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Getting an MBA in Japan

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Your MBA Options in Japan

You might be surprised to know, but here in Japan there are 11 viable options for a classroom-based MBA taught entirely in English. Each of these programs is profiled, albeit briefly, in this lens. The heavy-lifting (research, contact, visits!) is left to the reader, and this is not a bad thing: make sure you make the best choice for yourself. After all, this is likely the biggest educational investment you'll make in yourself over the course of your life, so it pays to be well-informed.

I've included sections for MBAs taught in Japanese, as well as Japan-focused MBAs available outside Japan, near the end. I have chosen to focus on MBA programs that are primarily taught in person, and so have not included programs where a significant portion of the studies are done online.

Use this lens as a starting point. I'll do my best to turn it from what it is (basically a list) into something more content-rich over the upcoming months.

Disclaimer: I am a graduate of the Hitotsubashi ICS program (one of the schools profiled below). Does this make me biased? Probably. But just because I am happy with the choice I made, that shouldn't stop you from making the best choice for yourself.

News Corner

A list of articles online about getting an MBA in Japan.
The Ever-Evolving MBA
Features Dean Ahmadjian from Hitotsubashi ICS, Nigel Banister, the chief global officer for the Manchester Business School, and President Masakatsu Mori of IUJ.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Programs

There are several options for MBA studies in Japan, and one of the easiest ways to differentiate schools and programs is by their scheduling. Full-time programs require dedicated study, while part-time programs can be done on weekends or evenings. This lens features the 8 full-time options in alphabetIcal order: Doshisha, Globis, Hitotsubashi, IUJ, Nagoya, Ritsumeikan, Tsukuba, Waseda. This is followed by the 3 part-time offerings: Globis, McGill, and Temple.

Of course, another point of differentiation is the length of the program, which typically ranges from 12 to 24 months. Often more experienced professionals will aim for a shorter program, while career changers (especially those interested in practical internships) will look for a longer program. Be sure to read the profiles of each school for more information, and in many cases, options within programs.

Doshisha Business School Global MBA

Location: Kyoto
Length: 2yrs
class size: 22 (entering 2009)
email: ji-gmba "at" mail.doshisha.ac.jp
Doshisha MBA
Official Site
Admissions Process
More info on applying.
Contact Information
Email, telephone, address.

Globis 1-year Full-Time MBA

Location: Tokyo
Length: 1yr
Class size: 20
email: mba "at" globis.ac.jp
Globis Full-Time MBA Main Page
The portal page for this MBA program.
Admissions Requirements
Also click through to the preliminary screening page.

Hitotsubashi University, MBA in International Business Strategy

Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS)

Location: Tokyo
Length: 1yr or 2yrs
Class size: 50-60
email: ics-info "at" ics.hit-u.ac.jp
Hitotsubashi ICS
Official Site
Why Choose ICS?
Some differentiators of this program.
Student Profiles
Some information on the students in the program each year.
Building a World-Class Business School in Japan
An excellent Business Week article from 2000.
Contact Information
Email, fax, map & directions.

International University of Japan (IUJ)

Graduate School of International Management

Location: Minami Uonuma City (near Niigata)
Length: 2yrs
class size: 50
MBA Program
Official Site
Program Structure
What you'll study and when.
E-Business Management 1yr Program
Information on this 1yr Option.
Access Map
More info on the location of the school.

Nagoya University of Commerence and Business (NUCB) Global MBA

Location: Nagoya
Length: 1yr
NUCB Global MBA
Official Site
Admissions Criteria and Schedule
Important Details for Applying.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University MBA Program

Location: Beppu City, Oita Prefecture
Length: 2yrs (1.5 yrs possible)
class size: 40
email: apugrad "at" apu.ac.jp
Ritsumeikan Graduate Programs
Official Site (includes the MBA program)
The MBA Program
site specifically for the MBA
Admissions Requirements
More info on what they're looking for.
Access Map
The school is about 2 hours from Fukuoka.

University of Tsukuba, MBA Program in International Business

Graduate School of Business Sciences

Location: Tokyo
Length: 2yrs
Class size: about 30
University of Tsukuba MBA
Official Site
Features
Some unique facts about the program.
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum overview
Admissions Overview
Info on applying.
FAQ
(note: about 2/3 of the electives are in English)

Waseda Business School

Location: Tokyo
Length: 2yrs
Class size: 150 (all programs combined)
Waseda Business School
Official Site
Program Structure
Info on the MOT program, and the two possible tracks in the MBA: Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship Management.
Course Model
It seems there are 1yr/2yr options, but only the 2yr option is available exclusively in English.
Admissions Information
As advertised..
NTU-Waseda Double MBA in Management of Technology
This 1yr option gives you an MBA from Nanyang University (Singapore) as well as an MBA specializing in Management of Technology from Waseda University.

Globis University International MBA Program

Location: Tokyo
Length: 2-5 yrs (36 credits)
Class size: 20
Globis IMBA
Official Site
2010 Admission Guide
Lots of info on how to apply.
Yoshito Hori's Blog
He's the Globis CEO.

McGill MBA Japan

Location: Tokyo
Length: 2yrs (60 credits)
McGill Japan MBA Program
Official Site
Structure and Courses
Courses, concentrations, study tours.
Admissions Requirements
Ino on applying to the program.
Class Profile
50% Japanese, 50% Int'l.

Temple University, Japan Campus

School of Business and Management

Location: Tokyo
Length: 2-4 yrs
Temple Japan MBA Program
Official Site
Courses
Foundation, Advanced Managerial and other courses
Application Materials
The GMAT may be waived based on level of work experience and undergraduate GPA.

MBA Programs taught in Japanese

As one might expect, the vast majority of graduate business education offered in Japan is taught in Japanese. Here's a short-list of 3 programs with good reputations:

Keio Business School
http://www.kbs.keio.ac.jp/english/index.html

Hitotsubashi MBA Program, Kunitachi
http://www.cm.hit-u.ac.jp/mba/index_e.html

Aoyama Business School
http://www.gsim.aoyama.ac.jp/en/academic/mba_pg_mba.html

Japan-focused MBA programs in other Countries

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii @ Manoa offers a Japan focused MBA program. Details can be found here:

http://www.shidler.hawaii.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=245

Business Week profiled the program in 2004, and though dated, it may provide some useful information:

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/04/full_time_profiles/hawaii_b.htm

This program is a partnership between Shidler and JAIMS (Japan-America Institute of Management Science). According to the JAIMS website, "What set this program apart is a three-month corporate internship in Japan, preceded by 18 months of MBA coursework with a strong emphasis on business language and culture training. Plus, Hawai'i offers the ultimate multicultural setting to network international relationships while preparing for business success in Asia."
(http://jaims2.guide.net/MBA/index.html)

Boston University used to have a Japan-focused MBA option, but they no longer appear to offer it.

Thinking Ahead

Make sure you have a plan!

For most people, an MBA is a means towards a bigger goal, such as a better job, a move to a new industry or region, or even the chance to start up a new company. Along the way, MBA students get the chance to gain experience via internships, and also develop a strong international network.

In order to understand whether you need an MBA from any particular school, including programs in Japan, the first thing you need to figure out are your own objectives. What do you aim to accomplish during your MBA studies, and in the future? Which MBA programs might help you to achieve them? Moreover, in what ways will any particular program be a value-added experience for you?

These questions are important ones, and not just because having clear answers to them will aid you in crafting strong applications, and giving persuasive answers in interviews. They are important because your MBA is a large investment, and so you want to ensure you can maximize the benefits from it.

So, in order to figure out which MBA is best for you, you need to have a good idea of what you hope to get from it, or how you can use the experience to your advantage in the future.

New Guestbook

  • janecamron Apr 17, 2012 @ 6:13 am | delete
    Really good information. Somewhat surprising indeed that MBA courses in Japan are offered in English language. I am a student studying mba uk.
  • soumenpaul Dec 30, 2010 @ 10:38 am | delete
    perfect lens to read and i appreciate it. I am doing mba in finance from india.
  • MBA in Japan Aug 8, 2009 @ 7:12 pm | delete
    Anaheim University also offers a 12-15 month Online Global MBA, a 2-year Professional MBA with Saturday on-campus classes near Omotesando Station in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo as well as an 18-month Online Green MBA which is an MBA in Sustainable Management. Anaheim also offers open seminars to the public with CEOs and leaders from such companies as Nissan, Accenture, SAP, FedEx, etc.

    http://www.anaheim.edu
  • Mohammad Abu Alhija Jul 14, 2009 @ 5:34 pm | delete
    nice site, really good info in here
    thanks and keep up the good work
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John

My name is John Couke. I'm an Admissions Counselor for MBA, LLM and other graduate programs at a large testprep/counseling provider in Tokyo, Japan.... more »

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