Gunma University Guide for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Exchange, and Career Outcomes

If you’re exploring options to study in Japan beyond the usual big-city choices, Gunma University deserves a very close look. This national university sits in Maebashi—surrounded by the Akagi, Haruna, and Myōgi mountains—yet it’s well-connected to the Kanto region. With strengths in medicine (including a carbon-ion Heavy Ion Medical Center), engineering and mobility, data science, and teacher education, it blends practical, industry-facing learning with a friendly, low-distraction environment. Below you’ll find a concise, evidence-based guide to Gunma University’s profile, programs, and campus life tailored for overseas applicants.

Quick Facts

Type	National. THE profile
Total Students	6,345 (as of May 1, 2024). Official dataset (NIAD-QE “JP CUP”)
Campuses	Aramaki (Main), Showa, Kiryu, Ota. Access / Campus list
Faculties / Schools	Cooperative Faculty of Education; Faculty of Social and Information Studies; Faculty of Informatics; Faculty of Medicine (School of Medicine / School of Health Sciences); School of Science and Technology. Faculty list (EN)
Biaya Pendidikan	Standard national-university scale (typical annual tuition ¥535,800; admission fee ~¥282,000). Confirm current figures here: University Life → Academic Fees & Scholarships
Gender Ratio	39% female : 61% male (THE Key Student Statistics). Source
International-Student %	≈3.3% (208 / 6,345 in 2024). Official dataset
Students per Staff	≈7.8 students per full-time faculty (6,345 ÷ 816; 2024). Official dataset (cf. THE metric 7.5).

Tip: Gunma University’s Aramaki Campus is the academic hub (central library, information sciences, international center), Showa hosts the Medical School & University Hospital, Kiryu is home to Science & Technology, and Ota supports engineering activities. See the campus list and transit notes on the official Access page.

Campus Maps

Aramaki Campus (Main, Maebashi)

Address: 4-2 Aramaki-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8510, Japan

Showa Campus (Maebashi)

Address: 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan

Kiryu Campus (Kiryu)

Address: 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan

Ota Campus (Ota)

Address: 29-1 Honcho, Ota, Gunma 373-0057, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Gunma University (GU) was formally established in 1949 by integrating several national colleges in Gunma Prefecture. Its roots stretch back much earlier: a training center for elementary school teachers founded in 1873, the Kiryu Higher Dyeing and Weaving Vocational School (1915), and Maebashi Medical College (1943). From these origins, GU grew into an institution combining professional training with research across education, informatics/social information studies, medicine and health sciences, and engineering. The university’s leadership has consistently framed GU as a place that “values traditions and takes advantage of regional cooperation to achieve world-leading outcomes,” aligning with a mission to support society through intellectual creation and practical innovation. 2019 English University Overview (President’s message & history) | THE “About” section

A major reform in 2014 reorganized GU’s teaching staff under the Institute for Education and Research, allowing experts to move across faculties more flexibly. The goal: deliver up-to-date, interdisciplinary instruction that responds quickly to social needs. In medicine, this reorganization underpins integrated research clusters such as oncology (with heavy-ion radiotherapy as a core) and endocrine–metabolism–signal research; in engineering, it has catalyzed emerging strengths in next-generation mobility; in informatics and data science, it has created a university-wide platform for analytics and information security education geared to Society 5.0. Source (overview PDF)

Geographically, GU is located on the northern edge of the Kanto Plain, about 100 km northwest of Tokyo, with three prominent peaks—Akagi, Haruna, and Myōgi—framing student life. That setting matters: GU actively partners with local government and industry across Gunma’s manufacturing base (notably automotive) and its advanced medical network, aiming to deliver research that flows back into the region while also attracting international collaborators. THE “About” section

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship: Medicine & Heavy-Ion Cancer Care

School of Medicine & School of Health Sciences

GU’s medical cluster on the Showa Campus includes the University Hospital and the Heavy Ion Medical Center—Japan’s only heavy-ion (carbon) therapy unit housed in a university hospital, and among the earliest such academic installations worldwide. Since opening in 2010, the center has treated thousands of patients, drawing on compact carbon-ion technology and advanced clinical protocols. For students, this means exposure to cutting-edge oncology and regulatory science alongside routine clinical training. University overview (EN) | IAEA/INIS note on GHMC

