Getting started on a study abroad journey often begins with a single decision: the choice to go. What follows, however, is a series of practical hurdles: selecting the right program, navigating admissions, and, for many students, getting the funding in place that makes it possible.
For SAF Japan alumna and Japan Women's University student, Miono Kimura, studying abroad had long been a goal. She had her sights set on the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, drawn by its academic strengths and stunning natural environment. Turning that goal into reality, however, required more than motivation alone.
Securing Tobiate Scholarship with SAF
Through SAF, Miono applied to the Tobitate Study Abroad Initiative, a Japanese government-backed scholarship program designed to support students pursuing overseas study alongside practical, real-world experience. Each year, the program receives thousands of applications from across Japan, making the selection process highly competitive.
With SAF’s guidance, Miono navigated the complex application process, from understanding eligibility requirements to preparing her materials, and was ultimately successful in securing the scholarship. The funding not only made her studies at Otago financially viable, but also opened the door to a broader network of fellow Tobitate scholars and academic opportunities that would shape her experience abroad.
Research & Volunteering Experience
Miono began her language pathway program at the University of Otago in October 2024, arriving in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island. As part of the Tobitate program, Miono was required to complete practical work alongside her academic studies. Drawing on the academic networks she developed at Otago, she took on a research assistant role under Professor Ted Ruffman in the Department of Psychology.
At the same time, she volunteered with Te Whare Tawharau, an organization focused on sexual assault prevention and education. Both roles challenged her to apply classroom learning in real-world contexts, particularly around ethics, social responsibility, and community engagement.
Balancing Academic Coursework
Alongside her research and volunteer commitments, Miono balanced a demanding academic schedule.
She enrolled in courses focused on global issues, multicultural coexistence, and psychology – all subjects that encouraged her to examine culture, religion, and society from multiple perspectives. Staying on track required discipline.
“After classes, I studied in the library every day. Balancing assignments, readings, and exams while managing research and volunteering wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to take responsibility for my own learning.”
Multicultural Experience
Before and during her time abroad, Miono also completed online training related to multicultural coexistence, deepening her understanding of what it means to study across cultures.
Through her coursework, research, and volunteer work, she encountered a wide range of viewpoints, from professors and classmates to community members she met beyond the university.
“Many of the Tobitate students around me were already fluent in multiple languages and had very clear goals. Being in that environment helped me think more carefully about what I wanted to gain from my own experience abroad.”
