Juntendo University for International Students: Admissions, Tuition, Scholarships, and Clinical Opportunities in Tokyo

Thinking about studying in Japan with strong options in medicine, nursing, sports science, and emerging fields like health data science? Juntendo University is a historic private institution with modern facilities across Tokyo, Chiba, and Shizuoka. With six affiliated hospitals, English-friendly support pages, and a rich network of international partners, it’s a practical choice for applicants who want rigorous academics and real clinical or sports-science experience. This guide gives you the essentials—from quick facts and founding story to strengths, support services, climate, and career outcomes—so you can judge whether Juntendo fits your goals.

Quick-Facts Table

Item	Detail	Source
Type	Private University	Official Site
Total Students	12,363 (as of May 1, 2025)	Facts & Figures
Campuses	Main: Hongo‑Ochanomizu (Tokyo). Others: Sakura, Urayasu, Urayasu‑Hinode (Chiba), Mishima (Shizuoka)	Campuses & Affiliated Hospitals / Five Reasons
Faculties / Schools (Undergraduate)	Medicine; Health and Sports Science; Health Care and Nursing; Health Science; Health Science & Nursing; International Liberal Arts; Health Data Science	Undergraduate Academics / Health Data Science
Tuition Fees (reference)	Typical first‑year costs at private universities in Japan: Non‑medical programs ≈ ¥1,100,000; Medical/Dental/Pharmaceutical programs ≈ ¥3,200,000	Study in Japan – Academic Fees (JASSO)
Gender Ratio	54% Female : 46% Male	Times Higher Education Profile
International Student %	3%	THE – Key Stats
Students per Staff	5 : 1	THE – Key Stats

Campus Maps

Hongo–Ochanomizu Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan

Sakura Campus (Inzai, Chiba)

Address: 1-1 Hiraka-gakuendai, Inzai, Chiba 270-1695, Japan

Urayasu Campus (Chiba)

Address: 2-5-1 Takasu, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0023, Japan

Mishima Campus (Shizuoka)

Address: 3-7-33 Omiya-cho, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8787, Japan

Urayasu Hinode Campus (Chiba)

Address: 6-8-1 Hinode, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0013, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Founded in 1838 during Japan’s late Edo period, Juntendo University traces its roots to a Dutch‑medicine school opened by physician Taizen Satō. That original school grew into one of Japan’s earliest centers of Western medical education and practice, and today Juntendo is widely cited as the oldest Western medicine school in Japan still operating. The university’s modern identity—“a comprehensive health university”—reflects that heritage: medicine, nursing, health sciences, sports science, and liberal arts live side‑by‑side across five campuses in Tokyo, Chiba, and Shizuoka. Overview (Five Reasons)

A defining ethos at Juntendo is jin (benevolence)—cultivating professionals with both advanced expertise and a strong sense of care for others. This appears in the close ties between classroom learning and hands‑on training in affiliated hospitals, community health initiatives, and sports performance programs. Juntendo’s main hospital was established in the 19th century and the university now operates six affiliated hospitals, creating one of the most immersive practical environments in Japan for health‑related fields. Campuses & Affiliated Hospitals

Juntendo’s internationalization has been steady and pragmatic: English‑language information is readily available for prospective students, clinical observers, and visiting scholars; the university maintains partnerships with leading institutions across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania; and it has a strong culture of sending home students abroad and welcoming inbound researchers. These pathways make it a practical landing spot for overseas applicants who want robust training and clear routes to clinical exposure or research collaboration. Partner Institutions / Clinical Observership

Key Strengths & Unique Features

1) Comprehensive Health Ecosystem with Six Affiliated Hospitals

For students in medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, and sports science, the value of real‑world practice can’t be overstated. Juntendo’s network of six affiliated hospitals (including the main university hospital in Tokyo) underpins clinical training, residencies, and research—an integrated pipeline from classroom to clinic. The Department of International Healthcare hosts English pages outlining services and procedures for international patients, reflecting the hospital system’s global interface. Campuses & Hospitals / International Healthcare (Hospital)

2) Signature Faculties and Clinical Pathways

Faculty of Medicine

Juntendo’s medical program is closely connected to its hospital network and emphasizes both exam readiness and humane practice. Opportunities include international training placements and collaborative research. Faculty of Medicine (Overview) / Residency & Postgraduate Training

