Kyoto University

Kyoto University (京都大学, Kyodai) is a national research university founded in 1897 as the second of Japan's imperial universities, after Tokyo. It ranks 64th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, 61st in THE 2026 and 43rd in ARWU 2026, second in Japan in all three after the University of Tokyo. The main entry point for school-leavers without Japanese is Kyoto iUP: a six-month preparatory course followed by a four-year bachelor's degree, with admission fee waivers and full or partial tuition waivers for every admitted student. Kyoto iUP has 40 places for October 2027, with applications open from 2 November to 3 December 2026.

Who Kyoto University suits, and who should look elsewhere

Kyoto suits applicants who want a top national university and are ready to learn Japanese along the way (Kyoto iUP), and those heading for master's or doctoral study in the sciences, engineering or economics. If you want a bachelor's taught entirely in English, compare Kyoto with The University of Osaka (Human Sciences), UTokyo College of Design at the University of Tokyo and private universities such as Waseda. For the country overview, see studying in Japan.

Kyoto's research weight shows in its Nobel record. Japan's first laureate, the physicist Hideki Yukawa, won in 1949 as a Kyoto University scientist, and in 2025 the prizes went to Kyoto professor Susumu Kitagawa (chemistry) and professor emeritus Shimon Sakaguchi (physiology or medicine). For graduate applicants the practical lesson is to choose a specific lab and its research theme rather than an overall ranking position.

Programmes and what you can study in English

Faculties

Kyoto has 10 undergraduate faculties: Integrated Human Studies, Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Science, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture. Its graduate schools go further, adding energy science, informatics, biostudies, Asian and African area studies, global environmental studies and management, plus professional schools of government, law and public health.

Kyoto iUP: a bachelor's without Japanese at the start

Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program lasts 4.5 years: a six-month preparatory course and a four-year bachelor's degree.

• Preparatory course (October–March). Intensive Japanese across five levels from elementary to advanced, plus foundation subjects in English: mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology for science majors; world and Japanese history, literature and mathematics for humanities majors. Each faculty decides which subjects are compulsory.
• Years one and two. Liberal arts and foundation courses in English and Japanese alongside Japanese students, with Japanese language classes up to advanced level by the end of year two.
• Years three and four. Specialisation taught mainly or entirely in Japanese.
• Faculties. All except Medicine. Applicants to Letters, Science, Engineering and Agriculture choose a department, for example philosophy and ethics, mathematics, physics and astrophysics, chemistry, biology, electrical and electronic engineering, informatics, architecture, civil engineering, chemical science, agricultural biology or food and environmental economics. You can list up to three preferences.
• Places. 40 students for October 2027, graduating in March 2032.

For reference, the university publishes 2026 statistics: 1,174 applicants listed iUP as their first choice and 37 passed the second screening. Engineering drew the most applications (524, with 18 passing) and science 239 (5 passing); economics had 188 applications and 3 successful candidates.

Undergraduate International Course Program of Civil Engineering

A four-year bachelor's taught entirely in English with an April start, leading to a Bachelor of Engineering. Students spend three years at Yoshida and move to labs at Katsura or Uji in year four. The focus is infrastructure, disaster mitigation, resources and development in Asia and Africa. For April 2027 entry, the preliminary eligibility screening ran on 3–17 August 2026, interviews took place in late October and results come on 10 November; the April 2028 cycle should follow the same pattern from summer 2027.

English-taught master's and doctoral programmes

The university lists English-taught programmes across several graduate schools:

• economics and business: International Graduate Programme for East Asia Sustainable Economic Development Studies (October start), the joint master's in Global Markets, Local Creativities with Glasgow and Barcelona, the International MBA (i-MBA) and a double degree with Cornell;
• engineering: management of civil infrastructure, urban and regional development, the Human Security Engineering integrated course and the International Energy Science Course;
• informatics: Intelligence Science and Technology, Social Informatics, Communications and Computer Engineering;
• environment and agriculture: International Environmental Management Program and a special course in agricultural sciences;
• humanities: a joint master's in Transcultural Studies with Heidelberg University (one year in each city);
• primatology and wildlife: International Course in Primatology and Wildlife Research, selected by documents and online interview.

Individual labs may also offer degrees in English, especially at doctoral level.

