Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS): Admissions, Programs, Tuition, Student Life, and Outcomes

Thinking about studying in Japan with a strong focus on languages, global liberal arts, and real-world career outcomes? Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS) sits just east of downtown Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture—home to Japan’s auto and aerospace clusters—and pairs intensive language training with a campus known for international exchange. This guide gives you a clear view of NUFS: quick facts, history, standout programs (like its small-group Power‑Up Tutorial), student life and support for internationals, partner networks, climate and lifestyle around Nagoya, and what graduates do next. All links take you to official or trusted pages so you can dig deeper with confidence.

Quick Facts (NUFS)

Type	Private University (Official English site)
Total Students	4,326 total (Undergraduate 4,277; Graduate 49) — as of May 1, 2024 (NUFS: Number of Students by Faculty)
Campuses	Nisshin Campus (Nisshin, Aichi) (Access)
Faculties/Schools	School of Foreign Studies; School of Contemporary International Studies; School of Global Governance & Collaboration; School of World Liberal Arts; Graduate School of International Studies (Schools & Departments)
수업료	Year 1 total: ¥1,470,000; Years 2–4: ¥1,270,000 (excl. delegated fees); International student tuition reduction available by application (NUFS admissions (JP))
Gender Ratio	Not officially published in English (latest English statistics focus on total enrollment, faculty counts, and international students)
Intl‑Student %	≈2.7% non‑degree exchange (116 non‑degree students ÷ 4,326 total; May 1, 2024) (source)
Students per Staff	≈9.4 : 1 (4,326 students / 459 faculty) (Current Faculty & Student Numbers)

Notes: International student figures above reflect non‑degree exchange enrollment published in English. Degree‑seeking international counts are not separately broken out on the English stats page.

Campus Maps

Nisshin Campus (Main)

Address: 57 Takenoyama, Iwasaki, Nisshin, Aichi 470-0197, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

NUFS opened in 1988 as a private institution anchored in language education and international understanding. Over time, it grew deliberately—adding a Graduate School (1997), strengthening Japanese language education through the International Institute for Japanese Language Education (2001), and expanding undergraduate options to reflect a world that needs people who can operate across languages, regions, and disciplines. The university’s Japanese‑language “official information” documents describe its founding philosophy as ningen kyōiku to jitsugaku—human education and practical scholarship—geared to nurturing graduates who can act with cultural literacy and professional skill in the global arena. You’ll see this ethos embedded in program design: small‑group language instruction, multilingual options beyond English, and structured pathways into industries where global communication matters most.

Key milestones include the launch of the School of Contemporary International Studies (2004), the Department of World Liberal Arts (2015), and the School of Global Governance & Collaboration (2017). In 2019, NUFS reorganized liberal‑arts offerings into the School of World Liberal Arts, adding the Department of International Japanese Studies—designed for bilingual, “glocal” thinkers who can explain Japan to the world while operating in English and Japanese. A current high‑level snapshot of these developments appears on NUFS’s English “History” timeline, while detailed organizational information resides under Schools & Departments.

Today, NUFS positions itself as the Chūbu (Central Japan) region’s specialist in international studies and foreign languages, located in Nisshin, about 40–50 minutes from central Nagoya by public transport. The Greater Nagoya area’s mix of major manufacturers, travel hubs, and cultural venues gives students ample context to apply language and cross‑cultural skills—from internships to part‑time work and weekend discovery.

Evidence: NUFS History (EN); Schools & Departments (EN); Official Information 2024 (JP, PDF).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Power‑Up Tutorial (PUT): Ultra‑Small Language Classes

A signature NUFS element is the Power‑Up Tutorial (PUT)—small‑group, all‑English sessions typically in a 4‑to‑1 student‑to‑instructor setting. PUT is compulsory in Year 1 and designed to help you think and express yourself in the target language, not just learn about it. Departments like French Studies and Chinese Studies also run “W‑PUT” tracks that add disciplinary language practice (e.g., French/Japanese or Chinese/Japanese) from Year 2. An internal working‑paper review traces PUT’s evolution since 2003, highlighting how NUFS keeps revisiting the format to maintain intensity and relevance for new cohorts.

Evidence: PUT overview (JP); “Issues in PUT” working paper (PDF).

World Liberal Arts & Bilingual “International Japanese Studies”

NUFS’s School of World Liberal Arts aims to produce “next‑generation global human resources” who can work across countries and eras. It houses the Department of World Liberal Arts—built on an English‑first foundation plus additional languages—and the Department of International Japanese Studies, which pairs deep Japan studies with high‑level English/Japanese proficiency. If your goal is to become the bridge between Japan and the world (media, tourism, public sector, cultural industries), this school’s design is the clearest route.

Evidence: School of World Liberal Arts (EN); Department of World Liberal Arts (EN); International Japanese Studies (EN).

Global Japan Program (GJP) for Exchange Students

For incoming exchange students from partner universities, the Global Japan Program offers two tracks: the Global Japan Studies Course (English‑taught content about Japan’s culture, business, and society) and the Japanese Language Course (small classes, max 15 students). The GJP blends academics with excursions around the Tokai region, giving practical context to classroom learning. It’s a great way to build language and cultural knowledge within one semester or an academic year.

Evidence: Global Japan Program (EN); Program Highlights; Course Offerings.

