There are many overseas students who are interested in studying in Japan but not sure what university to pick. As of 2021, there are 803 universities in Japan. Each school has a different field of study and curriculum, so it is important to choose a school that’s right for you.
In this article, we will introduce the major Japanese universities that have been categorized into groups, called「大学群 daigaku gun」in Japanese.
Table of Contents
- Major Universities in Japan
- Universities Where Classes in English are Available
- Major Art Universities in Japan
- Summary
Major Universities in Japan
Major Japanese universities that are highly recognised and who have good deviation scores are grouped according to their common features, such as difficulty of examinations, and region located. This groupings are called “daigaku-gun (大学群)”, or “university clusters”, but this is not a formal classification. However, it is widely used as an index for deciding which school to apply to when taking entrance exams and for measuring academic abilities in Japan.
Below, we will introduce the list of major Japanese universities.
Former Imperial Universities / 旧帝大 / kyuuteidai
The equivalent of ivy league schools in Japan is the former imperial universities, called 「 旧帝大 kyuuteidai」.
Kyuuteidai refers to the following 7 national universities:
- Hokkaido University (北海道大学)
- Tohoku University (東北大学)
- University of Tokyo (東京大学)
- Nagoya University (名古屋大学)
- Kyoto University (京都大学)
- Osaka University (大阪大学)
- Kyushu University (九州大学)
These universities are established by the 1886 Imperial University Ordinance (帝国大学令), and hold historical and traditional significance. Previously, they were officially known as “Imperial Universities (帝国大学), but are now known and unoffically called “Former Imperial Universities (旧) 帝国大学”.
Thie change was brought on in 1947, after World War II, when the name “Imperial” was removed and the universities became National Universities (国立総合大学 kokuritsu sougou daigaku). Among the 7 national universities, the University of Tokyo is the most famous in Japan. Its position in Japan is akin to Oxford University in England, and Harvard University in the United States.
Not just the best universities in Japan for locals, they are also considered the best universities in Japan for international students. Many of these universities offer courses taught in English, and also have scholarships for international students.
Sokei / 早慶 / Waseda University and Keio University
The term “Sokei (早慶)” refers to Waseda University and Keio University; So (早) from Waseda University (早稲田大学) and Kei from Keio University (慶応義塾大学). Both these universities are especially famous private universities whose headquarters are in Tokyo. The 2 universities have been compared to each other for a long time now and maintain a good rivalry. Each of them are known for being strong in baseball and rugby, with matches between the 2 schools thought of as “special” and called「早慶戦 soukeisen」, aka “Waseda-Keio Match”.
GMARCH
GMARCH refers to a group of universities in the Greater Tokyo area that are said to be particularly difficult to enter. The GMARCH universities consists of:
- Gakushuin University (学習院大学)
- Meiji University (明治大学)
- Aoyama Gakuin University (青山学院大学)
- Rikkyo University (立教大学)
- Chuo University (中央大学)
- Hosei University (法政大学)
“GMARCH” is made up of the first letter of each university’s name. It used to be just MARCH, but became GMARCH when Gakushuin University joined them. Students aiming to enter elite Japanese universities (難関大学 nankan daigaku) will strive to study for exams at a higher level than GMARCH examinations.
Nittoukomasen / 日東駒専 / Nihon, Toyo, Komazawa, Senshu Universities
“Nittokomasen (日東駒専)” is a university cluster that brings together Nihon University (日本大学), Toyo University (東洋大学), Komazawa University (駒澤大学), and Senshu University (専修大学). Amog the private universities with headquarters in the Kanto region, it is second to GMARCH in terms of popularity and name recognition.
Daitoua Teikoku / 大東亜帝国 / Daito Bunka, Tokai, Asia, Teikyo, Kokushikan Universities
Universities that are clustered together as the “Daitoua Teikoku (大東亜帝国)” are:
- Daito Bunka University (大東文化大学)
- Tokai University (東海大学)
- Asia University (亜細亜大学)
- Teikyo University (帝京大学)
- Kokushikan University (国士舘大学)
The Daituo Teikoku universities are said to have the same deviation scores and name recognition, but their focus fields of study are different. Among them, Asia University is famous for having strong international culture and vibes. It is known as a school with many international students from Asia, especially from China and Vietnam. Since they have a lot of experience dealing with international students, it is a comfortable environment for those who are worried about studying abroad.
