TUAT and Yokohama National University Admission Guide

Two Kanto-region STEM universities at a glance

This guide covers two national universities in the Greater Tokyo (Kanto) region with a strong science-and-technology focus: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) and Yokohama National University (YNU).

TUAT specialises in agriculture, engineering and the biosciences, with campuses in Fuchu and Koganei. YNU, based in Yokohama, is known for engineering, science, urban sciences, and economics/business. Faculty structures and programs at both are updated regularly, so confirm the current list on each university's official site before applying.

TUAT: English-taught and Japanese-medium routes

TUAT offers English-taught options mainly at graduate level, including International Specialized Programs for Master's and Doctoral study; most undergraduate teaching is in Japanese. International undergraduate applicants for the Japanese-medium route typically take the EJU and then TUAT's own entrance examination.

At graduate level, international applicants often begin by contacting a prospective supervisor and may enter as a research student before sitting the graduate entrance examination. Confirm the current programs, intakes and requirements on TUAT's official international-admissions pages.

• TUAT graduate: English-taught International Specialized Programs (Master's/Doctoral) — verify the current list officially
• TUAT undergraduate (Japanese-medium): EJU + TUAT's own entrance exam
• Graduate research-student route available — contact a supervisor first

YNU: English-taught and Japanese-medium routes

YNU offers English-taught programs at undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral levels for students who wish to study in English. At undergraduate level, the main English-taught degree route is YOKOHAMA Creative-City Studies (YCCS), a Bachelor of Arts program in the College of Urban Sciences taught in English (with intensive Japanese-language study alongside). Japanese-medium undergraduate applicants typically take the EJU and YNU's own entrance examination.

As at TUAT, graduate applicants often first secure a prospective supervisor and may enter as research students before the graduate entrance exam. Confirm the current English-taught program list, eligibility and intakes on YNU's official admissions pages.

• YNU English-taught degrees exist at undergraduate (e.g. YOKOHAMA Creative-City Studies, YCCS) and graduate level — verify the current list officially
• YNU undergraduate (Japanese-medium): EJU + YNU's own entrance exam
• Graduate research-student route available — contact a supervisor first

Graduate research students and MEXT university recommendation

Both universities use the non-degree research-student pathway at graduate level: you identify a prospective supervisor whose research fits your interests, secure their acceptance, then apply and later sit the graduate entrance examination to progress to a Master's or Doctoral degree.

Both also participate in the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship via the university-recommendation route, alongside the separate embassy-recommendation channel. MEXT terms are set by MEXT and change each year — verify on the official Study in Japan portal and each university's pages, and be wary of anyone promising a 'guaranteed' award.

Language, fees and choosing between them

Which proficiency test you need depends on the language of instruction: English-taught programs typically accept TOEFL or IELTS, while Japanese-medium programs expect Japanese proficiency (often via the EJU Japanese section and/or JLPT). Minimum scores are program-specific and revised periodically.

When choosing, match the university to your field and preferred language of study rather than to any ranking: TUAT is a natural fit for agriculture, engineering and bioscience; YNU suits engineering, science, urban sciences and economics/business. Confirm tuition, fees, scholarship deadlines and program details on each university's official site.

• Match the university to your field and language of instruction, not to a ranking
• Confirm tuition, fees and scholarship deadlines officially (figures change yearly)
• Student-visa (residence status) steps are general information, not immigration advice — verify on official immigration/embassy sources

How to apply

For either university: (1) shortlist a faculty or graduate school and confirm its route and language of instruction; (2) note the official application window; (3) prepare your documents and the required language test; (4) for graduate research, contact a prospective supervisor well before the deadline.

After an offer, the university usually assists with the Certificate of Eligibility needed for the student residence status. Visa and immigration rules change, so treat this as general information — not immigration advice — and verify the current requirements with the official Japanese immigration and embassy sources.