The Tokyo Campus received 3,860 applications for fall 2026 entry to its four English-taught bachelor's programs, more than double the 1,790 it received a year ago. The programs, in international business, computer science, environmental science and Japanese studies, enroll about 250 new students each year.
Applicants came from 74 countries. Applications from Southeast Asia rose 140 percent, led by Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, and applications from African countries nearly tripled, from 96 to 270.
Most applicants applied to more than one program.
Behind the increase
Admissions staff point to several changes. The campus dropped its Japanese language requirement for admission to the three non-language programs, replacing it with intensive Japanese courses in the first year. It also added a scholarship covering half of tuition for students from lower-income countries, and began accepting applications through the same online portal used by the university's other campuses.
Japan's government has also expanded work visa options for international graduates, which makes staying in the country after graduation easier.
The campus also held online information sessions in eight time zones and added student ambassadors who answer questions from applicants in their own languages.
Students used to ask whether they could survive in Tokyo without Japanese. Now they ask how fast they can learn it. That's a good question to hear.
Decisions will be released on March 2. The campus plans to add 60 seats in computer science for fall 2026 and a new residence hall in 2028. More information is on the Tokyo Campus admissions page.
