Kyoto University
Kyoto University overview
Kyoto University is a public research university and the second oldest university in Japan. It was founded in 1897, and it has produced more Nobel Prize winners than any other university in Asia. The university carries its long tradition into the present, giving students a quality education through a curriculum that keeps up with the demands of today. The university is recognized for its international achievements. It ranks in the top two in Japan, the top ten in Asia, and among the fifty best higher education institutions in the world.
Under the motto of "freedom of academic culture," the university offers students a variety of programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Nearly 3,000 international students study here today. The university library is the second largest academic library in Japan. Kyoto University has also produced 5 Japanese prime ministers and 1 Taiwanese president.
The language of instruction at the university is Japanese. Most graduate programs are taught in English, though, including the international environmental management program and the MBA program.
About Kyoto University
Kyoto University is a public research university and the second oldest university in Japan. It was founded in 1897, and it has produced more Nobel Prize winners than any other university in Asia. The university carries its long tradition into the present, giving students a quality education through a curriculum that keeps up with the demands of today. The university is recognized for its international achievements. It ranks in the top two in Japan, the top ten in Asia, and among the fifty best higher education institutions in the world.
Under the motto of "freedom of academic culture," the university offers students a variety of programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Nearly 3,000 international students study here today. The university library is the second largest academic library in Japan. Kyoto University has also produced 5 Japanese prime ministers and 1 Taiwanese president.
The language of instruction at the university is Japanese. Most graduate programs are taught in English, though, including the international environmental management program and the MBA program.
Kyoto University faculties and programs
Civil Engineering
International MBA
International Environmental Management
Primatology and Wildlife Research
Kyoto-Cornell International Collaborative Degree Opportunity
International Energy Science
Intelligence Science and Technology
Social Informatics
Communications and Computer Engineering
Global Frontier in Life Science
Kyoto University scholarships and financial aid
If you are an international student who wants to study at Kyoto University, a wide variety of scholarship programs are available to you.
For detailed information, you can visit this page.
Kyoto University Exam Requirements
Submitting at least one of the exams below with the required score is a prerequisite for application. The score threshold may vary by program.
How to get into Kyoto University
If you want to study an undergraduate program at Kyoto University, you must meet the following criteria:
- A high school diploma with a high GPA
- Transcript documents
- A diploma from a high school or equivalent recognized by MEXT, such as the International Baccalaureate
- An English proficiency certificate from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL and IELTS
- Application fee
If you want to study a graduate program at Kyoto University, you must meet the following criteria:
- A 4-year bachelor's degree diploma
- High GPA
- An English proficiency certificate from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL and IELTS
- Official transcript documents listing the courses and grades you received throughout your education
- GRE/GMAT exam scores may be required to meet admission conditions.
- CV
- Application fee
The university's Center for Japanese Language and Culture Studies offers 15-week supplementary Japanese language courses for international students and researchers.
If you want to attend Kyoto University on a Japanese Government Scholarship, you are encouraged to apply through this page.
Application Deadlines
* These dates are subject to change. Get in touch with our Dream Uni advisors to learn the up-to-date deadlines and all the details about the Kyoto University application process.
Take a closer look at Kyoto University
Kyoto University is in Kyoto, the birthplace of manga — Japanese comic art. It has 3 campuses with 10 Faculties, 18 Institutes, 13 Research Institutes, and 22 Research and Education Centers. The three campuses in Yoshida, Kyoto are Yoshida, Uji, and Katsura. Yoshida is the main campus, and it has been at the center of all the university's activities since its founding. The Uji Campus site once belonged to the Japanese Imperial Army. It became the property of Kyoto University in 1949 and has since become one of the university's major campuses.
The Katsura Campus, the third campus, has four clusters: Cluster A, Cluster B, Cluster C, and Cluster D. It is more like a "techno-city."
Kyoto is a city with a rich cultural heritage spanning more than 1,200 years. Many people in Japan see it as the spiritual source and cultural heart of the country. The university's campuses sit in that city, and the city's welcoming character lets students enjoy a wonderful student life. You will find modern classrooms, laboratories and workshops made for students eager to learn, computer rooms, and other activity areas equipped with the latest technology. There are also cafes and restaurants serving delicious food on the campuses.
You can study at Kyoto University and enjoy a fantastic study-abroad experience at the same time.
There is also a clock tower on the university campus. The Kyoto University Clock Tower was established in 1925. For about 80 years it was seen as the symbol of the university, until its renovation in December 2003. Inside the tower, the historic exhibition hall is a dedicated exhibition space. It is now a section used for special exhibitions, though not frequently.
Notable alumni of Kyoto University:
Nobel Prize recipients:
- Hideki Yukawa - Nobel Prize in Physics; the first Japanese person to win a Nobel Prize
- Shinichiro Tomonaga - Nobel Prize in Physics
- Kenichi Fukui - Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Susumu Tonegawa - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Ryōji Noyori - Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Makoto Kobayashi - Nobel Prize in Physics
- Toshihide Masukawa - Nobel Prize in Physics
- Shinya Yamanaka - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Isamu Akasaki - Nobel Prize in Physics
- Akira Yoshino - Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Fields Medal recipients:
- Heisuke Hironaka - Mathematician
- Shigefumi Mori - Mathematician
Authors:
- Yasushi Inoue
- Motojiro Kajii
- Kan Kikuchi
- Sakyo Komatsu
- Tatsuji Miyoshi
- Shohei Ooka
- Akimitsu Takagi
Scientists:
- Yasunori Hayashi
- Kinji Imanishi
- Motoo Kimura
- Tetsuro Matsuzawa
- Makoto Nagao
- Yasutomi Nishizuka
- Kiyoshi Oka
- Ri Sung-gi
- Teiji Takagi
- Shinya Yamanaka
- Takao Umemoto
- Atsuhiro Osuka
Kyoto University Location
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto University Contact
How to Get Into Kyoto University
In your first meeting with a Dream Uni advisor, your academic background, goals, and expectations are analyzed in detail.
By assessing your English level and academic grades, your eligibility for the universities and colleges Dream Uni partners with is determined.
The application process is managed meticulously by our professional team, and your acceptance letter is delivered to you.
Why Kyoto University?
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Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)
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