Information as of 2 November 2026. We work to keep it accurate, but details can change or contain errors. Always check the official websites for the latest, correct information.
Japanese universities guide
Several Japanese universities teach undergraduate degrees in English and do not ask for Japanese when you apply. This page lists what we could confirm from official admissions documents for 2027 entry (for Hokkaido's MJSP, the degree starts in April 2028), then summarises each university, with IB and A-Level requirements side by side.
Conditions confirmed from each university's official documents, with IB and A-Level requirements in the same column.
| University | Programme | Intake | Japanese at entry | IB / A-Level condition | English test | Deadline (2027 entry) | Annual tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tokyo | College of Design (Route B) | September 2027 | — (all classes in English) | Benchmarks such as IB 38, A-Level AAA | Benchmarks such as TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 | 5 Nov 2026, 17:00 | —[3] |
| Kyoto University | Kyoto iUP | Oct 2027 (faculty from April 2028) | Not required (final two years mainly Japanese) | Test results required; no minimum | No minimum (typical admit IELTS 6.5) | 3 Dec 2026, 17:00 | JPY 535,800 (waivers for all)[7] |
| University of Osaka | Human Sciences (HUS IUDP) | October 2027 | No Japanese proof among application documents | IB accepted; at least three A-Levels | IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 4.5 (old scale 85) | 5 Jan 2027, 23:59 | —[8] |
| Tohoku University | Gateway College Term II | October 2027 | CEFR B1 expected on humanities track | Recommended IB 36 or A-Level AAA | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 | 14 Jan 2027, noon | JPY 900,000 (international students)[9][6] |
| Nagoya University | G30 (10 programmes) | October 2027 | No minimum requirement | IB or A-Level meets eligibility | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 | Round 1: 19 Nov 2026, noon | JPY 535,800[4][10] |
| Kyushu University | International programmes (ISI, Engineering, Agriculture) | October 2027 | — | — | — | 7–11 Dec 2026 | —[11] |
| Hokkaido University | MJSP (Modern Japanese Studies) | Oct 2027 (degree from April 2028) | Starts with a beginner Japanese course | IB or A-Level meets eligibility | IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 4.5 | First call: 4 Nov 2026, 17:00 | JPY 535,800 (waived for 2028)[1] |
| University of Tsukuba | TILES (first year) | September 2027 | Japanese level does not affect admission | Three A-Levels at E or above; IB accepted | IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 61 | 19 Nov 2026, 17:00 | JPY 608,800 (international students)[12][13][2] |
| University of Tsukuba | TISS, IDE, BPGI | September (BPGI October) | Japanese level does not affect admission | — | — | 19 Nov, 4 Nov, 24 Dec 2026 | —[2][13] |
| Institute of Science Tokyo | GSEP | April 2027 | — (all subjects in English) | IB and A-Level benchmarks planned from 2028 entry | Score required; no minimum | 21 Aug 2026 | JPY 635,400[14][15] |
| Hiroshima University | IGS (Integrated Global Studies) | April 2027 | — | English-taught IB Diploma waives the English test | IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 (Routes A, B, D) | Route B: apply October 2026 | —[16] |
| Waseda University | SILS | September or April | Not required | Predicted IB or A-Level grades accepted | — | September entry, regular round: 28 Jan 2027 | JPY 1,490,000 (later years 1,690,000)[17][18][19] |
| Waseda University | Political Science and Economics (EDP) | September | Not required | 2026 admits averaged IB 38.9 | — | 7–28 Jan 2027 | JPY 1,081,000 (later years 1,281,000)[17][20][19] |
| Keio University | PEARL (Economics) | September 2027 | Not stated (taught in English) | IB or SAT required; A-Level cannot replace them | TOEFL or IELTS required; no cut-off | Three rounds; last 7 Apr 2027, 15:00 | JPY 1,308,350 (AY2026)[5] |
| Keio University | GIGA (Policy Management; Environment and Information) | Sept 2027 or April 2028 | September entry advised if Japanese is limited | IB or A-Level meets eligibility; tests strongly encouraged | Waived for English-medium schools; no minimum | 22 Jan 2027, 15:00 | JPY 1,581,350 (April 2026 entrants)[21][22] |
| Sophia University | SPSF | September 2027 | Not stated (taught in English) | One of full IB Diploma, three A-Levels, SAT, ACT | TOEFL or IELTS required; no minimum stated | 4 Dec 2026 or 31 Mar 2027 | JPY 586,000 per semester (AY2026)[23] |
| International Christian University (ICU) | English Language Based Admissions | April or September | Not required (Japanese programme needed to graduate) | — | IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79 (new 4.5) | April: 8 Oct 2026; September: 25 Feb 2027 | —[24][25] |
