Top Universities in Japan for International Students

Why international students choose Japan

Japan hosts a large and growing international student community across national, public and private universities. Its institutions are especially known for research strength in engineering, natural sciences and technology, alongside solid humanities, social sciences and business.

For many students the appeal is a combination of well-funded laboratories, established scholarship routes, safe and well-connected cities, and a rising number of degrees you can complete in English. Costs and living standards differ widely by city, so treat every figure you see as something to confirm on the official source rather than a fixed number.

Leading national universities

Japan's former imperial national universities are consistently among the most research-intensive in the country. Widely recognised names include the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University, Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Kyushu University and Hokkaido University.

These are large, comprehensive institutions with graduate schools across most disciplines and dedicated international offices. Undergraduate admission is often through the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) plus a university-specific exam, while many graduate programs admit on documents, research fit and an interview. Confirm the exact route for your program on the university's official page.

• University of Tokyo
• Kyoto University
• Osaka University
• Tohoku University
• Nagoya University
• Kyushu University
• Hokkaido University

Science, technology and specialist institutions

Beyond the comprehensive universities, Japan has several strong science-and-technology–focused institutions. Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) became part of the newly formed Institute of Science Tokyo in October 2024, and other well-known options include the Tokyo University of Science along with many engineering-strong national universities.

Because names, faculties and program lists can change over time, always confirm the current official name of an institution and the exact department that offers your subject before you apply.

Degrees you can study in English (SGU and G30)

A growing number of Japanese universities offer full degree programs taught in English, often under the Top Global University Project (commonly abbreviated SGU) and the earlier Global 30 (G30) initiative. Several leading universities run structured English-medium tracks at both undergraduate and graduate level.

English-taught availability differs sharply by university, faculty and level — it is generally more common at master's and PhD than at undergraduate. Use the official Study in Japan program search and each university's own site to see which English-taught degrees are currently offered.

• English-taught degrees are more common at master's/PhD than undergraduate
• Availability varies by university and faculty — verify current offerings
• Use the official Study in Japan program search to filter by language

How to shortlist the right university

Start from your subject and level, then filter by language of instruction, intake month, and whether the program uses the EJU, an in-house exam, or document-based admission. Match this against your funding — a self-funded budget or a scholarship route such as MEXT.

Contact the international admissions office with specific questions, and where research matters (master's or PhD), look closely at individual laboratories and potential supervisors, not just the university's overall reputation.

• Subject and level
• Language of instruction (Japanese vs English)
• Intake month and deadlines
• Admission route (EJU / exam / documents)
• Funding and total cost
• Location and cost of living

Reading rankings sensibly

Global rankings (for example QS and THE, attributed to those bodies) can help you build a longlist, but they measure institution-wide averages rather than your specific department or your experience as an international student.

Weigh rankings alongside program fit, English-taught availability, supervisor and lab quality, total cost, and graduate outcomes. No single number tells you which university is "best" for you — the right choice depends on your goals.