Mie Prefectural College of Nursing: A Complete Guide for International Applicants

Thinking about studying nursing in Japan, but not sure where to begin? Mie Prefectural College of Nursing (MCN) in Tsu City offers a focused, student-centered pathway into Japan’s healthcare system, with small classes, extensive clinical placements, and long-standing international links. This guide walks you through the essentials—from quick facts and strengths to student life, exchange options, climate, and graduate outcomes—so you can decide if MCN fits your goals. Wherever possible, we cite official or reputable sources you can explore in English (and Japanese where numbers are only published domestically).

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Prefectural)
Total Students	436 total = Undergraduate 409 + Graduate 27 (as of Apr 1, 2025) Official data
Campuses	Yumegaoka Campus (Tsu City, Mie) Campus introduction (JP)
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Nursing (Department of Nursing); Graduate School of Nursing (Master’s) Outline (EN)
Tuition Fees	Annual tuition ¥535,800; Enrollment fee ¥188,000 (Mie residents) / ¥376,000 (non-residents). Other yearly costs ≈ ¥200,000 (texts, insurance, etc.). Tuition & fees (JP) NIAD-QE fee table (JP)
Gender Ratio (Undergraduate)	Male 16 (3.9%) / Female 393 (96.1%) — as of Apr 1, 2025 Source
Intl-Student %	Undergraduate 0.0% (0/409); Graduate 3.7% (1/27) — Apr 1, 2025 Source
Students per Staff	≈ 7.3 : 1 (406 students / 56 faculty, as of 2024) Students 2024 (EN) | Faculty 2024

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Tsu, Mie)

Address: 1-1-1 Yumegaoka, Tsu, Mie 514-0116, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

MCN opened in 1997 as a prefectural public college focused on training highly skilled nursing professionals who can contribute to regional healthcare while thinking globally. The University articulates aims such as “equipping students with the abilities to communicate internationally and interculturally” and maintaining strong ties with local hospitals, clinics, and public health offices in Mie Prefecture. See the official overview in English here: University Outline (EN). For governance and annual facts (student and staff counts, goals, evaluation), the Prefecture’s annual report provides transparent data: Prefectural Evaluation (JP) and the FY2024 performance report PDF: FY2024 Performance Report (JP).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

1) Student‑Centered Scale & Faculty Access

With roughly 400+ undergraduates and around 50 faculty members, students benefit from close supervision in classes, labs, and clinical practica. The ratio works out to about 8.5 students per faculty member, which is supportive for feedback, advising, and professional mentoring. Sources: Official FY2024 data (JP), faculty listing metrics via NIAD‑QE (EN).

2) Curriculum with Strong Community & Clinical Integration

MCN’s nursing curriculum blends foundational sciences, simulation, and extensive clinical placements across partner hospitals and community agencies. English summary: Curriculum (EN). The campus facilities (skills labs, library, and museum) support applied learning: Campus & Facilities (JP), Nursing Museum (JP).

3) Signature Programs in Maternal & Community Health

MCN emphasizes maternal/child health and community/public health practice across coursework and placements. Graduates pursue licensure as nurses (and many as public health nurses or midwives through advanced routes). National qualifying exam statistics are publicly reported; see 2025 (FY2024 grads) national results summaries and school breakdowns for midwifery: Midwife Exam School‑by‑School (JP, 108th) and consolidated dashboards by medical publishers: National Exam Hub (JP).

4) Global Links (Mahidol University & University of Glasgow)

Since 2001, MCN has maintained a student exchange framework with Mahidol University (Thailand), later adding the University of Glasgow (Scotland) in 2015. These partnerships underpin the “International Nursing Practice” short programs and study tours. Details: International Exchange (EN) | Agreements overview: Outline of the Agreements (EN) | Course snapshots: International Nursing Practice (EN).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles Welcoming Overseas Students

Look for the International Exchange Circle and other student‑run groups. The official list is maintained here: Clubs & Circles (JP).

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Health & Counselling)

MCN’s student life hub lists key procedures and support pages (tuition/waivers, scholarships, academic rules, health & wellbeing). Start here and follow the links to the relevant subpages: Student Life & Support (JP).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Outbound opportunities are typically short, faculty‑led, and credit‑bearing in the “International Nursing Practice” series. Partners include Mahidol University (Thailand) and the University of Glasgow (UK). See official English pages for the agreement history and course outlines: Agreements (EN) | International Nursing Practice (EN).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Patterns (Tsu City)

Tsu has mild winters and warm, humid summers. For monthly temperature tables and long‑term normals (1991–2020), consult the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Tsu station (block 47651): long‑term tables and normals are available here: JMA Normals – Tsu (JP) and historical monthly tables here: Monthly Table Index (JP).

Cost of Living & Daily Life

• Crowd‑free attractions in Mie (Ise‑Shima, Iga Ueno, Nabana no Sato, etc.): Mie Prefecture Travel Guide (EN)
• City‑level price checks: Numbeo – Tsu and LivingCost – Tsu (indicative only; verify with your own budget).
• National minimum‑wage trend (context for part‑time work): Japan’s national average is set to rise to around ¥1,118/hour in FY2025 (panel proposal; check prefectural adoption in autumn): Nippon.com (EN).

International Student Statistics

MCN’s international student numbers are modest and fluctuate annually. The most precise figures are published via MCN’s education information pages and Japan’s national higher‑education portals. For year‑by‑year updates, see MCN’s data release hub: Education Information (JP) and the NIAD‑QE portal entry for MCN: Enrollment Profile (EN).

Career & Graduate Prospects

MCN graduates post strong employment outcomes in hospitals and public health agencies within and beyond Mie. Recent destinations (FY2024 graduates) are summarized here: Career Outcomes (JP). For national exam pass rates and recent cohorts, check Kei‑Net’s compiled dashboard: Kei‑Net Employment & National Exams (JP), alongside publisher summaries: National Exam Hub (JP).