Kitasato University for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Scholarships, Campus Life & Careers

Thinking about studying in Japan but want a university that actually lives and breathes the life sciences? Kitasato University—home to Nobel laureate Satoshi Ōmura and a network of affiliated hospitals—offers a practical, patient‑ and society‑focused education across medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, marine biosciences, nursing, science, engineering, and allied health. This guide breaks down the essentials international applicants care about: fast facts, mission and history, standout programs and labs, campus life and support, exchange options, climate and lifestyle, real international‑student stats, and what graduates go on to do. Let’s get you oriented.

Quick Facts

Item	Detail
Type	Private (Independent)
Total Students	9,174 (as of May 1, 2025). Official data (PDF)
Campuses	Sagamihara (main). Other sites include Shirokane (Tokyo), Kitamoto (Saitama), Towada (Aomori), Niigata, Sanriku Education & Research Center (Ofunato, Iwate), Yakumo Experimental Farm (Hokkaidō). Campuses / Sagamihara
Faculties / Schools	School of Pharmacy; School of Veterinary Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Marine Biosciences; School of Nursing; School of Science; School of Allied Health Sciences; School of Frontier Engineering; School of Health Sciences (Niigata); College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Programs (Undergraduate)
Tuition Fees	Varies by school (private university). Reference benchmarks (first‑year totals): National ≈ ¥820,000; Public ≈ ¥900,000; Private (excluding medical/dental/pharmacy) ≈ ¥1,100,000. Medical/health programs typically higher. Official “Study in Japan” fees overview
Gender Ratio	55% female : 45% male (THE Key Stats, 2025). THE profile
International‑Student %	≈ 1% (THE Key Stats, 2025). THE profile
Students per Staff	5.1 (THE Key Stats, 2025). THE profile / Staff headcount: 1,803 (May 1, 2025) (PDF)

Campus Maps

Shirokane Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan

Sagamihara Campus (Kanagawa)

Address: 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan

Kitamoto Campus (Saitama)

Address: Kitasato University Medical Center (KMC), 6-100 Arai, Kitamoto-shi, Saitama 364-8501, Japan

Niigata Campus (Niigata)

Address: 500 Kurotsuchishinden, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata 949-7241, Japan

Towada Campus (Aomori)

Address: 35-1 Higashi-23bancho, Towada-shi, Aomori 034-8628, Japan

Sanriku Campus (Iwate)

Address: 160-4 Sanrikucho-Okirai, Ofunato-shi, Iwate 022-0101, Japan

Yakumo Experimental Farm (Hokkaido)

Address: 751 Kamiyakumo, Yakumo-cho, Futami-gun, Hokkaido 049-3121, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Kitasato University traces its roots to the Kitasato Institute—Japan’s first private medical research facility—established in 1914 by bacteriologist Shibasaburō Kitasato. The modern university was founded in 1962 to extend this research‑driven ethos into comprehensive education across the life and health sciences. Its mission has remained consistent for over a century: advance human health and well‑being through science, clinical practice, and collaboration with society. About Kitasato

A defining moment came in 2015 when Professor Satoshi Ōmura, a longtime Kitasato researcher, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of avermectins—compounds that transformed the treatment of parasitic infections worldwide. This achievement underscored the university’s long‑standing strength in drug discovery, infectious disease, and translational research, and it continues to inspire a practical, global outlook in education. Nobel facts

Today Kitasato operates multiple campuses anchored by the Sagamihara campus (Kanagawa), which integrates classroom learning with clinical and interprofessional training using Kitasato’s affiliated hospitals. The Shirokane campus (Tokyo) remains closely connected to the institute’s original home, while specialized environments in Towada (Aomori) and Niigata support veterinary and health sciences. In 2024 the School of Health Sciences launched in Niigata, reflecting a strategy to place education and research close to real‑world community needs. Sagamihara campus

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Strength: Bench-to-Bedside Life Sciences

Kitasato’s identity is unambiguously “life sciences first.” Research is wired into the curriculum across pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, marine biosciences, and allied health—creating constant flow between labs, clinics, farms, and field sites. The Nobel legacy of Prof. Ōmura continues to shape a research culture that emphasizes discovery with global impact, from anti‑infectives to public health. About Kitasato / Nobel facts

