Aichi Gakuin University Guide for International Students: Programs, Campuses, Tuition, Support & Exchanges

Looking for a student-friendly launchpad into central Japan? Aichi Gakuin University (AGU) blends a 140+ year Buddhist heritage with modern professional programs in business, law, pharmacy, and its flagship School of Dentistry. With its main campus in leafy Nisshin and an urban base beside Nagoya’s Meijō Park, AGU offers both calm study spaces and big‑city access. Exchange students can take Japanese at the Center for Japanese Language & Culture and join a tight community via the English Lounge, while degree seekers tap into Aichi Prefecture’s powerhouse industries—from Toyota’s global network to aerospace and robotics suppliers. Here’s a practical, evidence‑based overview to help you judge if AGU fits your goals.

Quick‑Facts Table

Snapshot of key data for international applicants. Figures are the latest available from university and reputable English sources; where exact data aren’t published in English, we note “N/A.”

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private. Official English site: AGU English. (Dentistry page notes it was the first post-WWII private dental school.) School of Dentistry
Total Students	11,783 (as of May 2025; university total incl. graduate & junior college). Source (Japanese)
Campuses	4. Main: Nisshin. Others: Meijō Koen, Kusumoto, Suemori. Location & Access (English)
Faculties/Schools	10 faculties / 16 departments + Junior College + Graduate Schools. Faculties/Schools: Letters; Psychological & Physical Science; Business & Commerce; Management; Economics; Law; Policy Studies; School of Pharmacy; School of Dentistry; Junior College; Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences. AGU English ・ “By the Numbers” (Japanese)
Tuition Fees (¥)	Undergraduate, first year (2025) • Letters: ¥1,290,000 (then ¥1,090,000/yr) • Business/Management/Economics/Law: ¥1,260,000 (then ¥1,060,000/yr) • Policy Studies: ¥1,310,000 (then ¥1,110,000/yr) • Psychology: ¥1,320,000 (then ¥1,120,000/yr) • Health Sciences: ¥1,340,000 (Health Science) / ¥1,420,000 (Nutrition) • Pharmacy (6-yr): ¥2,300,000 first year; total ¥13,500,000 • Dentistry (6-yr): ¥5,600,000 first year; total ¥30,600,000 Official fee table (2025): PDF (Japanese)
Gender Ratio	Undergraduate ≈ 60% male / 40% female (May 1, 2025; see official enrollment table). Enrollment (Japanese, PDF)
Intl-Student %	Undergraduate: 19 students (≈ 0.2% of UG headcount; May 1, 2025). University-wide % not published in English. Official enrollment table
Students per Staff	≈ 26.4 : 1 (11,783 students ÷ 446 full-time faculty; May 2025). Students & Faculty counts

Campus Maps

Nisshin Campus (Nisshin, Aichi)

Address: 12 Araike, Iwasaki-cho, Nisshin, Aichi 470-0195, Japan

Kusumoto Campus (Chikusa-ku, Nagoya)

Address: 1-100 Kusumoto-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8650, Japan

Suemori Campus (Chikusa-ku, Nagoya)

Address: 2-11 Suemori-dori, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8651, Japan

Meijo Park (Meijo Koen) Campus (Kita-ku, Nagoya)

Address: 3-1-1 Meijo, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 462-8739, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Aichi Gakuin University traces its origins to 1876 as a Soto Zen training center in Nagoya. That lineage still shapes AGU’s core philosophy: the Unity of Learning and Practice, meaning academic study and personal formation are inseparable. The university articulates a companion value—cultivating “a sense of gratitude towards all life”—which underpins its community ethos and service‑minded education. You can read these principles on AGU’s official English page: The Philosophy of Aichi Gakuin.

Over the decades, AGU expanded steadily. After its charter as a university in 1953, it launched the Faculty of Law (1957) and—in a defining move—the School of Dentistry in 1961. Later milestones include the Faculty of Management (1990), School of Pharmacy (2005; reorganized as a 6‑year program in 2006), and the Faculty of Economics (2013). In 2014, AGU opened the Meijō Koen Campus in central Nagoya to host business‑related faculties and deepen academia‑industry linkages. These highlights appear in the official Chronology and the President’s message describing AGU’s mission and recent developments (Message from the President).

