For Students Considering Study Abroad and Graduate School Overseas: The Importance of Boosting Your GPA from the First Year
When considering studying abroad, especially for pursuing graduate studies overseas, your GPA (Grade Point Average) is an essential factor. A GPA is a numerical representation of your academic performance, with scales varying by university, such as 0-4, 0-4.3, or 0-5. While it’s not used to strictly compare students’ scores, it serves as a measure of a student’s standing within their university. Kyoto University, including the Faculty of Medicine, uses this system across all departments.
Many overseas universities and programs carefully assess the academic records of applicants. Not only are grades from specialized courses considered, but also those from general education courses, which are factored into your GPA. Therefore, establishing solid study habits and achieving good grades from your first year is the first step towards a successful study abroad experience.
Keep the following points in mind to start working on improving your GPA:
- For general education courses, ensure you drop any courses you decide not to take (failing to drop a course while not attending can significantly lower your GPA).
- Aim to pass specialized courses on the first attempt (even if you pass with a higher score after retaking, the grade will still be lower than passing on the first try).
- Don’t just aim to pass—strive to pass with the best possible grade.
To achieve your future study abroad goals, it’s important to start making efforts early. Be mindful of your studies from the first year, and work towards achieving a high GPA!
Obtaining Information and Reporting About Overseas Study Abroad
As shown in the figure above, you can access “過去のマイコース留学海外研修レポート（Reports on Past MyCourse Study Abroad Training）” and “イレクティブ期間の留学体験談（Study Abroad Experiences during Elective Periods.）”
Additionally, you can obtain and register for the latest information from the “海外留学関係サイト（Overseas Study Abroad-related Sites）” marked in red.
To reference, click on the “過去の留学情報（Past Study Abroad Information）” tab above.
To report, click on Submit Form in the center.
- From a privacy protection perspective, we do not list the URL on the website itself but guide you through PandA. We apologize for any inconvenience.
- For faculty members who require student names from past reports, please feel free to inquire individually via the “Contact Us” page, stating your purpose, etc.
