Saitama Prefectural University (SPU) is a compact, practice‑oriented public university just north of Tokyo, dedicated to health and social services. If you are considering Japan for a path in Nursing, Rehabilitation (Physical/Occupational Therapy), Oral Health, Laboratory Sciences, Health Informatics, or Social Work—and you can study in Japanese—SPU offers small cohorts, interprofessional training, and consistently strong career outcomes. Below you’ll find a concise, evidence‑based overview to help you judge fit: key facts, distinctive features, student support, climate and lifestyle, mobility options, and career prospects—with sources linked for verification.
A long, linear campus block seen from the surrounding rice fields in Koshigaya, Saitama.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Ebiebi2). License: Public domain (PD‑self).
The North Wing under a vast steel lattice canopy with an open plaza used for campus events.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC0 1.0.
The South Wing framed by the signature canopy, with glass volumes and connecting walkways.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC0 1.0.
A rooftop terrace with greenery and seating, looking toward the main campus block.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC0 1.0.
An iconic sloped lawn where students gather, with the glazed campus block beyond.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC0 1.0.
Rows of yellow seating and a full‑height glass wall create a bright, open lecture hall atmosphere.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC BY‑SA 3.0.
A spacious multi‑purpose hall during a wheelchair basketball game, showcasing the gym’s clear-span roof.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Souka Kinmei). License: CC BY‑SA 3.0.
Quick Facts
| Type | Public (Prefectural University) |
| Total Students | ≈ 1,700 undergraduates (AY2020 total 1,667). Source: 2020 FACTBOOK (JP), pp. 4–5. (See also the latest 2024 FACTBOOK (JP).) |
| Campuses | Koshigaya (Main)—820 Sannomiya, Koshigaya City, Saitama. Access |
| Faculties / Schools | School of Health & Social Services: Departments of Nursing; Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Social Work & Child Science; Health Sciences (Divisions of Health Informatics, Laboratory Sciences, Oral Health Sciences). See SPU English Top (Academics) and Health Sciences (EN). |
| Tuition Fees | Tuition ¥621,000 / year; Admission fee ¥211,500 (Saitama residents) or ¥423,000 (non‑residents). Source: Undergraduate & Graduate Admissions (EN). |
| Gender Ratio | Female 84.9% / Male 15.1% (AY2020, undergraduate). Source: 2020 FACTBOOK (JP), p. 5. |
| Intl‑Student % | ≈ 0% (0 students as of May 1, 2022). Source: Saitama Prefecture survey University-by-Type 2022 (PDF, JP). |
| Students per Staff | 10.2 (AY2024, undergraduate). Source: Campus Information / Numbers (JP). |
Campus Maps
Main Campus (Koshigaya, Saitama)
Address: 820 Sannomiya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama 343-8540, Japan
Mission, History & Founding Story
Saitama Prefectural University opened in 1999 as a four‑year public institution created by Saitama Prefecture to address growing needs in health, medical, and social welfare. Its identity is practical and community‑embedded: a single campus that trains professionals who step directly into hospitals, clinics, public health offices, rehabilitation facilities, and social agencies. The governance framework is lean (one school with focused departments), which enables close alignment between courses, simulation practice, and clinical placements. For a timeline of milestones and organizational structure, see Organization & History (EN) and Principles (EN).
Two structural choices define SPU’s trajectory. First, it placed all undergraduate education within a single School of Health & Social Services, then divided training into specialized departments—Nursing; Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Social Work & Child Science; and Health Sciences (with divisions in Health Informatics, Laboratory Sciences, and Oral Health Sciences). This architecture makes collaboration across specialties routine and paves the way for interprofessional learning (IPE) embedded from first year to senior practicum. Second, the university stayed compact—one campus in Koshigaya—so labs, skills rooms, and shared spaces cluster within easy reach, keeping time overheads low for students who shuttle between lectures, simulation, and placements.
