Kobe University Admission Guide for International Students

Kobe University at a glance

Kobe University is a national research university in Kobe, in the Kansai region of western Japan. It is a large, comprehensive institution with faculties and graduate schools spanning economics, business administration, law, letters, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine and maritime sciences, among others. Its Graduate School of Maritime Sciences reflects a long-standing strength in shipping and ocean-related study.

International students join through several routes depending on the degree level and the language of instruction. Before choosing a route, confirm the current faculty and program list, because departments and their offerings change from year to year — verify on Kobe University's official pages.

Two undergraduate routes: Japanese-medium vs English-taught

Most undergraduate teaching at Kobe University is in Japanese. International applicants for the standard Japanese-medium route usually take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), then sit Kobe University's own entrance examination and an interview. A strong command of Japanese is expected for these programs.

A range of English-taught graduate courses is available (Kobe University lists these under "Courses in English"), while fully English-taught undergraduate degree options are more limited; the exact English-medium offerings differ by faculty and graduate school and change over time. Check the current list of programs and their language of instruction on the official site before you apply.

• Japanese-medium undergraduate: EJU + Kobe University's own entrance exam + interview (verify current subjects and score expectations officially)
• English-taught options: mostly at graduate level ("Courses in English") — confirm the current program list on the official site
• The language of instruction determines which proficiency test you need

Graduate admissions and the research-student pathway

At the graduate level, Kobe University offers Master's and Doctoral programs across its graduate schools, with a wider range of English-taught options than at undergraduate level in some fields. Requirements and entrance-exam formats are set by each graduate school.

Many international applicants first enter as a non-degree 'research student' (kenkyusei). This usually means identifying a prospective academic supervisor whose research matches your interests, securing their acceptance, and then applying; research students may later sit the graduate entrance examination to move into a Master's or Doctoral degree. Application steps are on each graduate school's official page.

The MEXT university-recommendation route

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship has two main channels: embassy (government) recommendation and university recommendation. Under the university-recommendation route, Kobe University nominates selected applicants — most commonly at the graduate/research level — for the scholarship.

Eligibility, quotas, coverage and timelines for MEXT are set by MEXT and administered with the university; they change each cycle. Use the official Study in Japan portal and Kobe University's own scholarship pages for current details, and treat any third party promising a 'guaranteed' MEXT award as a red flag — no one can guarantee a scholarship.

Language requirements and standardized tests

Which test you need depends on the language of instruction. English-taught programs typically ask for an English proficiency test such as TOEFL, IELTS or an accepted equivalent; Japanese-medium programs expect Japanese proficiency (often demonstrated through the EJU Japanese section and/or the JLPT).

Minimum scores, accepted tests and validity windows are decided by each faculty or graduate school and are revised periodically. Always confirm the exact requirement for your specific program on Kobe University's official admissions pages rather than relying on general figures.

Fees, scholarships and how to apply

Tuition, admission fees and application fees at national universities such as Kobe are set by the university and can change; scholarships (including MEXT, JASSO and university or private awards) have their own eligibility rules and deadlines. Do not rely on unofficial figures.

After an offer, the university usually helps you apply for the Certificate of Eligibility needed for the student residence status. This is general information, not immigration advice, so verify current visa rules with the official Japanese immigration and embassy sources.

• Confirm tuition, admission and application fees on the official site (figures change yearly)
• Check scholarship eligibility and deadlines directly with the awarding body
• Start the graduate supervisor search well before the deadline
• Verify student-visa (residence status) steps on official immigration/embassy sources