My University Journey — From ITB to a PhD in Japan
I never planned for my academic path to look the way it did.
What started as an undergraduate Physics degree in Bandung, Indonesia eventually led me to Japan — through a Master’s, a PhD, a global pandemic, research breakthroughs, moments of self-doubt, and everything in between. Nearly 11 years of education, across two countries, three degree programs, and one life-changing decision to pack up and move abroad.
This section documents all of it — honestly, and in the order it happened.
The Full Journey at a Glance
🎓 Bachelor’s — Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
August 2014 – October 2018 · Physics
Where it all began. Four years studying Physics at one of Indonesia’s top universities, ending with an undergraduate thesis on photothermal heating in gold nanoparticles — a topic that turned out to shape everything that followed.
(Full write-up coming soon)
🔄 Transition Period — After Bachelor’s
October 2018 – Early 2020
The gap between finishing my Bachelor’s and starting my Master’s in Japan wasn’t idle time. It was a period of preparation, uncertainty, failed scholarship applications, and one lucky introduction to a program most people have never heard of.
🇯🇵 Master’s — University of Tsukuba, Japan
April 2020 – March 2022 · Applied Physics
Arriving in Japan just as COVID-19 became a pandemic. Starting classes online. Getting paid to do research through NIMS-GRA. Nearly deciding not to continue to PhD. And accidentally discovering the research technique that would define my entire doctoral thesis.
Two years that were anything but straightforward.
🔬 PhD — University of Tsukuba, Japan
April 2022 – March 2025 · Materials Science & Engineering
Three years. Three journal papers as first author. One doctoral thesis. And the most challenging — and most rewarding — chapter of my academic life so far.
Why I’m Writing This
There’s a lot of content online about studying in Japan — scholarship guides, visa checklists, university rankings. But there’s very little that shows what the experience actually feels like from the inside: the uncertainty before decisions, the exhaustion during research, the small wins that keep you going.
That’s what I’m trying to document here. Real experience, not a highlight reel.
If you’re considering graduate school in Japan, or just curious about what the journey looks like — I hope this helps.
Any questions? Reach out directly →