Aichi University of the Arts: Programs, Tuition, Admissions & Student Life for International Students

Thinking about studying art or music in Japan? Aichi University of the Arts (AUA)—a prefectural public university on the green hills east of Nagoya—mixes studio intensity, original research, and a friendly campus community. From traditional nihonga and ceramics to new media, composition, and winds & percussion, AUA is known for small cohorts, hands‑on mentoring, and deep ties to local culture. This guide gives you the essentials (fees, numbers, strengths, climate, exchange options), with direct links to official sources so you can verify details and plan your next step with confidence.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type	Public (Prefectural)
Total Students	967 (Undergraduate 792; Graduate 175) — as of May 1, 2025. Official student counts
Campuses	Nagakute (Main Campus); SA・KURA Satellite Gallery (Sakae, Nagoya). AUA English site
Faculties / Schools	Faculty of Art: Japanese‑style Painting “Nihonga”, Oil Painting, Sculpture, Art History & Theory; Design, Ceramics, New Media & Image. Faculty of Music: Composition, Musicology, Voice, Piano, Strings, Winds & Percussion. Programs (EN)
Tasse scolastiche	Undergraduate & Graduate: ¥535,800 / year; Admissions fee: ¥282,000; Exam fee: ¥17,000 (UG) / ¥30,000 (G). Tuition (EN)
Gender Ratio	Male 23.4% (226); Female 76.6% (741) — total 967. Breakdown (JA)
International‑Student %	≈ 2.3% (22 of 967; UG 1, Master’s 16, Doctoral 5). Counts (JA)
Students per Staff	≈ 10.9 : 1 (967 students / 89 full‑time faculty). Faculty total (gov. portal)

Campus Maps

Nagakute (Main) Campus

Address: 1-114 Yazakosagamine, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1194, Japan

Satellite Gallery SA-KURA (Nagoya – Higashisakura)

Address: B1F, Narita Sakae Building, 1-9-19 Higashisakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Aichi University of the Arts (AUA) was established in 1966 as a public (prefectural) university focused on fine arts and music. Its founding vision was to grow advanced arts education alongside Aichi’s industrial strength, giving students both technical training and intellectual grounding to contribute to culture and society. That dual focus remains visible today: studio‑based learning is paired with research in art history and musicology, and students regularly work with communities across the region.

AUA’s campus design is itself part of its heritage. The university invited modernist architect Junzō Yoshimura—known for blending contemporary techniques with Japanese sensibilities—to lay out a hillside campus that opens to nature and daylight. This period of campus building in the Nagoya area is well documented in architectural scholarship, which highlights how AUA’s plan fits into the evolution of post‑war Japanese modernism. Context on campus design

Milestones include the opening of the master’s programs (1970), the Museum of Hōryūji Mural Reproductions (a major conservation‑replica project connected to Japan’s earliest Buddhist murals), and the launch of doctoral programs (2009). A concise institutional timeline is available in English. University overview Hōryūji Mural Museum

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Fields in the Faculty of Art

Nihonga, Oil Painting, Sculpture, Art History & Theory

Seven majors sit across two departments. In Fine Arts: Japanese‑style Painting “Nihonga,” Oil Painting, Sculpture, and Art History & Theory. In Design & Craft: Design, Ceramics, and New Media & Image. Each major publishes an English outline that clarifies training, labs, and career aims. Faculty of Art (EN) Nihonga major Oil Painting major Sculpture major Art History & Theory

Design, Ceramics & New Media

AUA’s ceramics, design, and new media ecosystem benefits from Aichi’s pottery heritage (Seto and surrounding areas) and Nagoya’s manufacturing culture. The official program descriptions outline facilities and project‑based learning. Design (EN)

Faculty of Music: From Composition to Winds & Percussion

The Faculty of Music covers Composition, Musicology, Voice, Piano, Strings, and Winds & Percussion, with performance pathways and graduate research options. Each area publishes curricula and outcomes in English. Faculty of Music (EN) Winds & Percussion Composition Musicology Piano Voice

Conservation Culture: Museum of Hōryūji Mural Reproductions

AUA’s Museum of Hōryūji Mural Reproductions preserves full‑scale replicas of 7th‑century masterpieces from Hōryūji’s Kondō Hall, a landmark project that blends scholarship, technique, and public education. The museum is open seasonally and connects students with Japan’s earliest Buddhist wall‑painting tradition. Museum page (EN)

Graduate Pathways: Master’s & Doctoral Studies

AUA offers master’s and doctoral programs in Fine Arts and Music designed for interdisciplinary research and high‑level practice. Program outlines detail labs, supervision, and degree requirements. MFA overview PhD (Fine Arts) Graduate Music

Alumni Spotlight: Yoshitomo Nara

Contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara completed his master’s at AUA in 1987 before studying in Germany; his career shows how AUA’s studio rigor can springboard global practice. Nara official profile Pace Gallery bio

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs, Circles & Campus Events

Student groups vary by year and major, and the campus hosts annual festivals and exhibitions that are easy entry points for overseas students to join and network. Annual events (EN)

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

AUA provides guidance for degree and non‑degree international applicants, plus on‑campus consultations and career support. There is a female dormitory and limited faculty housing; incoming students should contact the International Office early. International students (EN) Student consultations Dormitory / Faculty housing

Tuition, Fee Waivers & Grants

Standard public‑university fees apply, with program‑specific material fees for some art majors. AUA runs tuition waiver programs (including one for privately funded international students who meet achievement criteria). Always confirm current rules at the official pages. Tasse e contributi Example: waiver info (Music; gov. portal, JA)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

AUA accepts exchange students from partner universities. For outbound potential, one public example is the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg (Germany), which lists AUA among selected partners—use this as a reference point while you check options at your home school and with AUA’s International Office. AUA International students HfMT Hamburg partner list

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather (Nagoya region): summers are hot and humid; winters are cool with occasional cold snaps. For up‑to‑date monthly stats, use Japan Meteorological Agency’s English tables for Nagoya (station block 47636). JMA monthly stats (EN) For a traveler‑friendly snapshot of seasonal highs/lows, see the regional tourism board. Nagoya weather quick view

Cost of living & quality of life: Nagoya tends to be more affordable than Tokyo while offering a full urban arts scene. Benchmark your budget using independent data (keep in mind these are user‑reported). Numbeo cost of living Numbeo quality of life

Arts nearby (day‑off inspiration)

• Toyota Municipal Museum of Art (architecture by Yoshio Taniguchi; contemporary programs). Official site
• Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum (Seto)—deep ceramics collections and workshops. Official site (EN)

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, AUA has 967 students in total (UG 792; Graduate 175). International students number 22 overall: Undergraduate 1; Master’s 16; Doctoral 5 (≈ 2.3% of total). Gender ratio across the university is ~23% male (226) and ~77% female (741). Source: AUA’s official student statistics (JA). Official counts

Career & Graduate Prospects

AUA’s Career Support office provides advising, portfolio & audition guidance, and employer outreach suitable to art and music pathways. Graduates typically move into artist careers, design studios, cultural institutions, music performance/teaching, and related creative sectors across the Tokai region and beyond. For current services, events, and counseling, see the official page. Career support (EN)

Questions? For program‑specific admissions and materials, contact AUA directly (Office hours JST). Contact AUA