Kyoto University iUP for October 2027: Apply Online November 2 to December 3, No Japanese Required, Scholarships Cover Tuition

Kyoto University's International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP) has published its guidelines for October 2027 enrollment: online applications run from November 2 to December 3, 2026 (5 p.m. Japan time), with 40 places.

About the program

• Six-month preparatory course plus a four-year degree: Students first spend six months in Kyoto on intensive Japanese and foundation subjects; after passing their faculty's Qualifying Test, they enter the undergraduate course in April 2028 and earn a Kyoto University bachelor's degree.
• No Japanese required to apply: The first two and a half years are taught in English and Japanese, with specialized courses in Japanese from the third year at the latest, so strong motivation to learn Japanese is essential.
• Faculties: Integrated Human Studies, Letters (Philosophy, Ethics), Education, Law, Economics, Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture; applicants can provisionally choose up to three. Medicine is not offered.

Scholarships and housing

• Scholarships with full admission fee waivers and full or partial tuition waivers for four and a half years are available to all Kyoto iUP students.
• A monthly allowance of up to JPY 120,000 during the six-month preparatory course; merit-based allowances from companies and organizations are available after entering the degree.
• All students live in a Kyoto University International House for their first 12 months, extendable by up to 6 months.
• For reference: undergraduate tuition is JPY 535,800 a year with a JPY 282,000 admission fee; the preparatory course is JPY 296,000 (6 months) with a JPY 28,200 admission fee.

Requirements

• Non-Japanese citizens who complete 12 years of primary and secondary education by September 30, 2027 and are at least 18 by April 1, 2028.
• Standardized tests: At least one accepted test is required, including the SAT, ACT, EJU, A-Level, IB, AP (five or more subjects with the SAT) and China's gaokao. Gaokao results must already be available to upload; predicted scores are not accepted and the gaokao is not among the tests that can be submitted late, so high school seniors who have not yet taken the gaokao need another test.
• Subject requirements: Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture require mathematics and at least two sciences (Engineering requires both physics and chemistry); Integrated Human Studies and Economics require mathematics.
• English: A TOEFL or IELTS score (or a school-issued English proficiency form). There is no minimum; typical successful candidates have TOEFL 90 (4.5 on the new scale) or IELTS 6.5.
• Application fee: JPY 9,800 (plus a JPY 429 processing fee), non-refundable with no waivers.

Timeline

• November 2 to December 3, 2026: Apply online and pay the fee.
• February 5, 2027: Document review results.
• March 1–16, 2027: Online interviews in English; shortlisted applicants must send original documents by registered mail to arrive by March 16.
• April 6, 2027: Final results; confirm enrollment by May 7.
• October 1, 2027: Preparatory course begins.

Competition: in 2026, 1,174 applicants listed a first choice and 37 passed the second screening; Engineering alone drew 524 applicants, with 18 passing.

Sources: https://www.iup.kyoto-u.ac.jp/apply/; https://www.iup.kyoto-u.ac.jp/Application_Guidelines_for_October_2027_Enrollment.pdf. Check the official sources for the latest policy.