Meet Marsha
Modern Languages BA Honours (Japanese and Spanish), Class of 2025
Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating
Hello, my name is Marsha and I studied Japanese and Spanish at Newcastle University!
In my third year I studied abroad at Hosei University in Tokyo, and I graduated in July 2025. After I came back from study abroad, I decided I wanted to return to Japan.
Whilst working in my internship as a Year-Abroad Japan Assistant where I helped other students prepare for their year abroad placements, I also started job-hunting alongside my studies and eventually received an offer for a position at a travel company in Tokyo. It’s been a lot to get used to, but I’m really enjoying being able to put to use everything I learnt at Newcastle.
Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?
One of the main reasons I decided to study at Newcastle is because it was close to home for me, so I’d visited quite a few times and I knew I liked the city.
Another reason is that I had heard really good things about the Modern Languages course, and so out of all the universities in the UK offering Japanese it was the most appealing to me.
How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career?
I think one of the biggest things for me was the focus on Business Japanese in the Level D module which I took in my final year. It not only improved my linguistic skills, but also provided me with the knowledge and cultural context needed to succeed within a Japanese company.
The year abroad was also a massive help — it forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me build the confidence to thrive in unfamiliar environments.
What did you enjoy most about your time at Newcastle University?
Probably the people! I feel like it’s quite uncommon to meet other people who are interested in living abroad, especially in Japan, so it was a great experience to be around likeminded people as we all supported each other in reaching our goals.
I also found the opportunities for cultural exchange with other students really fulfilling and a great tool to improve my language skills and confidence in speaking.
Describe your time at Newcastle University in three words
Freeing, fulfilling, fun!
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