Japan is a popular destination for international students seeking high-quality education, cultural experiences, and a student-friendly environment. Several major universities in Japan, including institutions founded from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, have strong reputations for teaching and research.
Many top universities in Japan offer degree programs taught fully or partly in English, allowing students to study in Japan while continuing to build their Japanese language skills. These universities welcome students from different parts of the world to experience a culture-rich, high-tech, clean, and safe learning environment. Japanese and English skills can also be useful when exploring internships and career opportunities in Japan. In this article, we will be looking at the best English-taught schools in Japan!
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Japan
| University | Undergraduate English-taught options | Graduate English-taught options |
|---|
| Tohoku University | Future Global Leadership options include Advanced Molecular Chemistry, International Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Applied Marine Biology. The article identifies 2026 as the final FGL undergraduate intake, with Gateway College scheduled to launch in 2027. | Selected English-taught master’s and doctoral programs across engineering, science, economics and management, education, life sciences, environmental studies, and other fields. Availability varies by graduate school. |
| University of Tokyo | PEAK pathways in Japan in East Asia and Environmental Sciences. The Global Science Course is an English-taught transfer route into the third undergraduate year, rather than a first-year entry program. | English-taught master’s and doctoral options across engineering, science, agricultural and life sciences, economics, public policy, frontier sciences, and other graduate fields. |
| Waseda University | English-based degrees through Political Science and Economics, Social Sciences, International Liberal Studies, Culture, Media and Society, Fundamental Science and Engineering, and Creative Science and Engineering. | English-based graduate options across social sciences, engineering, law, business, humanities, sport sciences, and international studies. Examples include master’s study in Creative Science and Engineering. |
| University of Osaka | Human Sciences International Undergraduate Degree Program. The International Undergraduate Program in Science combines English and Japanese and includes preliminary Japanese-language study. | Selected master’s and doctoral pathways can be completed in English. Examples highlighted in the article include master’s study in Biotechnology and doctoral research in Energy Systems; arrangements vary by program and laboratory. |
| Nagoya University | Global 30 programs in Automotive Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Science, Social Science, and Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies. | Master’s options include Automotive Engineering, Economics and Business Administration, and Public Health. Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Biological and Bioagricultural Sciences offer master’s and doctoral pathways. Medical Science is a research doctorate, not a professional medical qualification. |
| Kyoto University | English-taught International Course Program of Civil Engineering. Kyoto iUP combines English and Japanese and requires Japanese for later study. | Joint master’s in Transcultural Studies and International MBA. English-medium master’s and doctoral routes include East Asia Sustainable Economic Development Studies and the International Program in Informatics. |
| Hokkaido University | Integrated Science Program covering biology, chemistry, and physics. The separate Modern Japanese Studies Program is bilingual and requires substantial Japanese-language study. | Graduate study through the Integrated Science Program and English Engineering Education Program (e3). The latter offers master’s and doctoral routes in fields including Mechanical and Space Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. |
| Kyushu University | International programs in Applied Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Bioresource and Bioenvironment. Academic classes are in English, apart from Japanese-language classes. | English-taught master’s and doctoral programs in Japanese Humanities and Integrated Sciences for Global Society, alongside additional English-medium opportunities in engineering and science. |
| University of Tsukuba | International Social Studies, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Global Issues, and science pathways in biology, geoscience, and agro-biological resources. Medical Sciences is a transfer-only option; Japan-Expert routes are Japanese-taught. | Master of International Business Administration and master’s options in Physics and Environmental Sciences. International and Advanced Japanese Studies offers master’s and doctoral routes; doctoral options also include International Public Policy and Agricultural Science. |
| Hiroshima University | Integrated Global Studies, combining humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The degree can be completed in English, with language education supporting English and Japanese communication. | The International Economic Development Program offers master’s degrees in Economics and International Cooperation Studies, plus doctoral qualifications in Economics, International Cooperation Studies, and Philosophy, with all degrees offered in English. |
| Yokohama National University | The YOKOHAMA Socrates Program is bilingual, combining English-taught subjects with Japanese-language learning and subsequent participation in Japanese classes. It is not an English-only bachelor’s pathway. | English-medium master’s options include Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Ocean Engineering; Chemistry and Life Science; and Urban Infrastructure Engineering. Doctoral routes include Engineering Science, Economics, Business Administration, and Transnational Law and Policy. |
| Ritsumeikan University | Global Studies, Community and Regional Policy Studies, and Information Systems Science and Engineering. Collaborative options include Global Liberal Arts with Australian National University and Global International Relations with American University. | English-based master’s options include Economic Development, International Relations, Policy Science, Advanced Information Science and Engineering, and Advanced Life Sciences. Doctoral options include Economics, International Relations, Policy Science, and Science and Engineering. |
