Maebashi Institute of Technology Guide: Admissions, Tuition, Programs & Student Life

Thinking about studying engineering in Japan but still want a compact, student-friendly city where you can actually get to know your professors? Maebashi Institute of Technology (MIT—no, not that MIT) is a public, city-run university in Gunma Prefecture that blends hands-on engineering education with tight links to local industry and international partners. This guide gives you an honest look at admissions, programs, scholarships, campus life, climate, and career outcomes—so you can judge if Maebashi fits your goals and budget (tuition is public-university level in Japan: affordable). All sources are official university or government pages, and links open in a new tab.

Quick Facts (Maebashi Institute of Technology)

Below is a simple fact sheet you can skim. Figures are from the university’s official pages and Japan’s national profile system (JPCUP). When an item is time-sensitive, I link to the most up-to-date source.

Type	Public (Municipal university)
Total Students	1,396 total (Undergraduate 1,234; Graduate 162). Source: JPCUP institutional page
Campus	Main campus: 460-1 Kamisadori, Maebashi City, Gunma (JPCUP Campus Location; see also Facilities Guide)
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Engineering — 6 departments: • Civil & Environmental Engineering • Architecture • Life Science & Informatics • Systems Life Engineering • Biotechnology • Integrated Design Engineering Graduate School of Engineering (Master’s; Doctoral). Source: JPCUP Faculty page
Tuition & Fees	Admission fee: ¥282,000 (¥141,000 for Maebashi residents). Tuition (most programs): ¥535,800 / year. Tuition (Integrated Design Engineering): ¥401,800 / year. Other first-year charges: ¥95,660. Sources: University “Tuition & Fees” (JP); JPCUP Tuition & Fees
Gender Ratio	Male 1,069 (76.6%) / Female 327 (23.4%) — totals across UG & Grad. Source data (by level): University Overview 2024 (JP, PDF)
Intl-Student %	16 of 1,396 ≈ 1.15%. Source: JPCUP institutional page
Students per Staff	Overall ≈ 20.5 : 1 (1,396 students / 68 full-time faculty; institute level). Undergraduate ≈ 18.1 : 1 (1,234 / 68). Sources: JPCUP institutional, JPCUP Faculty page

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Maebashi, Gunma)

Address: 460-1 Kamisadori-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0816, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Maebashi Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded by Maebashi City as a municipal public university to nurture practical engineers who can serve regional society while engaging with global technologies and standards. Established in the late 1990s when many Japanese regions began investing in innovation and urban infrastructure, the university’s purpose has always been “engineering for people” rather than pure theory. Its organizational identity reflects that mission: a single institute focused on engineering disciplines closely tied to the city’s industries, built environment, and healthcare ecosystem. The “University Features” page and the official outline (Japanese) show how Maebashi collaborates with the city and neighboring institutions to amplify impact across education, research, and community development.

Over time the curriculum was streamlined around two clusters. The Architecture, Urban & Environmental Engineering cluster connects structural and spatial design with sustainability and public works—disciplines you see every day in the city (transport, river works, resilient buildings). The Information & Life Sciences cluster blends computing with bio/medical fields and design, reflecting Japan’s aging society and the region’s strengths in healthcare technology. The JPCUP profile e Faculty page summarize the program structure in English. Facilities such as the iconic glass-fronted “Building 5” (often used for events and exams) and specialized studios/labs are listed in the university’s Facilities Guide.

A defining theme is tight integration with the region and real users. Maebashi actively signs MOUs and participates in joint projects so student learning feeds back into the community. On the international side, it maintains research/education links with partners in Thailand, the Philippines, and China, among others—see official announcements about Kasetsart University (Thailand), a 2024 agreement with De La Salle University (Philippines), and a long-running collaboration with Beijing University of Technology (China). In short, MIT is a “small public engineering university with real-world scope”—a good fit if you prefer mentorship over anonymity and if you want your engineering projects to meet visible needs in city life.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Human‑Centered Engineering in a Compact Setting

Compared with giant national universities, Maebashi is compact—roughly thirteen hundred students. That scale means better professor access, faster lab onboarding, and projects that connect to local agencies or companies. The university’s English profile on Japan’s national portal (JPCUP) outlines student numbers and learning outcomes, while the Faculty of Engineering page shows program-level details and third‑party quality assurance.

Flagship Strength: Architecture & Urban–Environmental Engineering

Maebashi’s Architecture/Urban–Environmental cluster is highly visible: studios, design juries, and community-tied urban works are central to student life. You will spend time in purpose-built spaces (see the Facilities Guide), and coursework emphasizes sustainable building, transport, disaster resilience, and river/environmental engineering that matter in Gunma. The cluster’s impact shows in the job list—construction and design majors place into contractors, design firms, and public sector roles; many continue to graduate school.

