Privately Financed International Students
Privately Financed International Students
Students are divided into two categories; regular students and non-regular students. Degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students are categorized as regular students, while non-degree seeking students such as research students [Kenkyusei] and exchange students [Tokubetsu Choukou Gakusei and Tokubetsu Kenkyu Gakusei] are classified as non-regular students.
Eligibility for scholarships, tuition exemption and student discounts may differ between regular and non-regular students. For details on particular programs, admission requirements, selection, awarding degrees and such, please direct your inquiries to relevant administration offices.
* If you wish to attend Kyoto University on a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarship, please refer to the page on Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship Students.
* If you wish to apply for English-taught Degree Courses at Kyoto University, please refer to the following website and contact the relevant administration offices for details.
Kyoto University English-taught Degree Courses
Faculty and Graduate School Administration Offices
【Regular Students】Undergraduate Students
1. Language of Instruction
For international students, classes other than those of English-taught Degree Courses are generally taught in Japanese, unless specified otherwise. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate program or a master's program must have sufficient proficiency in Japanese upon enrollment.
Kyoto University does not have an independent faculty for the study of the Japanese Language. If you wish to prepare for admission to the university, please study at an appropriate Japanese language school.
2. Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
Each faculty has separate admission requirements. The following is a general overview of the eligibility requirements for bachelor degree programs. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be conducted prior to the submission of application forms. For full details, please contact the relevant faculty.
- Completion of 12 years' schooling abroad, or equivalent (including those who are expected to graduate by March 31, 2012) as specified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
- Equivalents recognized by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology such as the International Baccalaureate.
3. Selection
Standards for selection are basically the same for international applicants as for prospective Japanese applicants (General Admission). However, the Faculties of Economics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, and Agriculture have special selection processes for privately financed international students. The academic year begins in April.
（1） General Admission
Applicants must take both the examination by National Center for University Entrance Examinations and the examination given by the Faculty.
For the information on the examination by National Center for University Entrance Examinations, which is generally held in January, please contact National Center for University Entrance Examinations (Japanese only) (External Link).
The application period for the examination given by the Faculty is generally in late-January, with the exam held in late February. Please contact the Admissions Office for the updates.
（2） Special Selection for Privately Financed International Applicants
The Faculties of Economics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, and Agriculture have special selection processes for privately financed international applicants. In order to qualify for the special selection process, the applicants must take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) administered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), in addition to the screening procedures administered by each faculty. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be required prior to the submission of application forms.
Applicants for the special selection process are generally accepted at the beginning of January. The exam is given between mid January and late February. The following table shows the schedule of undergraduate entrance examination for the academic year 2011/2012. Please contact the relevant administration offices for current information, as the procedures are subject to change.
Contact addresses (Japanese only)
（3） Third Year Admission
The Faculties of Education, Law, Economics, and Medicine (Human Health Sciences only) accept international applicants in the third year of their undergraduate programs. Please contact the relevant admissions office for details.
Contact addresses (Japanese only)
（4） Admission of a person with a bachelor's degree
The Faculty of Letters accepts international applicants from graduates of overseas bachelor's degree programs (this includes those who will have graduated by the time of their entrance to Kyoto University), while the Faculties of Integrated Human Studies, Science, and Engineering administer entrance examinations only for those international applicants with Kyoto University's bachelor's degrees (including those who will have graduated by the time of their entrance to Kyoto University).
Contact addresses (Japanese only)
4. Awarding of Degrees
In faculties other than the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University awards bachelors' degrees to those who attend the university for four or more years and satisfy the course and credit requirements.
In the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, the University awards bachelors' degrees to the School of Human Health Sciences and Division of Sciences for Drug Discovery students who attend the university for four or more years and satisfy the course and credit requirements. As for other Schools and Divisions in the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the university awards bachelors' degree to those who attend the university for six or more years and satisfy the course and credit requirements.
【Regular Students】Graduate Students
1. Language of Instruction
For international students, classes other than those of English-taught Degree Courses are generally taught in Japanese, unless specified otherwise. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate program or a master's program must have sufficient proficiency in Japanese upon enrollment.
