Keio University
慶應義塾大学
Japan's oldest modern university, with two English-taught bachelor's programs: PEARL in economics and GIGA at Shonan Fujisawa.
- Students
- 34,000
- Student–faculty
- 14:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ¥1.3M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1858
About Keio
Keio traces its history to 1858, when Fukuzawa Yukichi began teaching Western learning at a school in Tsukiji; it took the name Keio Gijuku in 1868, and Keio describes itself as Japan's first modern institution of higher learning. Today it has about 34,000 students in 10 undergraduate faculties and 14 graduate schools, spread over six major campuses in the Tokyo region, with its historic main campus at Mita in Minato, central Tokyo, and the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC), opened in 1990, in Kanagawa.
Most Keio undergraduate teaching is in Japanese, but international applicants have two full English-taught bachelor's routes. PEARL, in the Faculty of Economics, is a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Economics with September entry and about 100 places a year. GIGA, run by the Faculty of Policy Management and the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at SFC, mixes policy, technology and information studies, with about 50 places through its Winter AO screening. Both are assessed on documents alone, with no interview.
Keio is known for its business and political networks: its alumni include prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi, Ryutaro Hashimoto and Shigeru Ishiba and Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda. It suits applicants who want a prestigious Japanese university with a strong alumni network, and who can show strong academics through the IB or SAT (PEARL) or a self-directed study plan (GIGA).
Calamus Gladio Fortior
“The pen is mightier than the sword” — university motto
Why students choose Keio
PEARL lets you complete a Keio economics degree entirely in English in four years, and eligible students can graduate in 3.5.
GIGA's Winter AO needs no travel to Japan and no interview, and September entrants can apply for scholarships such as the MEXT scholarship (six places) at the same time.
PEARL has three application periods for September 2027 entry, and if you are unsuccessful in one you can reapply in the next.
Keio has 389 officially authorized student clubs, 12 dormitories and around 2,200 international students from 84 countries and regions.
Admissions
September 2027 entry (PEARL and GIGA English-taught programs)
Selectivity
Keio does not publish admission rates for PEARL or GIGA on the pages reviewed. PEARL admits approximately 100 students across three application periods; GIGA's Winter AO admits approximately 50 (25 per faculty). Neither program uses cut-off scores.
Typical entry requirements
| IB Diploma or SAT (PEARL) | At least one required; any IB subjects and levels accepted; no minimum score |
|---|---|
| 12 years of formal education (GIGA) | Completed or on track, with at least two of the last three years of secondary school taught in a language other than Japanese, or holding the IB Diploma, Abitur, Baccalaureat or A-levels, among other routes |
| SAT / ACT / IB / A-levels (GIGA) | Strongly encouraged; required under some eligibility routes |
| English language | PEARL requires TOEFL iBT and/or IELTS Academic from every applicant (IELTS One Skill Retake not accepted), with no minimum score. GIGA requires an English proficiency test unless English is your first language. |
Deadlines
- PEARL Application Period I Non-binding Next deadline · In 57 daysDecember 2, 2026, 3:00 p.m. JST
Opens October 21, 2026; results January 25, 2027. Admitted students pay fees January 25 to February 12, 2027.
- GIGA Winter AO (September 2027 or April 2028 entry) Non-binding In ~4 monthsJanuary 22, 2027, 3:00 p.m. JST
Opens December 8, 2026; results March 12, 2027. Scholarships only for September 2027 entrants.
- PEARL Application Period II Non-binding In ~4 monthsJanuary 27, 2027, 3:00 p.m. JST
Opens December 4, 2026; results March 4, 2027.
- PEARL Application Period III Non-binding In ~6 monthsApril 7, 2027, 3:00 p.m. JST
Opens February 24, 2027; results May 24, 2027. Unsuccessful applicants from earlier periods may reapply, paying the fee again.
All dates are for September 2027 entry (GIGA also April 2028) and use Japan Standard Time. PEARL classes begin September 22, 2027. GIGA's Spring, Summer and Fall AO screenings require an in-person interview in Japan; Winter AO is the route designed for applicants outside Japan.
How to apply
Apply online through The Admissions Office (TAO) and pay a 35,000 yen application fee by credit card. PEARL is decided on documents only (transcripts, IB and/or SAT, TOEFL and/or IELTS and other materials, all in English). GIGA also asks for two applicant evaluation forms, a list of achievements, and a personal statement made up of an essay of up to 4,000 characters plus up to two pages of presentation slides.
What admissions looks for
- A holistic record: PEARL says decisions are never based on a single factor.
- Academic ability shown through the IB Diploma or the SAT for PEARL, which treats the two equally.
- University-level academic English, shown through TOEFL iBT or IELTS.
- For GIGA, a clear statement of purpose, study plan and contribution to SFC, backed by achievements and two independent evaluations.
Tips for applying to Keio
- 1 Do not plan on the ACT for PEARL: from September 2027 entry only the IB or SAT is accepted.
