Meio University Guide for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Student Life & Exchanges

Looking for a student-friendly public university in Japan that mixes warm island life with serious academics? Meio University sits in Nago City, northern Okinawa—minutes from the UNESCO-listed forests of Yanbaru and Okinawa’s famous blue coastline. With compact class sizes, strong programs in Health & Sports Sciences, Nursing, and International Studies, plus an active International Exchange Center, Meio is a practical choice for overseas applicants who want hands-on learning and a relaxed, safe community. This guide collects verified facts, links, and campus-life details to help you evaluate whether Meio belongs on your shortlist.

Meio University — Openly Licensed Photo Gallery

Quick Facts: Meio University

Numbers are the latest publicly posted by the university (in Japanese when English figures are unavailable). All links open in a new tab.

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Prefectural/Municipal)
Total Students	≈ 2,440 (Undergraduate 2,386; Master’s 30; Doctoral 18; Midwifery 6) — as of May 1, 2025. Student Statistics (JP)
Campuses	Main Campus: Nago (Okinawa). Campus Map / Contacts
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of International Studies (Departments: International Culture; International Tourism Management) Faculty of Human Health and Sports (Department of Sports & Health Sciences) School of Nursing (Department of Nursing) School of Health Information Science (Department of Health & Information Sciences) Graduate Schools (Master’s): International Cultural Studies; Nursing; Sports & Health Sciences Graduate Schools (Doctoral): International Cultural Studies; Nursing Official Site (JP)
ค่าธรรมเนียมการศึกษา	Tuition: ¥535,800/year (¥267,900 per semester). First-year total (includes entrance and fees): Region-inside ¥705,460; Region-outside ¥830,460 (undergraduate). Official Undergraduate Fees (JP)
Gender Ratio	Undergraduate ≈ 42% male : 58% female (May 1, 2025). Source
Intl-Student %	≈ 1.4% degree-seeking (≈33 students: ~31 undergrad + ~2 graduate). Source
Students per Staff	≈ 21 : 1 (2,440 students ÷ 117 full-time faculty). Faculty Count

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Nago, Okinawa)

Address: 1220-1 Biimata, Nago, Okinawa 905-8585, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Meio University (名桜大学) is a public institution in Nago, Okinawa. Founded in 1994, it serves the northern region of Okinawa Island with a mission to cultivate globally minded graduates who contribute to the local community and the broader Pacific Rim. The university’s compact size means practical student–faculty interaction, while its location at the edge of Yambaru—Japan’s 33rd National Park and part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site—creates a distinctive setting for fieldwork across culture, health, sport, environment, and tourism. Yambaru (MOE) / UNESCO 1574

Since its earliest days, Meio has emphasized “international education for the Pacific.” That stance shows up in its Faculty of International Studies, in long-running language-support centers, and in exchange programs that send students to partner universities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. The campus was purpose-built for active learning—student commons, labs, and multiuse halls cluster around the SAKURAUM student center—to keep academics, advising, and student life in one accessible hub. SAKURAUM overview (JP)

Organizationally, Meio is run as a public university corporation supported by municipalities in the northern Okinawa area. Academic strengths grew in parallel with local workforce needs—especially in health, sport science, nursing, and tourism—fields where students can observe real community challenges (healthy longevity, disaster preparedness, sustainable tourism) and design practical solutions.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Field-Friendly Location: Study Beside a World Heritage Forest

Meio’s campus sits a short drive from the Yanbaru forest—home to endemic species and a living laboratory for biodiversity, conservation, and eco-tourism. For International Tourism Management, Health & Sports Sciences, and environmental topics in liberal arts, that proximity offers real projects (trail design, risk and safety planning, visitor experience studies) as well as service learning. See the Ministry of the Environment’s Yambaru pages for context and visitor highlights. MOE: Park Characteristics / MOE: Highlights

Signature Faculties: Health, Sport & Nursing

Faculty of Human Health & Sports

This faculty blends physiology, training science, injury prevention, coaching, and community health promotion—aligned with Okinawa’s active outdoor culture and public health needs. The program’s applied style makes it attractive to international students with sport backgrounds who want research and fieldwork, not just lectures.