Engineering & Next‑Gen Mobility (Autonomous Systems)

Gunma’s School of Science and Technology leverages the region’s deep automotive ecosystem by operating the Center for Research on Adoption of NextGen Transportation Systems (CRANTS). The facility includes a ~6,000 m² test course, simulation labs, and a fleet of modified self-driving vehicles used for R&D and public-road demonstration with industry and local government partners. If you are interested in robotics, intelligent control, mobility data, or HMI, this is one of the most applied settings you’ll find in a national university. CRANTS overview (EN)

Informatics & Data Science for Society 5.0

GU established the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Data Science to meet fast-growing needs in AI, big data, and information security across sectors. The center connects informatics with medicine and engineering (e.g., medical informatics, sensing data, optimization), and supports ICT‑enhanced teaching as well. For overseas students with quantitative backgrounds, this creates clear pathways into collaborative projects with labs on multiple campuses. Center overview (EN)

Global Programs & COIL‑Style Learning

GU has run short‑term “Study of Japan” summer offerings and Global Frontier Leader (GFL) tracks that combine language, overseas exposure, and interdisciplinary training. In recent years, the university has also facilitated collaborative online international learning (COIL) modules with partner institutions, adding flexibility for students to work with peers abroad without leaving Gunma. For exchange frameworks and application routes, see Entering from Abroad (Exchange) and the main Admissions hub.

Regional Industry Links (Automotive, Materials, Health)

Gunma Prefecture hosts a major automotive cluster anchored by SUBARU’s Gunma complex (Ota & Oizumi), plus a network of suppliers and logistics firms—an ideal environment for internships and PBL with local companies. GU explicitly supports PBL in the School of Science & Technology and Faculty of Informatics, with matching and training for internships. SUBARU facilities (EN) | Career Support (EN)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles Welcoming Overseas Students

GU’s student community spans sports, culture, performance, and volunteer circles. As of early 2025, the English “Clubs and Societies/Student Groups” page lists over 130 officially recognized groups—plenty of options to practice Japanese, meet local friends, and share your culture. Start from the University Life (EN) hub and navigate to Clubs & Societies.

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counselling)

The Global Initiative Center (GIC) operates an Online International Student Counseling Room covering academics, health, job-hunting, and psychological concerns. The university also provides health checks, mental‑health counselling, and multilingual guidance. See: Consultation for International Students | Health Check & Mental Support.

Language Exchange & Japanese Study

International students can take Japanese language classes (multiple levels) and join the Language Café—a small‑group conversation program in English and/or Chinese supported by faculty and international students. Details here: Language Support (EN).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

At Gunma University (GU), study abroad isn’t an add-on—it’s built into the institution’s globalization plan. The university’s recent Policy for Globalization (EN, PDF) explicitly commits to expanding overseas training and exchange for GU students, including short-term joint learning on a quarter system, COIL-style international PBL, and enhanced funding pathways tied to research mobility and the Global Frontier Leader (GFL) program. For applicants, that means enrolling at GU also opens a route to spend a semester or year abroad—or to join well-designed short programs—while staying on track for your degree.

Outbound First: How It Works

Most GU outbound options fall under inter-university or inter-faculty agreements: you remain enrolled at GU, pay the standard national-university fees at home, and transfer credits back after completing approved coursework overseas. The university’s globalization plan highlights expanded study-abroad programs and support systems for dispatching students (Policy for Globalization, EN). If you’re admitted to GFL, study abroad is positioned as a core experience, with GU outlining the program’s purpose and tracks in English here: University Overview (EN, PDF).

Where You Can Go (Examples)

GU lists dozens of partners across Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe in its English outline, including examples of outgoing mobility by region (University Overview, EN PDF). Concrete partner snapshots you can verify externally include: a Chemistry-focused exchange pathway with Stony Brook University in the U.S. (SBU: Gunma → Stony Brook (EN)), a bilateral agreement listing with the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Social Sciences in Slovenia that names Gunma University (UL FDV Bilateral Agreements (EN)), and a recent collaboration announcement from I-Shou University in Taiwan that extends internship and academic exchange opportunities (ISU–Gunma partnership (EN)). Historical materials also show ties into Oceania via joint programs and short courses—for instance, a University of Wollongong document describing GU summer programs for partner universities (UOW: GU Summer Program (PDF)).

