Degree opportunities

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Bachelor's degree programs

  1. When does the school year start?
  2. Can I take courses in English?
  3. Are there entrance exams for international students? 
  4. When does the exam for international students take place?
  5. What are the eligibility requirements for international applicants?
  6. Do I need Japanese language proficiency?
  7. Do I need to take the examination given by the National Center for University Entrance Examination (NCUEE)?
  8. In addition to the university entrance examination, are there any other tests I have to take, such as the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)?
  9. What does the university entrance examination consist of?
  10. Are the questions from past exams available?
  11. Can I apply to more than one faculty?
  12. Do I have to go to Japan to take the entrance exam?
  13. What should I do about the visa required to take the entrance exam?
  14. How do I get the application forms?
  15. Can you send the applications forms overseas?
  16. Do I have to go directly to the University to get the application forms?
  17. Can I apply online?
  18. Do you offer Japanese-language courses?
  19. Does the University accept transfer students?
  20. I have already graduated from an undergraduate program at another university. Can I still enroll in a KyotoU bachelor's degree program?
  21. I would like to become a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship student. How should I apply for the scholarship program?
  22. I would like to apply for the MEXT scholarship through Kyoto University. What are the procedures for this?

1. When does the school year start?

The undergraduate school year starts in April.

2. Can I take courses in English?

The Faculty of Engineering provides an English-taught degree program, Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, for international students. Please visit the following website for details.

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering

Except in English-taught degree courses, classes are generally taught in Japanese, unless specified otherwise. Those wishing to enroll in a general undergraduate program are therefore expected to have sufficient proficiency in Japanese upon enrollment.

The University also offers the Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program, or Kyoto iUP, which does not require any prior knowledge of the Japanese language. It is ideally suited to those interested in working in a Japan-related field, or pursuing a career at a company or academic institution in Japan.

Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP)

3. Are there entrance exams for international students? 
4. When does the exam for international students take place?
5. What are the eligibility requirements for international applicants?

Kyoto University offers bachelor programs in a wide range of study areas across 10 undergraduate faculties.  

International applicants must undergo the same selection process as domestic applicants to enroll in these programs. However, some courses and programs have special admission processes for international applicants. Please refer to the following links for details.

All faculties

Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP)

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

6. Do I need Japanese language proficiency?

Visit the 'How to apply (Faculty)' page to find out about language and other requirements.

7. Do I need to take the examination given by the National Center for University Entrance Examination (NCUEE)?

The NCUEE examination is mandatory for those taking the general entrance examination but is not required for applicants to the Kyoto iUP or an English-taught program. It is also not part of the special selection process for privately financed international students. Requirements for AO admission applicants vary by faculty.

8. Are there any other tests I have to take, such as EJU*?
9. What does the university entrance examination consist of?
10. Are the questions from past exams available?

Details vary by faculty. Visit the website of the faculty you wish to enroll in, and contact the faculty office directly if anything is unclear.

*
Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students

All faculties

Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP)

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

11. Can I apply to more than one faculty?

Yes, as long as the test schedules do not overlap. However, at the Faculty of Engineering, applicants to the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering are not eligible for the special selection process for privately financed international applicants, regardless of their application results for the Program.

12. Do I have to go to Japan to take the entrance exam?

With the exception of the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering and Kyoto iUP, test takers need to come to Japan and take the entrance exam at the University (eg, a special selection for privately-financed international students in the Faculty of Engineering).

13. What should I do about the visa required to take the entrance exam?

In order for international applicants to enter Japan and sit Kyoto University entrance examinations, they must obtain a Temporary Visitor's Visa (Tankitaizai) through a Japanese diplomatic mission in their country. Temporary visitors are not allowed to engage in any paid activities. Inquire at a Japanese embassy or consulate for details.

Change in status of residence from Tankitaizai after entry to Japan is not usually approved without a special reason. Applications for a change in resident status require submission of a certificate of eligibility and a brief letter explaining the situation.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Embassies & Consulates

14-17. How to request, obtain, and submit application forms

The application distribution period and the procedures for requesting and submitting applications vary by faculty. Check the website of the faculty whose examination you wish to take.

All faculties

Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP)

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

18. Do you offer Japanese-language courses?

Kyoto University does not have an independent faculty for Japanese language studies.

International students at Kyoto University, however, can attend the following classes at the Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture of the Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS): (1) Japanese language classes in the Liberal Arts and Sciences curriculum, and/or (2) Japanese language support classes not included in the regular curriculum. Please visit the Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture website for details.

19. Does the University accept transfer students?

The Faculties of Law and Economics accept international applicants in the third year of their undergraduate programs. These faculties generally conduct classes and tests in the Japanese language. Please read the application guidelines on the faculty websites.

20. I have already graduated from an undergraduate program at another university. Can I still enroll in a KyotoU bachelor's degree program?

The Faculties of Letters, Education, and Medicine (School of Human Health Sciences only) accept applications from graduates of overseas bachelor's degree programs (including those who will have graduated by the time of their entrance to Kyoto University), while the Faculties of Integrated Human Studies and Science administer entrance examinations only for KyotoU graduates (including those who will have graduated by the time of their entrance to Kyoto University). These faculties generally conduct classes and examinations in the Japanese language. Please read the application guidelines on the faculty websites.

21. I would like to become a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship student. How should I apply?

Pre-arrival applications should be made (1) through a Japanese embassy or consulate (embassy recommendation) or (2) through a university in Japan (university recommendation).

However, for those desiring to enroll in a KyotoU bachelor's degree program, university recommendation is available only for the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering and Kyoto iUP. Please visit the following pages for details.

22. I would like to apply for the MEXT Scholarship through Kyoto University. What are the procedures for this?

Those desiring to apply for enrollment in a bachelor's degree program must do so through a Japanese embassy or consulate general (embassy recommendation). Only those expecting to enroll in the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering or Kyoto iUP are eligible to apply for the MEXT scholarship through Kyoto University (university recommendation). Visit the following pages for details.