The reason why I applied to this exchange program is that I have a dream to work globally in the field of business and achieve Master of Management Administration in order to travel around the world with self-confidence. After all, I strongly believe that before I graduate, it is essential to have an opportunity to study business in a foreign university to achieve my goals.
The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, which I applied to, enables me to study a basis of business in English. Exchange students are allowed to do courses for native undergraduate students provided by University of Edinburgh Business School which has constantly ranked as one of the best business schools in Europe. Since taking MBA generally requires experience of practical work, it is impossible to take MBA as soon as I finish studying in the University of Edinburgh. However, I consider that experience studying business in English in Edinburgh will make difficulty of taking MBA a lot easier in the future.
Exchange students are supposed to be in the second year of undergraduate course. In the second year, students can acquire basic knowledge of business finance which is necessary for future career and taking MBA. For example, the Principles of Finance course starts from the assumption of no prior knowledge of business finance and is designed both for those who wish to study the subject further and for those who do not. It is very interesting for me studying finance in Japan to compare the difference between studying business finance in English and in Japanese so I would like to take the Principals of Finance course and see the differences.
The University of Edinburgh also offers special program which is appropriate for students whose native language is not English. It can be a significant opportunity to study English in the place where English is spoken, as the proverb “Practice makes perfect” shows.
In Edinburgh, I will spend much time studying, but also I would like to willingly participate in activities out of the university. When I was taking high school exchange program, I keenly realized that it is very precious and important to communicate with native people and learn endemic culture through the exchange. It is true that difficulties of language or solitude often make exchange students to seek help to other exchange students who are in the similar situation or to comfortable environment in which they can use their native language. However, I would like to cultivate mutual friendship not only with exchange students but also with students from United Kingdom through my hobby and specialty, squash. The University of Edinburgh has a big squash team and I would like to belong to them and acquire precious experience as a member of the team. On top of that, I would like to make good relationship with those who play squash in every place in Europe since squash has originated in Britain and is played widely in Europe.
At last, the reason why I apply to this program is to achieve my goals to take MBA abroad and do business across the border. For that reason, it is best choice for me to go to the University of Edinburgh whose spoken language is English and which has good business school with established reputation. However, I also apply to other universities which have the similar environment and enable me to study business in English.