Faculty of Health Care & Nursing

With a nursing education lineage of over a century, the faculty reports a ~99% average pass rate in Japan’s National Nurse Examination across recent years, and prepares students for roles as nurses, public health nurses, and midwives. Health Care & Nursing / Graduate School of Health Care & Nursing

Faculty of Health and Sports Science

Sports medicine and science, coaching, and sports management are key strengths—supported by a legacy of elite athletes and Olympic medalists among alumni. Health & Sports Science / THE Profile

3) Health Data Science—New Undergraduate & Graduate Tracks

Responding to demand for AI‑literate professionals in healthcare, Juntendo launched the Faculty of Health Data Science (undergraduate) and is opening the Graduate School of Health Data Science. Curricula blend statistics, programming, and domain knowledge (medicine, public health, and sports). Faculty of Health Data Science / Graduate School (launch info)

4) Clinical Observerships in English

The Clinical Observership Program offers structured exposure to outpatient clinics, ward rounds, surgeries, and conferences, with clear application requirements and downloadable templates. It’s a practical window into Juntendo’s clinical environment for overseas trainees. Clinical Observership

5) Research Links & Industry Collaboration

Beyond clinical strengths, Juntendo collaborates with external partners on translational projects—for example, AI‑enabled diagnostics research announced with Sysmex and ThinkCyte—while numerous in‑house centers support interdisciplinary work. ThinkCyte–Juntendo–Sysmex press / Research Centers & Institutes

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Sports, cultural, and volunteer circles are active across campuses, with particularly strong participation around athletics and health promotion due to the university’s profile. (Ask your faculty office during orientation; offerings vary by campus.)

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counselling)

The International Center maintains detailed English pages on visa procedures, residence status changes, family visas, re‑entry permits, and more. Housing information (including university‑arranged leases) and everyday life topics like opening bank accounts are also covered. Student Life (index) / Visa / Housing / Banking & Money

Information Packet & Buddy‑style Support

Juntendo distributes an International Student & Researcher Information Packet (English/Japanese/Chinese) covering procedures and practical tips for daily life; student events throughout the year help newcomers connect. Information Packet / Events & Voices (About)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Juntendo partners with universities and research centers across Asia (National Taiwan University, Mahidol, Chulalongkorn), Europe (LMU Munich, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Strasbourg), North America (Stanford, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota, MD Anderson, Vanderbilt), Oceania (Western Sydney University, University of Otago), and more. Home students have multiple outbound options depending on faculty; consult your program office for fit and language requirements. Partner Institutions (full list)

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Snapshot (Tokyo)

Expect mild winters and hot, humid summers. In recent years, typical winter minimums hover a few degrees above freezing, while summer daily maximums often reach the low 30s °C. Check Japan Meteorological Agency datasets for month‑by‑month means and normals. JMA Monthly Climate – Tokyo / JMA 1991–2020 Normals

Cost of Living & Safety

JASSO’s survey pegs average monthly living costs for international students around ¥105,000 nationwide (breakdown varies by city). UTokyo’s international office estimates ~¥137,000/month in Tokyo as a reference for graduate students. Safety‑wise, Tokyo ranks highly in international indices tracking health, infrastructure, personal, and digital security. JASSO – Living Costs / UTokyo – Living Expenses (reference) / Economist Impact – Safe Cities Index

International Student Statistics

Key headline numbers (THE 2025): international students ≈ 3%; gender ratio ≈ 54:46 (F:M); students per staff ≈ 5:1. Outbound mobility is active in medicine and related fields; sample figures show regular exchange and conference participation. THE – Juntendo Profile / Example mobility data: Undergraduate overview (mobility snapshots)

Career & Graduate Prospects

Medicine graduates advance into structured residency tracks across Juntendo’s hospital group with defined stipends and social insurance coverage. Nursing graduates benefit from strong national exam pass rates and clinical placements. Sports‑science students leverage Tokyo‑area networks in teams, federations, health tech, and wellness. Data‑science students are positioned for roles bridging AI and healthcare. Residency – Conditions & Training / Nursing – Faculty Page / Health Data Science – Faculty Page

Admissions & How to Start

Undergraduate programs are taught in Japanese, and many application procedures are conducted in Japanese; clinical observerships and research visits follow separate processes. Review the official admissions page and contact the relevant office early, especially for visa timelines and any scholarship opportunities via JASSO. Admissions (Official) / JASSO Scholarships