tech. However, I have two friends who work for a Japanese tech company and are well paid. The three of us graduated from Japanese universities. Recently, an acquaintance from Benin Republic got a job right after she graduated (a Japanese university). Her internship was also at one the big tech firms.

As I stated here:

Gerrard59:
Good, but you have to be good to get a company to employ you while outside the country. To increase your chances, especially against applicants from Southeast Asia and India, a minimum of three years of work experience is vital. The language skills is also important as most companies will be Japanese centric. But being in the country and having the skills supercedes the language. That is, provided you reside in the country and have the skills, your chances of getting a job are higher than having the skills while being outside the country.

I know nothing about C# other than it is much harder than Python. To know more about the job market and what it demands, use LinkedIn location search feature. Search for jobs and change the location to Japan or Tokyo.

If I were you, I would choose Austria. Yes, Japan is far superior to Austria economically but if you plan to stay abroad in the long-term, Japan isn't it. No chances of becoming a naturalized citizen in Japan compared to Austria and Japanese is not an easy language to learn compared to German. Austria gives you access to 28 schengen countries and 32 EU countries. If things don't work out for you in Austria, you can always port to a neighbouring schengen country. Plus, school fees in Austria is much cheaper than Japan. Consider your pocket. Don't get me wrong, Japan is better in terms of job opportunities, world class schools and more vibrant than Austria but if you are considering living abroad in the long run with the goal of securing a second passport, Japan is not it. My two cents.

gforce5:
If I were you, I would choose Austria. Yes, Japan is far superior to Austria economically but if you plan to stay abroad in the long-term, Japan isn't it. No chances of becoming a naturalized citizen in Japan compared to Austria and Japanese is not an easy language to learn compared to German. Austria gives you access to 28 schengen countries and 32 EU countries. If things don't work out for you in Austria, you can always port to a neighbouring schengen country. Plus, school fees in Austria is much cheaper than Japan. Consider your pocket. Don't get me wrong, Japan is better in terms of job opportunities, world class schools and more vibrant than Austria but if you are considering living abroad in the long run with the goal of securing a second passport, Japan is not it. My two cents.

This is a lie. It’s actually easier to become a naturalized citizen in Japan than to be one in Austria

CHUDIEMMA22:
Hello Nairalanders,

I’m planning to start my Master’s degree next year and I’m currently considering Japan and Austria as my two main options.

Please, I’d love to hear from anyone who has studied, lived, or currently lives in either of these countries. I’m especially interested in knowing:
1. Cost of living — rent, feeding, transportation, and general expenses for students.
2. Work opportunities — how easy it is to get part-time jobs while studying.
3. Post-graduation prospects — how realistic it is to get a good job or work visa after finishing the Master’s program.
4. Language barriers — how much not knowing Japanese or German can affect daily life or job chances.
5. Overall quality of life — safety, culture, and how foreigners (especially Africans/Nigerians) are treated.

I want to make a smart decision, especially on which country offers better chances to work, earn money, and build a career after school.

Please share your honest opinions and personal experiences.
Thanks in advance!

austria if you like yourself plus if you network better , you will meet lots of good peeps. work life is more stable


japan is not used to be, they are clapping down on immigration, japans dont even like koreans, wetin go come happen to black man
work life in japan is miserable , more of peasant feudalist work era

tensazangetsu20:
This is a lie. It’s actually easier to become a naturalized citizen in Japan than to be one in Austria

The issue many people have with the bold is renouncing their native nationality, else many would have naturalised.

Gerrard59:
The issue many people have with the bold is renouncing their native nationality, else many would have naturalised.

Austria doesn’t also allow dual nationality too and it takes around 15 years to become a citizen.

Thanks a lot, everyone, for your helpful suggestions. I really appreciate all the responses.
From my research, though, I found out that processing a master’s admission and visa for Austria can take more than a year, which honestly feels quite tiring. I’m still looking into other options that might have a faster and more straightforward process.

Gerrard59:
No, I am not in tech. However, I have two friends who work for a Japanese tech company and are well paid. The three of us graduated from Japanese universities. Recently, an acquaintance from Benin Republic got a job right after she graduated (a Japanese university). Her internship was also at one the big tech firms.

As I stated here:


I know nothing about C# other than it is much harder than Python. To know more about the job market and what it demands, use LinkedIn location search feature. Search for jobs and change the location to Japan or Tokyo.

Thank you for your response.

Guess it's time to start learning Japanese.