Be it the Shinkansen bullet trains hurtling across vast distances to the breathtaking Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, also known as the world’s longest suspension bridge, a titan of engineering defying powerful currents and earthquakes. These marvels, along with countless other engineering innovations, are just a taste of what awaits aspiring engineers who choose to study in Japan.

This eastern country in Asia, steeped in traditional values yet forging ahead with technological advancements, offers a unique educational environment. The country’s engineering universities produce graduates of exceptional caliber, equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but also with hands-on experience gained through numerous industrial collaborations of these universities.

So, to align your academic knowledge with your dream engineering career, look through these 5 best and most distinct universities that stand out as prime destinations for pursuing your engineering education!

What Engineering Discipline is Considered to be the Best to Pursue in Japan?

There is a diverse range of engineering majors offered by prestigious universities within Japan, but the most valued is Automotive Engineering. This is because Japan has a big automotive industry with big names such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan attached to it. With these companies comes a high demand for skilled automotive engineers in the market. 

Thus, Automotive Engineering offered by Japanese universities such as the University of Tokyo can be lucrative. It is also highly sought after in the international market, making it a feather in the cap of a graduate of this degree. 

Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in Japan

1. University of Tokyo – Faculty of Engineering

The leading educational institution in Japan, The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), is the most prestigious engineering university in Japan with a high reputation nationally and globally. Currently, they have three campuses in Japan, and being a top-tier university, they have various programs offered to local and international students.

One of UTokyo’s highlights is its Faculty of Engineering. This faculty is further divided into 16 departments for the undergraduate and 18 departments for the graduate degree. Every engineering department focuses on a specific field, contributing through research and teaching.

Engineering students in the university are meticulously trained to develop the necessary skills needed in their respective engineering fields. They humbly welcome students who are creative and ready to explore science further.

2. Tokyo Institute of Technology – School of Engineering

The Tokyo Institute of Technology (TokyoTech) is considered the largest technological institution in Japan, with a record of 130 years in providing quality education in the field of science and technology. They have three campuses all over the country, and as the world moves towards innovation, they continue to mold global leaders and professionals in the field.

There are several engineering schools in TokyoTech. Although they have the School of Engineering with five departments, they also have engineering departments under the School of Materials and Chemical Technology and the School of Environment and Society. These engineering departments and programs in various schools show that there are a variety of specialties you can major in. As a future student at this top engineering school in Japan, you’ll get to maximize your chosen field of study.

In terms of their academic curriculum in engineering, they use an integrated and seamless approach in the program. By having this kind of curriculum, the students can smoothly enroll in the other degrees after they finish one.

3. Kyoto University – Faculty of Engineering

A National university in Japan, Kyoto University is the second oldest university in the country. This public university is highly recognized as one of Asia’s top-performing research universities to produce world-class researchers in various fields. They garnered local and international achievements, proving their excellence in different educational areas.

The Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto University is made up of six departments, and this faculty is the largest in the university. Every engineering department aims to mold its students to be the next professionals and pioneers in the field. They also place a high value on research as they cultivate quality education for the benefit of the students.

The engineering programs in the university were built with a unique system and curriculum. In the first years of the engineering programs, the main focus is to establish knowledge of the common subjects in engineering. Moving towards the years, the focus is on training, research, and specialized subjects.

4. Tohoku University – School of Engineering

Founded in 1907, Tohoku University is another excellent engineering school in Japan. In the previous years, the university was selected as one of the Designated National universities in the country. This title was given to educational institutions showing their excellence and dedication in research and education. Aside from these recognitions, the university aims to have more collaborations in teaching and research.

For Tohoku University’s School of Engineering, there are a lot of students enrolled in their programs. Almost one-third of the university population is taking an engineering program including international students.

There are also English-taught engineering programs that are offered for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The curriculum is the same as with its Japanese-taught programs – excellent research and outstanding teaching.

5. Nagoya University – School/Graduate of Engineering

One of the top-performing engineering universities in Japan, Nagoya University has a high standing among the universities in the country. To nurture their research and educational field, this university works hard to strengthen the quality of education that they’re producing. One of their goals is to contribute to or help the society.

The university’s School of Engineering is divided into the undergraduate and graduate departments. The undergraduate degrees have traditional departments that focus on developing the core disciplines of engineering. On the other hand, graduate studies have an interdisciplinary and traditional department that enhances research and technology in their specific field of study.

The School of Engineering offers a variety of engineering majors for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. As they develop their engineering students, more and more competitive graduates are produced. Also, the school received numerous achievements and recognitions nationally and globally.