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | English-basis pathways in Asia Pacific Studies, International Management, and Sustainability and Tourism. Academic studies can be completed through English, but Japanese-language education is part of the curriculum. | English-taught M.Sc. in Asia Pacific Studies, M.Sc. in International Cooperation Policy, MBA, and Ph.D. in Asia Pacific Studies. |
| University of Hyogo | Global Business Course leading to a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Classes are conducted in English apart from Japanese-language instruction for international students. | Master of Global Business Administration, taught in English. The article does not identify an English-taught doctoral pathway. |
| Institute of Science Tokyo | Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP), leading to a Bachelor of Engineering in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering. This is a specific engineering pathway, not an English-medium medical or dental degree. | International Graduate Program routes offering master’s, doctoral, and integrated doctoral education entirely in English. Examples include computer science through IGP(C) and the Science Tokyo–RIKEN doctoral route in nano-materials and nano-biomaterials. |
| Nara Institute of Science and Technology | No undergraduate degrees; NAIST is a graduate-only university. | Master’s and doctoral degrees can be completed entirely in English in Information Science and Engineering, Biological Science, and Materials Science and Engineering, with interdisciplinary research opportunities. |
| Osaka Metropolitan University | No fully English-taught bachelor’s degree is confirmed in the article. Undergraduate entrance examinations are conducted in Japanese. | The Graduate School of Engineering permits English-language degree completion in all master’s and doctoral majors, including Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Materials Science, and Quantum and Radiation Engineering. |
| Kyoto Institute of Technology | Undergraduate lectures are conducted in Japanese; no fully English-taught bachelor’s degree is confirmed. | International Graduate Program master’s options include Applied Biology, Information Science, and Advanced Fibro-Science; doctoral options include Materials Chemistry, Electronics, and Engineering Design. Instruction and research guidance are normally in English, with individual English support where exceptions apply. |
| Kyushu Institute of Technology | No complete English-taught bachelor’s degree is confirmed in the article. | Selected international master’s and doctoral routes include Space Engineering and Innovative AI/Robotics Technologies. Additional English-medium graduate options include Global Advanced Assistive Robotics and study connecting green energy, environmental issues, and the economy. |
1. Tohoku University
Tohoku University is a leading English-taught school in Japan and one of the most prestigious Japanese national universities in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. Founded in 1907 as Japan’s third Imperial University, it became the first Japanese university to accept female students and was also one of the first to welcome international students. The university emphasizes the internationalization of higher education in the country, which drives it to offer many degree courses in English.
Three undergraduate courses, entirely taught in English, are available through the university’s Future Global Leadership Program (FGL). These are Advanced Molecular Chemistry, International Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Applied Marine Biology. Students should note that admission to the FGL Undergraduate Program for 2026 enrollment is listed as the final one; a new English-taught program, Gateway College, is scheduled to launch in 2027.
The institution also offers various English-taught graduate degree programs in fields such as arts and letters, education, law, politics, economics and management, science, medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical sciences, engineering, agricultural science, information sciences, life sciences, environmental studies, and biomedical engineering.
What Current Students / Alumni of Tohoku University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Shubham Verma
Master’s and Ph.D. in Information Technology, specializing in High-Performance Computing | Reports that his AIQDS courses were taught in English. | Some Japanese was needed outside the university. He recommends learning the basics for everyday tasks and cultural participation. |
Shripriya
Master’s in Information Sciences | Her major was taught in English most of the time, but courses were also conducted in Japanese. She found it difficult to contribute to joint seminars conducted in Japanese. | Her experience shows that Japanese could matter for seminar participation even within an international laboratory. |
Kushagra Shekhawat
Master’s in System Information Science | His master’s program was conducted in English and emphasized research and independent study. | He says Japanese was not necessary for his master’s program. |
2. University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), also known as Todai, is a top public research university and among the best English-taught schools in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1877 as Japan’s first national university and was selected for MEXT’s Top Global University Project Type A, a project that ran from fiscal years 2014 to 2023. UTokyo has a large international student community and offers English-taught degree options for undergraduate and graduate students.
The university’s College of Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate programs taught in English on its Komaba Campus. Its Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK) consist of the International Program on Japan in East Asia and the International Program on Environmental Sciences. Students who enroll in PEAK study liberal arts for the first two years in the Junior Division and then advance to specialized studies for the next two years in the Senior Division.
