List of universities in Japan with English programs

The Popularity of Universities in Japan with English Programs

For a very long time, studying in Japan was mainly a path reserved mostly for students who spoke fluent Japanese. However, things have changed now. In the last few years, in order to bring in fresh global talent, the Japanese government launched major internationalization initiatives. Today, many of the top-tier universities in Japan offer programs entirely in English. As a result, Japan has quickly become one of the fastest-growing study-abroad destinations in the world, welcoming hundreds of thousands of international students every year. Now, the list of universities in Japan with English programs is extensive. Although currently, the number of Indian students studying in Japan is not too high, the Japanese government is actively pushing to recruit South Asian student talent.

Universities in Japan now offer 300+ English-taught degree programs across more than 25 elite universities. It has become a fantastic, affordable alternative to traditional study destinations like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries in Western Europe. You can find English-medium degrees in almost any field, including Engineering and Technology, Business and Economics, Global Liberal Arts, International Relations, etc. While learning the local language is highly recommended if you plan to live and work in Japan, pursuing these English-taught programs means you can learn basic Japanese at your own pace; there is no immediate stress of learning the language.

To help you find the perfect fit for your goals, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best English-taught universities in Japan with English programs. Let’s dive in!

National, Public, or Private: Which Japanese University is Right for You?

Universities in Japan offering English programs are divided into three distinct categories. Universities in each category offer high-quality, internationally recognised degrees, but they differ in terms of tuition costs (because they are funded differently), campus sizes, and campus culture. The right choice depends entirely on your budget, chosen Major, and long-term career goals. When making your decision, you will want to weigh factors like scholarship availability, campus location, and the level of international student support provided. To help you compare, below is a curated list of some of the most popular Japanese institutions offering full-time, English-taught degree programs.

Note: For National and Public universities, TOEFL/IELTS are non-negotiable. However, for Private universities, if you produce a ‘Medium of Instruction’ certificate from your Indian school, these tests may be waived (depending on the University’s policy).

1. National Universities are funded directly by the central government; these are highly prestigious, competitive research powerhouses, with affordable tuition fees.

2. Public Universities in Japan are operated by local city or prefectural governments. Their tuition rates are also low, like national universities.

3. Private Universities are operated by private corporations. These universities offer diverse English tracks, though tuition fees are higher than the first two categories.

National Universities in Japan With English-Taught Programs

The base tuition fee at National universities to study in Japan is legally standardized by the Japanese government. For almost all programs, it is around INR 3 lakhs, with a one-time admission fee of approx. INR 1.6 lakhs.

1. The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)

   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Data Science, AI, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science/Sustainability Science, Economics, and Public Policy
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	The 4-year English bachelor’s track PEAK has permanently closed to new applicants (September 2026 was the final intake). The current route is the Global Science Course (GSC) — a 2-year transfer program: complete the first two years of a chemistry/science degree in India, then transfer directly into UTokyo for years 3 and 4 to graduate with a UTokyo Bachelor of Science
   Monthly living costs	Approx. INR 56,000–73,000 per month. Tokyo’s private rentals are the most expensive in Japan; university dorms are the cheaper option
   Industry & research exposure	Located in the hub of Japan’s top tech firms and global corporations (Sony, SoftBank, Hitachi), offering unmatched hands-on learning opportunities
   Part-time work	Numerous English-speaking part-time jobs (English teaching, hospitality, coding/tech support) — students can use the legal 28 hours/week work allowance to offset daily living costs
   Admissions — Undergraduate (GSC)	No SAT/ACT required. Selection is based on university transcripts from India, faculty recommendations, and an online interview
   Admissions — Master’s	GRE is usually required across most programs

2. Kyoto University

   Global standing	Ranked among the top 100 globally; famous for producing the most Nobel Laureates in Asia
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Civil & Earth Resources Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, and Global Environmental Studies. Also popular for the iMBA (International Business Administration)
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	Does not offer a 100% English-taught Bachelor’s degree — KyotoU is primarily popular at the Master’s/PhD level for international students
   Monthly living costs	Moderate — approx. INR 45,000–62,000 per month. University accommodations are incredibly cheap
   Industry & research exposure	Deeply lab-centric environment. Kyoto is the global HQ for tech and gaming giants like Nintendo, Kyocera, and Omron, providing premium regional tech internships and corporate R&D exposure
   Part-time work	As a global tourist destination, Kyoto has massive hospitality and English-tutoring opportunities — graduate students easily fund local food and rent through such jobs
   Admissions — Master’s	GRE/GMAT is required by most departments