Kyoto University does not have an independent faculty for the study of the Japanese Language. If you wish to prepare for admission to the university, please study at an appropriate Japanese language school.
2. Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
Each graduate school has separate admission requirements. The following is a general overview for master's, doctoral and professional degree programs. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be conducted prior to the submission of application forms. For full details, please contact the graduate school in which you wish to enroll.
Graduate School Administrative Offices
（1） Master's Program, Professional Degree Program, and the Five-Year Doctoral program of the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
- The candidate who has graduated from a Japanese university.
- The candidate who has completed 16 years' schooling abroad.
- The candidate who has reached 22 years of age or older and has been awarded a bachelor's degree or higher, or equivalent as recognized by the graduate school to which the application is being made.
（2） Doctoral Program
- The candidate who has been awarded a Master's degree or professional degree from a university in Japan.
- The candidate who has completed a program at an overseas university that is equivalent to a Master's program or a professional degree program of Kyoto University.
- The candidate who has reached 24 years of age or older and has a Master's degree or higher, or equivalent as recognized by the graduate school to which the application is being made.
（3） The Four-Year Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Medicine
- The candidate who has graduated from the Department of Medical Science of the Faculty of Medicine, or the Faculty of Dentistry.
- The candidate who has completed a 6-year program in veterinary.
- The candidate who has completed 18 years' schooling abroad.
- The candidate who has reached 24 years of age or older and has a bachelor's degree or higher, or equivalent as recognized by the Graduate School of Medicine.
3. Selection
The application deadlines and the test schedules for the Graduate Entrance Examination vary among the graduate schools. In addition, preliminary eligibility screening may be required prior to the submission of application forms. The Graduate Entrance Examination consists of sections on the field of specialization, a foreign language, and an oral examination. The academic year begins in April, with the exception of some graduate schools which also accept students in October. For details, please contact the relevant graduate school administrative office.
4. Awarding of Degrees
（1） Master's Program
A Master's degree is awarded to those who successfully complete two or more years of required course work and research, pass the examination, and have their thesis accepted.
（2） Professional Degree Program (Other than Law School)
A professional degree is awarded to those who successfully complete two or more years of required course work.
（3） Professional Degree Program (Law School)
A Juris Doctor (professional degree) is awarded to those who successfully complete three or more years of required course work at the Law School.
（4） Doctoral Program
A doctoral degree is awarded to those who successfully complete three or more years of required course work and research, pass the examination, and have their thesis accepted.
（5） The Four-Year Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Medicine
A doctoral degree of medicine is awarded to those who successfully complete four or more years of required course work and research, pass the examination, and have their thesis accepted.
（6） The Five-Year Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
A doctoral degree of Area Studies is awarded to those who successfully complete five or more years of required course work and research, pass the examination, and have their thesis accepted.
【Non-regular Students】 Research Students
Those who wish to study in the graduate schools, or who wish to do research at one of the institutes or centers, may apply for the status of research student [kenkyusei].
To qualify for research student status, the applicant must search for, and contact an advisor in the faculty, graduate school, institute or center of his or her choice through Kyoto University websites, and then receive advisor's approval. After this, the applicant must submit an admission form and the necessary documents. Details of our academic staff can be found on the following pages: "Directory of Faculty and Researchers" (Home> Directory of Faculty/Researchers).
Research students are not eligible for degrees. For further information, please direct your inquiries to relevant administrative offices.
【Non-regular Students】 Exchange Students
There are two types of exchange programs for students whose institutions have a university-level student exchange agreement with Kyoto University, Kyoto University International Education Program (KUINEP) and Kyoto University General Exchange Program. Both programs accept students for a semester (6 months) or for two semesters (12 months). In every beginning of January, Kyoto University sends the application guide for both programs to all partner universities. Application should be submitted to Kyoto University through the international office of home institution. Direct application from students will not be accepted. For further information, please contact the Student Exchange Program staff of your university and ask for details.