The university’s Faculty of Science also offers the Global Science Course (GSC), an all-English undergraduate transfer program for students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at universities outside Japan and are admitted into the third year of the Faculty of Science.
GSC students receive a monthly scholarship of JPY 150,000, accommodation with fully supported monthly rent, and support from student tutors and teaching assistants. UTokyo also offers English-taught graduate degree programs in fields such as medicine, engineering, science, agricultural and life sciences, economics, arts and sciences, frontier sciences, interdisciplinary information studies, and public policy.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Tokyo Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Lian Sabella Castillo
Master’s in Information, Technology, and Society in Asia | She took mostly English-taught classes when starting her studies. | Practical Japanese classes helped with everyday communication and meeting people outside her field. She wishes she had taken language learning more seriously from the beginning. |
Lim Zi Heng
Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering | His undergraduate route was Japanese-medium, with almost all classes taught in Japanese. | He considers Japanese essential for passing classes and making friends in his study environment. |
3. Waseda University
Waseda University, founded in 1882 by Ōkuma Shigenobu, is a prestigious private research university located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Waseda was selected as one of Japan’s Top Global University Project Type A institutions, and its project later received an A rating in the 2024 post-evaluation.
Waseda has significantly expanded its English-taught programs to serve a global student community. At the undergraduate level, Waseda offers English-based degree programs at six undergraduate schools: Political Science and Economics, Social Sciences, International Liberal Studies, Culture, Media and Society, Fundamental Science and Engineering, and Creative Science and Engineering. Graduate programs across many disciplines, including social sciences, engineering, law, business, humanities, sport sciences, and international studies, also provide English-based degree options.
What Current Students / Alumni of Waseda University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Maxie Pickert
Master’s studies in Asian Studies | His classes were conducted in both English and Japanese. | He says the academic impact of limited Japanese depends on the program. Japanese was particularly helpful for daily life and making the most of living in Japan. |
Zain Ashfaq
Master’s in Creative Science and Engineering | His program was fully conducted in English. | He says not knowing Japanese had not been a major issue in his program. |
Agnese Dionisio
Master’s and Ph.D. in International Culture and Communication Studies | Her program was mainly in English, but some courses, including interpreting, also used Japanese. | She held JLPT N1 and reports no language difficulties herself; her experience does not establish that Japanese was unnecessary. |
4. University of Osaka
The University of Osaka is one of Japan’s major national research institutions. Officially founded in 1931 as Japan’s sixth Imperial University, it also traces its roots back to Tekijuku, a private place of learning founded in 1838. The University of Osaka offers many classes and programs in English, although availability, eligibility, and language requirements vary by school and program.
At the undergraduate level, the International College oversees degree programs taught in English, including the Human Sciences International Undergraduate Degree Program and the International Undergraduate Program in Science. Students should note that the International Undergraduate Program in Science is conducted partly in English and partly in Japanese and usually requires 4.5 years, including six months of preliminary intensive Japanese language study. Some graduate schools also offer courses conducted fully in English, allowing students to attend and graduate using only English.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Osaka Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim
Ph.D. in Chemistry | His program used English, with coursework, research, and dissertation requirements accessible in English. Communication with his supervisor and several laboratory colleagues was straightforward in English. | Japanese was not required for academic progress, but he recommends it for daily life and cultural integration. |
Dr. Usama Perwez
Ph.D. in Energy Systems | His program was conducted in English. An associate professor and a laboratory staff member spoke English fluently, making communication easier. | His professor recommended basic survival Japanese. He wishes he had learned it earlier to connect with local peers and the culture. |
Kartika
Master’s in Biotechnology | She describes her program as English-taught but notes that professors and students sometimes spoke Japanese during classes or seminars. | She encourages learning Japanese alongside the degree to follow those conversations. |
Fahima Tabassum
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences | She reports that English is sufficient for academics, without specifying the language of every class. | Basic Japanese is very helpful for daily life, and she recommends starting early. |
Asim Zulfiqar
Joint master’s in Photonic Integrated Circuits, Sensors, and Networks; study period in Japan | He does not specify the teaching language during his Osaka study period. | Communication in Japan was more challenging than at his other destinations. He relied on Google Translate and took Japanese classes during his short stay. |
Manish Jung Pulami
Ph.D. in International Public Policy | He does not specify the language of his doctoral instruction or research. | Language was initially a barrier. An intensive Japanese course provided a supportive community that helped him through cultural and academic challenges. |
5. Nagoya University
Nagoya University is a national research university in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, with academic offerings spanning engineering, natural sciences, medicine, social sciences, and the humanities. Its Global 30 International Programs provide dedicated English-medium degree pathways, giving students access to several disciplines without entering the university’s regular Japanese-taught programs.
