Japan is the destination for most international students seeking high-quality education with a mix of exciting cultural experiences and a budget-friendly, student-safe environment. Many universities in Japan established way back late 1800s to the early 1900s have a solid reputation for providing high-quality teaching and cutting-edge research programs that surpass international standards.
Most top universities in Japan offer prestigious degree programs entirely taught in English, allowing students to undertake their field of study without worrying about their average Japanese skills. These universities welcome students from different parts of the world to experience a whole set of fun, culture-rich, high-tech, clean, and safe learning environments. With Japan’s booming economy, many job opportunities await every student even before graduating, especially those with English and Japanese skills. In this article, we will be looking at the best English-taught schools in Japan!
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Japan
1. Tohoku University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
Tohoku University is a leading English-taught school in Japan and is one of the most prestigious Japanese national universities in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is the third university established by the Empire of Japan and is known as one of the top-ranking universities in Asia. It is also the first Japanese university to accept women and admit international students. The university gives importance to the internationalization of higher education in the country, which drives it to offer courses entirely taught in English.
Three undergraduate courses, entirely taught in English, are available through the university’s Future Global Leadership Program (FGL). These include courses in advanced molecular chemistry, international mechanical and aerospace engineering, and applied molecular biology.
The institution also offers various English-taught graduate degree programs in the fields of science, medicine, agricultural science, environmental studies, law, politics, mechanical, and aerospace engineering, materials science engineering, information science, life sciences, economics, and management, biomedical engineering, biomechanics, language sciences, social science, environmental studies, international relations, etc. According to Shripriya, the Master’s in Information Science was conducted entirely in English, and according to Kushagra, the Master’s in Systems Information Science and Ph.D. in Computer Vision were conducted entirely in English.
2. University of Tokyo
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), also known as Todai, is a top-leading public research university and among the best English-taught schools in Tokyo, Japan. It was the first-ever established Imperial University and is recognized by the Japanese Government as a Top Type University on its Top Global University Project for UTokyo’s outstanding performance and research-led initiatives to nurture world-class talents and the brightest minds worldwide. UTokyo is a highly globalized Japanese university enrolling thousands of international students from across the globe.
The university’s College of Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate programs entirely taught in English on its Komaba Campus. As part of the institution’s commitment to creating a global learning community, the university initiated Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK), which connects Japan to different top-rated international learning communities. Students who enroll in PEAK will study liberal arts for two years in the Junior Division and then advance in specialized studies for the next two years, under Japan in East Asia or the Environmental Sciences program in the Senior Division.
The university’s Faculty of Science also accepts transfer students who have finished at least two years of undergraduate studies at universities outside Japan to enroll in its Global Science Course (GSC), an entirely English-taught undergraduate degree program.
GSC students will receive a monthly scholarship worth JPY 150,00, fully supported monthly rent or accommodation, and support from student tutors and teaching assistants (TAs). UTokyo also offers English-taught graduate degree programs in economics, arts and sciences, science Engineering, agricultural and life sciences, medicine, frontier sciences information, science and technology, interdisciplinary information studies, and public policy.
3. Sophia University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
Sophia University is a top-ranking, research-led private Jesuit university located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flagship institution for introducing an internationalized higher education curriculum in the country and a significant player in attracting international students from different parts of the world. It is the first educational institution in Japan to offer English-taught degree programs. The university has a broad global network with other top universities abroad, encouraging students to enroll and participate in various student exchange programs and study abroad opportunities.
Sophia University is known as a top English-taught institution and holds a strong reputation in globalization, foreign languages, and literature, among other Japanese academic institutions. The Japanese Government also chose it for its Top Global University Project because of its outstanding teaching performance and research excellence in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
As a highly globalized institution, the institution offers various English-taught degree courses and/or programs for both undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of liberal arts, science and technology, and subjects under the Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (including education, sociology, economics, international relations & area studies, journalism, and management).
4. Waseda University
- Undergraduate English Programs | Graduate English Programs | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
Waseda University, founded in 1882 by Ōkuma Shigenobu, is a prestigious private research university located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. With nearly 48,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs and a faculty known for strong academic leadership, Waseda consistently ranks among Japan’s top universities in reputation and research output. The university is also designated under MEXT’s Top Global University Project, demonstrating its commitment to international collaboration and excellence.
Waseda has significantly expanded its English-taught programs to serve a global student community. At the undergraduate level, seven of its thirteen schools, including International Liberal Studies, Political Science & Economics, Social Sciences, and multiple science & engineering faculties, offer entire degree tracks in English, many launched since 2004 and further expanded under the Global 30 initiative. Graduate programs across disciplines, from social sciences to engineering, law, and business, also provide full English instruction.
Students who have studied at Waseda University also confirm this. For example, Zain Ashfaq states that the Master’s in Creative Science and Engineering program is 100% taught in English, and he even goes and praises the department because of the strong support from professors and research facilities.
5. Osaka University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
Osaka University is one of Japan’s top-tier higher education and research institutions. Built by the Empire of Japan in 1931, it is one of Japan’s earliest modern and most prestigious universities. The Osaka University is also a leading English-taught school in Japan that holds a solid global reputation for its outstanding performance in dentistry, chemical engineering, physics and astronomy, and natural sciences. As a top-leading global institution, it offers a range of academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students taught entirely in English. These include social sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, biological sciences, macromolecular science, engineering, information sciences, etc.
For example, Dr. Usama Perwez studied PhD in Energy Systems completely in English, and Kartika also studied a Master’s in Biotechnology completely in English. They both state that both the courses and the labs were conducted in English. Dr. Perwez further states, “overall, most of the programs in Osaka University related to MSc and Phd are in English.” This shows that most programs for Master’s and PHD are conducted in English at Osaka University, and there are also undergraduate degrees that are taught in English too!
We hope the above list of best English-taught universities in Japan will help narrow your choices for where to pursue your degree. There’s still so much more information about studying in this reputable country on the Study in Japan. You can even sample some of the Available Courses to explore your study options.
About the Author: Hyun Lee
