Nagoya City University (NCU) Guide for International Students: Admissions, Tuition, Scholarships, and Student Life

Thinking about studying in Japan but want a city that’s livable, affordable, and academically strong? Nagoya City University (NCU) is a public (municipal) university with standout programs in medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, design & architecture, economics, and fast-growing fields like biology and data science. With four compact campuses across Nagoya, close ties to city hospitals and industry, and a friendly international support system, NCU offers an excellent value for overseas students seeking solid academics and real-world connections.

Quick Facts: Nagoya City University (NCU)

Numbers below reflect the latest figures available from NCU’s official pages (as of May 1, 2025 unless noted). Source links are added for each item.

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Municipal). See university “Outline” official page.
Total Students	≈ 5,902 (Undergraduate 4,563 + Graduate 1,339). Undergraduate totals by faculty are listed here Number of Students (see “Faculties”); graduate totals (Master’s 925 / Doctoral 414) are on the same page.
Campuses	Main: Sakurayama (Mizuho‑ku). Others: Takiko (Yamanohata), Tanabe‑dori, Kita Chikusa. Addresses & access: Access & Campus Map.
Faculties/Schools	Medical School; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Faculty of Economics; School of Humanities & Social Sciences; School of Design & Architecture; School of Nursing; School of Biology & Integrated Sciences; School of Data Science (see the current lineup).
Biaya Pendidikan	Standard annual tuition ¥535,800 (¥267,900/semester) for degree programs; admission fee typically ¥232,000 (Nagoya City residents) or ¥332,000 (others). See NCU policy PDF official PDF and the admissions cost page NCU (NSC) costs. Waivers: Tuition Fee Waiver System.
Gender Ratio	Undergraduate: Men 2,048 / Women 2,515 (44.9% / 55.1%). Source: NCU students page.
Intl‑Student %	≈ 3.0% (178 international students out of ≈5,902 total, incl. exchange). See “Number of International Students” on the same page.
Students per Staff	≈ 6.7 : 1 (5,902 students ÷ 881 faculty members). Staff counts: Number of Faculty Members; student counts: Number of Students.

Campus Maps

Sakurayama (Kawasumi) Campus

Address: 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan

Takiko (Yamanohata) Campus

Address: 1 Yamanohata, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8501, Japan

Tanabe-dori Campus

Address: 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8603, Japan

Kita-Chikusa Campus

Address: 2-1-10 Kita Chikusa, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0083, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Nagoya City University (NCU) was founded in 1950 as a public university of Nagoya City with a mission to contribute to citizens’ health, industry, and culture through education and research. From the beginning, NCU was built around practical disciplines that serve the city: a Medical School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences were established early on, and the University Hospital became a core institution for community healthcare and clinical training. As a municipal university, NCU blends the accountability of a public institution with the flexibility to partner closely with local hospitals, companies, and city government—anchoring its teaching and research in real urban needs. Outline / History.

Key milestones track the university’s steady broadening of fields and facilities. In the 1960s, NCU launched graduate schools in medical and pharmaceutical sciences. Economics expanded in 1964, while the School of Design & Architecture and the School of Humanities & Social Sciences were added in 1996—signaling a wider civic role that includes urban design, policy, and culture. The Clinical Simulation Center opened in 2011 to enhance hands-on medical education. In 2018, the School of Biology & Integrated Sciences debuted, followed by the establishment of the Graduate School of Science in 2020 to strengthen natural sciences across departments. Today, cross-cutting initiatives enable students in medicine, design, economics, and data to work on shared problems—healthcare delivery, inclusive public space, aging societies, and sustainability—while staying grounded in Nagoya’s context. History.

As a Public University Corporation, NCU’s mission is both global and local: educate professionals and researchers who can serve the city and region, and foster international collaboration that brings new ideas to Nagoya. Its compact, multi-campus footprint—Sakurayama (main), Takiko, Tanabe‑dori, and Kita Chikusa—lets students move easily between lecture rooms, labs, studios, and hospitals; the Access & Campus Map page provides clear routes and nearby transit. Access & Campus Map.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Faculties: Medicine & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Medicine: Teaching hospitals & simulation-based learning

Clinical reach: NCU’s Medical School is integrated with the Nagoya City University Hospital and multiple affiliated medical centers (East, West, Midori Municipal, Mirai Kousei, Rehabilitation), providing diverse clinical environments for rotations and research. These affiliated units—listed alongside staffing—illustrate the university’s broad healthcare footprint in the city. Faculty & Staff breakdown. Skills training: the Clinical Simulation Center, opened in 2011, supports team-based practice before students move to wards. History.