SPU is ~20 minutes on foot or a five‑minute bus ride (≈ ¥200) from Sengendai Station (Tobu Skytree Line). See Access (EN). Over 25+ years, the university has expanded graduate programs (Master’s and Doctoral), stood up centers to support university‑wide education, and continued to emphasize licensure readiness and local service. Leadership and detailed history are maintained on the English site (most recently updated in 2025).
Key Strengths & Unique Features
Interprofessional Education as a Core (IPE)
Many universities talk about team‑based care; SPU builds it into the timetable. All students take shared courses such as Human Care Theory and first‑year Human Care Field Activities, then progress to third‑year IPW (Interprofessional Work) Practice and a fourth‑year IPW Practicum jointly run with other universities in Saitama. The IPE sequence is compulsory, moving from shared values to role‑clarity to real‑world, cross‑disciplinary problem‑solving. See Interprofessional Education (EN).
Flagship Programs in Health & Social Services
SPU’s hallmark is a tight set of applied programs that feed directly into Japan’s health and welfare workforce. Annual undergraduate capacity (from the official admissions guideline) underscores the scale and focus: Nursing (130), Physical Therapy (40), Occupational Therapy (40), Social Work (50) & Child Science (20), Health Sciences—Behavioral Sciences (45), Laboratory Sciences (40), Oral Health Sciences (30). Source: Admissions (EN).
Department snapshots (selected)
Nursing: A large, practice‑intensive major aligned with regional hospitals and public health facilities; cohort size enables abundant clinical placements across the Greater Tokyo area. Capacity is listed on the Admissions page.
Rehabilitation (Physical & Occupational Therapy): Small cohorts (40 students each) support intensive lab work and simulation‑based practice. Licensure pass trends typically meet or exceed national averages. See FACTBOOK 2024 (JP) and prior FACTBOOK 2022 (JP).
Health Sciences (Laboratory & Oral Health Sciences; Health Informatics): These divisions prepare clinical laboratory technologists and dental hygienists—and cultivate data‑savvy generalists via health informatics. See Department of Health Sciences (EN).
Social Work & Child Science: Programs emphasize direct engagement with users and agencies and include teacher/civil‑service prep options offered through university‑wide career support classes. See Department of Social Work & Child Science (EN) and Career Services (EN).
Licensure Results & Career Support
SPU publishes national exam pass trends annually in its FACTBOOK series; line charts show SPU vs. national averages for PT/OT, Clinical Laboratory Technologists, Dental Hygienists, and more. See the latest FACTBOOK 2024 (JP) (and 2022 for historical context). Career messaging in English highlights “more than 4,000 job offers every year” and sustained >95% career decision rates. See Career Services (EN).
Compact Single Campus with Greater‑Tokyo Access
SPU’s Koshigaya campus is a five‑minute bus ride (≈ ¥200) or a ~20‑minute walk from Sengendai Station on the Tobu Skytree Line, making commuting from Saitama and northern Tokyo straightforward. See route and bus information on Access (EN).
Student–Faculty Environment (Small Cohorts)
A low student‑to‑faculty ratio (10.2 in AY2024) and modest departmental intakes promote accessible supervision and lab‑based learning—tangible advantages when preparing for national exams and clinical placements. Source: Campus Information / Numbers (JP) and Admissions (EN).
Student Life for Internationals
Language & classroom environment. Most instruction is in Japanese and programs are geared primarily toward domestic licensure. Applicants should expect to study and take practicum in Japanese settings. Confirm language and entry requirements with your intended department via the guideline: Admissions (EN).
Clubs, circles, and campus events. As at many Japanese universities, SPU offers sports/culture circles and runs the “Seitosai” University Festival annually—friendly entry points for international students to meet peers and practice Japanese informally. See campus life and career pages via the English menu: Campus Life & Career (EN).