5S
5S (read go S or five S) refers to the following national universities.
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Saitama University (埼玉大学)
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Shinshu University (信州大学)
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Niigata University (新潟大学)
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Shizuoka University (静岡大学)
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Shiga University (滋賀大学)
This group cluster is called “5S” because all the names of the universities start with the letter “S” In the case of Niigata University, it is included in the 5S because it is also called “shindai (新大)” for short.
STARS
STARS refers to the following national regional universities. The university cluster is named STARS after the first letter of each university’s name.
- Saga University (佐賀大学)
- Tottori University (鳥取大学)
- Akita University (秋田大学)
- University of the Ryukyus (琉球大学)
- Shimane University (島根大学)
Akita University has a study major called “International Resource Sciences and Resource Policy Course” where you can study resource issues in developing countries.
Kankandouritsu / 関関同立 /
Kankandoritsu (関関同立) is a group of 4 private universities in the Kansai region:
- Kansai University (関西大学)
- Kwansei Gakuin University (関西学院大学)
- Doshisha University (同志社大学)
- Ritsumeikan University (立命館大学)
Kwansei Gakuin University is committed to global education and accepts approximately 200 exchange students each semester. One of Kankandoritsu’s charms is its popularity and name recognition in the Kansai region.
Writer's Pick
Universities Where Classes in English are Available
In Japan, an increasing number of schools have established programmes that are taught in English for international students to study and obtain a degree. For those who are not confident in their Japanese, these are some of the best universities in Japan for international students.
Below are some examples of universities with English programmes:
【National University】
- University of Tokyo : Programs in English at Komaba - PEAK, Global Science Course - GSC
- Okayama University : Global Discovery Program
- Kyushu University : Engineering, Bioresource and Bioenvironmen, Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation
- Kyoto University : Undergrad International Course Program of Civil Engineering
- University of Tsukuba : Bachelor Degree Program on Global Issues, Education Program in Global Society Studies, Interdisciplinary Program in Life and Environment, Integrated Science and Engineering Degree Program
【Private University】
- Waseda University : School of Political Science and Economics, School of International Liberal Arts, School of Social Sciences, School of Culture and Media Studies, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering, School of Advanced Science and Engineering
- Keio University : Faculty of Economics PEARL, Faculty of Policy Management/Faculty of Environment and Information Studies GIGA Program
- Doshisha University : Institute for the Liberal Arts - ILA
- Hosei University : Global Business Programme - GBP, Sustainability Co-creation Programme - SCOPE, Faculty of Human Environment, Faculty of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies - GIS
- Ritsumeikan University : College of Global Liberal Arts (dual degree program with The Australian National University), College of International Relations, College of Policy Science, College of Information Science and Technology
Though classes are conducted in English, you will still need to use Japanese throughout your daily life which means it is important to be able to speak a minimum level of Japanese.
※ JASSO, “Planning studies in Japan”
Major Art Universities in Japan
University of arts or arts college are called「芸術大学 geijutsu daigaku」. For international students who are looking to study arts in Japan, here is a list of Japanese university of arts:
【Major Art Universities in Japan】
- Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo)
- College of Art, Nihon University (Tokyo)
- Kanazawa College of Art (Ishikawa)
- Tohoku University of Art and Design (Yamagata)
- Aichi University of the Arts (Aichi)
- Osaka University of Arts (Osaka)
- Kyoto City University of Arts (Kyoto)
- Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts (Okinawa)
Apart from university of arts (geijutsu daigaku), there is another type of art college called「美術大学 bijutsu daigaku」. Bijutsu Daigaku are institutions of higher education where students can study painting, sculpturing, and architecture but excludes performing arts and music.
Summary
Major universities in Japan refer to national universities and private universities who have good deviation scores and name recognition. The features of these schools is that they have excellent curriculums even for international students, and are therefore the best universities in Japan for international students. We hope this article comes in helpful when looking for a university in Japan.
The university system in Japan can be quite complex, which is why you should try reading the articles recommended below. In addition, aside from universities, there are also vocational schools to consider when pursuing education in Japan.
