Study in Tokyo, Japan
3 schools in Tokyo, Japan. Universities (3).
Universities in Tokyo 3
- Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU)
Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1949 as part of Aoyama Gakuin, an educational institution established in 1…
- The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. It offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines…
- Tokyo Business School
The Tokyo Business School is a private university, part of the United International Business Schools organization, that offers flexible business and manageme…
About Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and its largest city. For international students it offers the widest choice of universities in the country, from long-established national universities to private universities with programmes taught in English, in a city where daily life runs on an extensive rail network.
Students choose Tokyo for full degrees, graduate research, exchange semesters and Japanese language study. Living costs, and rent in particular, are higher than in the rest of Japan, so a realistic budget matters more here than in smaller university cities.
Studying in Tokyo
Our directory lists three universities in Tokyo. The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan and offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at undergraduate and graduate level. Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) is a private university founded in 1949 as part of Aoyama Gakuin, an institution established in 1874; it has the Aoyama and Sagamihara campuses and offers some academic programmes in English. Tokyo Business School focuses on business and management studies.
According to Study in Japan, the official information site of the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), international students can enter five types of higher education institution, which are national, local public or private. A bachelor's degree takes four years and at least 124 credits, and a master's degree two years and at least 30 credits. Most institutions run their academic year from April to March. Average first-year fees at undergraduate level are about ¥820,000 at national universities, ¥910,000 at local public universities and ¥1,300,000 at private universities (excluding medicine, dentistry and pharmacy), and many schools offer scholarships and tuition reductions to international students.
Visa and admission
Students need a "Student" status of residence. The usual first step is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), requested from a regional immigration services bureau in Japan; in most cases the school that accepts the student applies on their behalf. Once the COE is issued, the student applies for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
Cost of living for students
JASSO's 2023 survey of privately financed international students puts the national average monthly cost of living at ¥105,000, excluding study costs. Rent is the main difference: average monthly housing costs ¥57,000 in Tokyo against a national average of ¥41,000, and because it is hard to find accommodation near schools, commuting costs are also higher. Students with permission from immigration may work part-time for up to 28 hours a week (up to eight hours a day in the long holidays); the average hourly wage is about ¥1,300. Students who stay three months or more must join the National Health Insurance, which covers 70% of medical costs, so patients pay 30% of the bill.
Getting around and daily life
Most students get around by train and subway, and many live some distance from campus and commute. The climate is humid and subtropical. At the Japan Meteorological Agency's Tokyo station (1991-2020 normals), the average temperature is 5.4 °C in January and 25.7 °C in July, rising to 26.9 °C in August, when average daily highs reach 31.3 °C. Annual rainfall is about 1,600 mm.
Frequently asked questions
Which universities are in Tokyo?
Our directory lists the University of Tokyo, Japan's first national university (1877), the private Aoyama Gakuin University and Tokyo Business School.
How much does it cost to live in Tokyo as a student?
JASSO puts the national average monthly cost of living for international students at ¥105,000. Rent in Tokyo averages ¥57,000 a month, compared with ¥41,000 nationally.
Can international students work in Tokyo?
Yes, with permission from the immigration authorities. Students may work up to 28 hours a week during term and up to eight hours a day in the long holidays.
When does the academic year start in Japan?
Most universities run their academic year from April to March of the following year. Many use a semester system.