Gakushuin University

Key Highlights

• The present Gakushuin University opened in 1949.
• The April 2026 integration with Gakushuin Women’s College created the Faculty of Intercultural Studies and Graduate School of International Cultural Relations.
• MEXT lists Gakushuin as a private university in Tokyo.
• The university currently reports six faculties, 20 departments, eight academic graduate schools, and a professional law school.

Student Life & Environment

Student life is divided between two central Tokyo campuses that are about a 15-minute walk apart. Mejiro is the main base for most faculties and brings undergraduate and graduate students into a shared campus environment. Toyama houses intercultural studies and provides its own classrooms, library, cafeteria, lounge, meeting rooms, counseling rooms, and gymnasium. Applicants should check their faculty location because everyday routines and facilities will differ by campus. At Mejiro, the Learning Hub brings together the University Library, Learning Support Centre, and International Centre, with an open area that includes dining space. Other facilities include a university health center, gym, bookshop, science laboratories, language-learning spaces, and numerous libraries. The campus mixes working historic buildings with modern academic facilities. Toyama’s student center similarly provides social and dining space, while its gym supports sports and health classes. International support is coordinated through the International Centre. The university publishes information about residence status, scholarships, international-student events, and exchange opportunities. Its 2026–2027 exchange fact sheet says accepted exchange students can receive assistance locating accommodation, but this should not be interpreted as a guarantee of university housing for full-degree students. Prospective degree students should request current accommodation guidance directly and budget for private housing if necessary. Students interested in overseas study can explore exchange links with partner institutions. Participation, language requirements, funding, and credit recognition depend on the specific program and should be checked with the university before making plans.

Location & Surroundings

Gakushuin’s campuses occupy well-connected locations in central Tokyo. Mejiro Campus is in Toshima Ward and is approximately 30 seconds on foot from Mejiro Station on the JR Yamanote Line. The university states that Mejiro is one stop from Ikebukuro and three stops from Shinjuku, making major commercial districts and transport connections straightforward to reach. Zoshigaya Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line is also about seven minutes away on foot. Toyama Campus is in Shinjuku Ward. It is approximately one minute from Nishi-waseda Station, nine minutes from Waseda Station, and 13 minutes from Takadanobaba Station, according to official access guidance. The two campuses are about a 15-minute walk apart, so cross-campus travel is manageable, although students should allow time between activities. The setting offers the advantages and tradeoffs of metropolitan study. Rail access is unusually close, and students can reach much of Tokyo without living beside campus. Conversely, housing and ordinary living costs in the Tokyo region can be substantial. Applicants should compare commuting time, rent, and access to their actual faculty campus rather than budgeting for “Tokyo” as a single uniform location.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The university publishes an official table of tuition and other first-year charges for academic year 2026. Because amounts differ by faculty and program and the web page presents the detailed figures in a separate table or PDF, applicants should use that document for their exact course rather than rely on a single university-wide estimate. The university had also updated its enrollment-payment documentation with 2027 amounts by July 30, 2026. Students entering in 2027 should therefore use the applicable 2027 admissions and enrollment materials, including required deadlines and payment methods. Privately funded international degree students may be considered for university aid. The official scholarship page describes an annual scholarship of up to JPY 300,000 for eligible students with financial need, subject to academic conditions for continuing students. It also states that privately funded international undergraduates admitted in academic years 2025–2027 may qualify for a 10% tuition reduction, while the listed graduate reduction is 30%. These are eligibility-based programs rather than guaranteed discounts, and annual amounts or rules may change. Housing and living expenses are separate; no current university-wide room-and-board figure was verified. Career services offer interview preparation and workshops organized by industry and occupation. For the graduating class of March 2026, the university reports that 98.6% of graduates who were job seekers secured employment. This is not the percentage of all graduates, and it should not be interpreted as a guarantee for an individual student. Reported destinations span areas including information and communications technology, services, finance, public service, education, manufacturing, and media. International students should separately assess Japanese-language expectations, work-visa eligibility, and recruitment schedules for their intended field.