3. Osaka University

   Global standing	Renowned worldwide for cutting-edge innovations in robotics, immunology, and structural engineering
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Maritime and Urban Engineering, Biotechnology, and advanced Information Science and Technology tracks
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	Offers 100% English-taught, 4-year Bachelor’s degrees
   Monthly living costs	Moderate — lower than Tokyo
   Industry & research exposure	The commercial/industrial heartbeat of Japan, with industry ties to major manufacturing, electronics, and pharmaceutical corporations — science and engineering students get highly practical industrial internships and corporate-sponsored lab projects
   Part-time work	Vast range of part-time jobs, including English-speaking work in hospitality, retail, and tech startup support
   Admissions — Undergraduate	SAT/ACT, IB, or India’s JEE/NEET are highly recommended to clear the competitive document screening phase
   Admissions — Master’s	For STEM courses, GRE is generally required

4. Tohoku University

   Global standing	Research university located in Sendai, globally known for Materials Science, Metallurgy, and engineering innovation
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Research degrees in Materials Science, Robotics, and Information Sciences
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	Offers a 4-year, 100% English-taught degree via the famous FGL (Future Global Leadership) undergraduate program
   Monthly living costs	Sendai is a tech-forward but affordable city
   Industry & research exposure	Engineering and chemistry students get direct, hands-on prototyping experience in world-class semiconductor cleanrooms, robotics labs, and advanced materials testing facilities
   Part-time work	As a major student hub, Sendai offers many part-time job opportunities
   Admissions — Undergraduate (FGL)	SAT, ACT, or IB required
   Admissions — Master’s	GRE required by most departments

5. Nagoya University

   Global standing	Birthplace of the ‘Sakata model’, which laid the foundation for modern particle physics
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Premier programs in Aerospace Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and International Development
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	4-year Bachelor’s programs in Automotive Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, and Biological Science
   Monthly living costs	Moderate — big-city amenities at a fraction of Tokyo’s prices
   Industry & research exposure	Unmatched hands-on experience including corporate-sponsored engineering projects — Nagoya is surrounded by the global headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation and major aerospace manufacturing hubs
   Admissions — Undergraduate	SAT/ACT highly recommended for a competitive edge
   Admissions — Master’s	GRE expected by most departments

6. Kyushu University

   Global standing	World-class research university with a specialized international engineering pathway
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Sustainable Environmental Engineering and Automotive Science
   Undergraduate pathway (English)	The specialized IUPE (International Undergraduate Program in Engineering), featuring major tracks in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, and Applied Chemistry
   Monthly living costs	Very affordable — university dormitories are exceptionally cheap
   Industry & research exposure	Multi-disciplinary hands-on learning. Engineering students take part in the university’s innovative International Collaborative Capstone Project, partnering directly with the agriculture department to design technical solutions for global agricultural automation and environmental issues
   Admissions	SAT/ACT (undergraduate) and GRE (Master’s) required by most departments

7. Hokkaido University

   Undergraduate pathway (English)	Excellent 4-year Bachelor’s via the Integrated Science Program (ISP) — a cross-disciplinary program spanning Physics, Chemistry, and Biology before specializing in a chosen scientific major
   Popular Master’s/PhD programs	Exceptional research programs in Environmental Science, Chemical Sciences and Engineering, and Life Science
   Monthly living costs	Highly affordable
   Industry & research exposure	The university’s snowy-climate location gives science and environmental students unique, practical field opportunities — specialized sub-zero climate labs, marine research vessel expeditions, and regional ecological field studies
   Admissions	SAT/ACT (undergraduate) and GRE (Master’s) required

Public Universities in Japan for English-taught programs

Since Public universities in Japan are funded by local city or prefectural governments to serve their local communities, almost all of their courses are taught in Japanese. Only the University of Aizu (UoA) is an exception.

1. UoA was the very first university in Japan completely and exclusively dedicated to Computer Science and Engineering. Through their specialized ICT Global All-English Program, they offer excellent 100% English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD tracks. This is great for Indian tech students, focusing deeply on AI, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, and Robotics.