- 2 Apply to PEARL in Period I (by December 2, 2026) so you still have Periods II and III to reapply if needed.
- 3 Native English speakers must still send TOEFL or IELTS scores to PEARL; send only one sitting, since superscoring is not accepted.
- 4 For GIGA, pick one faculty: you cannot apply to both Policy Management and Environment and Information Studies in the same Winter AO.
- 5 Use GIGA's slides as well as the essay: the prompt lets you split the statement of purpose, study plan, self-presentation and future plans between them.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in JPY
GIGA September entrants accepted through Winter AO can apply, at the same time as they apply for admission, for the Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship (1,404,000 yen a year plus travel, with fees covered by Keio; six places) and three Keio donor scholarships: Mentor Mitakai and Yoshiaki Ishii (admission fee and academic fees) and Masatada Kobayashi (admission fee and academic fees in year one, then 1,000,000 yen a year), each for up to four years subject to annual review. These cannot be applied for after entry.
- 6 places; 1,404,000 yen a year plus travel; admission and academic fees covered
- GIGA MEXT scholarship
- 35,000 yen per application
- Application fee (PEARL and GIGA)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring and fall)
PEARL (Program in Economics for Alliances, Research, and Leadership)
An all-English Bachelor of Arts in Economics launched in September 2016, with about 100 places a year.
GIGA (Global Information and Governance Academic) Program
An English-taught SFC program launched in 2011 that combines information and communication technology with governance, awarding a BA in Policy Management or in Environment and Information Studies.
School of Medicine
Keio's medical school produced astronaut Chiaki Mukai, the first Japanese woman in space, and awards the Keio Medical Science Prize, 13 of whose winners later became Nobel laureates.
Keio Business School
Keio's graduate business school, founded as Japan's first business school.
Research
- Keio has 30 research centers and affiliated facilities, and seven of its faculty were named Highly Cited Researchers 2025 by Clarivate.
- Thirteen winners of the Keio Medical Science Prize have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Business and Commerce
- School of Medicine
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Policy Management
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
- Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care
- Faculty of Pharmacy
Student life
Keio's historic Mita campus in central Tokyo is centred on the red-brick Old Library of 1912, while GIGA students are based at Shonan Fujisawa Campus, opened in 1990, which has its own on-campus international student dormitory. Keio has 389 officially authorized student clubs, and its Mita Festival draws about 200,000 visitors. Sport runs deep: 155 Keio people have competed at the Olympics or Paralympics, winning 31 medals. Around 2,200 international students from 84 countries and regions study across the university.
- 389 officially authorized student clubs.
- The Mita Festival draws about 200,000 visitors.
- 155 Olympians and Paralympians, with 31 medals (6 gold).
- About 2,200 international students from 84 countries and regions.
Housing. Keio runs 12 student dormitories, including an on-campus international student dormitory at Shonan Fujisawa.
Location
Keio's main campus is at Mita in Minato, central Tokyo, surrounded by offices, shops and older residential streets. Where you study depends on your program: PEARL is run by the Faculty of Economics, while GIGA is based at Shonan Fujisawa Campus in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, a quieter suburban setting outside Tokyo with an on-campus international dormitory. Tokyo has excellent public transport but high rents.
Nearest airport: Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND); Narita International Airport (NRT)
Notable alumni
- JK Junichiro KoizumiPrime Minister of Japan 2001-2006; economics graduate
- SI Shigeru IshibaPrime Minister of Japan 2024-2025; graduated 1979
- AT Akio ToyodaHead of Toyota Motor Corporation and grandson of the company's founder; law graduate
- CM Chiaki MukaiPhysician and JAXA astronaut, first Japanese woman in space; doctorate in medicine from Keio
- HM Hidetaka MiyazakiGame director and president of FromSoftware, whose games gave rise to the Soulslike genre; social science graduate
- MT Mariya TakeuchiSinger-songwriter behind the city pop hit Plastic Love; attended Keio
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Keio in English?
Yes. PEARL (economics) and GIGA (policy management and environment and information studies) are full bachelor's programs taught in English. Other undergraduate programs are taught mainly in Japanese.
What SAT score do you need for Keio PEARL?
PEARL has no cut-off scores for the SAT, IB, TOEFL or IELTS and reviews applications holistically. You must submit the IB and/or the SAT; the ACT is no longer accepted from September 2027 entry.
When are Keio's deadlines for September 2027 entry?
PEARL has three periods closing December 2, 2026, January 27, 2027 and April 7, 2027. GIGA's Winter AO closes January 22, 2027.
Does Keio require an interview for international applicants?
No, not for PEARL or GIGA Winter AO, which are decided on documents alone. GIGA's other AO rounds require an interview in Japan.
How much does Keio cost per year?
In AY2026, annual academic fees were 1,308,250 yen for Economics (PEARL) and 1,581,250 yen for the SFC faculties (GIGA), plus a 200,000 yen admission fee in the first year. Keio charges the same fees to international students.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Keio in the QS World University Rankings 2027.