Undergraduate options include Automotive Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Science, Social Science, and Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies. Automotive Engineering offers mechanical engineering and electrical, electronic, and information engineering pathways. Social Science students can study law, political science, economics, or business administration, while Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies covers subjects such as modern literature, cinema, and history. These are full-degree English-taught programs.
At the graduate level, English-taught master’s options include Automotive Engineering, Economics and Business Administration, and Public Health. Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Biological and Bioagricultural Sciences have both master’s and doctoral pathways. Medical Science is separately listed as a doctoral program. These medical and public health offerings are graduate research or public health qualifications; they should not be confused with an English-taught professional degree qualifying graduates to practice medicine.
What Current Students / Alumni of Nagoya University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Myrian Coronel
Master’s in International Cooperation and Development | Her coursework, supervision, and thesis writing were all in English. She also found communication straightforward within her international faculty. | Japanese was unnecessary academically in her program, but important for banks, city offices, medical visits, and apartment paperwork. |
Jillian Abigail Sutrisno
Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology | She describes her G30 program as entirely taught in English. | Japanese proficiency was not required for her program. She recommends learning it early for part-time jobs, internships, and employment after graduation. |
Aruzhan Kaisar
Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences | Communication became more difficult after she joined a research laboratory in her final year. Apart from her thesis supervisor, most laboratory colleagues were uncomfortable communicating in English. | Her account identifies a language barrier in laboratory communication; it does not specify a Japanese requirement for the degree. |
6. Kyoto University
Kyoto University is a national research university in Kyoto with broad offerings in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and professional fields. Its English-taught options include a dedicated undergraduate engineering course and graduate programs ranging from transcultural studies and economics to informatics, energy science, and management.
The Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering is a four-year English-taught route leading to a Bachelor of Engineering. Students progress from mathematics, physics, and liberal arts to specialized civil engineering subjects and a final-year research thesis. Kyoto iUP is different: its six-month preparatory course and four-year undergraduate curriculum combine English and Japanese, with Japanese required for later study.
Graduate choices include the two-year Joint Degree Master of Arts in Transcultural Studies with Heidelberg University and the International MBA Program. The International Graduate Programme for East Asia Sustainable Economic Development Studies offers both master’s and doctoral degrees in English. Informatics also has an International Program in which coursework, supervision, and degree completion are available exclusively in English at both levels. This provides clearly documented doctoral options beyond simply having an English-speaking research supervisor.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyoto University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Griselda
Bachelor’s in Chemical Science and Technology, International Undergraduate Program | In her department, she could take all first-year lectures in English. Japanese-taught lectures increased from the second year onward. | Japanese therefore mattered beyond the first year. Preparatory language study helped her develop academic Japanese and communicate with local students. |
Lyhong So
Master’s in Natural Resource Economics | He reports no major academic barriers from not knowing Japanese, describing English use in graduate courses, seminars, and research supervision. | Basic Japanese helped with daily life, administrative procedures, informal communication, and integration. |
Lubanda (Luyando) Hamweendo
Non-degree research in Clinical Neuroscience | His account describes English use in graduate research and seminars, while noting that laboratory meetings and some administrative coursework can be bilingual. | He recommends Japanese for daily life, laboratory integration, networking, and administration, and identifies it as essential for research involving local patients. |
6. Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University is a comprehensive national university based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Its English-medium study opportunities include an interdisciplinary natural sciences pathway and research degrees in engineering. Students should distinguish these options from programs that begin with English instruction but require substantial Japanese-language study before graduation.
The Integrated Science Program provides an English-taught undergraduate education across biology, chemistry, and physics before students specialize. Its standard structure comprises a four-year bachelor’s degree followed by a two-year master’s degree. Eligible students can accelerate these stages to 3.5 and 1.5 years. The separate Modern Japanese Studies Program is a four-year bilingual degree requiring students to develop enough Japanese to study academic subjects in that language.
Graduate students can continue through the Integrated Science Program or enter the English Engineering Education Program, known as e3. The latter offers two-year master’s and three-year doctoral study in fields including Mechanical and Space Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. Its graduation rules require the courses and publications counted toward completion to be in English, establishing an English-medium route even though the wider engineering school also teaches in Japanese.