Support offices (visa, housing, counseling). Student and career support offices handle scholarships (JASSO), tuition assistance/loans, and apartment information; details are on the Japanese site. If you are a non‑degree or research/special‑auditor applicant, start here: Research & Special Enrollment (JP).
Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)
SPU participates in exchanges with a focused set of partners. Published FACTBOOK data visualize dispatch/acceptance by year and list representative institutions (e.g., University of Queensland; Zurich University of Applied Sciences; Peking University; Shanxi Medical University; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University). Activity paused during 2020–2021 due to COVID‑19 and has resumed gradually. See FACTBOOK 2024 (JP) and prior editions.
| Partner | Region | Notes / Source |
| University of Queensland | Australia | Listed in SPU exchange charts. FACTBOOK 2024. |
| Zurich University of Applied Sciences | Switzerland | Listed in SPU exchange charts. FACTBOOK 2024. |
| Peking University | China | Listed in SPU exchange charts. FACTBOOK 2024. |
| Shanxi Medical University | China | Listed in SPU exchange charts. FACTBOOK 2024. |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | Listed in SPU exchange charts. FACTBOOK 2024. |
Local Climate & Lifestyle
Weather (recent five‑year reference). Koshigaya has hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters. Japan Meteorological Agency data show exceptionally warm months in recent years—e.g., the highest monthly mean temperature on record was August 2023 at 29.6 °C; August 2024 reached 29.2 °C. In winter, very low daily minima have occurred (e.g., −7.4 °C on Jan 9, 2021). See JMA’s Koshigaya “top‑10 extremes” page: JMA—Koshigaya Extremes.
What that means for campus life. Expect peak summer daytime highs commonly in the low‑to‑mid 30s °C, with sultry evenings; in winter, daytime highs are often around the low teens °C with near‑freezing mornings. Pack for heat (June–September) and for crisp, dry winters (December–February). The single‑campus location near Sengendai Station offers straightforward access to parks, malls, and daily services in Koshigaya and neighboring cities.
Safety & living costs. Saitama Prefecture is part of Greater Tokyo’s commuter belt; many students live locally and commute. Rents tend to be lower than central Tokyo, and life is convenient near Sengendai Station. For tuition assistance and scholarships (JP), see Scholarships & Aid (JP).
International Student Statistics
SPU’s international student community is currently very small. A Saitama Prefecture survey (as of May 1, 2022) lists zero international students at SPU, reflecting its specialization and licensure‑oriented focus for domestic cohorts. Source: University-by-Type 2022 (PDF, JP).
Exchange activity fluctuates by partner and year. Counts were stronger pre‑pandemic, paused in 2020–2021, and have resumed progressively. See FACTBOOK 2024 (JP), international section.
Career & Graduate Prospects
Graduates commonly move into hospitals (acute/community), clinics and testing centers, dental clinics and public health programs, rehabilitation and welfare facilities, municipal/prefectural government, social welfare corporations, schools (school nurse), and NGOs. SPU’s Career Support Program starts early (briefings, alumni networking, targeted classes) and the university reports >95% career decision rates and 4,000+ job offers annually. See Career Services (EN) and Japanese stats pages linked therein.
Graduate school tracks. SPU offers a 2‑year Master’s and a 3‑year Doctoral program (with options to extend). Admissions involve written exams (English + field subjects) and interviews; tuition is ¥621,000 per year with admission fees as noted above. See Graduate application guideline (EN).
Sources & Further Reading (Official Pages)
SPU English Top / Organization & History / Principles / Campus Information / Numbers (JP) / Access / Admissions (fees & capacity) / Interprofessional Education / Career Services / Health Sciences (EN) / Occupational Therapy (EN) / Social Work & Child Science (EN) / SPU FACTBOOK 2024 (JP) / SPU FACTBOOK 2022 (JP) / SPU FACTBOOK 2020 (JP) / JMA – Koshigaya Extremes / Research/Special Enrollment (JP)