Kumamoto University
熊本大学
A national university in Kyushu with a medical school that dates to 1896 and a campus of historic brick gates and cultural properties.
- Students
- 9,946
- 7,730 undergraduates
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Tuition
- ¥594.6K
- 2027 academic year (tuition revised from 2026 level)
- Founded
- 1949
About Kumadai
Kumamoto University was established in May 1949 by merging several older institutions in the city of Kumamoto, including the Fifth High School (founded 1887, where Lafcadio Hearn and Natsume Soseki once taught), Kumamoto Medical College (1896), Kumamoto Pharmaceutical College and Kumamoto Technical College. It is one of Japan's national universities, and its campus includes four nationally designated Important Cultural Properties.
As of May 2025 it had 7,730 undergraduates and about 2,200 graduate students, with 1,011 academic staff, spread across the Kurokami, Honjo and Oe campuses. Undergraduate study is organised in the Faculties of Letters, Education, Law, Science and Engineering, the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Informatics, plus a newer interdisciplinary co-creation programme. The university reports that about 470 international students from 47 countries study there.
Privately funded international students enter through a dedicated examination: a few places are set aside in each faculty for applicants who have taken the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) and then sit Kumamoto's own entrance test. It suits applicants who are comfortable studying in Japanese and want a national-university degree in a regional city, with low tuition compared with private universities.
Forest of Creative Power, Blaze of Challenging Spirit
University motto
Why students choose Kumadai
National-university tuition is 535,800 yen a year in 2026, rising to 594,600 yen from the 2027 academic year.
Its School of Medicine traces back to Kumamoto Medical College (1896) and Furushiro Medical School, where Shibasaburo Kitasato studied.
A dedicated privately funded international student route (EJU plus Kumamoto's own entrance test) sets aside places in every faculty.
Undergraduates on Japanese government (MEXT) scholarships receive 117,000 yen a month.
Admissions
April 2027 entry, privately funded international students (selection guideline for academic year 2027 published; application booklet due in late November 2026)
Selectivity
Kumamoto sets aside only 'a few' (jakkan-mei) places per faculty for the privately funded international student examination, and publishes no admit rate. Places in the School of Social Innovation (Kyoso Gakkan) are shared with returnee applicants, three in total.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary education | Non-Japanese citizen who has completed 12 years of school education abroad or will do so by 31 March 2027, or holds IB, Abitur, French Baccalaureate, GCE A-level or European Baccalaureate qualifications |
|---|---|
| EJU 2026 | Score report from the June or November 2026 sitting; subjects depend on the faculty |
| School of Medicine, Medicine course | EJU minimums: Japanese reading 120 or above, listening and listening-reading 120 or above, each science subject 60 or above, mathematics 120 or above |
| Faculty of Engineering, Co-creation programme and School of Informatics | At least 50 percent of the total EJU score (for Informatics, 50 percent of the total excluding science subjects) |
Deadlines
- Application, privately funded international student examination Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months25 January to 3 February 2027
Application guidelines appear in late November 2026; internet application plus posted documents.
- Entrance examination Non-binding In ~5 months25 February 2027 (26 February for the Faculty of Education as well)
Kumamoto's own entrance examination and interview.
- Results and enrolment procedures Non-binding In ~5 monthsResults 10 March 2027; enrolment procedures until 18 March 2027
Results are announced on the online application system.
- EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) Non-bindingJune or November 2026 sitting
Run by JASSO, not Kumamoto. Kumamoto's page says applicants take the EJU in June or November of the year before enrolment.
Dates are the published 2027-entry schedule from the university's selection guideline for academic year 2027 (Reiwa 9). The detailed application booklet for the privately funded international student examination is due in late November 2026, so check it for exact documents and subjects.
How to apply
Take the EJU, then use the university's internet application system with the 2027 application guidelines (published in late November 2026), pay the 17,000 yen entrance exam fee and post the required documents so that they arrive during the application period. Successful applicants pay entrance fees and complete enrolment procedures in March. Applicants who do not meet the standard 12-year education requirement must consult the admissions section by 12 January 2027.
What admissions looks for
- A combination of EJU results, Kumamoto's own entrance test and application documents, according to the university.
- Japanese ability and basic academic knowledge shown by the EJU, matched to the faculty.
- For Education, an interest in teaching; for Pharmacy, mathematics, science and English ability plus motivation, assessed in an interview.
- Applicants who can work with diverse people and show independent learning, assessed by interview.
Tips for applying to Kumadai
- 1 Plan your EJU: you need a 2026 score report, and the faculty decides which science and mathematics courses count.
- 2 Check the minimum scores if you are applying for Medicine, Engineering, Informatics or the Co-creation programme, which are set in the guideline.
- 3 Read the application booklet when it appears in late November 2026 and contact the admissions section before 12 January 2027 if your school system is shorter than 12 years.