What Current Students / Alumni of Hokkaido University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Genes P. Maylem
Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and Engineering | Classes and research communication in his graduate program were conducted in English. | He says Japanese greatly improves daily life and integration with the local community. |
Tanya Srivastava
M.Sc. in Environmental Molecular Biology | She confirms that her program was conducted in English and advises checking the language details of individual courses before enrolling. | — |
8. Kyushu University
Kyushu University is a national research university in Fukuoka with English-medium opportunities across engineering, agriculture, the humanities, and other graduate fields. Its international degree routes are organized separately from regular Japanese-taught programs, making the particular course and admission pathway important when identifying suitable English-language study options.
The four-year International Undergraduate Programs teach all classes in English except Japanese-language classes. Engineering choices include Applied Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Agriculture offers Bioresource and Bioenvironment, combining agricultural and environmental study. The School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation follows a bilingual Japanese-English model and should not be classified alongside these fully English-medium academic pathways.
Graduate options extend beyond technical subjects. The International Master’s Program in Japanese Humanities and the International Doctorate in Japanese Humanities provide separate English-taught routes for advanced humanities study. Integrated Sciences for Global Society also has international master’s and doctoral programs in English. These programs offer alternatives for students interested in interdisciplinary social and cultural research, while the university’s graduate directory identifies additional English-medium opportunities across its engineering and science schools.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyushu University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Nauman
Master’s in Automotive Science, specializing in Battery Research | His coursework, thesis writing, and laboratory meetings were all in English. Limited Japanese did not create major academic or research difficulties. | Japanese helped with ward offices, hospitals, part-time work, and relationships with professors and laboratory colleagues. |
Raghav Bansal
Bachelor’s in Information and Electrical Engineering | All of his classes were conducted in Japanese. | His route included intensive Japanese preparation. He wishes he had studied Japanese beforehand to make that language course less overwhelming. |
9. University of Tsukuba
The University of Tsukuba is a national university in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, with English-medium programs spanning natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and interdisciplinary global studies. Its English-program directory distinguishes full undergraduate pathways from Japanese-language international admissions routes and provides a separate list of graduate options.
Undergraduate choices include International Social Studies, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Global Issues, and science pathways in biology, geoscience, and agro-biological resources. The university states that required classes in these English programs are available in English through graduation. Medical Sciences is listed as a transfer-only option and should not be presented as a standard first-year professional medicine program. The Japan-Expert undergraduate routes are Japanese-taught.
At the graduate level, verified English options include the Master of International Business Administration and master’s study in Physics and Environmental Sciences. International and Advanced Japanese Studies appears in the English-program list at both master’s and doctoral levels. Separately listed doctoral options include International Public Policy and Agricultural Science. These distinctions allow students to identify a documented English degree pathway rather than assuming that every program within a graduate school uses the same instructional language.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Tsukuba Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Gardin
Master’s in Materials Innovation | His program’s courses were entirely in English. He could also choose courses from other departments in English or Japanese. | He managed with limited Japanese but recommends conversational ability for shopping, directions, administration, and connecting with local students. |
Muhammad Umar Nadeem
Ph.D. in Climate Change and Water Resources Management | All his coursework and research were conducted in English. | Academic activities proceeded smoothly in English, while basic Japanese helped with everyday interactions and cultural immersion. |
10. Hiroshima University
Hiroshima University is a comprehensive national university with campuses in Higashihiroshima and Hiroshima. Its verified English-medium opportunities include interdisciplinary undergraduate education and graduate study addressing international development. These programs combine subjects across traditional academic boundaries, allowing students to examine social, environmental, and economic questions through several disciplinary perspectives.
The Department of Integrated Global Studies offers a four-year bachelor’s degree that can be completed in English. Its curriculum connects humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences through three areas: Culture and Tourism, Peace and Communication, and Environment and Society. Students develop an interdisciplinary foundation before concentrating their studies, with language education supporting communication in both English and Japanese.
The International Economic Development Program explicitly offers all its degrees in English. Master’s qualifications include Economics and International Cooperation Studies, while doctoral qualifications include Economics, International Cooperation Studies, and Philosophy. Coursework covers areas such as economic statistical analysis, rural development, global governance, and public administration. Students also receive methodological training for original thesis research, including approaches to evaluating policy and investigating causal relationships. This is a documented English-medium graduate pathway rather than a collection of individual English-taught electives.
What Current Students / Alumni of Hiroshima University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Bintang Bondan Ernowo
Bachelor’s in Integrated Global Studies | Most of his courses were conducted in English. | He says Japanese was not required for his university courses, but would have made daily life, opening a bank account, and finding part-time work easier. |
11. Yokohama National University
Yokohama National University is a national university in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, with academic strengths represented by its engineering, urban studies, and social science programs. Its international offerings include graduate degrees completed in English and a bilingual undergraduate program addressing social resilience and sustainability.
