u/sea_indigo

Hi everyone,
Sorry if you’ve seen this question from me before—I’m posting it in a few different communities to get perspectives from different people.

I’m a 21-year-old IT student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year vocational school. The school is classified as H+ on Anabin, and I’m expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before this, I worked full-time at a factory for two years after high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree abroad around age 25. After graduation, I expect to look for a job in Japan, but I can’t say for certain where I’ll end up. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS/FH), but I’m open to traditional universities too.

I’ve asked about Germany in a few communities and received various opinions, so I’ve decided to look into other countries as well. Depending on where I go, I may need to learn a local language in addition to English, so I’m willing to work hard to learn it.

I know I still have about four years before graduation, but I want to gather information early. I’ve internalized Japanese attitudes toward age, so I can’t shake my fear of falling behind because of my age. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that can become strengths for my future.

\*\*My questions:\*\*
\*\*1. Is €25,000–€37,500 (roughly ¥4–6 million JPY) a realistic budget for a 2-year Master’s?\*\*

I will keep my living costs as low as possible. I plan to apply for scholarships both in Japan and in the country where I study. However, I don’t want to plan everything around the assumption that I’ll receive a scholarship, so I want to be careful with my financial planning.

\*\*2. Is the IT job market currently saturated in most countries?\*\*

How realistic is it for an international student to find an IT job or internship after graduating?

\*\*3. Which countries, universities, or programs would you recommend?\*\*

I’m considering countries such as Estonia and Czechia. I’ve also been recommended some options in Asia, so I’m keeping them in mind, but I’m particularly drawn to Europe because I really like European cities. I’m not considering the US due to its gun culture.

I’m looking for options that balance industry strength, affordability, quality of education, and employment opportunities. I’m open to recommendations without limiting the suggestions to any particular country or region.

I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives. Thank you for your time!

Hi everyone,
Sorry if you’ve seen this question from me before—I’m posting it in a few different communities to get perspectives from different people.

I’m a 21-year-old IT student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year vocational school. The school is classified as H+ on Anabin, and I’m expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before this, I worked full-time at a factory for two years after high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree abroad around age 25. After graduation, I expect to look for a job in Japan, but I can’t say for certain where I’ll end up. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS/FH), but I’m open to traditional universities too.

I’ve asked about Germany in a few communities and received various opinions, so I’ve decided to look into other countries as well. Depending on where I go, I may need to learn a local language in addition to English, so I’m willing to work hard to learn it.

I know I still have about four years before graduation, but I want to gather information early. I’ve internalized Japanese attitudes toward age, so I can’t shake my fear of falling behind because of my age. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that can become strengths for my future.

**My questions:**
**1. Is €25,000–€37,500 (roughly ¥4–6 million JPY) a realistic budget for a 2-year Master’s?**

I will keep my living costs as low as possible. I plan to apply for scholarships both in Japan and in the country where I study. However, I don’t want to plan everything around the assumption that I’ll receive a scholarship, so I want to be careful with my financial planning.

**2. Is the IT job market currently saturated in most countries?**

How realistic is it for an international student to find an IT job or internship after graduating?

**3. Which countries, universities, or programs would you recommend?**

I’m considering countries such as Estonia and Czechia. I’ve also been recommended some options in Asia, so I’m keeping them in mind, but I’m particularly drawn to Europe because I really like European cities. I’m not considering the US due to its gun culture.

I’m looking for options that balance industry strength, affordability, quality of education, and employment opportunities. I’m open to recommendations without limiting the suggestions to any particular country or region.

I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives. Thank you for your time!

Hi everyone,
Sorry if you’ve seen this question from me before—I’m posting it in a few different communities to get perspectives from different people.

I’m a 21-year-old IT student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year vocational school. The school is classified as H+ on Anabin, and I’m expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before this, I worked full-time at a factory for two years after high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree abroad around age 25. After graduation, I expect to look for a job in Japan, but I can’t say for certain where I’ll end up. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS/FH), but I’m open to traditional universities too.

I’ve asked about Germany in a few communities and received various opinions, so I’ve decided to look into other countries as well. Depending on where I go, I may need to learn a local language in addition to English, so I’m willing to work hard to learn it.