Pharmaceutical Sciences: Global ties & collaborative labs

International partnerships: Active faculty- and school-level agreements connect researchers with institutions such as the University of Michigan, University of Hong Kong, Ewha Womans University, Oxford (Dept. of Pharmacology), The University of Arizona, and more—creating pathways for short-term visits, joint seminars, and co-authored work. Exchange agreements list.

Design & Architecture with Global Collaborations

NCU’s School of Design & Architecture emphasizes human‑centered, city‑connected design. Recent faculty-level agreements include University of Nottingham (UK), HES‑SO — University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, LUCA School of Arts (Belgium), and others. Students benefit from joint studios, workshops, and exchange seats that bring European and Asian design traditions into one classroom. Agreements (faculties).

Biology & Data Science: Newer schools for emerging fields

To respond to industry needs and interdisciplinary research trends, NCU established the School of Biology & Integrated Sciences (2018) and reorganized natural sciences by creating the Graduate School of Science (2020). The School of Data Science adds a strong quantitative core. Enrollment figures confirm these units are growing: undergraduate totals show 181 in Biology & Integrated Sciences and 241 in Data Science as of 2025. History / Number of Students.

Student‑Centered Scale & Strong Staff‑to‑Student Ratio

With roughly 5,900 students and ~881 faculty members, the university maintains an approximate 6.7:1 student‑to‑faculty ratio—supportive of small-group teaching, accessible labs/studios, and closer advising than you’ll often find at larger institutions. Faculty totals / Student totals.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

NCU students run a range of circles—sports, music, culture, volunteering—and many welcome exchange students. The International Exchange Center also hosts regular mixers and themed events for cross‑cultural connection. International Exchange Center.

Support Offices: Visa, Housing, Counseling

For procedures and logistics, start with “Information for International Students”: guidance on MEXT and private scholarships, tuition waivers, dormitories, Japanese language classes, and period‑of‑stay renewal (visa). Information for International Students / Beasiswa MEXT / Tuition Waiver / Dormitory / Japanese Language Program / Renewal / Change of Period of Stay (Visa).

Language‑Exchange & Buddy Programs

The Center runs “Talk Time” sessions where Japanese students and internationals practice languages over lunch; events rotate by language and are popular across campus. About the Center / Talk Time news example.

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Go Abroad)

NCU maintains university‑ and faculty‑level exchange agreements across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. Highlights include Politecnico di Torino (Italy), University of Nottingham (UK), University of New South Wales (Australia), University of Southern California (USA), HES‑SO (Switzerland), LUCA School of Arts (Belgium), and more. Browse the full list and “Study Abroad Program” entries to see which NCU schools match your interests. Exchange Agreements (official) / Student exchange (program page).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather: Nagoya has four seasons, hot summers, and cool winters. Based on Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) normals (1991–2020) and recent monthly data (2024–2025), typical monthly average highs peak in August (~32°C) and lowest average lows are in January (~1–2°C). Check JMA’s station pages (Nagoya, WMO 47636) for recent monthly summaries and normals. Normals (1991–2020) / 2024 monthly / 2025 monthly.

Cost of living: Rents vary by area and building type; students often combine an initial year in a dorm or NIC facility with shared apartments later. For up‑to‑date market comparisons, see Numbeo Nagoya (user‑reported). For university-arranged housing, start here: NCU Dormitory page.

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, NCU reports 178 international students (including exchange). Top sending countries: China (100), South Korea (23), Taiwan (14), Indonesia (10), Bangladesh (5). Others include Thailand, Italy, Germany, Egypt, India, Vietnam and more. See the official breakdown here: Number of Students > International.

Career & Graduate Prospects

NCU publishes annual outcomes by faculty. For AY2024 graduates, employment outcomes were strong—overall employment rate around the high 90s (e.g., Economics 100%, Humanities & Social Sciences 97.9%, Design & Architecture 94.6%, Nursing 98.7%). Major sectors included Information & Communication, Manufacturing, Public Affairs, and Medical/Healthcare, with many Economics and Humanities graduates in ICT and public sector roles, and clinical fields progressing to residency or hospital employment. Details: Placements of Employment after Graduation.