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) | English-basis admission (three colleges) | April or September 2027 | — | IB or A-Level meets eligibility | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 75 (new 4.0) | September entry, final round: 3 Mar 2027 | JPY 1,455,000 (later years 1,655,000)[26] |
| Akita International University (AIU, public) | International Examination | September 2027 (5 places, binding) | No Japanese requirement in the guide | Several A-Levels taken; six IB exams passed | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 61 | 9 Oct 2026, 23:00 | JPY 896,000[27] |
| Ritsumeikan University | Global Studies, CRPS, GLA and others | — | — | — | — | — | —[28] |
A dash means the item could not be confirmed from official university sources; it does not mean there is no requirement. Times are Japan time. Fees are planned or reference figures, exclude admission fees and may change. APU deadlines are those for applicants living in Malaysia and most other countries outside Japan; Hokkaido's tuition is for the degree course. Always check each university's guidelines.
National universities start from a standard tuition of JPY 535,800 a year, but some set a different rate for international students.
A new programme due to start in September 2027, with all classes taught in English. It is described as a five-year combined bachelor's and master's programme, and its opening is subject to MEXT approval.[3][29][30]
A six-month preparatory course of intensive Japanese followed by a four-year undergraduate degree. Japanese is not required when you apply, but the final two years of specialised study are taught mainly or entirely in Japanese.[7]
For reference, 1,174 applicants chose Kyoto iUP first in 2026 and 37 passed the second screening. Students live in a Kyoto University International House for their first 12 months.[7]
The university describes this as a programme students can attend and graduate from using only English. It is open to international students and to domestic students with an international education.[31][8]
The School of Science's IUPS (chemistry, mathematics, physics or biology) is taught partly in English and partly in Japanese, so it is not an English-only degree.[32]
The English-taught FGL programme has taken its final intake, and Gateway College, starting in 2027, replaces it. Students educated abroad apply to the October intake (Term II), which is screened entirely in English and online. The April intake (Term I) is for students from Japanese secondary schools and is screened mainly in Japanese, in person.[34][9]
Ten English-taught undergraduate degree programmes covering automotive engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, social sciences (law and economics) and Japan-in-Asia cultural studies. Foreign nationals, Japanese nationals and permanent residents of Japan can all apply, and there is no minimum Japanese requirement at enrolment.[35][10][4]
Three English-taught undergraduate routes for October 2027 entry: the School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation, Engineering (EECS, Applied Chemistry, Mechanical, Civil) and Agriculture (Bioresource and Bioenvironment). The Engineering and Agriculture programmes are four-year degrees with all classes in English except Japanese language classes.[11][36]
Students start a six-month beginner Intensive Japanese Course in October 2027 and the four-year degree in April 2028. The admission policy asks for enough English to take part in English-taught classes. The Integrated Science Program (ISP) follows the same pattern, from the October 2027 Japanese course to the April 2028 degree.[1][37]
Seven courses in five programmes are taught in English, and your Japanese level does not affect admission. Required classes are taught in English through to graduation. The medical sciences course accepts transfer students only.[13][2]
Tsukuba also opened its School of Transdisciplinary Science and Design in Kuala Lumpur in September 2024, with September entry. For September 2027 entry, online applications open on 12 January 2027 and close on 9 February 2027 (School Recommendation Scheme) or 2 March 2027 (Aptitude-based Scheme), at 5:00 pm Malaysian time.[2]
An April-entry programme in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering leading to a Bachelor of Engineering, with every subject taught in English. International students with little or no Japanese can study on it.[14]
A full-time, four-year English-taught degree that aims for competence in both English and Japanese by graduation. The 2027 intake enters on 1 April 2027.[38][16]
Private universities charge more than national ones and add an admission fee, but several let you apply for scholarships or tuition reductions at the same time as admission.
