Studying at Tokyo Medical and Dental University

I’ve got Japanese Government MEXT scholarship to study in Japan in April, 2014. I chose to attend PhD course at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) because it is a world-leading research university in Japan. I like the meaningful motto of the university – ‘Cultivating Professionals with Knowledge and Humanity’. Moreover, most of my teachers from Myanmar did their research for PhD degrees in this university. Currently, there are 209 international students studying at TMDU, from a great variety of countries; there are 16 Myanmar students among them.

I decided to do research in Periodontology because periodontal diseases are the second commonest dental diseases in Myanmar; the first one is dental caries. And, I’m interested in periodontal regeneration. The university provides all necessary research facilities; all professors, supervisors and staffs are very kind and helpful to students. The university is also situated in the downtown of Tokyo so that the transportation is very convenient for students. The International Exchange Center of the university also arranges various Japanese Language courses and enjoyable activities throughout the year. And, I can also visit many famous places throughout Tokyo such as museums, temples and sightseeing spots. I also enjoy Japanese culture, foods and tea.

My life in Japan is very nice for not only education but also lifestyle without any culture shock. Sometimes, I visit to Japanese houses with other Myanmar students. I found that Japanese people are kind-hearted and love nature. The most enjoyable activity for me is the one-week homestay program in Oyama city near Tokyo. I believe that I will be a good researcher and clinician through my experiences at TMDU.