#24 (Part 2) Hitotsubashi ICS MBA Admissions, Scholarships and Careers Q&A with Dr. Yoshinori Fujikawa
“We offer cutting edge management concepts generated in Japan such as knowledge management, innovation management, and operations management. Also, because our faculty members have extensive networks with Japanese companies in old and new industries, we can offer our students a wide range of learning and career opportunities here.”
Part 1: What makes Hitotsubashi ICS unique, Getting an MBA in Japan
Part 2: Admissions, Scholarships, Careers at Hitotsubashi ICS
Toyota. Sony. Nintendo. Manga. Sushi. Many of us love Japanese products and culture. Why not learn the best of Japanese business and get an MBA from one of Japan’s most prestigious universities in Tokyo?
A 3:1 student to faculty ration. Professors and practitioners at the forefront of innovation, operations and knowledge management. A one or two year program taught entirely in English. A small class of 60 students comprised of around 20 nationalities. Exchange opportunities at 19 top programs (Yale SOM, London Business School, Virginia Darden, etc) around the world. All for $9,000 USD/year? Really?
This week I spoke with Dr. Yoshinori Fujikawa, Associate Professor of International Business Strategy and Faculty Director of the Hitotsubashi University ICS MBA program. We had a great in-depth discussion about Hitotsubashi ICS’s “best of 2 worlds” pedagogy – combining the best of East & West, practice & theory, global & local, business & society, and cooperation & competition – as well as career prospects for MBAs in Japan.
Dr. Yoshi got his undergraduate and masters degree from Hitotsubashi before getting his MBA from HBS and PhD from Penn State. If anyone understand the program’s “best of 2 worlds” mission, it’s him.
The Hitotsubashi ICS MBA in 3 words: Japan-Asia-World or Best-of-Two-Worlds
Listen on for the insider’s scoop on this gem of a program…
Part 1: What makes Hitotsubashi ICS unique, Getting an MBA in Japan
Part 2: Admissions, Scholarships, Careers at Hitotsubashi ICS
Touch MBA’s Hitotsubashi ICS MBA Essentials
Program Highlights (Part 1)
Part 1: What makes Hitotsubashi ICS unique, Getting an MBA in Japan
- Hitotsubashi University, one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in Japan, was founded in 1875. The Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS) MBA program began in 2000
- 1 intake/year in Sep
- Length: 12 or 24 months, program taught entirely in English
- Campus in Tokyo
- 50-60 participants/intake
- ~20 nationalities/intake, class is ~70-80% international
- Partnership with 19 exchange schools including LBS, Kellogg and Darden
- Rankings: No. 1 Business School in Japan (QS Global MBA Rankings 2022)
- Accredited by Japanese Ministry of Education
- Dual Degrees: Double degree program with with Seoul National University and Peking University Guanghua through BEST Alliance
- Hitotsubashi ICS is also part of 32-member GNAM network – students and alumni can study at partner schools
Admissions (Part 2) 0:00 -
- Deadlines (for Sep 2022 intake)
- Round 1: Aug 2 – Oct 20
- Round 2: Nov 15 – Feb 16
- Applicants encouraged to apply early in each round; first round candidates have scholarship advantage
- Avg GMAT: 640, applicants encouraged to score above 600
- Avg age: 29, Avg work experience: 6 years, 3 years min work experience required
- Min TOEFL: 600 (computer), 250 (paper), 100 (internet); TOEFL or IELTS accepted
- All applications are reviewed by Faculty; Interviews done by Faculty
- Looking for candidates with demonstrated and potential abilities as a student, manager, and leader with an international mindset
- Admissions is looking for how your pre-MBA and post-MBA stories align and how the Hitotsubashi ICS MBA can impact this story. Also, how can you contribute to the learning of your class?
Financing (Part 2) 14:20 -
- Tuition
- Full-time MBA Tuition: ¥642,960 tuition fee and ¥282,000 matriculation fee, roughly $9,000 USD total
- Recommended budget: ¥2,600,000 – 3,500,000/year, roughly $26,300 – 35,500 USD
- Scholarships
- 50% of non-Japanese participants awarded scholarships
- Scholarship amounts range from ¥750,000 to ¥2,000,000
- Scholarships are merit-based and awarded with offer
- 15 students are also awarded full scholarships and living stipends by the Japanese government through the Young Leaders Program
Career (Part 2) 24:44 -
- Hitotsubashi ICS MBA – Full-time placement summary (Class of 2019)
- 98% of graduates placed or received a job offer within 3 months of graduation
- 61% placed in Japan and 48% with Japanese companies; 26% changed geography, industry and function
- Average Salary: $97,000 USD
- Hitotsubashi ICS has 900 alumni, 50% of whom are outside Japan. Graduates also join Hitotsubashi University alumni network or “Josui Kai,” which has more than 30,000 alumni in 80 different locations around the world. Hitotsubashi is known to have a closely knit network due to it’s relatively small size and focus on social sciences.
- Students can extend stay in Japan by switching from a student visa to a “designated activities visa,” which allows students to stay in Japan for 1 year to look for jobs
Get in Touch
- Candidates are encouraged to visit Hitotsubashi’s Tokyo campus
- Contact the MBA admissions office at ics-opencampus@ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp to connect with student reps or alumni close to you
Show Notes
- Studying for an MBA in Japan by Ashley, Class of 2020
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