Typical Employers & Paths (examples)

Recent employer snapshots include JR East, Taio Yuden, TEPCO, NEXCO group companies, Canon Medical Systems, major contractors, design offices, and local/central government roles—see the university’s posted lists by year (Career & Graduate Destinations) and the FY2023 PDF summary (PDF).

Robotics & Rehabilitation—Biomedical Systems with Real Users

Within Information & Life Sciences, labs bridge robotics, sensors, and healthcare. A concrete example: a bilateral collaboration with De La Salle University on lower‑limb rehabilitation systems, reported by the department (Nov 26, 2024). It shows how projects combine human‑centered design with mechatronics and data. See the news post from the Systems Life Engineering program: Department news.

Global & Regional Partnerships that Actually Move

Maebashi maintains active MOUs and short exchanges. For instance, the university renewed its MOU with Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering (announcement), signed an agreement with De La Salle University in 2024 (announcement), and has a long-running short exchange with Beijing University of Technology (program overview). University-wide exchange information is collected here: International Research Exchange (index).

Affordable Public Tuition + Local Scholarships & Support

As a public university, fees are in line with Japan’s standard public rate (see FAQ). The university also posts scholarship rounds (mostly in Japanese): see the consolidated Scholarship List (2024) and newer sheets such as Scholarship List (2025). In 2025, Japan expanded tuition support for multi‑child families via JASSO—see the campus notice (Japanese): JASSO support update.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles That Welcome Overseas Students

Campus culture is club‑heavy—sports, creative, tech, and more. Browse the official list: Clubs & Circles. The student union (自治会) is active in planning events: Student Union.

Dedicated Support (Health, Counselling, Safety)

The on‑campus health room provides consultations for minor injuries, physical/mental concerns, and referrals: Health Room. The university also posts anti‑harassment policy and contacts: Harassment Consultation.

Language Exchange & International Activities

International projects often double as language/cultural exchange. For example, long‑running short exchanges with Beijing University of Technology (program page) and “Sakura Science” inbound activities (activity report) have paired lab work with bilingual teamwork. Department‑level exchanges (e.g., De La Salle collaboration) also create buddy‑style contact points: example.

Housing & Everyday Life

Maebashi is far more affordable than Tokyo, and the university aggregates practical guidance (apartment info, daily life tips) here: Living Information. For a quick English overview of the university’s programs and campus, download the official two‑page flyer: 2025 MIT Flyer (EN) or the longer English pamphlet: University Pamphlet (EN).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Emphasis)

If you plan to study at Maebashi and later go abroad during your degree, check these official pages and examples: the university’s international research exchange index (index), partner highlights with Kasetsart University (Thailand), the Beijing University of Technology short exchange, and the 2024 MOU with De La Salle University (Philippines). Program‑by‑program exchanges are typically announced on department sites and the Research & Industry Collaboration portal (hub page).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Gunma’s capital, Maebashi, sits inland with dry winters and hot summers. The Japan Meteorological Agency’s local office (Maebashi LMO) posts monthly bulletins and an annual summary. In 2024, Maebashi recorded exceptionally warm conditions: the annual average temperature reached a record 16.9 °C and there were 36 “mōshobi” days (≥35 °C) in the year—both records in the station history; October 2024 also posted the highest October monthly mean on record. See the official summaries: 2024 Annual Climate for Gunma (Maebashi LMO) and monthly bulletins such as Oct 2024 e Nov 2024.

How it feels across the year: summers (Jul–Aug) are hot (top daytime highs in the mid‑30s °C on peak days; warm nights), while winters (Dec–Feb) are sunny and dry with chilly mornings; minimums can drop below freezing but most days are walkable with proper layers. Air is clearer than coastal megacities, and the Tone River and nearby mountains (Akagi, Haruna) make for great weekend rides and hikes. For daily data by month/day, see JMA’s database starting points: daily data (example). Housing and living cost information is compiled here: Living Information.

International Student Statistics

Breakdowns vary by year and are updated on the national profile site. For the latest shares by level and other ratios, check MIT’s page on JPCUP (English): Maebashi Institute of Technology on JPCUP and the Faculty profile: Faculty of Engineering.

Career & Graduate Prospects

The Career Center runs seminars, mock interviews, on‑campus company sessions, and one‑on‑one advising (About the Career Center). MIT posts detailed lists of employers and graduate schools each year (Career/Graduate Destinations), and the FY2023 PDF shows placements across railways, contractors, electronics, software, healthcare tech, and government, with many continuing to the university’s own graduate programs (FY2023 list PDF).

Admissions Quick Links (Official)

Undergraduate (general selection, reference—Japanese, 2025): Ippan 2025 PDF
Privately‑funded international students (Japanese, 2025): Guidelines (PDF)
Graduate admissions (English/Japanese landing): Graduate Admissions; eligibility forms page: Eligibility (forms)
University‑level profile overview (English): JPCUP institutional page and program profile: Faculty of Engineering.