The YOKOHAMA Socrates Program operates within the College of Urban Sciences. Students initially take English-taught subjects alongside Japanese-language study, then can join Japanese classes and seminars after reaching the required proficiency. Small seminars use dialogue-based learning, and graduation theses receive guidance from two faculty members. Because the university explicitly describes this as bilingual education, it should not be presented as a verified English-only bachelor’s degree.
English-medium master’s options include Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Ocean Engineering; Chemistry and Life Science; and Urban Infrastructure Engineering. Engineering Science also provides doctoral study in English. Separate doctoral routes include Economics, Business Administration, and Transnational Law and Policy. These social science programs emphasize advanced research, with economics covering areas such as international and labor economics and law focusing on transnational policy questions and research relevant to international organizations.
What Current Students / Alumni of Yokohama National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Anushka Dinesh
Master’s in Biochemical Engineering | Her master’s program was entirely in English. | She considers Japanese important for daily communication, cultural integration, access to academic resources, internships, part-time work, and longer-term employment. |
Mehak Jain
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering | She does not specify the teaching or research language of her Ph.D. | She wishes she had learned Japanese much earlier and reached JLPT N3 for better opportunities, without identifying particular opportunities. |
12. Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University is a private university with major campuses in Kyoto, Osaka, and Shiga. Its English-medium degrees cover international relations, public policy, computing, and other graduate fields. It is a separate institution from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu, so their programs and campus locations should not be combined.
Four-year undergraduate options include Global Studies, Community and Regional Policy Studies, and Information Systems Science and Engineering. Global Studies leads to a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, while Community and Regional Policy Studies awards a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Science. Students can also pursue Global Liberal Arts through a dual degree with the Australian National University or Global International Relations through a joint degree with American University.
English-based master’s programs include Economic Development, International Relations, Policy Science, Advanced Information Science and Engineering, and Advanced Life Sciences. The university separately lists English-based doctoral programs in Economics, International Relations, Policy Science, Science and Engineering, and related fields. This range supports both professionally relevant advanced study and research progression, while the collaborative undergraduate programs add structured study at partner campuses in Australia or the United States.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ritsumeikan University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Dinh Khanh An
Bachelor’s in Global Liberal Arts | Classes in her college were held in English. | She also took an optional Japanese course and valued the opportunity to develop another language. |
Chhay Lim
Master’s in International Relations | He does not specify his program’s teaching language. | He describes Japanese as a significant advantage for adapting to local life and reducing everyday stress, rather than stating a formal academic requirement. |
Muhammad Hamza Mehdi
M.Sc. in Computer Science | He does not specify his program’s teaching language. He notes that people were willing to communicate in English even when they were not fluent. | He identifies the language barrier as a major challenge and wishes he had learned Japanese earlier. |
13. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, commonly called APU, is located in Beppu, Oita Prefecture. Its academic focus combines Asia Pacific societies, international business, sustainability, and tourism. Undergraduate education operates through English-basis and Japanese-basis pathways, while its graduate schools deliver their programs entirely in English.
Students can pursue four-year undergraduate study in Asia Pacific Studies, International Management, or Sustainability and Tourism. Available fields include international relations, accounting and finance, marketing, environmental studies, and tourism operations. English-basis students can complete their academic studies through English, but Japanese-language education forms part of the undergraduate curriculum. This is an English-medium degree pathway with language-learning requirements, rather than a promise that every class is conducted in English.
Graduate options include the Master of Science in Asia Pacific Studies, Master of Science in International Cooperation Policy, and Master of Business Administration. International Cooperation Policy offers fields such as development economics, sustainable development and environment, and tourism and hospitality. The MBA incorporates case-based business education. A separate Ph.D. in Asia Pacific Studies provides an English-taught doctoral route focused on advanced research concerning the region.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Justin Manual Adhinegara
Bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting and Finance | All of his School of Management classes were conducted in English. | He reports required Japanese study up to intermediate level, which helped with daily life and understanding local culture. |
Norbert Raditya Putra Arjuna
Bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance, with a Marketing minor | He describes English-based and Japanese-based study, with students able to select classes in either language. | He reports compulsory Japanese classes for English-based students, with optional advanced study and language-learning support. |
Muhammad Rayhansyah Jasin
Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Relations | He reports studying primarily in English during his education in Japan. | He learned Japanese to integrate with local communities. |
14. University of Hyogo
The University of Hyogo offers its English-medium business pathways at its campus in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The School of Economics and Management and the Graduate School of Social Sciences connect economic analysis with business education, providing undergraduate and graduate options for students interested in Japanese and international business.
