Hokkaido, Kyushu and Tsukuba University Admission Guide for International Students

Three national research universities at a glance

Hokkaido (in Sapporo), Kyushu (in Fukuoka) and Tsukuba (near Tokyo) are three of Japan's major national research universities. Each offers English-taught degree routes for international students, but individual demand for them is lower than for the big Tokyo private universities — so we cover all three in one guide.

Crucially, each university runs its own document-based screening with its own programmes, tests and calendars; there is no shared application. Read this as an orientation, then follow the specific official page for whichever university and programme you target.

Hokkaido — MJSP and the Integrated Science Program (ISP)

Hokkaido University offers two English-taught undergraduate degree programmes. The Modern Japanese Studies Program (MJSP) is a four-year, bilingual degree in the humanities and social sciences (politics, history, sociology, law, economics and related fields) with intensive Japanese-language study built in. The Integrated Science Program (ISP) is a cross-disciplinary natural-sciences degree (physics, chemistry, biology) where the core scientific study is in English.

Both admit international students through a document-based application, and each has its own eligibility and deadlines. Confirm the current requirements, entry months and any tests on Hokkaido's official global-admissions pages.

• Modern Japanese Studies Program (MJSP) — bilingual humanities/social-sciences degree with Japanese study
• Integrated Science Program (ISP) — English-medium natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology)
• Document-based international admission; requirements set per programme (verify)

Kyushu — English-taught undergraduate routes

Kyushu University offers English-taught International Undergraduate Programs (notably in engineering and agriculture/science), where all classes except Japanese-language courses are taught in English, plus a wide range of English-taught graduate programmes.

Admission is typically a two-stage screening: a preliminary evaluation of your documents followed by a comprehensive review that can include an interview. Programmes, application periods and any scholarship consideration differ by course, so study the specific official admission guidelines carefully rather than assuming a single process.

• International Undergraduate Programs (e.g. engineering, agriculture/science) taught in English
• Many English-taught graduate programmes as well
• Two-stage screening: document review, then comprehensive evaluation/interview (verify)

Tsukuba — English-instructed programmes

The University of Tsukuba, known for its international outlook, runs several English-instructed undergraduate programmes (across fields such as social sciences, and life and environmental sciences, among others) where required classes are taught in English through to graduation, alongside many English graduate programmes.

Undergraduate admission is usually by document screening followed by an interview (often by teleconference), with applications commonly opening in late autumn for the following intake. As with the others, exact programmes, tests and deadlines are set officially and change each cycle — verify on Tsukuba's English-programmes admissions pages.

• Several English-instructed undergraduate programmes; required classes in English to graduation
• Many English-taught graduate programmes
• Document screening + interview (often by teleconference); windows set officially (verify)

What the three routes share

Despite their differences, the English-taught tracks at Hokkaido, Kyushu and Tsukuba have common features. They admit international students through document-based screening (often with an interview) rather than Japan's Japanese-medium entrance examinations, and for most English tracks the on-site EJU is not the primary route — you generally submit academic records, a standardised qualification and English-proficiency evidence instead.

They are also national universities, so tuition follows national-university structures and scholarships (including Japan's MEXT scheme and university awards) may apply. Because each programme differs, always confirm the exact required tests, documents, intake month and fees on the relevant official page.

Applying — checklist and cautions

Decide which university and programme fits your subject and language profile — MJSP or ISP at Hokkaido, an International Undergraduate Program at Kyushu, or an English-instructed programme at Tsukuba — then work only from that programme's official admissions page. Prepare transcripts, an accepted standardised qualification, English-proficiency evidence, and any statements or study plan, and note each university's separate calendar.

No agent or paid service can guarantee admission or a scholarship at any of these universities — official screening decides — so treat 'guaranteed place' promises as a scam signal. Apply through official channels by the stated deadlines and keep checking each page for updates.