Funding, Short-Term & COIL Options

GU’s policy document notes university-level incentives for overseas research activity, plus the roll-out of quarter-system short programs and COIL-based international PBL (Policy for Globalization, EN). The Global Frontier Leader (GFL) framework—outlined in the English university profile—bundles language development with outbound study to cultivate “global professionals,” which is valuable whether you aim for healthcare, engineering, informatics, or education careers (University Overview, EN PDF).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather at a Glance

Maebashi has a humid‑subtropical climate with hot summers and bright, dry winters—thanks to the local karakkaze wind that blows off the mountains. For month‑by‑month climate normals (1991–2020) across Japan, refer to the Japan Meteorological Agency: JMA Climate Normals. A geographical note on the city’s sunny, inland location appears here: Maebashi (Wikipedia, EN).

Everyday Living, Safety & Cost Considerations

Compared with Japan’s largest metros, Gunma’s prefectural capital tends to offer calmer neighborhoods and more affordable rents near campus. GU’s University Life section outlines housing guidance and student support; use the English hub to reach housing and fee pages: University Life (EN). Beyond daily life, the prefecture is an outdoor and hot‑spring playground—Kusatsu and Ikaho onsen are well-known destinations—summarized on official tourism pages: Gunma Official Tourist Guide dan JNTO: Gunma.

International Student Statistics

Latest official enrollment (May 1, 2024) indicates 6,345 total students, of whom 208 are international (≈3.3%). Undergraduate enrollment is 5,032 (43 international) and graduate enrollment is 1,313 (165 international). Source: NIAD‑QE JP CUP: Gunma University.

Level (2024)	Total	International
Sarjana	5,032	43
Graduate	1,313	165
Total	6,345	208

A prior English university overview also shows a regional breakdown of international students (Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America) and a country list (e.g., China, Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc.). While historical, it gives a sense of GU’s global footprint and exchange patterns over time. See pages 18–20 of the 2019 outline: International Exchange & Student Numbers (PDF, EN).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Structured Career Support & PBL

The university’s career office offers structured matching and application support for internships, plus briefings, practical training, and debriefs. The School of Science & Technology and the Faculty of Informatics run problem/project‑based learning (PBL) with local companies and public organizations—valuable exposure for international students seeking hands‑on experience in Japan’s workplace culture. Career Support (EN)

Doctoral Pathways & Funding Initiatives

For Ph.D. candidates, GU’s “Next‑GIP” (Next generation Gunma Induction Doctoral Program for Social Innovation Relay) selects outstanding doctoral students and provides living‑expense stipends and research funds alongside a diverse, career‑oriented curriculum. This makes GU attractive for research‑driven international students aiming to establish networks in Japanese academia and industry. Career Support → Next‑GIP

Regional Employment Landscape

Gunma’s economy features automotive manufacturing (SUBARU plants in Ota and Oizumi), logistics, precision machinery, and healthcare. For engineers and data‑savvy graduates, the local ecosystem plus the university’s PBL/industry ties offer clear internship‑to‑career pathways. SUBARU (EN) | GU Career Support (EN)

How to Start Your Application

Undergraduates, graduate students, and research students should begin at the English Admissions hub and follow the appropriate route (direct degree entry, exchange, or research student). If you are applying as an exchange student from a partner university, consult your home university’s international office and GU’s “Entering from Abroad” page for calendars, language options, and documentation. Main portals: Admissions (EN) | Exchange: Entering from Abroad.

Sources & Further Reading

• Key stats and “About” text: THE: Gunma University
• Official enrollment breakdown (2024): NIAD‑QE JP CUP
• Official campus listings (JP): Access / Campus Maps
• University overview (EN) with history, CRANTS, GFL, partners: Outline of Gunma University (PDF)
• Medical center context: IAEA/INIS note on Gunma Heavy Ion Medical Center
• Support & student life (EN): Consultation for International Students | Language Support | Health Check & Mental Support | Career Support
• Admissions & Exchange: Admissions (EN) | Entering from Abroad
• Climate references: JMA Normals | Maebashi (EN)
• Lifestyle & travel: Visit Gunma (Official) | JNTO: Gunma | SUBARU facilities