Waseda's English-based programmes do not require Japanese to apply. They run in Political Science and Economics (September entry), Social Sciences TAISI (September), the School of International Liberal Studies, SILS (September and April), Culture, Media and Society JCulP, and English-taught courses in Fundamental and Creative Science and Engineering (September).[17]
Waseda's AY2027 fee table evens out tuition so that year-1 registration plus tuition equals the annual tuition in later years. Year-1 totals are JPY 1,256,800 for Social Sciences, JPY 1,295,000 for Culture, Media and Society and JPY 1,859,000 for Fundamental Science and Engineering.[19]
A note for A-Level students
English-taught bachelor's degrees in seven fields: journalism, education, sociology, economics, management, international relations and area studies. Entry is in September only (21 September 2027), and applicants from Japan and around the world are welcome.[23]
APU has three colleges (Sustainability and Tourism, Asia Pacific Studies, International Management), with courses offered in both English and Japanese.[40]
For students enrolling from April 2027, AIU has raised annual tuition from JPY 696,000 to JPY 896,000. The September 2027 examination guide already uses the new amount (JPY 896,000 a year).[41][27]
English-based degrees are offered in the Global Studies Major (International Relations), the Community and Regional Policy Studies Major (Policy Science), the Information Systems Science and Engineering Course, a joint degree with American University, and the College of Global Liberal Arts (a dual degree with the Australian National University). Check intake dates, requirements, deadlines and fees on the university's International Admissions pages.[28]
| University and programme | IB | A-Level |
|---|---|---|
| Keio PEARL | IB or SAT required; no cut-off | Not enough on its own (IB or SAT needed)[5] |
| Sophia SPSF | Full Diploma (Certificate not accepted) | Three GCE A-Levels[23] |
| Kyoto iUP | Accepted (Math AA HL recommended for sciences) | Accepted (Further Maths recommended for sciences)[7] |
| Tohoku Gateway College | Recommended 36 (STEM: Math AA HL) | Recommended three subjects at A[6] |
| Osaka HUS IUDP | Diploma accepted (predicted grades allowed) | Three or more subjects (predicted grades allowed)[8] |
| Tsukuba TILES | Meets eligibility | Three or more subjects at E or above[12] |
| Akita International University | Six final exams passed | More than one subject taken[27] |
| UTokyo College of Design | 38+ as a benchmark | Three A grades as a benchmark[3] |
| Science Tokyo GSEP (planned from 2028 entry) | 40+ with maths, physics and chemistry at HL | Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry all at A[15] |
If you apply on predicted grades, your offer depends on your final results meeting the conditions. Some figures are benchmarks or recommendations rather than strict minimums.
Under MEXT's rules, AS Levels alone do not make you eligible for a Japanese university, and Kyoto iUP does not accept IGCSE, GCSE or O Level results as its required test scores.[44][7]
The University of Osaka describes its Human Sciences international degree programme as one you can complete using only English, and Tsukuba teaches required classes in English through to graduation. Kyoto iUP, by contrast, teaches its final two years mainly in Japanese.
No. PEARL requires every applicant to submit IB Diploma scores (final or predicted) or SAT scores, and A-Levels cannot replace them.
The earliest rounds have already closed: APU's first April-entry round for applicants living in Malaysia and similar countries (15 July 2026), the Institute of Science Tokyo's GSEP (21 August 2026), Waseda SILS's April overseas round (8 September 2026), ICU's April entry (8 October 2026) and Akita International University (9 October 2026). November 2026 deadlines are Hokkaido's MJSP first call and Tsukuba's IDE (4 November), the UTokyo College of Design (5 November), and Nagoya's G30 Round 1 and Tsukuba's TISS and TILES (19 November).
It depends on the university. Nagoya's G30 charges JPY 535,800 a year, but Tohoku's Gateway College plans JPY 900,000 for international students and Tsukuba JPY 608,800 (2027 entry).
That depends on the programme. ICU requires the Japanese Language Programme for graduation, Hokkaido's MJSP starts with a six-month intensive Japanese course, and Kyoto iUP teaches its final two years mainly in Japanese.
Planning to apply to Japanese universities? Talk to Nansu Juku.
Tell us your year group, your subjects and grades, and where you want to study. We help you plan the scores, subjects and application steps. Consultations for families considering our courses are free.
Checked against each source on 2026-11-02. Entry requirements, deadlines and fees change every year, so always confirm with the official pages for the year you apply.