How to apply to Kyoto University

After school: Kyoto iUP

• Eligibility: 12 years of schooling abroad, or fewer if MEXT recognises the programme as equivalent (Russian general secondary education completed on or after 6 October 2009 is recognised). IB, A Levels, Abitur and the French and European baccalaureates also qualify. If unsure, use the eligibility screening between 1 July and 19 October 2026. You must be 18 by 1 April 2028. Students enrolled elsewhere may apply but must withdraw before enrolling.
• Standardised test (required): at least one listed test: SAT taken by 7 November 2026, ACT, EJU in English or Japanese taken by 8 November 2026, AP with SAT, IB, A Levels and several countries' national exams. Russia's Unified State Exam is not on the list, so Russian school-leavers need the SAT, ACT or EJU. Applicants to Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture need mathematics and two sciences (Engineering requires both physics and chemistry); Economics and Integrated Human Studies require mathematics.
• English: TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale (or 90 on the old one), IELTS 6.5, or Form C from your school if your last five years of secondary education were in English.
• Documents: online, in English or with English translation: certificate of graduation or expected graduation (Form A), transcripts, school evaluation (Form B, uploaded by the school), essay (Form D) and test results.
• Selection: applications from 2 November to 3 December 2026 by 17:00 Japan time, fee $62 (¥9,800); first-stage results on 5 February 2027; shortlisted applicants send original documents by registered mail to arrive by 16 March; online interviews in English on 1–16 March; final results on 6 April 2027.
• Afterwards: confirm your intention to enrol by 7 May 2027; the preparatory course starts on 1 October 2027, the chosen faculty's qualifying test follows in January–February 2028 (fee $110 (¥17,000), no waiver) and the bachelor's begins in April 2028. Students who fail the test may repeat the preparatory course the following year.

After school: Japanese-taught programmes

Kyoto has no single Japanese-taught screening for international applicants across all fields, as the University of Tokyo does. The Faculty of Engineering holds a special selection for privately financed international students that demands a high level of Japanese. The Faculties of Law and Economics hold special admissions for graduates of schools outside Japan, open to Japanese and international applicants. General admission requires Japan's national Common Test and a faculty exam in late February, which few international students attempt. Each faculty publishes its rules, mostly in Japanese.

Graduate school and research students

• Graduates of overseas universities must complete a preliminary review with the university's Admissions Assistance Office (AAO) before applying for a master's, doctorate or research-student place.
• Research students (kenkyusei) study without a degree under a professor, usually to prepare for the master's exam. You need the consent of a prospective supervisor, and some programmes do not accept research students. The application fee is $62 (¥9,800), the admission fee $540 (¥84,600) and tuition $190 (¥29,700) a month.
• Deadlines differ by graduate school and major; entry is in April or October.

Our guide to master's degrees in Japan explains research plans and supervisor contact.

Step-by-step plan for Kyoto iUP 2027

1. By 19 October 2026. If unsure about eligibility, submit documents for screening via the inquiry form.
2. October – early November 2026. Take the SAT (by 7 November) or EJU (8 November), order score reports and TOEFL/IELTS to be sent to Kyoto, and ask your school to prepare its evaluation.
3. 2 November – 3 December 2026. Complete the online application, upload documents and the essay, and pay $62 (¥9,800).
4. 5 February 2027. First-stage results; send originals by registered mail by 16 March.
5. 1–16 March 2027. Online interview in English.
6. 6 April 2027. Final decision; confirm by 7 May. Then COE, visa and arrival by the end of September 2027. If your Japanese is at a very early stage, the university may arrange preliminary Japanese lessons before the course and cover tuition and textbooks.

Application calendar

English and Japanese requirements

• Kyoto iUP: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (90) or IELTS 6.5; no Japanese at application, but the programme expects strong motivation to learn it, since teaching is in Japanese from year three.
• Civil engineering: English according to the programme guidelines, with exemption possible for English-medium schooling.
• Japanese-taught selections: a high level of Japanese; scores and exams are set by each faculty.
• English-taught graduate programmes: each programme sets its own TOEFL or IELTS requirement.

What studying and living in Kyoto cost

Fees

Tuition is paid in two instalments, in May and November. If the university changes its fees during your studies, the new rate applies from that point.

