Okayama University: Fees & Ranking

Q: How much is tuition at Okayama University for international students?

Until now ¥535,800 a year plus a ¥282,000 admission fee.[4] For students entering in April 2027 or later, the university has set tuition for international students at ¥1,339,500 a year.[5]

Q: Do I need Japanese to study at Okayama University?

For regular programmes yes, JLPT N1 or equivalent.[6] The Discovery Program is taught in English, though April admission requires Japanese equivalent to JLPT N1.[6]

The short answer

Okayama University is a national university in Okayama, western Japan, with 13,383 students, 966 of them international.^[1] It traces its origin to a medical training place founded in 1870 and was established as Okayama University in 1949.^[2] An aggregator lists it in the 1001–1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 951–1000 the year before.^[3]

Fees are changing for international students. Until now tuition has been ¥535,800 a year with a ¥282,000 admission fee.^[4] For students entering in April 2027 or later, the university set tuition for international students at ¥1,339,500 a year in all undergraduate and graduate programmes.^[5] Most programmes are taught in Japanese (JLPT N1 or equivalent); the Discovery Program for Global Learners is taught in English.^[6]

Key facts

Official name	Okayama University (岡山大学)
Location	Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530 (administrative center; other schools at 2-1-1 and 3-1-1)^[7]
Type	National university; a National University Corporation since 2004^[2]
Founded	1870 as the Medical Training Place sponsored by the Lord of Okayama; established as Okayama National University in 1949^[2]
Students	13,383: 10,140 undergraduate and 3,243 graduate (page without an as-of date)^[1]
International students	966 (page without an as-of date)^[1]
Partner institutions	404 in 52 countries and regions (page without an as-of date)^[1]
Undergraduate schools	11 schools (Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Science, Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology, Agriculture) plus the Discovery Program for Global Learners^[8]
QS World University Rankings 2027	1001–1200 (aggregator listing; 951–1000 in 2026)^[3]
Admission fee and tuition so far	¥282,000 admission fee; ¥535,800 tuition a year (regular students)^[4]
Tuition, international students entering April 2027 or later	¥1,339,500 a year, undergraduate and graduate (incl. School of Law)^[5]
Tuition, Japanese students and equivalent categories	Undergraduate ¥642,960 from April 2027; master’s ¥642,960 from April 2031; doctoral ¥535,800 unchanged^[5]
English-taught degree	Discovery Program for Global Learners (bachelor’s); all classes in English^[6]
Official website	okayama-u.ac.jp

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About Okayama University

The university’s history page begins in 1670, when the Lord of Okayama built the Shizutani school for commoners. In 1870 the Ikeda family founded the Medical Training Place, which was reorganised as Okayama Medical College in 1922. In 1949 Okayama National University was established, incorporating schools including Okayama Medical School and the Sixth Higher School. In 2004 it became a National University Corporation.^[2]

The university reports 13,383 students (10,140 undergraduate, 3,243 graduate), 966 international students and 404 partner institutions in 52 countries and regions. The page gives no as-of date.^[1] The main Tsushima Campus is in Kita-ku, Okayama: the administrative center is at 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, the Discovery Program and the Institute of Global Human Resource Development at 2-1-1, and the schools of Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Science and Engineering at 3-1-1.^[7]

How is Okayama University ranked?

QS published its World University Rankings 2027 on 18 June 2026. An aggregator that republishes QS data lists Okayama University in the 1001–1200 band for 2027, after 951–1000 in 2026.^[3] QS’s own website blocks automated access, so we could not read the band there and treat it as an aggregator figure.

Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Okayama University?

Undergraduate education is organised in eleven schools: Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Science, Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology and Agriculture, plus the Discovery Program for Global Learners.^[8] At graduate level the university lists ten schools, among them Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Science and Technology, Health Sciences, Environmental and Life Science, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and a professional School of Law.^[8]

The Discovery Program for Global Learners is a bachelor’s degree in which all classes are taught in English. Admission also takes place in October, while all other undergraduate degrees admit in April.^[6] Classes in all other courses are taught in Japanese.^[6]

How much does Okayama University cost?