AGU today spans multiple campuses: the main Nisshin site with extensive learning and student‑support facilities; the Meijō Koen Campus beside a large urban park in Nagoya; and the Kusumoto/Suemori cluster housing advanced Pharmacy and Dentistry education, including the University Dental Hospital. This multi‑campus footprint lets students enjoy quiet, green spaces for study while tapping into a major metro’s networks for internships and careers. Campus descriptions and allocations are listed on the official Location & Access hub.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Professional Education: Dentistry & Pharmacy

School of Dentistry. Established in 1961—the first of its kind among private universities in post‑war Japan—the School of Dentistry combines tradition with modern training. Its University Dental Hospital (Kusumoto/Suemori) supports clinical practice and research with significant capacity: 24 departments, 12 special clinics, and 44 beds. See the official English pages for the School of Dentistry and University Dental Hospital descriptions: Dentistry; hospital details on the campus page Kusumoto Campus and Location & Access.

Additional Flagship: School of Pharmacy

AGU’s six‑year Pharmacy program (reorganized in 2006) anchors pharmaceutical training in the Tokai region and shares proximity with hospital networks and health‑science labs. See graduate and school listings via the main English navigation: AGU English site.

Business in the Heart of an Industrial Powerhouse

Meijō Koen Campus (opened 2014) hosts business‑oriented faculties and sits in central Nagoya, positioning students close to companies, startups, and transit links (Chronology & Location & Access). The broader region is one of Japan’s most dynamic manufacturing hubs: Aichi Prefecture is home to Toyota Motor (Toyota City) and a world‑class automotive cluster, with aerospace and advanced manufacturing nearby. See regional profiles by JETRO and the Aichi Prefectural Government’s industry brief (Industrial Capital of Japan).

Global Learning Ecosystem: CIP, CJLC & English‑Friendly Spaces

AGU’s Center for International Programs (CIP) is the gateway for study‑abroad and exchange. For AGU students, CIP runs Short Study Tours (language programs) and Global Workforce Training Programs. For inbound exchange, the Center for Japanese Language & Culture (CJLC) provides Japanese classes at multiple levels; students with JLPT N2+ may also take department classes in Japanese (instructor consent). Details are on the CIP English site and brochures: International Programs (CIP) and exchange/short‑term PDFs (Exchange Program, Short‑Term Program).

English Lounge (Nisshin). A casual hub open ~20 hours/week for movies, music, and conversation, run by Learning Assistants (LAs). It’s a friendly space to meet peers and practice English. See hours and activities here: English Lounge.

Zen‑Inspired Education & Humanities Breadth

Guided by Zen’s Unity of Learning and Practice, AGU emphasizes character formation alongside academic rigor. The Institute for Zen Studies and facilities such as meditation spaces on the Nisshin campus highlight the university’s distinctive heritage in a modern setting. Read the values statement here: Philosophy of Aichi Gakuin (see also institute link via CIP menu).

Student‑Support Infrastructure (Careers, Qualifications, Health)

Career Development Center (Nisshin): counseling, job‑search resources, and employer information to support placements; Extension Center: preparation courses for professional qualifications; and on‑campus Health Center. See the Nisshin campus services overview: Nisshin Campus. For visa/housing/scholarships, CIP’s mandate is outlined here: About CIP.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles Welcoming Overseas Students

AGU’s English Lounge is a natural entry point to meet students from any faculty and join social events (movie lunches, holiday activities). From there, international students commonly join sports, music, and culture circles that match language comfort and schedule. For an English‑speaking hangout and friendly introductions, start here: English Lounge.

Dedicated Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

CIP assists with admission and immigration procedures, scholarships from external organizations, and general study/life issues (About CIP). On campus, students can access the Health Center, and the Career Development Center supports job‑hunting strategy and preparation (Nisshin Campus).

