*Disclaimer: Study in Asia is a consulting service.
Study in Asia is your guide to the world of international education. We have compiled a broad catalog of universities around the world, including China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.
Kyoto University is a multidisciplinary educational institution. Choose the direction and study program that are perfect for you.
Kyoto University is Japan's second-oldest university (founded in 1897), No. 2 in the country and 64th in the world by QS 2027. It is known for academic freedom and 13 Nobel laureates.
Stage | Date |
|---|---|
Eligibility screening (if needed) | July 1 — October 19, 2026 |
Online application and fee | November 2 — December 3, 2026, until 17:00 JST |
Stage 1 results (documents) | February 5, 2027 |
Online interview in English | March 1–16, 2027 |
Original documents by post | by March 16, 2027 |
Final results | April 6, 2027 |
Confirmation of enrollment | by May 7, 2027 |
Preparatory course starts | October 1, 2027 |
Faculty qualifying test | January–February 2028 |
Degree starts | April 2028 |
The April 2027 intake is closed (preliminary screening August 3–17, 2026; application September 4–11, 2026). The next intake is April 2028: guidelines come out in mid-January, and the mandatory preliminary screening is in August 2027.
Each international program has its own dates: guidelines are published between May and March, with April or October entry. For example, the International Energy Science Course (October 2027): applications by December 24, 2026, interviews March 4–9, 2027, results March 25, 2027.
Kyoto iUP requires 12 years of school education before entry. If it is less than 12 years, the curriculum must be recognized by Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) as equivalent to 12 years. On top of that, everyone needs a standardized test (SAT, ACT, EJU, IB or A-Level) and a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Education | Eligible for iUP | What to do |
|---|---|---|
11 years of regular school | Not directly — 11 years is less than 12 | Go through the eligibility screening (July 1 — October 19, 2026). Options: complete 1 year at a home university and document 12 years of study; take a MEXT-designated preparatory course in Japan; or earn IB or A-Levels |
12 years of school (e.g., NIS or an international school with 12 grades) | Yes, condition 2a | Apply directly; eligibility screening is optional |
School accredited by WASC, CIS, COBIS, NEASC, Cognia etc. (12 years) | Yes, condition 2c | Apply directly |
IB, A-Level, Abitur, French or European Baccalaureate | Yes, condition 2d | Apply directly; IB or A-Level also counts as the standardized test |
College after grade 9 (9 + 3–4 years, 12–13 years in total) | University decides | Mandatory eligibility screening: education history from grade 1, grade 9 certificate, college diploma with transcript, passport |
College after grade 11 | University decides | Eligibility screening: grade 11 certificate, college diploma with transcript, education history, passport |
The main Yoshida campus is in central Kyoto, Japan's former capital, near the Kamogawa river, Shimogamo Shrine and the Philosopher's Path. Two more campuses are Katsura (engineering) and Uji (research institutes). The university has 10 faculties, 18 graduate schools, 12 research institutes and 26 research centers, with about 22,200 students, including about 3,300 international students from 110 countries.
Item | Amount (JPY) |
|---|---|
Application fee, bachelor's | 17,000 (iUP 9,800) |
Application fee, master's and PhD | per program (International Energy Science Course 10,000) |
Admission fee | 282,000, once |
Tuition | 535,800 a year (267,900 per semester) |
iUP preparatory course | 296,000 for 6 months + 28,200 fee (free for iUP students) |
iUP qualifying test | 17,000 |
Kyoto is cheaper than Tokyo or Osaka: QS estimates about 4,550 USD a year for housing and 4,390 USD for food.
iUP students are guaranteed a room in a Kyoto University International House for the first 12 months, extendable by up to 6 months.
Example: Hyakumanben International House | Price (JPY) |
|---|---|
Rent | 41,300 a month |
Bedding | 1,500 a month (excl. tax) |
Internet | 1,500 a month (excl. tax) |
Electricity | metered |
All iUP students receive support automatically.
Scholarship | What it covers | Duration | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
Admission fee waiver | 100%: 28,200 JPY (preparatory course) and 282,000 JPY (degree) | — | All iUP students |
Tuition waiver | Preparatory course 100% (296,000 JPY); degree 100% or partial (535,800 JPY a year) | 4.5 years | All iUP students |
Monthly allowance | Up to 120,000 JPY a month | 6 months of the preparatory course | All iUP students |
Partner company scholarships | Merit-based monthly allowances | During the degree | Makoto Maki Memorial, Nippon Shokubai, Asian Foundation for International Scholarship Interchange and others; Sysmex and Angel Group for graduates |
MEXT (university recommendation) | Full Japanese government scholarship | Program length | iUP recommends several top admitted students |
Free Japanese lessons before the start | Tuition and textbooks | Before the preparatory course | If needed |
Scholarship | What it covers | Duration |
|---|---|---|
MEXT | Application fee refunded, 100% admission fee and tuition, 120,000 JPY a month, round-trip airfare | 4 years with annual performance review |
JASSO | 48,000 JPY a month | Year 1 |
ICP Scholarship | Up to 80,000 JPY a month | 4 years with annual performance review |
JASSO and ICP recipients may also apply for Kyoto University's tuition exemption.
Scholarship | What it covers | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
MEXT Research Student (via the Japanese embassy) | 100% tuition, round-trip airfare, 144,000 JPY a month (master's) or 145,000 JPY (doctoral), 143,000 JPY at the preparatory stage | Embassy competition; for 2027 entry, applications closed May 15, 2026 |
MEXT (university recommendation) | Same | The program nominates candidates at admission |
Private foundations | 30,000 — 180,000 JPY a month | About 90 programs, many require Japanese; usually after enrollment |
Kyoto University tuition exemption | Full or partial tuition waiver | Apply after enrollment |
Kyoto University does not require UNT, ORT or EGE and does not accept them without prior approval: iUP needs SAT, ACT, EJU, IB or A-Level (requests for another exam by October 19, 2026). The main funding routes are the iUP scholarship for all admitted students and MEXT via the Japanese embassy.
Year | Event |
|---|---|
1869 | Seimi-Kyoku, one of Japan's first schools of Western science and the university's predecessor, opens in Osaka |
1897 | Kyoto Imperial University is founded by imperial ordinance — Japan's second university |
1919 | Colleges become faculties; faculty election of the president is introduced |
1923 | The Faculty of Agriculture is established |
1947 | The university is renamed Kyoto University |
1949 | Reorganized as a 4-year university; the Faculty of Education opens and the Third High School is merged |
1953 | The graduate school system is created |
1960 | The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is created |
1992 | The Faculty of Integrated Human Studies is created |
2017 | 10 faculties, 18 graduate schools and 13 research institutes |
Ranking | Publisher | Rank |
|---|---|---|
World University Rankings 2027 | QS | 64 |
QS 2027, rank in Japan | QS | 2 |
Asian University Rankings | QS | 28 |
World University Rankings 2027 | THE | 62 |
Life Sciences | THE | 43 |
Medical and Health | THE | 47 |
Engineering | THE | 52 |
Education Studies | THE | 54 |
The university's alumni and faculty include 13 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists and an Abel Prize winner.
The university has about 3,300 international students from 110 countries. English-taught options include Kyoto iUP (Japanese + English), the Civil Engineering International Course (bachelor's) and 14+ international master's and PhD programs; some labs also offer English-taught degrees.
