Musashino Art University faces criticism over tuition increase for foreign students

[thomas]

A decision by Musashino Art University, also known as Musabi, a prestigious private art university in Tokyo, to increase tuition fees exclusively for foreign students has sparked widespread criticism and protests. Musashino Art University announced in July that it would impose an additional levy of JPY 363,000 (USD 2,500), approximately 20% of the current tuition, on international students starting next April. Domestic students would remain unaffected.

While the university justified the levy as a measure to enhance the study environment for international students, this move deviates from the usual practice in Japan of treating domestic and international students equally in terms of tuition fees. On 4 August, a group of international students from Musashino Art University protested in central Tokyo to voice their opposition to the tuition hike. They argued that the decision was made arbitrarily and without their input and deemed it "unconvincing." Although the increase would only apply to students enrolling in 2025, the students strongly disapproved of this discriminatory measure.

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"It's discriminatory. I can't bear that only international students are asked to pay more without a detailed explanation," said a Chinese student who identified himself only by his family name, Yang. He said that while he had chosen to attend the university for its "liberal academic environment," it had acted in a "dictatorial" way. He is among the more than 700 foreign students at Musashino Art University, who account for nearly 15 per cent of the total. Chinese students comprise over half of those coming from overseas, with many saying they are attracted by the lack of rules on free expression compared with universities back home and the shared culture of using Chinese characters. [...] Commonly known as "Musabi" in Japan, the university was founded in 1929 as Teikoku Art School. Alumni include the writer Ryu Murakami, a winner of the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for up-and-coming authors, and Lily Franky, an illustrator, writer and actor. The university said it will expand its Japanese language and culture program and set up a scholarship system for financially strapped students in tandem with the new charge.

Tuition hike for foreigners at famed Tokyo art university draws backlash

A decision by a famous private art university in Tokyo to take the rare step of hiking fees just for its foreign students has caused a backlash, with some of them taking to the streets to protest what they view as a discriminatory step.

english.kyodonews.net

Link:

Musashino Art University - Tokyo

Musashino Art University (武蔵野美術大学, MAU) is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929. Includes list of faculty, curriculum, campus life, and international students.

jref.com

 

[mdchachi]

Clearly these people have never looked into studying in the U.S.
In the United States, public 4-year undergraduate degrees have a yearly average out-of-state tuition of $27,457 vs. $9,596 for the same degree in-state.

 

[Lothor]

The UK is similar. This is from a website providing information for potential master's students.

"At public UK universities, tuition costs can vary significantly. The 'home' fee usually ranges from 5,500 to 10,200 EUR per year, depending on the university, the type of discipline, and the length of your studies.

The 'international' fee usually adds another 3,000–8,000 EUR to the initial 'home' fee. In some cases, it might even be 2 or 3 times higher than the 'home' fee."

 

[Karlington]

A decision by Musashino Art University, also known as Musabi, a prestigious private art university in Tokyo, to increase tuition fees exclusively for foreign students has sparked widespread criticism and protests. Musashino Art University announced in July that it would impose an additional levy of JPY 363,000 (USD 2,500), approximately 20% of the current tuition, on international students starting next April. Domestic students would remain unaffected.

While the university justified the levy as a measure to enhance the study environment for international students, this move deviates from the usual practice in Japan of treating domestic and international students equally in terms of tuition fees. On 4 August, a group of international students from Musashino Art University protested in central Tokyo to voice their opposition to the tuition hike. They argued that the decision was made arbitrarily and without their input and deemed it "unconvincing." Although the increase would only apply to students enrolling in 2025, the students strongly disapproved of this discriminatory measure.

​

Tuition hike for foreigners at famed Tokyo art university draws backlash

A decision by a famous private art university in Tokyo to take the rare step of hiking fees just for its foreign students has caused a backlash, with some of them taking to the streets to protest what they view as a discriminatory step.

english.kyodonews.net

Link:

Musashino Art University - Tokyo

Musashino Art University (武蔵野美術大学, MAU) is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929. Includes list of faculty, curriculum, campus life, and international students.

jref.com

Most countries charge foreign students significantly more. I was surprised to learn that the school didn't before.

I can understand the frustration of students who are already there, though. They may have to interrupt their education if they are already stretched to the financial breaking point. It would have been fairer if current students didn't have their fees raised for the duration of their program.

 

[johnnyG]

the increase would only apply to students enrolling in 2025, the students strongly disapproved of this discriminatory measure.

It would have been fairer if current students didn't have their fees raised for the duration of their program.

Tho that may be ambiguous, it looks to me like this will apply to new enrollees, not students already enrolled and continuing.

 

[paulinbruant]

A decision by Musashino Art University, also known as Musabi, a prestigious private art university in Tokyo, to increase tuition fees exclusively for foreign students has sparked widespread criticism and protests. Musashino Art University announced in July that it would impose an additional levy of JPY 363,000 (USD 2,500), approximately 20% of the current tuition, on international students starting next April. Domestic students would remain unaffected.

While the university justified the levy as a measure to enhance the study environment for international students, this move deviates from the usual practice in Japan of treating domestic and international students equally in terms of tuition fees. On 4 August, a group of international students from Musashino Art University protested in central Tokyo to voice their opposition to the tuition hike. They argued that the decision was made arbitrarily and without their input and deemed it "unconvincing." Although the increase would only apply to students enrolling in 2025, the students strongly disapproved of this discriminatory measure.

​

Tuition hike for foreigners at famed Tokyo art university draws backlash

A decision by a famous private art university in Tokyo to take the rare step of hiking fees just for its foreign students has caused a backlash, with some of them taking to the streets to protest what they view as a discriminatory step.

english.kyodonews.net

Link:

Musashino Art University - Tokyo

Musashino Art University (武蔵野美術大学, MAU) is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929. Includes list of faculty, curriculum, campus life, and international students.

jref.com

To be honest, I'm not that shocked or surprised. A lot of universities have higher tuition prices for foreign students. And the reasons for this is really reasonable, for I've never had anything against it.

 

[mdchachi]

And the reasons for this is really reasonable

What are the reasonable reasons besides more profit?