Top universities in Japan | 5 universities you should consider!

Several factors make a foreign destination the ideal choice. This includes friendly citizens, intricate cultural heritage and ideologies, excellent facilities, and an education system that has value across the globe. Japan ticks all the above boxes and more, which is why it is becoming one of the most popular educational destinations for aspirants from different countries. If you are considering joining the bandwagon, here are the 5 top universities in Japan you should consider applying to! 

5 top universities in Japan to consider 

The universities in Japan are ‌at par with some of the best Ivy League schools in the world for the quality of training that they provide. These schools also have a rich history and they contribute to making Japan a leader across different industries. 

Some of the top universities in Japan that are well-known for their educational infrastructure and opportunities are – 

University of Tokyo 

• Established in the year 1877, the University of Tokyo (also referred to as ‘Todai’) is one of the oldest national universities in the country. 
• The University of Tokyo is also among the top universities in Japan that are under the category of leading research institutions. 
• This university boasts an astonishing number of 15 graduate schools, with 11 specialized faculty. The different infrastructural elements of the campus are present across the cities of Kamaba, Kashiwa, and Hongo. 
• The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering are among the most prestigious departments in the world. 

Kyoto University

• Kyoto University is among the top universities in Japan that were founded in 1897. The original name at the time of establishment was Kyoto Imperial University. The name change occurred in the year 1947. 
• One of the key advantages of pursuing a course from this university is that the tuition costs are the same for both national and international students. 
• The university has 10 academic divisions that offer undergraduate degrees. Some of these include – 
  • Agriculture 
  • Engineering 
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences 
  • Medicine 
  • Science 
• This university’s academic calendar is based on semesters and the primary language of instruction is Japanese. However, there are English-taught courses that are also available, mostly at graduate levels. 

Keio University 

• Keio University is one of the top universities in Japan for privatized education. 
• Keio University has more than 300 partner institutions spread across the globe and is home to some of the best teaching facilities in the world. 
• The university also continues to score significantly in the domain of employer reputation and international research network indicators. The latter assesses a university’s international collaborations with researchers in the field, which contributes to academic reputation. 

Globis University 

• It is one of the top universities in Japan with a campus located in the heart of the capital Tokyo (a financial powerhouse). 
• Globis University attracts students from nearly 57 countries and offers a highly rated and industry-oriented management degree program.
• This university offers management degree courses that incline towards the industry.
• If you are looking for a career in the global corporate world, pursuing your studies at this university will provide you with a competitive edge. 
• One of the key features of this university is its pre-MBA, a course that has a flexible duration and can take between 2 to 5 years to complete. Pre-MBAs are at the same level as MBA equivalents in Japan, providing similar pay packages and opportunities. 
• As a part of the pre-MBA course, you can take up to 8 different online specialized courses that provide an alternative route toward achieving an MBA qualification. 
• The University’s online MBA course is also dubbed as Asia’s 1st live online course, bringing quality management education to personal devices at their fingertips. 
• The University has its name across in-class campuses in the cities of Tokyo, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Nagoya. 

Osaka University 

• Osaka University (also known as OU) is a Japanese national university. Founded in 1931, this university was famous as the sixth imperial university of Japan. 
• Currently, OU is located in Osaka and has main campuses in the cities of Minoh, Toyonaka, and Suita. 
• In the academic year of 2007, the university completed a merger with the Osaka University of Foreign Studies. In the same year, an estimated 9% of the student body was from overseas. 
• Another remarkable advantage of pursuing a course from this university is that national and international students’ tuition costs are the same. 
• Osaka University is strictly research-oriented and has 11 undergraduate schools that include – 
  • Engineering Science 
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Dentistry 
  • Medicine 
  • Economics 

• The university also has several graduate schools, which include a school of language & culture, and a school of frontier biosciences. 
• One of the most attractive features of this university is its multiple libraries, such as an international studies library, engineering library, science library, and life science library. 
• The different research institutes under Osaka University also comprise the Joining & Welding Research Institute and the Research Institute for Microbial Disease. 

Key takeaways 

• Japan is a country that is well-known all over the world for the quality of its educational infrastructure and opportunities for international students. 
• Pursuing your higher studies in Japan can equip you with a wide range of skills delivered by top-class educational institutions. 
• The five top universities in Japan listed in this blog are designed to help you recognize your options when preparing for the next stage of your academic career. 

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FAQs 

Q1. Do I have to learn Japanese to gain admission to a university in Japan? 

Answer – You will need to have met the minimum language requirements established by different universities in Japanese to gain admission to their mainstream courses. However, several graduate-level courses are delivered in English. 

Q2. What is the most convenient way to travel around Japan? 

Answer – Japan is a country that also has excellent connectivity established by a complex public transport system. This makes public transportation one of the easiest, safest, and most cost-effective ways of traveling around Japan.

Q3. Do Japanese universities offer courses in martial arts? 

Answer – Yes, they do! Most Japanese universities offer several kinds of martial arts courses, including kyudo, kendo, judo, and karate.