- 4 Consider whether the Short-Term Exchange Program or the Japanese Studies Program suits you better than a full degree.
Costs & financial aid
2027 academic year (tuition revised from 2026 level) · figures in JPY
Kumamoto has a tuition exemption system (full or half) for students in financial difficulty, applied for after entry. Undergraduate MEXT scholars receive 117,000 yen per month. Private foundations offer scholarships, and the university says scholarships for privately financed students are listed on its noticeboards.
- 535,800 yen per year
- Tuition 2026
- 594,600 yen per year (up 58,800 yen)
- Tuition from 2027 academic year
- 282,000 yen, one-off
- Admission fee
- 17,000 yen
- Entrance exam fee
- 117,000 yen per month
- MEXT undergraduate stipend
Academics
Academic calendar: Academic year begins in April; bachelor's degrees take four years, medicine and pharmacy six
School of Medicine (6 years)
Grounded in Kumamoto Medical College (1896); the largest undergraduate cohort after Engineering with 1,317 students.
Faculty of Engineering
The largest faculty with 2,318 students, including a new Semiconductor Device Program.
School of Informatics (2024)
Newest school, with Data Science general and semiconductor courses.
School of Pharmacy (6-year course and 4-year life sciences course)
Includes the Kumayaku Museum and medicinal plant garden on the Oe campus.
Faculty of Law
Offers courses in law and public policy in a four-year bachelor of arts in laws programme.
Research
- The Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics and the International Research Center for Medical Sciences are among its research institutes.
- It runs an Institute of Light Metals (with the University of Toyama) and a Magnesium Research Center.
- A Research and Education Institute for Semiconductors and Informatics was set up in April 2023.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Science
- School of Medicine
- School of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Engineering
- School of Informatics
- School of Social Innovation
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Of 1,693 undergraduates who graduated in the 2024 school year, 619 went on to higher education, 868 took jobs and 206 took other paths. About 395 of 536 engineering graduates continued to graduate study.
Student life
Kumamoto's main campuses are Kurokami (north and south), Honjo for medicine and health sciences, and Oe for pharmacy. The Kurokami campus contains the Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School and other nationally designated cultural properties, and the university is developing the whole campus as a 'campus museum'. International students can apply for the Kumamoto University International House or other accommodation. The university offers Japanese-language courses, student accessibility support and a health care center, and runs short-term summer and spring programmes for visiting students.
- Four nationally designated Important Cultural Properties on campus, including the Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School.
- The Higo Iiku Museum (medical education) and the Kumayaku Museum with its medicinal plant garden.
- Kumamoto University International House for international students.
- Japanese language courses and short-term exchange and Japanese Studies programmes.
Housing. International students can apply for the Kumamoto University International House or find other accommodation; the university lists both on its accommodation page.
Location
Kumamoto is the main city of Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu island, and the university describes itself as based in a regional hub city. The main Kurokami campuses are in Chuo ward, while the Honjo campus (medicine and health sciences) and the Oe campus (pharmacy) are elsewhere in the city.
Notable alumni
- HM Hiroaki MitsuyaVirologist known for his role in the discovery of the anti-HIV drug zidovudine (AZT); medical degree from Kumamoto University
- MH Masazumi HaradaPhysician and researcher on Minamata disease; graduated from Kumamoto University's medical department in 1959
- TI Takehiko InoueManga artist (Slam Dunk, Vagabond); attended Kumamoto University
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Kumamoto University as an international student?
Each faculty sets aside only a few places for privately funded international students, and no admit rate is published. Selection combines EJU scores, Kumamoto's own entrance test and application documents.
Do I need the EJU to apply to Kumamoto University?
Yes. Privately funded international undergraduates must take the EJU, in June or November of the year before enrolment, and then sit the university's own entrance examination in February.
What is the application deadline for April 2027 entry?
The application period is 25 January to 3 February 2027, with the entrance examination on 25 February 2027 and results on 10 March 2027.
How much is tuition at Kumamoto University?
Undergraduate tuition is 535,800 yen per year in 2026 and rises to 594,600 yen from the 2027 academic year, plus a one-off admission fee of 282,000 yen and a 17,000 yen entrance exam fee.
Is Kumamoto University ranked in the top 1000?
No. QS World University Rankings 2027 places it in the 1001-1200 band, THE World University Rankings 2026 in the 1001-1200 band, ARWU 2026 in the 901-1000 band, and U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 tied at 1210th.
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.
- Kumamoto University: Prospective students
- Kumamoto University: Privately-funded international students, undergraduate
- Kumamoto University: Fees and scholarships (as of 2026)
- Kumamoto University: Revision of tuition fees from the 2027 academic year
- Kumamoto University: Scholarships provided by the Japanese government and JASSO
- Kumamoto University: Programs for undergraduate students
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