History
Kyoto Imperial University was founded by imperial ordinance on 18 June 1897, the second university to be established in Japan.
Within ten years of the founding of the University, the Colleges of Science and Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Letters were opened. In July 1914 the College of Science and Engineering was divided into the College of Science and the College of Engineering.
Research
Many come to Kyoto for the freedom to conceive and explore radical ideas. They include physicist Hideki Yukawa, the first Japanese Nobel laureate, and Kitaro Nishida, who founded the Kyoto school of philosophy. Yamagiwa is also a pioneer, spending years in the African jungle living with gorillas and studying human evolution.
Career
Students seeking employment in Japan may learn Japanese and business etiquette through the classes offered by the Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture of the Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences of Kyoto University.
Kyoto University Key Statistics & Highlights
- #46 Ranking
- 13 Masters
- 51 Scholarships
- 2,424 Academic Staff
- 22,299 Students
- 2,453 Students (int'l)
- 5,575 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
Kyoto University Overview
Kyoto University Scholarships
Kyoto University Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to Kyoto University. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
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Kyoto University Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 7 reviews
- 5 Star 4 Reviews
- 4 Star 3 Reviews
- 3 Star 0 Reviews
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
Exchange at Kyoto University
Kyoto University's exchange program seamlessly combines academic excellence with cultural immersion. Set in the vibrant city of Kyoto, international students access top-tier facilities while delving into Japan's rich heritage. The program prioritizes cross-cultural interaction, offering a diverse experience that extends beyond academics. By embracing Japan's culture and global connections, students gain a well-rounded perspective, preparing them for a globally interconnected future.
university of Glasgow
the university of Glasgow is very beautiful. Students there were very hard-working.
changing my life via studying
The better university provided me with better circumstances. My first university experience was in the radiography technique course at the National University. After several years working as a radiograph technologist, I entered medical university, which provided me with fulfilling time, good friends, high-volume learning, and motivation. Now I entered a graduate university to learn epidemiology and how to research. I have kept my job while studying, therefore I cannot spare enough time to take classes. Still, it is an activating environment, with a talented professor, supportive staff, and motivated classmates. Now, I would like to study abroad to be an academic physician.
Kyoto University Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dropped 1 places compared to 2024
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | 45 | 46 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
By TopUniversities
Dropped 7 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | 50 | 57 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
Dropped 6 places compared to 2025
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 55 | 61 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 19 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | 168 | 187 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Student services
- Student Affairs Division
- Welfare Division
- Entrance Examination Planning Division
- Educational Planning Division
- International Education and Student Mobility Division
- International Service Office
- Environment, Safety, and Health Division
- Career Support Center
- Counseling Center
- Kyoto University Health Service
Housing services
Kyoto University has seven accommodation facilities available for international students and researchers, located in the Shugakuin, Yoshida, Hyakumanben (for students only), Okazaki, Misasagi (for students only), Uji and Ohbaku areas of Kyoto.International students at Kyoto University can also stay at other accommodation facilities provided by external parties with which Kyoto University has a leasing agreement.
Library services
- The extensive network of over 6,700,000 holdings throughout 50 libraries maintained at Kyoto University is the third largest collection in Japan.
ICT services
Internet users must subscribe to an internet service providers. Some internet providers offer an IP telephone service. Kyoto University Co-op accepts applications to the internet providers such as Seikyou Internet (Co-op).
Medical services
University students and employees are legally required to receive annual medical exams. In addition, those at Kyoto University who are frequently exposed to radioactive material, microbes, specified chemical agents, extreme temperatures, or a hyperbaric environment, or who work at night, must have their health status checked every six months by the Kyoto University Health Service.
Campus life
Yoshida Campus has been at the core of the university's activities since its founding. In particular, the main campus is home to structures of varying architectural styles, ranging from brick buildings dating back to the time of the institution's establishment—such as the Clock Tower Centennial Hall that has become the symbol of the university—to modern laboratory buildings. It can be said that Yoshida Campus truly represents the history of Kyoto University in tangible form. The Campus is further subdivided into seven sections.
Sports facilities
Extra-curricular activities at Kyoto University range from the fun and casual ‘circles’ to highly competitive clubs with an emphasis in intensive training. Cultural circles are student gatherings of those who share an interest in an activity ranging from volunteer work, to photography, to dance and beyond. Sports clubs represent Kyoto University in inter-university competitions, while those who join Sports circles seek friendship through sports in a more casual manner.
Student clubs
Students who wish to join a student organization should apply directly to the organization of their interest. For contact information concerning the organizations listed below (officially recognized organizations as of May 2013), you can inquire at the Extracurricular Activities Office, Student Affairs Division, Academic Affairs Department.
Accreditation
According to the findings, “the evaluation results indicated that Kyoto Sangyo University was accredited as conforming to this association's criteria for universities.” The current accreditation period spans 7 years from April 1, 2017, until March 31, 2024.