Kokugakuin University
國學院大學
Sei-Sei-Meigaku-Doku-Koku-BuⓘA name grouping six mid-sized private universities near Tokyo. Not an official ranking.
ClosedAll applications for April 2027 entry have closed · new deadlines appear here when next year's guidelines come out
- Exam location
- Campus in Japan · some online ›
- Japanese requirement
- EJU Japanese 230+ ›
- First-year fees
- from ¥1,315,300 ›
Fees and conditions can change over time. Always check the school's guidelines before you apply.
Fees and conditions can change over time.
Homes near campus within 3 km · SALLAE building data
| Campus | Station | Homes | Lowest / month | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shibuya Campus | Shibuya Station, 13 min walk | 33 | ¥47,500 | ¥97,500 |
| Tama-Plaza Campus | Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tama-Plaza Station, 5 min walk | 5 | ¥69,000 | ¥78,000 |
About the school
A private university founded in 1882. It has 11,528 students, including 72 international students (undergraduate 54 · graduate 18). There are 273 faculty members, 10 of them from outside Japan. It has 2 campuses (Shibuya, Tama-Plaza); which one you attend depends on your department.
History · 5
- 1882
- Koten Kokyusho founded (Iidabashi, Chiyoda City)
- 1890
- Kokugakuin established at the Koten Kokyusho
- 1920
- Promoted to a university under the University Order
- 1923
- Moved to the former imperial estate behind Hikawa Shrine in Shibuya
- 2022
- Faculty of Tourism and Community Development opened; 140th anniversary of founding
University Portraits · school history · Wikidata
Admission requirements and dates
Kokugakuin University admits international students through 2 routes.Pick your situation below to see only the routes that fit · Based on the guidelines for April 2027 entry
EJUThe exam Japanese universities use for international student admission · June and November · also held outside Japan = Examination for Japanese University Admission · JLPTJapanese-Language Proficiency Test · N1 is the highest, then N2 = Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
Apply with documents + an essay
Official name: 外国人留学生入学試験〈一般型〉
The schedule differs by faculty. You send your documents, then come to a campus in Japan for an essay and interview in Japanese. You can apply even if you live abroad.
Applications for this year have closed — below are the remaining dates for those who applied
Oct 18 · Economics, Business
- Apply 9/1~9/8
- →
- Exam 10/18
- →
- Results 11/2
- →
- Enroll ~11/95 days left
Nov 29 · Letters, Shinto Studies, Law
- Apply 10/9~10/16
- →
- Exam 11/2925 days left
- →
- Results 12/9
- →
- Enroll ~12/16
Nov 29 · Health and Physical Education
- Apply 10/9~10/16
- →
- Exam 11/2925 days left
- →
- Results 12/9
- →
- Enroll ~12/16
Nov 29 · Tourism and Community Development
- Apply 10/9~10/16
- →
- Exam 11/2925 days left
- →
- Results 12/9
- →
- Enroll ~12/16
Apply with JPUE scores
Official name: 日本大学連合学力試験（JPUE）利用型
Only people who have already passed the first stage of the JPUE (Japan Universities Joint Proficiency Exam) can use this. You take an interview over Zoom at the exam venue set for each country.
Applications for this year have closed — below are the remaining dates for those who applied
- Apply 10/9~10/16
- →
- Exam 11/2925 days left
- →
- Results 12/9
- →
- Enroll ~12/16
Good to know before applying
- You must obtain the "Student" status of residence by March 31, 2027. If your application is denied, you cannot enroll.
- People whose school education includes time at schools under the Japanese education system, and people who attended a foreign school in Japan, cannot apply
- If you take the exam and pass expecting to meet the admission requirements (such as an EJU Japanese score) but do not meet them, you will not be allowed to enroll (the admission fee is not refunded)
- Applicants living outside Japan: documents must arrive by the deadline. Send the ¥35,000 application fee in Japanese yen, and you pay all remittance fees (if the amount falls short, you may not be able to take the exam). Show your passport on exam day after you enter Japan.
- Graduation certificates etc. must be originals issued within 3 months before applying (if you cannot provide them, a certified true copy). Certified translations are accepted only from public bodies such as embassies, not from Japanese-language schools.
國學院大學 2027年度（令和9年度）外国人留学生入学試験要項 · checked 2026-11-03
Fees
- First-year fees
- ¥1,315,300 ~ ¥1,375,300
- Paid at enrollment
- from ¥795,300
- Application fee
- ¥35,000
First-year payments for reference, from the 2026 academic year (Reiwa 8); the 2027 academic year (Reiwa 9) may change. Students with the "Student" status of residence who are in financial difficulty may receive a 30% tuition reduction through a screening after enrollment.
Places and fees by department 10
| Department | Places | Applied/Passed | First-year fees (¥) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Letters | |||
| Department of Japanese Literature | 8 | 20 / 6 | 1,315,300 |
| Department of Chinese Literature | 1 | 1 / 0 | 1,315,300 |
| Department of History | 5 | 14 / 3 | 1,315,300 |
| Department of Philosophy | 2 | 6 / 0 | 1,315,300 |
| Faculty of Shinto Studies | |||
| Department of Shinto Studies | 5 | 2 / 2 | 1,315,300 |
| Faculty of Law | |||
| Department of Law (Law Major) | 4 | 11 / 4 | 1,315,300 |
| Faculty of Economics | |||
| Department of Economics | 5 | 2 / 1 | 1,315,300 |
| Department of Business Administration | 5 | 0 / 0 | 1,315,300 |
| Faculty of Human Development | |||
| Department of Health and Physical Education | 3 | 4 / 1 | 1,375,300 |
| Faculty of Tourism and Community Development | |||
| Department of Tourism and Community Development | 14 | 9 / 6 | 1,375,300 |
Places are the total across all international student admissions. Applied/passed figures are for the 2026 academic year. Fees are for 2026 entry.
For 2026 entry · from the school's guidelines
Documents to prepare
Application form and photo form, statement of purpose, activity report, entry sheet (depending on the faculty), certificate of (expected) graduation from your last school, copy of passport, certificate of residence (for those living in Japan), Japanese and English score proof such as a copy of the EJU admission ticket, and others
Graduate outcomes
- Graduates (2025 academic year)
- 2,681 · Whole university (including graduate school completers). Those who found jobs are in regular positions or self-employed, etc.
- Full-time employment
- 2,191 · 82%
- Went on to graduate school etc.
- 109 · 4%
No job placement results for international students alone were found in official materials
University Portraits · figures for all students (not international students only)
Reviews from students
No reviews yet. If you attend or attended this school, please write the first one.
Write a review
Scholarships
- Tuition reduction for privately funded international students (30%): "Student" status of residence and financial difficulty; apply after enrollment (document screening and interview)
Student life support
Women's dormitory "Gakuryo Tokiwagi" (8-minute walk from Eda Station; 114 single rooms; ¥70,000 per month including utilities), where Japanese and international students live together
Getting there
- Shibuya Campus
- Shibuya Station, 13 min walk · Letters · Shinto Studies · Law · Economics
東京都渋谷区東4-10-28 - Tama-Plaza Campus
- Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tama-Plaza Station, 5 min walk · Human Development · Tourism and Community Development
神奈川県横浜市青葉区新石川3-22-1
SALLAE compiled this from the school's admission guidelines and official sources (such as University Portraits). Dates and amounts can change, so always check the school's guidelines before you apply.
Photo: しんぎんぐきゃっと · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons