Hokusei Gakuen University Guide for International Students

Thinking about studying in Japan—but not sure where to start? Hokusei Gakuen University in Sapporo, Hokkaido, combines a warm, student‑focused campus with strong liberal‑arts foundations and practical career support. Known for English, psychology/communication, economics/management information, and social welfare, Hokusei pairs small‑group teaching with friendly international programs in one of Japan’s safest, most livable cities. Below you’ll find an up‑to‑date snapshot of the university, how international students are supported, what student life feels like in snowy Sapporo, and why Hokusei grads land solid jobs across Hokkaido and beyond. Evidence links throughout point to official university pages and trusted sources.

Hokusei Gakuen University – Symbolic Photo Gallery (Free-licensed)

Quick‑Facts Table

Type	Private university (Official site)
Total Students	3,683 (as of May 1, 2022) — plus ~50 exchange students/year (Sapporo Global Site – Hokusei entry)
Campuses	Sapporo (Atsubetsu/Oyachi) main campus; see Campus Map dan Access
Faculties/Schools (Undergraduate)	School of Humanities (Department of English; Department of Psychology & Applied Communication) / School of Economics (Economics; Management Information; Law & Economics) / School of Social Welfare (Social Welfare; Psychology; Social Policy; Social Work). Sources: Admission Information (English), University top (English)
Biaya Pendidikan	Tuition ¥780,000/year (¥390,000/semester) + fees; typical 1st‑year total ≈ ¥1,205,010 (includes admission fee ¥230,000 and other required fees). Source: official fee tables (JP) 学費・諸納付金
Gender Ratio	Not officially broken out on the English data pages.
Intl‑Student %	~0.1% degree‑seeking (5 of 3,683; as of May 1, 2022) + ~50 inbound exchange students/year (Sapporo Global Site)
Students per Staff	~27:1 (3,683 students ÷ 136 faculty/staff; staff count as of Apr 1, 2021). Source: Academic Staff (English) + Student totals

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Atsubetsu, Sapporo)

Address: 2-3-1 Oyachi-Nishi, Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 004-8631, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Hokusei Gakuen University’s roots date back to 1887, when American missionary educator Sarah C. Smith founded the “Smith Girls’ School” in Sapporo. From this origin, the institution steadily expanded and evolved—growing into Hokusei Gakuen (a family of Christian educational institutions) and, eventually, Hokusei Gakuen University in 1962. True to its origins, Hokusei emphasizes character formation grounded in the Christian spirit alongside practical, community‑minded learning. The official history timeline gives a concise view of those milestones, including the establishment of the School of Economics in 1965, long‑standing ties with overseas partner schools since the late 1960s, and the launch of graduate programs in literature and social welfare in the early 1990s (History).

Today, the university educates students through three undergraduate schools—Humanities, Economics, and Social Welfare—plus graduate schools and a junior college. A hallmark is Hokusei’s small‑group teaching and advising style that pairs academic growth with personal support. Equally central is internationalism: Hokusei has maintained active exchange agreements for decades and continues to welcome short‑term exchange students and dispatch Hokusei students abroad every year via its International Education & Language Center and International Lounge (International Education & Language Center; International Lounge).

Located in Sapporo’s Atsubetsu ward, the compact single campus fosters tight community ties. Many student services—admissions, employment support, counseling, and the International Lounge—sit at the physical heart of campus, emphasizing Hokusei’s commitment to individualized support (Campus Map). The mission—often summarized as nurturing “Humanity, Social Awareness, and Internationalism”—comes through in classwork, volunteer and social‑welfare placements, and programs that build cross‑cultural understanding across Hokkaido and the wider world (International Exchange & Study Abroad overview).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship: School of Humanities — Department of English

Hokusei’s Department of English is one of its historical pillars. Courses cover oral communication, reading, composition, interpreting/translation, and public speaking, taught by a multinational faculty. The program emphasizes practical communication and intercultural awareness, preparing graduates for education, tourism, media, and business roles that need English‑Japanese fluency (Department of English). For broader curriculum context, see the university’s undergraduate lineup by school and department (Admission Information).

Career‑Ready Economics & Management Information

Hokusei’s School of Economics (Economics; Management Information; Law & Economics) trains students to analyze markets, organizations, data, and policy—often in small seminars that build presentation and teamwork skills. Department sites and career pages highlight strong placement into banking/finance, retail/wholesale, IT, public service, airlines, and teaching. The Economics program reports a recent job‑offer success rate around the mid‑ to high‑90s% and notable alumni in public and corporate leadership (Economics Dept. career page – JP; overall employment data below).

Social Welfare & Psychology with Community Impact

Hokusei is also known for social work, psychology, and public‑facing community engagement. The School of Social Welfare integrates fieldwork and placements, and recent published figures show high employment rates across its departments, often into public agencies, medical and social welfare institutions, and education roles (Social Welfare employment data – JP).

Supportive International Education Hub

International students (and globally minded Hokusei students) use the International Education & Language Center for study‑abroad advising, exchange coordination, and daily support. The adjacent International Lounge hosts language‑exchange and cultural activities such as the Ambassador Program, International Café, and Gaikokugo‑Asobiba game sessions (Center; International Lounge; Programs for International Students; Facilities).

Transparent Data & Practical Affordability

Hokusei publishes data on student numbers, admissions, faculty/staff, and fees. The first‑year cost typically totals about ¥1.2M (tuition + fees), with tuition itself at ¥780,000/year. The financial pages also describe reductions/exemptions for eligible students (学費・諸納付金 – JP; 奨学金・減免制度 – JP).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

From sports to music, dance, media, and culture, Hokusei’s club ecosystem is extensive and generally welcoming to exchange and degree‑seeking students. Browse current club categories here (JP): サークル活動 and full lists via the campus guide: サークル一覧.

Dedicated Support Offices

The International Education & Language Center serves as a one‑stop hub for exchange coordination, daily life support, and outbound study‑abroad guidance. International students can also use the International Lounge for questions and community‐building (Center; Lounge). Homestay options exist for exchange students (Homestay Program).

Language‑Exchange & Buddy Programs

Hokusei runs Japanese conversation partners, buddy systems for everyday support, and cultural activities in the International Lounge. These programs help with everything from navigating city offices to making local friends (Programs for International Students).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

For Hokusei students aiming to study abroad (outbound), the university lists overseas partner schools and past study‑abroad achievements. Agreements span Asia, North America, and Europe; short intensive programs and semester exchanges are both possible. Start here: Overseas Partner Schools & Study Abroad Achievements (English). The International Education & Language Center can advise on language prep, visas, and scholarships (Center).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather in Sapporo (Recent Averages)

Sapporo has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Based on long‑term station data (Sapporo WMO 47412), the hottest month is typically August; the coldest is January. For a clear picture of monthly mean highs/lows and precipitation, see the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Sapporo station page and an English visualization on WeatherSpark: JMA Sapporo climate (EN), WeatherSpark.

Safety & Practical Information

Japan is currently Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) according to the U.S. State Department’s advisory; always check for updates before travel (Japan Travel Advisory). In Sapporo, the city‑run multilingual SAPPORO HELP DESK for Foreign Residents provides free consultation and emergency guidance resources (Help Desk home; Emergency guide).

Cost of Living & Housing

Rent in Sapporo is generally lower than in Tokyo. Recent ranges by ward and along subway stations (studios often ~¥25,000–45,000; 1‑bedrooms often ~¥33,000–47,000 in central areas) are summarized here: Sapporo rent by ward/station. For a broad budget view, see Japan‑Guide: Prices & living costs. Many students choose locations with easy subway/bus access to Oyachi Station (nearest to campus) (Access).

International Student Statistics

According to Sapporo’s official international study portal, Hokusei has 3,683 total students and 5 degree‑seeking international students (as of May 1, 2022), and welcomes about 50 exchange students annually. Regional/country breakdowns for degree‑seekers are not published on the English site (Sapporo Global Site – Hokusei).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Hokusei regularly reports high job‑placement rates. The university’s career pages cite around 96–97% recent employment for job‑seeking graduates, with strengths in public service, airlines, tourism, finance, retail/wholesale, welfare/medical fields, and education (Career & Jobs – JP; Employment Results – JP). Department‑level snapshots echo these figures; for instance, Economics reports ~96.7% for March 2024 grads and lists placements across government and major firms (Economics career page – JP). Alumni voices also feature hires into companies like NTT Data Hokkaido and public‑sector roles (Alumni voices – JP).