I know I still have about four years before graduation, but I want to gather information early. I’ve internalized Japanese attitudes toward age, so I can’t shake my fear of falling behind because of my age. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that can become strengths for my future.

My questions:
1. Is €25,000–€37,500 (roughly ¥4–6 million JPY) a realistic budget for a 2-year Master’s?

I will keep my living costs as low as possible. I plan to apply for scholarships both in Japan and in the country where I study. However, I don’t want to plan everything around the assumption that I’ll receive a scholarship, so I want to be careful with my financial planning.

2. Is the IT job market currently saturated in most countries?

How realistic is it for an international student to find an IT job or internship after graduating?

3. Which countries, universities, or programs would you recommend?

I’m considering countries such as Estonia and Czechia. I’ve also been recommended some options in Asia, so I’m keeping them in mind, but I’m particularly drawn to Europe because I really like European cities. I’m not considering the US due to its gun culture.

I’m looking for options that balance industry strength, affordability, quality of education, and employment opportunities. I’m open to recommendations without limiting the suggestions to any particular country or region.

I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives. Thank you for your time!

Hi everyone,
I’m a 21-year-old student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year IT vocational school, where I’m expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before this, I worked at a factory for two years after high school.

I’m considering pursuing an IT Master’s degree abroad after graduation, when I’ll be around 25. Germany’s Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS/FH) are currently my main option because I prefer practical, hands-on learning, but I’m open to other countries.

I have several reasons for wanting to study abroad: I want to experience a different culture, broaden my perspective, improve my English, learn another language, live in another country, and gain practical experience through internships. At the same time, I strongly want to get away from the environment and values that have been weighing on me.

In Japan, younger fresh graduates are highly valued, and I’m deeply anxious about graduating at 25 without major achievements. The idea that you should graduate around 22 and start your career immediately has become something I constantly compare myself against. I know this isn’t an absolute truth, but I’ve internalized it so deeply that I feel trapped by it. I want to get away from that pressure and experience a different environment.

My desire to leave is also connected to my family background. Although my family is financially well-off, I grew up with very little emotional support. My sister has bipolar disorder, and I experienced many painful things because of her condition and behavior. My father was also verbally abusive and unfaithful. By high school, things had become so difficult that there were times when I wanted to disappear.

Six months ago, I planned a trip to Europe and bought the tickets myself, but my parents told me they would cut off all financial support if I went, so I cancelled it. At the time, I wasn’t financially independent enough to take that risk. Part of my desire to study abroad may also come from resentment over having to give up that trip.

I want to escape from my past, my family environment, and the values I’ve internalized from Japanese society. I don’t want my difficult family background to define who I am.

At the same time, I wonder whether studying abroad is partly an attempt to escape. I know moving abroad won’t magically solve everything, and I don’t expect it to. But I want to know whether changing my environment can be a genuine way of moving forward, rather than simply running away.

Is this kind of motivation unhealthy or misguided, especially given my age anxiety and quarter-life crisis, or can studying abroad still be a genuine step forward even if escaping my past is part of the reason? If you’ve experienced something similar, I’d love to hear how you made that judgment for yourself.

I’m completely open to honest opinions and different perspectives. Thank you for your time!

Hi everyone,
I’m a 21-year-old student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year IT vocational school. The school is affiliated with a university, and I am expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before entering school, I worked at a factory for about two years after graduating from high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree in Germany immediately after graduating, when I will be around 25. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS / Fachhochschule) because I prefer practical, hands-on learning over research-oriented programs.

To be honest, my desire to study abroad is partly driven by anxiety about my future and a desire to change my current environment.

Age anxiety:
In Japan, fresh university graduates are highly valued, and younger candidates are often seen as more desirable. I can’t shake the feeling that a 22-year-old fresh graduate is more valuable in the job market than someone graduating at 24 or 25. Since I currently have no particular achievements or strengths, I’m anxious about being left behind. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that I can turn into strengths for my future.

I have also felt anxious about my life since high school. I want to experience living abroad, get away from my current environment, broaden my perspective, improve my English, learn the local language, and gain practical experience through internships.

I understand that some of my motivations may sound immature or partly like escapism, but I am serious about making this happen.