The Global Business Course leads to a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. The university states that classes are conducted in English apart from Japanese-language instruction for international students. Students study economics and business administration while developing presentation, discussion, and research skills through seminars. The course also offers opportunities for internships and other off-campus activities, and first-year dormitory residence supports interaction between students from different cultural backgrounds.
The Department of Global Business offers a Master of Global Business Administration with classes conducted in English. Its curriculum includes management, marketing, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and global or Japanese business. Research methodology and supervised seminars support preparation of a master’s thesis, while a compulsory consulting project introduces fieldwork. The program therefore combines applied business experience with academic research rather than functioning solely as a classroom-based management qualification.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Hyogo Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Radhi Kalifa
B.Sc. in Global Business | He describes his Global Business course as fully conducted in English and says limited Japanese would not affect classroom performance. | Japanese mattered outside university, including shopping and travel. Campus staff helped with Japanese-language government procedures. |
Muhammad Athala
Bachelor’s in Economics and Management | Classes were mainly in English, with all key required courses available in English. Some courses were easier to understand with Japanese because professors had limited English. | He says students could succeed academically with English, but emphasizes Japanese for everyday life and life after graduation. |
Lanta Suwanlikit
Bachelor’s in Global Business, specializing in Economics and Management | Her classes were conducted in English, although limited faculty fluency sometimes made economics harder. In one bilingual class, the professor gave more detailed examination guidance in Japanese. | First-year Japanese classes were mandatory, with intermediate classes and exams conducted in Japanese. Job fairs, internship information, and many career resources also used Japanese. |
Keane Edbert Walerian
Bachelor’s in Global Business | He found that English-taught study did not always provide the fluency he expected. Language limitations sometimes restricted the depth of discussions and explanations. | Living with Japanese and international students helped him learn about language and culture beyond the classroom. |
15. Institute of Science Tokyo
Institute of Science Tokyo, also known as Science Tokyo, was established in 2024 through the merger of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. The institution brings together science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry, while maintaining specific English-medium degree routes with their own academic and admission arrangements.
The Global Scientists and Engineers Program offers a Bachelor of Engineering taught in English through the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering. Its interdisciplinary approach prepares students to analyze complex problems across scientific and engineering boundaries. GSEP belongs to the School of Environment and Society; it is not a university-wide English undergraduate option covering every department, nor is it a professional medical or dental qualification.
The International Graduate Program provides master’s, doctoral, and integrated doctoral education entirely in English. Computer science research is accessible through IGP(C), while the Science Tokyo–RIKEN doctoral route focuses on nano-materials and nano-biomaterials with joint supervision. IGP(A) offers an integrated route toward both master’s and doctoral degrees. Applicants work with an intended supervisor, making research alignment central to selecting an appropriate graduate department and program.
What Current Students / Alumni of Institute of Science Tokyo Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Bhaskar Chatterjee
Integrated master’s and Ph.D. in Biomedical Science and Engineering | His chosen degree was in English. He advises checking the teaching language before selecting individual courses. | He recommends learning basic Japanese phrases and social conventions before arrival for everyday life. |
16. Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Nara Institute of Science and Technology, or NAIST, is a national graduate university in Ikoma, Nara Prefecture. Established in 1991, it concentrates on information science, biological science, and materials science. Its research organization encourages connections between these fields, including work at the intersection of computing, living systems, and advanced materials.
NAIST does not offer undergraduate degree programs. Its admissions structure begins at the master’s level, so it is a destination for students continuing after undergraduate education rather than applicants seeking an English-taught bachelor’s degree. This graduate-only structure is an institutional characteristic, not simply a limitation in the availability of English-language undergraduate courses.
Both master’s and doctoral study can be completed in English. Academic areas include Information Science and Engineering, Biological Science, and Materials Science and Engineering, with interdisciplinary study extending to computational biology and bionanotechnology. NAIST explicitly states that its curriculum enables degree completion solely in English; information science introduction, basic, and specialized subjects are offered in English. Graduate education combines coursework with laboratory research and supervision, and the precise research topic and degree designation depend on the student’s academic program and thesis.