School of Pharmacy

A hallmark of Kitasato, the School of Pharmacy links chemistry, bioscience, and clinical practice. Students benefit from exchange and observation programs with leading overseas partners (e.g., UK/US programs listed under international exchange activities), building the ability to evaluate therapies and contribute to drug development pipelines. International exchange activities

School of Veterinary Medicine

Based at nature‑rich Towada, veterinary students train across companion and large‑animal medicine with strong fieldwork. Clubs and circles are active and welcoming—useful for international students seeking community. Towada (Veterinary Medicine) student life

Interprofessional Education & University Hospitals

Kitasato’s affiliated hospitals are integral to training. Students rotate through teams and see how pharmacists, nurses, technologists, therapists, and physicians collaborate in real cases. This “learn together to work together” approach is a practical springboard for careers in care systems that value teamwork. Kitasato University Hospital (ENG)

Global Links & Study‑Abroad Pathways

The university lists dozens of partnerships across Asia, North America, and Europe, with programs ranging from short‑term observation to clinical clerkships. School‑specific tracks (e.g., pharmacy with Kentucky/Iowa; medicine with Hawaii, Marburg, Tübingen; veterinary with Purdue and Tennessee) are published in English. Exchange activities (ENG) / International exchange highlights

Small‑Group Learning Environment

A student‑to‑staff ratio of about 5:1 (per THE) means frequent contact with instructors, structured feedback in labs, and smoother progression through clinical competencies. That ratio is especially valuable for international students adapting to Japan’s academic norms. THE key stats

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Expect a broad range—from cultural and language exchange to athletics and creative arts. Towada’s English site lists ~60 clubs and circles, a helpful reference point if you want to stay active and meet friends beyond your lab or cohort. See examples

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

Kitasato’s International section publishes clear guidance and contact points for status of residence, scholarships, life in Japan, and student counseling services (in English). International portal / Visa & residence / Counseling

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Outbound opportunities feature prominently. Pharmacy runs two‑week study tours and clinical observations with the University of Kentucky and the University of Iowa; Medicine offers clinical clerkships with partners such as the University of Hawaii, Marburg, and Tübingen; Veterinary Medicine dispatches students to Purdue and Tennessee. Department pages and the central exchange listings provide current year‑by‑year details and contact routes. University exchange activities / Highlights (archival overview)

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Weather, Safety, Cost of Living)

Weather Patterns (Recent Years)

Kitasato’s main Sagamihara/Tokyo area has a humid temperate climate: hot summers, cool winters. Using Japan Meteorological Agency’s monthly statistics interface (updated monthly), you’ll see summer daily maximums frequently above 30°C and winter daily minimums around 0–2°C. Tokyo logged 13 “extremely hot” days (>35°C) in July 2023, and August 2025 saw Japan set two national heat records on the same day (41.6°C and 41.8°C). Plan for heat‑management in summer. JMA: Monthly Climate Tables / JMA Climate Report 2023 (PDF) / Al Jazeera report

Safety & Cost of Living

Japan maintains one of the world’s lowest homicide rates—useful context for students and families assessing safety. For budgeting, the official “Study in Japan” site provides current cost‑of‑living guidance and examples by city type (Tokyo vs. regional). World Bank: homicide rate (JP) / Living costs (official)

International Student Statistics

According to Times Higher Education’s 2025 profile, international students comprise about 1% of Kitasato’s student body. The share varies by school and program language; most degree tracks are taught in Japanese (with English‑medium exchange and short programs). THE profile

Career & Graduate Prospects

Graduate destinations reflect Kitasato’s life‑science focus: hospitals and clinics (for medicine, nursing, allied health), pharmaceutical and biotech companies, clinical laboratories, public health organizations, and academia. The university publishes annual placement summaries (ENG) by school/department. For healthcare‑oriented degrees, Kitasato’s affiliated hospitals provide a strong bridge from clinical training to employment. Placement of Graduates (ENG, 2024) / University Hospital