One of the highly sought countries for education enthusiasts is Japan. Due to its amazing standards of education and comparably affordable cost of studies makes this country popular destination among students. Furthermore, Japan has the 4th largest economy according to Nominal GDP, following only Germany, China and the United States. This article aims to provide an insight about the top 10 universities in Japan based on the latest rankings.
1.The University of Tokyo
This university in Japan has the global rank of 32 with a total score of 82.1, according to the 2025 ranking of QS World University. The institute offers 15 graduate schools and 10 faculties with the total number of 30,000 students and comprising 2,100 international students. The college provides undergraduate courses conducted in English, including specialized international programs in Environmental Sciences and Japanese Studies with a focus on East Asia.
2.Kyoto University
Kyoto University, one of Japan’s most esteemed institutions, ranks 50th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, placing it among the top 5% of over 1,500 institutions evaluated. Regionally, Kyoto University is ranked 23rd in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025, with exceptional scores in Academic Reputation (5th) and Employer Reputation (2nd).
The university offers a diverse array of programs, with notable strengths in engineering, life sciences, and medicine. Its Graduate School of Engineering provides courses in civil engineering, architecture, and informatics.
3.Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) is ranked 84th globally by the QS World University Rankings 2025, reflecting its strong performance in STEM disciplines. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 places it at 195th worldwide, and it holds the 2nd position in the Japan University Rankings 2025, underscoring its national prominence.
4.Osaka University
Osaka University, located in Suita, Japan, is a leading national institution recognized for its academic excellence and research contributions. The university ranked 86th position globally by the QS World University Rankings 2025. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 places it at 162nd worldwide.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs across various faculties, including Science, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Economics, and Foreign Studies. Osaka University offers English-taught undergraduate programs, including the International Undergraduate Program in Science—covering fields such as Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Biological Sciences—and the Human Sciences International Undergraduate Degree Program, which emphasizes interdisciplinary studies in the human sciences.
5.Tohoku University
Tohoku University, based in Sendai, Japan, ranked 107th position globally in QS World University Rankings 2025. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 places it at 120th worldwide. Tohoku University honour of being the number one university in Japan by Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings 2025 for the fifth consecutive time.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including engineering, science, medicine, and agriculture. For international students, Tohoku University’s Future Global Leadership (FGL) program provides three undergraduate courses taught entirely in English: Advanced Molecular Chemistry, International Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Applied Marine Biology.
6.Nagoya University
Nagoya University, situated in Nagoya, Japan, is ranked 152nd globally and 6th within Japan by the QS World University Rankings 2025. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 places Nagoya University in the 201–250 range worldwide.
The university offers a diverse array of undergraduate programs, including English-taught degrees through its Global 30 International Programs. These programs cover a wide range of disciplines, including Automotive Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, and Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies. Additionally, Nagoya University provides over 800 courses taught in English across various disciplines, catering to a broad spectrum of academic interests.
7.Kyushu University
Kyushu University ranked 167th globally by the QS World University Rankings 2025, placing it among the top 15% of universities worldwide. Kyushu University is ranked within the 301–350 range globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 and holds the 5th position nationally in the Japan University Rankings 2025.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines. It offers English-taught undergraduate programs in fields such as Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Chemistry, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Bioresource and Bioenvironment. The School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation also offers a bilingual program that integrates both Japanese and English, designed to accommodate and engage a diverse international student community.
8.Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University, located in Sapporo, Japan, is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national universities, renowned for its research and academic excellence, and is ranked 173rd globally and 8th in Japan in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs across various faculties, including Agriculture, Engineering, Science, Medicine, and Fisheries Sciences. Hokkaido University offers English-medium undergraduate programs for international students, including the Modern Japanese Studies Program (MJSP), which explores Japan’s history, culture, and society, and the Integrated Science Program (ISP), which provides interdisciplinary education in physics, chemistry, and biology.
9.Keio University
Keio University, Japan’s oldest private university, is ranked 188th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, reflecting its strong reputation in higher education.
Keio University is renowned for its outstanding programs in economics, law, and political science. Notable offerings include the PEARL (Programme in Economics for Alliances, Research, and Leadership) in the Faculty of Economics, as well as the GIGA (Global Information and Governance Academic) program, which is available through the Faculties of Policy Management and Environment and Information Studies.
10.Waseda University
Waseda University, located in Tokyo, is a leading private institution in Japan, ranked 181st globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university excels in various disciplines, with notable strengths in Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, and Social Sciences & Management.
The top 10 universities in Japan offers educational programs in various fields such as Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Science. The universities are renowned for their academic excellence and top-class research facilities. Interested students can explore various educational options that aligns with their career goals.
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