Living costs

• Hyakumanben International House: $265 (¥41,300) a month for residents moving in from October 2026, plus $35 (¥5,500) on entry; a student single room at Yoshida International House costs $285 (¥44,900) for residents moving in from October 2026;
• average living costs for international students in Japan excluding tuition: $670 (¥105,000) a month, with average rent of $260 (¥41,000), according to Study in Japan and JASSO's 2023 survey.

Kyoto iUP students should budget for flights, insurance and living costs beyond the preparatory-course stipend; during the bachelor's the university points only to merit-based allowances from partner companies and organisations. More in our guide to the cost of studying in Japan.

Scholarships and fee exemptions

• Kyoto iUP. For all admitted students: full admission fee waivers, full or partial tuition waivers for 4.5 years and up to $765 (¥120,000) a month during the preparatory course, followed by merit-based allowances from partner companies and organisations. No separate application is needed for the core funding.
• MEXT via an embassy. Most MEXT scholars at Kyoto University came through embassy recommendation. Undergraduate grantees spend a year at a preparatory centre (ABK College or the University of Osaka) and MEXT assigns their university; research students obtain provisional acceptance through the AAO after the first screening. Stipends are $745 (¥117,000) for undergraduates and $910–925 (¥143,000–145,000) for graduate and research students. See our MEXT scholarship guide.
• MEXT, university recommendation. At undergraduate level, only in the civil engineering programme, where the university nominates a few top applicants. The programme also offers its own ICP scholarship of up to $510 (¥80,000) a month and a JASSO scholarship of $305 (¥48,000) a month for the first year.
• JASSO Honors Scholarship for top EJU scorers. $305 (¥48,000) a month, reserved on the basis of EJU results.
• Tuition exemption. Full or half for students with excellent grades and financial difficulties.

The university, MEXT or JASSO makes funding decisions. More options in our overview of scholarships abroad.

Where to live

The university runs eight international houses for students and researchers: Shugakuin, Yoshida, Koshibo, Hyakumanben, Mizuki, Okazaki, Uji and Ohbaku (some for students only), plus a women's dormitory. Regular move-in is in April and October, with applications in January and July, three months ahead. Stays in most houses last from one month to one year, and up to two years at Uji and Ohbaku. Kyoto iUP students are allocated a room for their first 12 months, extendable by six months.

The university states that because places are limited, most international students live in private accommodation; its support centre publishes a list of estate agents near the Yoshida campus. See our guide to student housing in Japan.

How to get a student visa

After the final decision, the university applies on your behalf to Japan's immigration services for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for "Student" status. Immigration may ask for proof of funds: a bank balance certificate, a sponsor's income certificate for the past year and an explanation of where the money comes from. With the COE, your passport, the application form and a photo, you apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate. Kyoto iUP students have plenty of time: results come in April and arrival is due by the end of September. Within 14 days of moving in, register at the municipal office for your address. Immigration issues the COE and the consulate the visa. Our student visa guide for Japan walks through each step.

Strengths and challenges for applicants from Russia and the CIS

What helps:

• MEXT recognises Russian school-leaving certificates from 6 October 2009 onwards, and Kyoto iUP refers explicitly to the MEXT list.
• No Japanese is needed to apply to iUP, and every admitted student receives fee waivers and a preparatory-course stipend.
• iUP and civil engineering interviews are online, so no trip to Japan is needed before admission.
• Kyoto charges the standard national fee and living costs are lower than in Tokyo.

What makes it harder:

• iUP needs a standardised test: the Unified State Exam is not accepted, and the EJU is not held in Russia or Central Asia. Realistic options are the SAT, the ACT or the EJU in Japan or, for example, Seoul.
• Competition: 37 successful candidates from 1,174 first-choice applications in 2026.
• From year three, iUP is taught in Japanese; you will not finish without sustained language work.
• Fees and living costs are in yen and must be transferred through legal banking routes; check the options with your bank early.
• Part-time work requires immigration permission. See our guide to working while studying in Japan.

Common mistakes

• Treating iUP as fully English-taught. The senior years are in Japanese, and Japanese dominates the preparatory timetable.
• Missing the test deadline. SAT scores are accepted up to 7 November 2026 and EJU up to 8 November; the Unified State Exam does not count.
• Choosing engineering without physics and chemistry on your test. Engineering requires both.
• Emailing professors instead of going through the AAO. Graduates of overseas universities must complete the AAO pre-review.
• Counting on university housing after year one. Stays are time-limited, and most students then rent privately.

Kyoto iUP checklist

• My school system is on the MEXT list or I have 12 years of schooling; I will be 18 by 1 April 2028.
• I have an SAT, ACT, EJU or other listed test with the required subjects.
• TOEFL iBT 4.5 (90) or IELTS 6.5, sent directly to Kyoto.
• My school will upload an evaluation and certify documents.
• Essay and three faculty and department preferences are ready.
• Budget for flights, insurance and living costs beyond the stipend.

Campuses: Yoshida, Katsura and Uji

The main Yoshida campus is in Sakyo Ward. Early-year students, including those on the civil engineering programme, study here, and several international houses are nearby. Students move to the Katsura and Uji campuses when they join labs, as civil engineering students do in year four. Walking time from the international houses to Yoshida ranges from 5 minutes (Hyakumanben, Mizuki) to 20 minutes by bus or train (Shugakuin); Katsura and Uji are about an hour away.

Rankings

Work during and after your studies

Students need immigration permission for activities outside their status before taking part-time work. The university offers career guidance, and iUP is designed to give graduates the Japanese needed for the Japanese job market. Japanese companies recruit graduates early, before the final year, and interviews are usually in Japanese.

FAQ

Can I get into Kyoto University without Japanese?

Yes, through Kyoto iUP: no Japanese is needed to apply, and you study it intensively in the preparatory course and the first two years. The only undergraduate programme fully in English is civil engineering.

How much does Kyoto University cost?

$3,410 (¥535,800) a year plus $1,790 (¥282,000) on enrolment for bachelor's and master's students. Kyoto iUP students have the admission fee waived and tuition waived in full or in part.

Do I need the SAT or the Unified State Exam for Kyoto iUP?

You need a result from the university's list of tests. The Unified State Exam is not on it, so Russian school-leavers need the SAT, ACT or EJU (the EJU can be taken in English). Science and engineering applicants must show mathematics and sciences.

When do I apply to Kyoto iUP?

From 2 November to 3 December 2026 by 17:00 Japan time. Interviews run on 1–16 March 2027, results come on 6 April 2027 and the preparatory course begins on 1 October 2027.

How many students does Kyoto iUP admit?

40 for October 2027. In 2026, 1,174 applicants chose iUP as their first choice and 37 passed the second screening.

Can I do a master's at Kyoto in English?

Yes: there are programmes in economics, engineering, informatics, energy, environment, agriculture, primatology and an MBA. Graduates of overseas universities first complete the Admissions Assistance Office pre-review.

Can StudyU help me apply to Kyoto University?

Under an agreement with StudyU, we help choose a route and programmes, check requirements, prepare essays, documents and research plans, and support the application, scholarship and visa stages. The university decides on admission, and the university, MEXT or JASSO on scholarships. The immigration authorities and the Japanese consulate decide on the visa.

Sources

• Kyoto iUP: how to apply, guidelines for October 2027 (PDF), academics, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Kyoto University: undergraduate admissions, English-taught programmes, graduate admissions for international applicants, research students, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Kyoto University Nobel laureates, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Kyoto University: fees, MEXT scholarship, rankings, faculties and graduate schools, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Civil engineering programme: 2027 admission schedule and financial aid, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Kyoto University international houses, Hyakumanben, Yoshida, housing advice, checked 24 Sep 2026
• MEXT, foreign school courses designated as equivalent to upper secondary school, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Study in Japan, immigration procedures, checked 24 Sep 2026
• Study in Japan: MEXT scholarships, EJU, living costs, checked 24 Sep 2026
• QS, top universities in Japan (updated 1 Jul 2026), THE, Kyoto University, ARWU 2026, checked 24 Sep 2026

Dollar amounts are converted at the ECB reference rate of 29 September 2026 ($1 = ¥157.12) and rounded.

Continue your research

Compare Kyoto with other options in our guides to universities in Japan for international students and universities in Tokyo, and in our guide to English-taught degrees in Japan. To find out whether Kyoto iUP is realistic for you, apply for a consultation.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.