Language‑Exchange & Buddy‑Style Programs

Exchange/short‑term students study Japanese at CJLC and take culture lectures in English; program materials note that AGU students help guide participants on campus and at mealtimes—an easy way to form local friendships (Short‑Term Program PDF).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

AGU maintains a focused set of overseas partners, creating options for language study and semester‑length exchanges. AGU’s English pages highlight relationships in Australia (Bond University), Canada (University of Victoria), the U.S. (University of Arkansas–Fort Smith), the U.K. (Canterbury Christ Church University), Korea (Dongguk), Malaysia (UTAR), and multiple partners across China/Taiwan/SEA. See the partner list snapshots on Student Life > Overseas Partners. Bond University’s pages also reference AGU as an exchange destination (evidence).

What This Means for AGU Students

If you enroll at AGU and want to go outbound, CIP can place you in short programs (1–4 weeks) or longer exchanges at partner universities where instruction aligns with your language goals (English, Korean, or Chinese programs are highlighted). Start with the CIP overview and ask about current quotas and timelines: CIP International Programs.

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Nagoya Area)

Weather Patterns (Highs & Lows)

The Nagoya–Nisshin area has four seasons with humid summers and cool winters. Expect winter lows near 0–3 °C (late Dec–Feb) and summer highs around 31–34 °C (Jul–Aug), with a rainy season in early summer and occasional typhoon effects in late summer/early autumn. (Applicants should check month‑by‑month updates via Japan Meteorological sources when planning.)

Safety & Quality of Life

Japan consistently ranks among the world’s more peaceful countries, which many students cite as part of the appeal. For context, see the Global Peace Index summaries and latest reports by the Institute for Economics & Peace: GPI 2025 and GPI 2024.

Cost of Living (Indicative)

For private apartments in Nagoya, a typical single room averages roughly ¥35,000–¥60,000 per month (ex. utilities), according to Nagoya University’s international housing guidance (evidence). AGU exchange materials cite ~¥60,000 monthly (including utilities) for apartments within walking distance of campus (AGU Exchange Program PDF). Your actual cost varies by building, distance, and season.

International Student Statistics

AGU’s English pages do not currently publish a consolidated, up‑to‑date breakdown of international student headcounts by country/region. What we can say from public English sources:

• AGU hosts inbound exchange and short‑term cohorts via CIP and CJLC, with classes in Japanese (various levels) and culture lectures in English (CIP programs; Exchange Program PDF).
• Partners indicate geographic diversity across North America, Europe, and Asia, e.g., Bond (Australia), University of Victoria (Canada), UAFS (U.S.), Canterbury Christ Church (U.K.), Dongguk (Korea), UTAR (Malaysia), plus multiple institutions in China/Taiwan/Vietnam/Laos/Indonesia/Turkey (Student Life > Partners).
• AGU’s student‑story pages show recent international voices (e.g., Indonesia and Vietnam): Amelia (Indonesia), Tran (Vietnam).

If you need a precise year‑by‑year headcount or country share, contact CIP directly—these datasets are typically available but not always posted in English on public web pages.

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career Services & Preparation

AGU’s Career Development Center offers one‑on‑one advising, job information, and search support; the Extension Center provides test‑prep for qualifications (both located at Nisshin). See facilities here: Nisshin Campus.

Typical Employers & Regional Advantage

Nagoya–Aichi’s economy is defined by advanced manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery) plus logistics, finance, and IT services. Students in Business, Management, Economics, Law, and Policy Studies benefit from proximity to Toyota Motor and supplier networks, as well as growing green‑tech and mobility initiatives. For regional industry context, see JETRO Aichi overview and the prefecture’s industry brief (Aichi—Industrial Capital).

Alumni & Professional Schools

Beyond undergraduate placement, AGU’s graduate schools (Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law, Business, etc.) and the clinical ecosystem (University Dental Hospital) foster advanced professional pathways across healthcare, public service, and industry R&D. Explore graduate listings via the English index: Graduate Schools.

How to Use This Guide

• For program lists and faculty pages (English): AGU English top.
• For exchanges/short programs & student support: CIP International Programs, About CIP, English Lounge.
• For campus logistics: Location & Access.
• For indicative tuition/fees in ¥: StudyAbroadAide – AGU (verify per faculty).
• For Nagoya housing ballparks: Nagoya Univ. Housing guide.