What Current Students / Alumni of Nara Institute of Science and Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Iqra Ali
Master’s in Engineering; research in Natural Language Processing | She explicitly reports conducting research in English during her master’s at NAIST. | She encountered an initial language barrier while adapting to Japan, but found the academic environment supportive. |
Cynthia Gozali
Pre-doctoral internship in the Division of Materials Science | She describes her internship as English-medium, while noting that students and professors sometimes conversed in Japanese. | She recommends Japanese to follow those conversations and integrate more fully. Her account concerns the internship completed before her doctoral studies began. |
17. Osaka Metropolitan University
Osaka Metropolitan University is a public university in Osaka Prefecture formed in 2022 through the merger of Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University. Its broad academic portfolio includes engineering, science, agriculture, medicine, and social sciences. Documented English-medium degree opportunities are concentrated in its graduate schools.
A fully English-taught undergraduate degree was not verified in the official admissions information reviewed. The university states that undergraduate entrance examinations are conducted in Japanese. Its undergraduate schools offer subjects such as engineering, science, and literature, but the availability of English-language information or individual English courses should not be interpreted as confirmation of an English-only bachelor’s pathway.
The Graduate School of Engineering explicitly permits English degree completion in all its majors at both master’s and doctoral levels. Examples include Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Materials Science, and Quantum and Radiation Engineering. Students must secure a prospective supervisor’s permission before applying, so the chosen laboratory is central to the admission process. The university’s graduate admissions directory also identifies English or Japanese study opportunities in several other schools, with language arrangements determined at the program level.
What Current Students / Alumni of Osaka Metropolitan University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Ali Ahsan
Ph.D. in Science, specializing in Structural Biology and Biophysics | He reports using English throughout doctoral research, laboratory meetings, manuscript writing, and scientific discussions. | Japanese was unnecessary for his core academic activities. Basic conversational Japanese helped with off-campus administration and everyday living. |
18. Kyoto Institute of Technology
Kyoto Institute of Technology is a specialized national university in Kyoto whose academic offerings connect applied biology, materials, engineering, architecture, and design. Its International Graduate Program provides a route for overseas students to pursue advanced study and supervised research across these fields with English-language instruction and support.
The university’s undergraduate admissions page states that bachelor’s-level lectures are conducted in Japanese. Accordingly, a fully English-taught undergraduate degree is not verified. Undergraduate subjects such as Information Science and Applied Chemistry should therefore be distinguished from the English-supported graduate route; an English translation of their curriculum does not establish an English-medium bachelor’s program.
The International Graduate Program covers master’s options such as Applied Biology, Information Science, and Advanced Fibro-Science, alongside doctoral options including Materials Chemistry, Electronics, and Engineering Design. Standard study periods are two years for a master’s and three years for a doctorate. Classes and research guidance are normally in English, but the university explicitly allows exceptions and provides individual English support when necessary. It is therefore more accurate to describe this as a graduate pathway supported in English than to guarantee that every class is delivered entirely in English.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyoto Institute of Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Abdul Moeed
Joint M.Sc. in Advanced Textile Engineering; study period in Japan | He reports that English was sufficient for academics during his international program, including Japan. | Daily life in Japan presented language barriers, and he used translation apps for more complex situations. |
19. Kyushu Institute of Technology
Kyushu Institute of Technology, known as Kyutech, is a national university with campuses in Kitakyushu and Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture. Its academic focus encompasses engineering, computing, and life science and systems engineering. English-medium graduate courses connect specialized research with practical projects in areas such as satellites, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
A complete English-taught bachelor’s degree was not verified in the official undergraduate information reviewed. Kyutech has undergraduate schools in Engineering and Computer Science and Systems Engineering, but its dedicated English-degree directory specifically identifies master’s and doctoral courses. These graduate opportunities should therefore not be presented as evidence of equivalent English-medium undergraduate degrees.
Graduate options include the Space Engineering International Course and Innovative AI/Robotics Technologies course. Space engineering combines lectures with project-based learning and practical experience in nanosatellite testing. The AI and robotics course is explicitly available within master’s and doctoral education and explores autonomous systems and applications developed with students and industry partners. Additional listed English-medium routes include Global Advanced Assistive Robotics and a program connecting green energy, environmental issues, and the economy. These are specialized pathways within graduate study rather than separate undergraduate majors.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyushu Institute of Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Saddam Hussain
Ph.D. in Architecture, specializing in Structural Engineering | His doctoral research was conducted entirely in English, and he reports no academic problems from not knowing Japanese. | He considers Japanese essential for everyday activities, job searching, social integration, and a longer-term career in Japan. |
We hope the above list of best English-taught universities in Japan will help narrow your choices for where to pursue your degree. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
