If you are looking for an international-student-friendly good business school in Tokyo, Graduate School of Business, Rikkyo University is the one for you. About 20% of the business school students are from outside of Japan.
Some Japanese students also have an experience of living abroad, like me. I have lived in USA for more than 10 years. The reason I decided to go to RBS was because I liked the atmosphere and its philosophy. The college is known as an "academy of freedom." The students are expected to develop their own talents while learning through the classes. The school will not force you to fit into a certain mold. I love the concept. Each Rikkyo students has a different background and we are allowed to express our own ideas crossing over cultural difference.
Also RBS is open for the students who only have basic business knowledge. Their goal is to grow "specialist of generalist" in a business, which is perfect for me. I had been working for a non-profit organization while I was in USA. Since I came back to Japan, I have been working as a global marketing manager. You can tell what kind of transition it is to be a marketer from a non-profit program coordinator. The day I knew what I was going to be was the day I decided to go to Rikkyo, which offers the amazing contents of the classes from the beginner to the high-level students. No GMAT score is required. It opens the door of opportunity to learn business to anyone.
How can RBS be one of the greatest business schools in Japan while new students do not need to submit GMAT? What is the quality of the school?
Rikkyo University itself was established in 1922. Since then the university is known for its supportive and student focused approach to academic study; encouraging all enrolled students to challenge themselves and discover their own innate potential in their chosen field of study. RBS is established by Dr. Kamekawa in 2002, and he absolutely has taken the same philosophy to the business school. The professors are mostly from well-known companies or they have amazing careers through their businesses. (And they are still working for the companies.) They give us real practical knowledge not just only logics.
There are various kinds of classes as the other blog posts already introduced. Also there are a lot of team works - do not worry, as I said, the school is international-student-friendly - which are one of the best opportunities to know and communicate with a lot of people from different backgrounds. Communicating with these people is already a study. It just opens your mind by knowing their ideas.
RBS is located in Ikebukuro, which is metropolitan area of Tokyo. It takes only 7 minutes walk from Ikebukuro station. The campus consists of beautiful and historical buildings. Around the campus, there are so many restaurants the students can hang out at.
RBS is at West exit of Ikebukuro. If you go to East exit of Ikebukuro, there is a huge shopping area. (You will not regret to be there!) Ikebukuro is great place that can be accessed from anywhere in Tokyo.
My lifestyle has been changed so much since I entered RBS. I am a full-time worker, and a single mother of 10 years old son. The reason I still can go to school is because I have a strong support from my parents and my son. But the most of all, RBS really motivates me a lot about my life. I learn so much and enjoy what I am going through. This is an amazing experience of that I enjoy my study and a hectic life I had ever. I sometimes go to school with my son on Saturdays, and my classmates and professors always welcome my son. My son is meeting great people and having a good experience to see the others are studying.
There may be some choices if you want to go to a business school in Japan. However, RBS will be the best choice for anyone when we think of how it motivates you, how it supports the students and their lifestyle, and most importantly, the contents of the classes. Please do not hesitate to check RBS website, or actually contact us, we would love to help your decision to come to RBS.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the campus.
-------------- Written by: Miya H. Joined RBS in 2014. Currently working for a pharmaceutical company after the life in USA for over 10 years. In RBS, I also joined several activities besides classes to increase student achievement. I love to communicate with international students since I used to be an international student as well. I do understand how they feel while living in Japan.