Chuo University for International Students: Admissions, English Programs, Tuition, Scholarships, and Campus Life

Thinking about studying in Tokyo? Chuo University—known in Japanese as “Chuo Daigaku”—is a long‑established private university with deep roots in law and a growing reputation across engineering, data science, and global business. With a leafy main campus in western Tokyo and city‑center sites in Bunkyo and Shinjuku, Chuo blends Japan’s classic campus experience with big‑city access to companies, courts, and culture. This guide introduces the essentials international applicants ask about most: academics, campus locations, tuition, support, and outcomes—so you can decide if Chuo is a smart fit for your goals.

Quick Facts (At a Glance)

A compact snapshot of Chuo University for prospective international students. For fuller context on campuses, faculties, and statistics, see the official pages linked below.

Type	Private University (Tokyo, Japan). Official Site
Total Students	≈ 26,000–32,000 (depends on counting method/year). THE key stats list 26,078 total; official factbook shows detailed counts by level (e.g., 26,669 undergraduates as of May 1, 2024). THE Profile | Student Enrollment (Official)
Campuses	Tama Campus (main); plus Korakuen (Bunkyo), Myogadani (Bunkyo), Ichigaya Tamachi (Shinjuku), Surugadai (Chiyoda), Koishikawa (Bunkyo). Campus Overview
Faculties / Schools	Law; Economics; Commerce; Science & Engineering; Letters; Policy Studies; Global Management; Global Informatics. Faculties
Tuition Fees (annual)	Varies by faculty: approx. ¥823,400–¥1,223,100 per year (examples: Economics ¥856,500; Global Management ¥981,600; Global Informatics ¥1,057,800; Science & Engineering ¥1,223,100). JPSS (Economics) | JPSS (Global Management) | JPSS (All Faculties) | GLOMAC Fees (official)
Gender Ratio	38% Female : 62% Male (THE, 2025 dataset). Source
Intl‑Student %	≈ 4% (THE, 2025 dataset). Source
Students per Staff	≈ 35.6 students per staff (THE, 2025 dataset). Source

Campus Maps

Tama Campus (Main, Hachioji)

Address: 742-1 Higashinakano, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0393, Japan

Korakuen Campus (Bunkyo)

Address: 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan

Myogadani Campus (Bunkyo)

Address: 1-4-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8631, Japan

Ichigaya Tamachi Campus (Shinjuku)

Address: 1-18 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8478, Japan

Surugadai Campus (Chiyoda)

Address: 3-11-5 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8324, Japan

Koishikawa Campus (Bunkyo)

Address: 1-4-11 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8586, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Chuo University traces its roots to 1885, when a group of pioneering legal scholars founded the “English Law School” in Tokyo—an era when modern legal ideas and the rule of law were reshaping Japan. That origin story matters because it still shapes the university’s identity today: Chuo’s motto, “Fostering the Ability to Apply Knowledge to Practice,” emphasizes turning theory into action across disciplines. The institution soon broadened beyond law to establish faculties in economics, commerce, letters, policy studies, and, later, science & engineering, global management, and global informatics — reflecting Japan’s rapid societal and technological change. About Us (Official)

Geographically, Chuo evolved alongside Tokyo itself. The main Tama Campus offers a classic green campus environment in Hachioji (western Tokyo), while the university added several central‑Tokyo sites to connect students with companies, courts, and ministries. The Korakuen Campus in Bunkyo ward anchors engineering and data science in a quiet neighborhood just minutes from the city’s tech clusters. In April 2023, the Faculty of Law relocated to the new Myogadani Campus, placing students within easy reach of courts, law firms, and government offices; Global Informatics is based at Ichigaya Tamachi; and Surugadai and Koishikawa host specialized facilities and outreach. Campus Overview

Chuo’s legacy is also visible in its alumni network and public impact. The law tradition remains a hallmark—many graduates have pursued legal careers in the private and public sectors, and alumni include figures who have served at the highest levels of Japan’s judiciary and government. At the same time, Chuo’s modern story is about diversification and globalization: new departments in areas such as data science, integrative engineering, and global management attract students looking to connect classroom learning with real‑world outcomes in Tokyo and beyond.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Faculties — Law (and More)

Faculty of Law at the Myogadani Campus

Chuo’s law ecosystem is one of its strongest draws. The April 2023 relocation of the Faculty of Law to the Myogadani Campus brought students closer to courts, law firms, government agencies, and NGOs concentrated in central Tokyo—ideal for practicums, guest lectures, and internships. Law undergraduates share a metropolitan learning environment with graduate and professional counterparts (Chuo Law School), and short, intensive offerings like the “Introduction to Japanese Law in English” summer program add practical perspective. 2025 CLS Summer Program

Science & Engineering at Korakuen (Bunkyo)

The Faculty of Science & Engineering sits at Korakuen, a calm, study‑friendly pocket in central Tokyo. Students can tap into academic society meetings and industry events often hosted nearby or on campus. Department options span traditional fields (physics, civil engineering, precision mechanics) and emerging areas (information systems, biological sciences, data science for business). Chuo has explicitly invested in AI and data science education to keep training aligned with Tokyo’s job market. Academics

Commerce, Economics & Policy Studies

In the social sciences, Chuo’s Faculty of Commerce meshes core business skills with project‑based learning (e.g., social business, sports business), while Economics and Policy Studies emphasize quantitative tools and cross‑disciplinary training. Students interested in Japan‑focused business or public policy can craft a path that blends classroom work with internships and faculty‑led projects. Explore Faculties

