A recent survey conducted by the “Tobitate! (Leap for Tomorrow) Study Abroad Initiative” project revealed that over 80% of university students feel that the depreciation of the yen has had a negative impact on their consideration of studying abroad. The survey, which was part of a public-private initiative to promote overseas study, highlighted that even after the COVID-19 crisis, the high cost associated with studying abroad remains a significant obstacle.
The online survey took place in February and received responses from approximately 5,700 high school and university students across Japan. Among the 285 university students who expressed interest in studying abroad, 73.5% stated that they believed the weak yen had already negatively impacted their plans and would continue to do so in the future. Additionally, 10.7% believed it would have a negative impact in the future despite not experiencing it yet. a total of 84.2% of university students surveyed believed that the depreciation of the yen negatively affected their consideration of studying abroad—an increase of 16.9 percentage points compared to last year.
Among high school students surveyed, 66.9% shared this sentiment—a slight increase of 1.6 percentage points from last year.
In response to these findings, an official from the project emphasized that rising living costs also contribute to making studying abroad more challenging for students. They encouraged students to maintain a positive outlook on overseas study opportunities and highlighted private scholarships as an alternative funding option alongside government-funded scholarships.
This survey sheds light on how currency fluctuations can significantly impact student decisions regarding international education opportunities and highlights ongoing financial barriers faced by those interested in pursuing studies abroad.