School of Nursing

Meio’s Nursing programs (undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral) emphasize clinical readiness, community health, and interprofessional collaboration. Students can expect close advising and access to Okinawa’s hospital network for practicum experience. (Program and staffing details: Faculty/Staff numbers.)

Global Liberal-Arts Support: LLC & MWC

Language Learning Center (LLC), Mathematical Science Learning Center, and the Meio Writing Center (MWC) anchor academic skill-building inside the SAKURAUM student hall. LLC runs tutoring across multiple languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese), workshops, and test prep—resources especially valuable to international students mixing Japanese-medium courses with English-language electives. Learning Centers overview (JP) / LLC news (JP)

Clubs & Intercultural Circles

Beyond varsity and recreational teams, Meio hosts international-friendly circles such as IGCC (International Global Communication Circle), where Japanese and international students practice English together through games, film, and discussion. Circle activities provide low-stress conversation practice and cross-cultural friendships. Clubs & Circles (JP) / IGCC introduction (JP)

Student Life for International Students

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Start with IGCC for English-based activities; then branch into culture clubs (Eisa, K-POP, Spanish), or sports (triathlon, tennis, futsal). Circles post short activity reports on the admissions life page. See club listings

Support Desks: Visa, Housing, Counseling

International Exchange Center coordinates inbound support and institutional partnerships. International Exchange Center

International Student Center (Dormitory) provides 95 single rooms plus family rooms, all with private bath and kitchen, near campus. International Student Center

Health & Counseling offers first aid, health checks, and confidential counseling on campus. Health & Counseling (JP) / Harassment Help Desk (JP)

Language-Exchange & Buddy-Like Support

Peer tutoring at the Language Learning Center and Writing Center functions much like a buddy system—regular 1:1 sessions with trained student tutors, language workshops, and help before/after studying abroad. Volunteer groups based in SAKURAUM (e.g., Wel-Navi for first-year support) also organize campus-life help and events. Learning Centers / SAKURAUM

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Meio maintains partners in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Two examples with public confirmation:

• University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (USA): listed partners include “Meio University.” UH Hilo Partner List
• University of Lethbridge (Canada): dedicated “Meio University” partner page for outbound U of L students. U of L – Meio University

Meio’s own exchange scheme waives host-university tuition for many destinations (you continue paying Meio tuition) and offers internal scholarships by region (e.g., English-speaking, Latin America, East Asia). Annual calls and details are posted by the International Exchange Center. Study Abroad & Exchange (JP) / Outbound Exchange Guide (JP) / 2025 Call (PDF, JP)

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather: Nago (JMA station 47940) has very mild winters and long, warm summers. Across the last few years, monthly mean highs often reach the upper‑20s to ~31°C in July–September, while winter minima commonly fall in the mid‑teens (≈14–19°C). Use the official JMA data viewer below for recent monthly or year-by-year values; the “Normals (1991–2020)” page gives long-run reference. JMA Monthly Data (Nago) / JMA Climate Normals

Environment: Beaches, mangroves, and forested hills are nearby; the MOE Yambaru site offers snapshots of scenic points and responsible nature access. MOE: Yambaru Highlights

Everyday Life: Nago is quieter than big cities like Tokyo or Osaka, with lower living costs, easy biking, and friendly neighborhoods. Cafes and seaside parks cluster around the bay, while Naha (the prefectural capital) is reachable by highway bus for big-city amenities.

International Student Statistics

Degree-seeking international enrollment is small but established: approximately 33 students university‑wide (~31 undergraduate and ~2 graduate, as of May 1, 2025). The largest concentrations appear in the Faculty of International Studies and in selected graduate programs. Official counts (JP)

Career & Graduate Prospects

Meio’s career offices focus on regional placement and practical readiness. Typical pathways include: resort and tourism management, sports & fitness instruction, community health and long‑term care, municipal and NGO roles, and IT/health‑information positions. Recruiting events and one‑to‑one advising ramp up in the 3rd and 4th years; internal programs (often branded locally as “powerful support”) emphasize mock interviews, CV review, and industry seminars. For centralized student links, start from the current students’ portal. Students (Career & Jobs)