Global Liberal‑Arts Core: Management & Informatics

Chuo’s Faculty of Global Management (GLOMAC) and Faculty of Global Informatics position students for careers that cross borders. GLOMAC focuses on applied global business with extensive case work and career coaching, while Global Informatics blends computing with societal applications. Note that for exchange students, Global Management is competitive and Global Informatics takes few exchange students; language requirements vary by faculty. Always check the current “On Exchange” pages before planning. On Exchange (Admissions) | GLOMAC Fees

Research Hubs & Central‑Tokyo Advantage

Being in Bunkyo/Shinjuku puts students next to Tokyo’s dense cluster of firms, startups, labs, courts, and ministries. The Korakuen site functions as an engineering research hub; Myogadani (Law) and Ichigaya Tamachi (Global Informatics) enable interdisciplinary crossover via short commutes or even shared initiatives. This location strategy supports internships, industry seminars, alumni mentoring, and collaborative research. International Network

International Community: G‑Square, Residences & Support

G‑Square (the Global Lounge) is the campus living room where Japanese and international students mix, swap languages, and find global program info—backed by satellite channels and frequent events. On the housing side, International Residences on the Tama Campus bring mixed cohorts together with supported, self‑catering living and regular community activities. G‑Square (Resources) | International Residences FAQ

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles: Open Doors

From cultural and language circles to music, esports, and competitive athletics, Chuo’s student association coordinates an array of clubs that welcome overseas students. These are excellent places to practice Japanese (or help peers practice English), build friendships, and pick up leadership experience. Campus Life

Support Offices for Visa, Housing & Daily Living

Chuo’s International teams publish detailed guidance on admissions, scholarships, and accommodation. International Residences offer structured arrival windows and clear application steps; the Career Design Support Center runs multi‑campus offices for advice on part‑time work eligibility, internships, and job‑hunting culture; and health services include campus clinics. For housing and residence details, start here, and for career guidance, see the programs page. Residences FAQ | Career Programs & Office

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Chuo participates in a large global network of partner universities and offers semester‑ or year‑long exchange paths alongside short programs. The admissions site notes 200+ partner institutions worldwide (recently listed as 219), covering Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. Exchange competitiveness and course language availability vary by faculty—Global Management is notably competitive; Global Informatics takes few exchange students—so plan early and read the faculty‑specific notes. Partner Institutions | On Exchange

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Patterns (Tokyo)

Tokyo has hot, humid summers (late June–September), a rainy season in early summer, and relatively mild winters with occasional cold snaps. September can be wet and windy due to the autumn rain front and occasional tropical cyclones; October often brings clearer, comfortable days; winter is generally dry. For climate normals and monthly averages at Tokyo (WMO station 47662), consult the Japan Meteorological Agency. JMA Monthly Averages | JMA Travel Climate

Safety & Everyday Living

Tokyo consistently ranks among the world’s safest large cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index (SCI). While 2021’s edition placed Copenhagen 1st, Tokyo remained a top performer across multiple safety pillars. For day‑to‑day life, students benefit from clean, reliable transit; affordable campus cafeterias and co‑op stores; and neighborhoods around Chuo’s city campuses that are compact and walkable. EIU Safe Cities Index 2021 (PDF)

International Student Statistics

Chuo’s international enrollment is diverse and rising in East/Southeast Asian cohorts with participation from Europe and North America. The university publishes breakdowns by nation and region—useful for gauging peer networks and language communities on campus. As of May 2025 (published by the International Center), the largest groups include students from China, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia, along with representation from Europe and North America. International Students by Nation/Region

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career Design Support & Job‑Hunting Culture

Japan’s “shūkatsu” (job‑hunting) has its own timelines and norms; Chuo’s Career Design Support Center starts early with self‑analysis tools, skills seminars, alumni panels, industry research, and mock interviews. Offices span multiple campuses (Tama, Korakuen, Ichigaya Tamachi), and targeted prep exists for civil service, teaching, media, and professional licensure exams. Career Programs & Office

Sectors & Alumni Network

Graduates fan out into finance, insurance, manufacturing, IT/services, distribution, and media, with a longstanding pipeline into the legal profession and public service. A major differentiator is scale: the alumni association maintains hundreds of chapters in Japan and overseas, powering mentoring and local employer access. Whether you aim for Tokyo headquarters roles or regional opportunities, the network is active and extensive. Chuo Community (Alumni)

Reading Chuo’s Numbers (Tip)

Different sources use different cut‑off dates and inclusion rules (e.g., distance learning, non‑degree, or professional schools). For apples‑to‑apples comparisons across universities, the THE profile aggregates a consistent set of indicators (gender ratio, international percentage, students‑per‑staff). For the most granular breakdowns by faculty and level at Chuo, the university’s factbook pages are authoritative. THE Profile | Facts & Figures (Official)

Is Chuo University the Right Fit?

Choose Chuo if you want the blend of a traditional Japanese campus and a dynamic, central‑Tokyo launchpad. Law and public affairs students gain proximity to the country’s legal and policy centers; engineers and data‑science majors join an urban research hub; business and informatics students engage with globalized, practice‑oriented curricula. Support structures (careers, residences, global lounges) are mature, and partner networks are extensive. If you’re ready to build skills and networks in the world’s largest metropolis while studying in English and/or Japanese, Chuo is a compelling option.