2. Roughly 40% of the entire faculty is international.

3. Cost of living is incredibly cheap, as it is away from major metropolitan cities.

4. Hands-on experiences are exceptional for tech careers. The university has massive corporate ties with tech ventures and regional IT labs, providing practical software development internships and a near-100% post-graduation employment rate in Japan’s booming digital sector.

5. SAT/ACT is mandatory, and GRE is highly recommended (varies as per the department depending on your target research lab).

If you are interested in going for an undergraduate course in Japan then you must know the undergrad admission process, student visa steps and other essential requirements for study in Japan.

Private Universities in Japan Offering English-Taught Programs

1. Waseda University

   1. They offer Bachelor’s tracks, most notably through the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS), the School of Political Science and Economics (SPSE), and the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering.

   2. For Master’s they offer programs in Computer Science, Global Media Studies, and their globally top-ranked International MBA (iMBA).

   3. Cost of living is high because it is located right in the heart of central Tokyo. Private accommodation rentals are premium, but university-operated dorms offer significantly cheaper.

   4. Waseda has deep corporate networks. Students get access to massive global career expos right on campus, leading to internships and recruitment pipelines with global consulting firms, tech conglomerates, and multi-national banks operating in Tokyo.

   5. If you provide an official certificate from your Indian school proving your entire curriculum was taught 100% in English, Waseda will completely waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement for several tracks. SAT/ACT is recommended; GRE/GMAT can be required/optional depending on the department.

2. Keio University

   1. Considered Waseda’s historic rival, it is Japan’s oldest, ultra-elite private institution.

   2. It offers two prestigious English-taught Bachelor’s tracks. The first is PEARL (Program in Economics for Alliances, Research, and Leadership), an advanced economics. The second is the GIGA (Global Information and Governance Academic) Program, a multi-disciplinary track blending computer science, data technology, policy design, and international relations.

   3. Keio offers 100% English-taught Master’s programs in Economics, Science & Technology, and Media Governance.

   4. Cost of living is high.

   5. Hands-on experiences are exceptional, heavily supported by its alumni network (‘Mita Kai’) who are stalwart executives leading Japan’s top corporate, banking, and political landscapes. Hence, you can expect access to high-level corporate internships, mentoring circles, and executive recruitment channels.

   6. TOEFL/IELTS is mandatory for PEARL, although it can be waived off for GIGA, if your medium of instruction has been English. For PEARL, SAT/ACT are absolutely mandatory. For GIGA, these scores are not mandatory but strongly encouraged.

3. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

   1. About 50% of both the student body and faculty are international, from 100+ countries.

   2. They offer 4-year, 100% English-taught Bachelor’s degrees through the College of International Management (APM) and the College of Sustainability Tourism (ST).

   3. They offer great English-taught MBA and Master of Science tracks in International Cooperation Policy.

   4. Cost of living is incredibly cheap.

   5. APU operates a dual-language campus, where group projects and multicultural teamwork are mandatory parts of the curriculum. This university is heavily targeted by massive MNCs in Japan because its graduates are highly adaptable, multi-lingual, and completely comfortable leading diverse international teams.

   6. An official Medium of Instruction certificate can waive off TOEFL/IELTS requirement. SAT/ACT is entirely optional. GRE/GMAT is optional but recommended.

Funding & Scholarships

Note: Apply early. The biggest scholarships require applications 8 to 11 months before your course starts.

1. The MEXT Scholarship: Sponsored by the Japanese Government, it offers 100% free tuition, paid round-trip flights from India, and a monthly stipend of approx. ₹65,000 (Undergrad) or ₹80,000 (Postgrad). You can apply via the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi or directly through your chosen university.

2. The JASSO Scholarship: A government stipend of ¥48,000 (approx. ₹27,000) per month given for 6 to 12 months to help settle your initial costs. You apply simply by ticking a box on your university application form.

3. University-Specific Awards: Elite private and national universities offer their own merit-based grants. For example, Keio’s PEARL offers the Design the Future Award (full tuition + stipend), while Waseda and APU provide internal tuition reduction scholarships ranging from 30% to 100%.

4. Miscellaneous scholarships

   1. Corporate and foundation scholarships are sponsored by Japanese organisations, as part of their educational and social initiatives. This may cover tuition fees, research costs, accommodation support and monthly living expenses.

   2. International student grants and leadership scholarships are offered by a few universities to award students who have demonstrated leadership potential and engaged in community service.

Know answers to all such study abroad frequently asked questions.

FAQs