Student category	Admission fee (once)	Tuition per year
International students entering before April 2027	¥282,000	¥535,800 (paid half in May, half in November)
International students entering April 2027 or later	not covered by the August 2026 notice	¥1,339,500
Research students	¥84,600	¥178,200 for six months

The university’s international FAQ gives the ¥282,000 admission fee and ¥535,800 tuition for regular students; the page has no date and we found no year on it.^[4]

In August 2026 the university announced a revision of tuition fees for students entering in FY2027 and later. “International students” means people holding a “Student” residence status; international students with other residence statuses are counted with Japanese students. The new tuition is ¥1,339,500 a year for international students in all undergraduate and graduate programmes, including the School of Law. It applies only to students entering in FY2027 and later; currently enrolled students keep their fees, and so do international students enrolled in March 2027 who advance to a higher degree without a break.^[5] The notice does not mention the admission fee, so ask the admissions office whether ¥282,000 still applies.

For Japanese students and equivalent categories the same notice sets undergraduate tuition at ¥642,960 from April 2027 and master’s tuition at ¥642,960 from April 2031; doctoral tuition stays at ¥535,800 and the professional School of Law at ¥804,000.^[5]

Exemptions, scholarships and housing

Regular-course students can apply for a full or half fee exemption based on financial status and school performance. Undergraduate international students have not been eligible since the 2020 academic year.^[4] University dormitories cost ¥14,000 to ¥28,000 a month, and not every applicant can be housed.^[4] Okayama accepts MEXT (Japanese government) scholarship students: undergraduate and Japanese studies students, and at graduate level research and teacher training students. The embassy-recommendation route is open to all these types; Okayama also recommends candidates from partner institutions itself, for research and Japanese studies students.^[9] For living costs and visas, see our Study in Japan guide.

How do you apply to Okayama University?

There are four undergraduate entrance exam routes: the privately financed special exam, the International Baccalaureate exam, the Discovery Program for Global Learners exam and the general exam. Exams are generally held in Japan, and some allow an online interview.^[6]

Privately financed route: the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) is combined with the Okayama University exam and document screening. Only Letters, Economics, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences use EJU standard scores as a qualification; other faculties do not set them.^[6]
Graduate and research students: research student applicants need an advising professor; undergraduate applicants do not.^[6]

Further details are on the undergraduate admissions FAQ. We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ by route. See also our Study in Japan guide.

Which language level do you need?

Classes in all courses except the Discovery Program are taught in Japanese, and the university says applicants need sufficient Japanese, namely JLPT N1 or equivalent.^[6]

The Discovery Program for Global Learners has no English test score requirement, but English proficiency is evaluated in the admission process. Applicants who have not been educated primarily in English during the last five years must submit the result of an English qualification or certification exam. The university says that no Japanese is needed for the classes, yet applicants for April admission to the program need Japanese equivalent to JLPT N1.^[6] The FAQ names no TOEFL or IELTS minimum.^[6]

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is tuition at Okayama University for international students?

Until now ¥535,800 a year plus a ¥282,000 admission fee.^[4] For students entering in April 2027 or later, the university has set tuition for international students at ¥1,339,500 a year.^[5]

Can I study in English at Okayama University?

Yes, in the Discovery Program for Global Learners, where all classes are in English.^[6] All other undergraduate courses are taught in Japanese.^[6]

Do I need Japanese to study at Okayama University?

For regular programmes yes, JLPT N1 or equivalent.^[6] The Discovery Program is taught in English, though April admission requires Japanese equivalent to JLPT N1.^[6]

Does the new tuition apply to students who are already enrolled?

No. It applies only to students entering in FY2027 and later; students enrolled in March 2027 who advance to a higher degree without a break keep the current fees.^[5]

How is Okayama University ranked?

An aggregator lists it in the 1001–1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.^[3]