6. Keio University – Faculty of Science and Technology

Established in 1858, Keio University is a private university that holds the distinction of being Japan’s first modern institution of higher learning. Since its inception, Keio has played an important role in shaping the nation’s modernization, consistently ranking among the top universities in Japan and internationally. Over the years, Keio University has also evolved into a comprehensive institution with 10 undergraduate faculties, 14 graduate schools, and six campuses spread across the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Among Keio’s highly regarded faculties is the Faculty of Science and Technology which encompasses a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines, from mechanical engineering and electrical engineering to aerospace engineering and administration engineering. These programs are designed to equip students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and global perspectives necessary to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Beyond world-class academics, Keio also boasts a remarkable 24 billion yen scholarship fund, one of the largest in Japan, dedicated to supporting talented students regardless of their financial background.

7. Waseda University – Faculty of Science and Engineering

Shigenobu Okuma, Japan’s former prime minister and visionary leader, left an indelible mark on the nation, not only through his political achievements but also through his profound impact on education. In 1882, driven by a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of knowledge, Okuma established Waseda University.

Waseda University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering is a testament to Shigenobu Okuma’s vision. Under its umbrella, there are three distinguished undergraduate schools and five graduate schools, each offering unique and specialized study programs.

Notably, the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering and the School of Advanced Science and Engineering stand out for their highly sought-after engineering programs like Computer and Electrical engineering.

Reflecting the high caliber of applicants and the competitive nature of the field as described, recent admissions data indicate that the acceptance rate for these engineering schools hovers around 22-26%.

8. Hokkaido University – School of Engineering

From Sapporo Agricultural College to Tohoku Imperial University and finally gaining the prestigious name of Hokkaido University, the institution has undergone a long historical journey since its establishment in 1876. Hokkaido University, situated on the northernmost island of Japan, has evolved into a distinguished center for education and research, earning acclaim both nationally and internationally. The university’s roots in agricultural education have expanded into a comprehensive institution, and its School of Engineering has consistently maintained the quality of education by offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in electronic, electric, civil, and sustainable resources engineering.

Embedded in the faculty’s rich history is also the remarkable story of Hiroshi Ishi, a distinguished alumnus who pioneered the Tangible User Interface in the field of Human-computer interaction. Ishi graduated from Hokkaido University with a degree in electrical engineering and now is an esteemed professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

9. Kyushu University – Faculty of Engineering

With student-to-faculty ratios as low as 9:1, Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan’s most desirable city to live in, places a strong emphasis on personalized and high-quality education. This intimate setting, hosting over 3,400 engineering students amongst a total student body of 11,700 at the undergraduate level, creates a learning environment where every prospective engineer receives the individualized attention and mentorship they deserve.

Within the Faculty of Engineering at Kyushu University, students are offered undergraduate and postgraduate programs spanning mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, and aerospace engineering. However, beyond academic programs, Kyushu is also a research-intensive institution at the forefront of the engineering field as it actively funds and supports over 950 research projects, covering a wide array of disciplines within engineering and beyond.

10. Osaka University – School/Graduate School of Engineering

Abbreviated as Handai, Osaka University is Japan’s public university established in the year 1931 as Japan’s sixth imperial university, in the city of Osaka. As a public university, Handai’s mission is to provide accessible and high-quality education to a diverse student body. This is evident in its transparent fee structure and its relatively low annual tuition fees, particularly for engineering programs. At roughly 535,000 JPY (approximately $3,600 USD) per year, Handai provides world-class engineering education at a fraction of the cost of comparable institutions in other countries.

However, affordability doesn’t compromise quality as Handai’s notable engineering programs such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering boast distinguished faculty members, some of whom have received honorary national awards for their contributions to their respective fields. Professors like Hidetsugu Yagi and Kinjuru Okabe, associated with these programs, have even been recognized with prestigious awards, underscoring the caliber of educators at Osaka University.

 

With multiple reasons why these engineering institutions are the 5 best universities to study in Japan, we have made sure your dreams of becoming a world-class engineer are within reach. Whether it’s the cutting-edge programs at Keio University, the research-intensive environment at Kyushu University, or the distinguished faculty at Osaka University, Japan’s engineering future rests in the hands of bright students like you!

 

We hope you make use of this article as you search for an outstanding Japanese engineering school to enroll in. To learn more about Japan, check out the Available Programs in Japan and Study in Japan pages!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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