- International undergraduate and postgraduate students will pay higher fees than domestic students.
- The university plans scholarships to support high-performing international students.
- The increase reflects rising costs for education and student support services.
Tohoku University has announced plans to increase tuition fees for international students starting in fiscal year 2027. The move makes it the first national university in Japan to publicly confirm a higher fee structure for foreign students, as universities rethink how they fund global education programs.
Under the new plan, international students will pay about 1.7 times the tuition charged to Japanese students. The higher fees will apply to undergraduate and master’s degree programs. At present, annual tuition at national universities in Japan stands at ¥535,800. While tuition for domestic students remains capped, the government removed the upper limit for international students in 2024, giving universities more flexibility.
Tohoku University said the decision reflects the growing cost of supporting a larger international student population. These costs include English-taught courses, Japanese language training, academic advising, and daily life support services. The university believes international students should share part of these additional expenses.
At the same time, the university plans to introduce new scholarships for outstanding international students. The goal is to continue attracting global talent while maintaining academic quality and access to education.
International students play a key role in strengthening research, enriching classroom learning, and supporting Japan’s future workforce. Tohoku University has set ambitious targets to expand global enrollment. It aims to raise the share of international students in undergraduate programs from 2 percent in 2022 to 20 percent in the coming years. For master’s programs, the target is to increase international enrollment from 17 percent to 40 percent.
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Other universities may follow a similar path. Hiroshima University has confirmed it is discussing a possible tuition increase for international students, though details have not been finalized.
The move marks a shift away from Japan’s long-standing uniform tuition system and aligns with new education ministry policies that encourage universities to expand international enrollment while ensuring sustainable funding.
