Musashino Art University

Tokyo, Japan Private Website

N/A

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Avg SAT

N/A

Avg ACT

N/A

Avg GPA

What are your chances?

Musashino Art University is a private, nonprofit art and design university based in Tokyo, Japan. Its institutional history begins with the founding of Teikoku Art School in 1929; the present name and university structure date from 1962. MAU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral education spanning studio art, design, architecture, visual media, cultural studies, and creative approaches to social innovation. Most degree applicants should expect Japanese-language study and admissions procedures. The principal Takanodai campus in Kodaira provides studios, workshops, galleries, and specialized art resources in a suburban setting, while the centrally located Ichigaya campus supports project-based and graduate activity. For international applicants, the combination of specialized creative facilities and access to Tokyo’s cultural sector is attractive, but Japanese proficiency, department-specific examinations, tuition, materials, and housing require early planning.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate: N/A
SAT Range: N/A
ACT Range: N/A
Avg GPA: N/A

Campus & Students

Size: N/A
Type: Private
Student:Faculty: N/A
Setting: N/A

Outcomes & Cost

Graduation Rate: N/A
Retention Rate: N/A
Tuition (In-State): N/A
Tuition (Int'l): N/A

Key Highlights

Institutional roots date to Teikoku Art School, founded in 1929
Current university name and College of Art and Design date from 1962
Active undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education is documented for 2026
The Kichijoji campus closed after 2023, but the university continues operating at other locations

Student Life & Environment

Campus life centers on making, exhibiting, critique, and collaboration. MAU’s official student-life information identifies an annual art festival, graduation and completion exhibitions, outstanding-work exhibitions, open-campus events, clubs, and other creative activities. These events can place student work in public-facing settings and make exhibitions a recurring part of the academic year rather than an occasional add-on. Takanodai provides the broadest campus environment, including specialist work areas and spaces used for exhibitions and independent activity. Ichigaya includes lecture and seminar rooms, active-learning spaces, a graduate area, and workshops equipped with tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters. Students should check departmental authorization and training requirements before assuming unrestricted access to equipment. Support includes health and counseling services, disability-related learning consultation, international-student assistance, and career guidance. Housing is not automatically bundled with admission. The university has dedicated student residences, but places require a separate application; its student-life data also indicate that many students live in nearby private apartments, with only a smaller share using dormitories or shared housing. International students should therefore budget time for housing searches, commuting, guarantor or lease requirements, and Japanese-language administration.

Location & Surroundings

The main Takanodai campus is at 1-736 Ogawa-cho in Kodaira, in western Tokyo. The university describes it as a spacious suburban site near the Tamagawa Josui canal and wooded areas. It houses the College and Graduate School of Art and Design along with studios and other facilities supporting creative work. This setting offers more room for fabrication and studio activity than a compact central-city campus, though commuting to central Tokyo takes planning. The Ichigaya campus occupies a contrasting urban setting in central Tokyo. It is approximately three minutes on foot from Ichigaya Station, which is served by several rail and subway lines. Its location near universities, Sotobori Park, cultural institutions, and businesses supports project work and external collaboration. The Mitaka Room, about four minutes from Mitaka Station, is used mainly for correspondence-course tutorials, exhibitions, presentations, and academic events. Applicants should not assume that every program is taught at every site. Campus allocation can differ by college, department, year, or activity, making the program’s current access information important when estimating commute and housing costs.

Costs & Career Outcomes

MAU publishes separate fee schedules by entry year, program, and department. Applicants entering in 2027 should use the 2027 table rather than the 2024–26 schedule. The published undergraduate structure combines an admission fee, tuition, maintenance charges, and facilities or equipment fees. For example, the 2027 first-year total shown for Japanese Painting and several other studio fields is JPY 1,995,000, but totals vary by department. Graduate charges also vary with research field and facilities. Additional insurance, course-related charges, computers, art materials, fabrication, exhibitions, and fieldwork can add materially to the listed institutional fees. Students holding the residence status of “Student” are also subject to an international-student learning-environment fee. The university advises international applicants to arrange finances before enrollment and notes that scholarship eligibility does not guarantee an award. Housing and ordinary living costs are separate; students comparing residences with private apartments should include deposits, commuting, utilities, and move-in expenses. Career support begins with early-stage career education and continues through guidance, events, and individual consultation. The Career Center offers document review, mock interviews, access to previous students’ portfolios, and a dedicated portal for vacancies, events, internships, appointments, and graduate experiences. Outcomes can include design and creative roles, general corporate positions, teaching, public service, further study, independent practice, freelancing, or entrepreneurship. Applicants should judge career fit by department and portfolio development rather than relying on university-wide employer lists.