My questions are:

1. Is my motivation or background unrealistic or too naive?
   Please be completely honest, even if your opinion is harsh.
2. Is €24,000 (approximately 4 million JPY) enough for a two-year Master’s program?
   I plan to live in a student dormitory, cook for myself, keep my living expenses low, and apply for scholarships.

This assumes that I attend a relatively low-cost UAS. What would be a realistic “safe” amount to have saved with a scholarship vs. without a scholarship?
Finally, are there any relatively affordable European countries, universities, or programs with strong IT industries that you would recommend?
I’d also appreciate any other advice about this plan, whether it’s related to studying abroad, career, finances, or life in general. I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives.
Thank you very much for your time and advice!

Hi everyone,
I’m a 21-year-old student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year IT vocational school. The school is affiliated with a university, and I am expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before entering school, I worked at a factory for about two years after graduating from high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree in Germany immediately after graduating, when I will be around 25. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS / Fachhochschule) because I prefer practical, hands-on learning over research-oriented programs.

To be honest, my desire to study abroad is partly driven by anxiety about my future and a desire to change my current environment.

Age anxiety:
In Japan, fresh university graduates are highly valued, and younger candidates are often seen as more desirable. I can’t shake the feeling that a 22-year-old fresh graduate is more valuable in the job market than someone graduating at 24 or 25. Since I currently have no particular achievements or strengths, I’m anxious about being left behind. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that I can turn into strengths for my future.

I have also felt anxious about my life since high school. I want to experience living abroad, get away from my current environment, broaden my perspective, improve my English, learn the local language, and gain practical experience through internships.

I understand that some of my motivations may sound immature or partly like escapism, but I am serious about making this happen.

My questions are:

1. Is my motivation or background unrealistic or too naive?
   Please be completely honest, even if your opinion is harsh.
2. Is €24,000 (approximately 4 million JPY) enough for a two-year Master’s program?
   I plan to live in a student dormitory, cook for myself, keep my living expenses low, and apply for scholarships.

This assumes that I attend a relatively low-cost UAS. What would be a realistic “safe” amount to have saved with a scholarship vs. without a scholarship?
Finally, are there any relatively affordable European countries, universities, or programs with strong IT industries that you would recommend?
I’d also appreciate any other advice about this plan, whether it’s related to studying abroad, career, finances, or life in general. I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives.
Thank you very much for your time and advice!

Hi everyone,
I’m a 21-year-old student from Japan, currently in my first year at a four-year IT vocational school. The school is affiliated with a university, and I am expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation. Before entering school, I worked at a factory for about two years after graduating from high school.

I plan to pursue an IT Master’s degree in Germany immediately after graduating, when I will be around 25. I’m particularly interested in Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS / Fachhochschule) because I prefer practical, hands-on learning over research-oriented programs.

To be honest, my desire to study abroad is partly driven by anxiety about my future and a desire to change my current environment.

Age anxiety:
In Japan, fresh university graduates are highly valued, and younger candidates are often seen as more desirable. I can’t shake the feeling that a 22-year-old fresh graduate is more valuable in the job market than someone graduating at 24 or 25. Since I currently have no particular achievements or strengths, I’m anxious about being left behind. I want to gain international experience and IT skills that I can turn into strengths for my future.

I have also felt anxious about my life since high school. I want to experience living abroad, get away from my current environment, broaden my perspective, improve my English, learn the local language, and gain practical experience through internships.

I understand that some of my motivations may sound immature or partly like escapism, but I am serious about making this happen.

My questions are:

1. Is my motivation or background unrealistic or too naive?
   Please be completely honest, even if your opinion is harsh.
2. Is €24,000 (approximately 4 million JPY) enough for a two-year Master’s program?
   I plan to live in a student dormitory, cook for myself, keep my living expenses low, and apply for scholarships.

This assumes that I attend a relatively low-cost UAS. What would be a realistic “safe” amount to have saved with a scholarship vs. without a scholarship?
Finally, are there any relatively affordable European countries, universities, or programs with strong IT industries that you would recommend?
I’d also appreciate any other advice about this plan, whether it’s related to studying abroad, career, finances, or life in general. I’m open to honest opinions and different perspectives.
Thank you very much for your time and advice!