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 special selection for privately financed international applicants take place?
  5. What are the application qualifications for the special selection for privately financed international applicants?
  6. Do I need to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)?
  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 iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

3. Are there entrance exams for international students?

Standards for selection are basically the same for both international and Japanese applicants (General Admission). However, the Faculty of Engineering has a special selection process for privately financed international students, as detailed on the Faculty website below.

The Faculty of Engineering also offers an English-taught engineering degree program, the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering. Details can be found at the dedicated website linked below.

Kyoto University additionally has a special undergraduate program for international students, Kyoto iUP, comprised of a six-month preparatory course followed by four years of undergraduate study. Visit the link below for details.

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

4. When does the special selection for privately financed international applicants take place?

Applications for the special selection process are generally accepted at the beginning of January. Examinations are given between mid January and late February. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be conducted prior to the submission of application forms. Please read the admission guidelines on the faculty websites for the latest information, as the procedures are subject to change, and contact the relevant administrative office if anything is unclear.

The schedule is different for the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering. Please visit the program website for details.

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP ( Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program )

5. What are the application qualifications for the special selection for privately financed international applicants?

Each faculty has its own admission requirements. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be conducted prior to the submission of application forms. Please read the admission guidelines on the faculty websites for the latest information, as the procedures are subject to change, and contact the relevant administrative offices if anything is unclear.

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree programs

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

6. Do I need to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)?

Please refer to 5. What are the application qualifications for the special selection for privately financed international applicants?

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

The NCUEE examination is not required of those applying through the special selection process for privately financed international applicants; it is required only of those taking the general entrance examination. Requirements for AO admission applicants vary by faculty.

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)?

Those wishing to qualify for the special selection process must take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), administered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), in addition to undergoing the screening procedures administered by each faculty. For details, please contact the administrative office of each faculty.

Admission requirements are different for the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering and Kyoto iUP. Visit the program websites for details.

Faculty with a special selection for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

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.

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

11. Can I apply to more than one faculty?

It is possible if the test schedules do not overlap. With the Faculty of Engineering, however, those applying for the Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering are not eligible to apply for the Faculty's other programs, regardless of whether they failed or passed the test for the International 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.

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.

Faculty with a special selection process for privately financed international applicants

Faculty of Engineering

English-taught degree program

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Other

Kyoto iUP (Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program)

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.