Career‑Focused Pathways: Airline Dream Plan & Industry Skills

NUFS has a long record of placing graduates across airlines, airports, hospitality, tourism, logistics, media, and global business. One signature package is the Airline Dream Plan, which layers training at airline partner facilities, on‑site airport experience, specialized hospitality coursework, and exam‑prep workshops—all aligned with industry standards. If you’re drawn to cabin crew, ground handling, or service leadership, this track gives a structured route from campus to apron.

Evidence: Airline Dream Plan (JP); Career outcomes & 99.4% placement (JP).

Partner Network & Study‑Abroad Culture (Outbound Strength)

Although this article focuses on coming to Japan, one reason NUFS’s campus feels international is the sheer volume of students going out. The university maintains a large network of partner institutions around the world and promotes multi‑format mobility—from one‑year exchange to mid‑length programs and themed options. A university outreach page highlights “193 partner universities in 34 countries/regions” (as of March 2024), and public stats often show hundreds of NUFS students heading abroad each year. That outbound culture benefits incoming students: your classmates are used to cross‑cultural teamwork, and many are preparing for their own time overseas.

Evidence: Partner Institutions (EN); Study‑abroad snapshot (JP); Outbound study abroad (JP).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles That Welcome Overseas Students

Expect a wide range of language, culture, performance, and sport circles. With many domestic students preparing to go abroad, circles often include language‑exchange meetups, international cafés, and cultural showcase events. Clubs change each year; you’ll hear about them during orientation and on campus boards.

Dedicated Support: Visa, Housing, and Counseling

The International Office guides visa documentation (including Certificate of Eligibility processing) and publishes step‑by‑step timelines for fall/spring intakes. NUFS operates the International House (I‑House) dorm within a 5‑minute walk of campus—about 60 private rooms with en‑suite bath, shared kitchen, free Wi‑Fi, and coin laundry. Typical I‑House costs (subject to updates): application/maintenance fee ¥10,000 (one‑time), monthly rent ¥35,000 (utilities included), optional bedding rental.

Evidence: Incoming FAQ (EN); Housing (I‑House) details (EN); Application procedure (EN).

Language‑Exchange Lounges & Buddy Program

Language Lounges run each semester for ~1.5 months, connecting exchange students (as tutors) with NUFS students across English, French, Mandarin, Japanese, and more—great for making friends and earning a small tutor fee. The Buddy Program pairs new arrivals with NUFS students to ease academic and daily‑life questions (arrival, registration, banking, phones, transit). Both are excellent on‑ramps to campus life.

Evidence: Language Lounges (EN); Buddy Program (EN).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

NUFS lists partner universities worldwide and publishes intakes, deadlines, and calendars for exchange. If your home university appears on NUFS’s partner list, you can apply through your home international office for one semester or one year in the Global Japan Program (coursework in English and/or Japanese). Check the page below for the latest partner roster and discuss credit transfer with your advisor.

Evidence: Partner Institutions (EN); Incoming Students portal (EN).

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Nagoya–Nisshin Area)

Weather Snapshot (Recent Five Years)

Nagoya has four seasons: cool, dry winters and hot, humid summers with a June–July rainy season. Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) station #47636 (Nagoya) shows monthly means, highs, lows, precipitation, and sunlight hours. Recent annual summaries report warmer‑than‑average conditions in many months. Expect winter daily highs around the lower teens (°C) and summer highs that can exceed 30°C, with sultry nights during peak heat.

Evidence: JMA Monthly Climate Tables (EN, Nagoya 47636); Aichi 2024 Weather Summary (JP, PDF).

Lifestyle: Safety, Cost, Daily Conveniences

Nisshin is a residential city with easy access to Nagoya’s shopping districts, museums, live houses, and transport hubs (Shinkansen at Nagoya Station; Centrair International Airport). On campus you’ll find cafeterias, convenience‑store access, ATMs, and quiet study spaces. Dorm costs at I‑House are modest by big‑city standards, and many daily necessities are within walking distance. NUFS publishes “Incoming” pages with practical info, including airport pickup windows and arrival dates.

Evidence: Important Dates (EN); Incoming Students portal (EN).

International Student Statistics

NUFS’s English stats page lists non‑degree international enrollment at 116 (as of May 1, 2024). While country/region breakdowns aren’t published in English, the partner‑network breadth implies balanced intake from North America, Europe, and Asia–Pacific. If you need country‑level numbers, ask the International Office—the team can often share semester‑specific snapshots with nominees.

Evidence: Number of Students by Faculty (EN); Partner Institutions (EN).

Career & Graduate Prospects

NUFS reports a 99.4% job‑placement rate for students graduating in AY2024 (March 2025). Major destinations include airlines/airports, hotels, travel and tourism, logistics, retail/consumer services, banking and insurance, media and communications, and public service. The Career Center runs skills seminars, license/qualification prep, and industry‑specific mentoring. For airline‑interested students, the airline pathway mentioned earlier provides a highly structured bridge from student to professional. Department‑level pages (e.g., Chinese Studies) also showcase employer lists by cohort, offering a granular look at where language specializations lead.

Evidence: Career outcomes & 99.4% (JP); Chinese Studies: 2023 outcomes (JP).

Final Pointers for Applicants

• If you are applying via an exchange agreement, coordinate with your home university’s international office first, then follow NUFS’s application steps and deadlines.
• For scholarship and tuition reduction policies, refer to NUFS’s official pages and your home institution; some fee supports differ for degree‑seeking vs. exchange students.
• Want to cross‑check the university’s scope? NUFS’s English overview and Wikipedia entry provide quick context, but always prioritize NUFS’s official pages for the most current details.