Study at Musashino Art University (MAU): Admissions, Programs, Tuition, Scholarships & Student Life for International Applicants

Thinking of studying art and design in Japan? Musashino Art University (MAU) in Tokyo is one of the country’s most influential creative hubs, known for blending rigorous craft with future-facing ideas. This guide gives overseas applicants a clear, practical overview: what MAU stands for, what it offers, how student life actually feels, and how to plan your budget and pathway. You’ll also find verified data points—from student numbers to partner institutions—plus pointers to official pages for deeper reading. Whether you’re into visual communication, imaging arts and sciences, or craft-based design, use this as your starting map to MAU.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private University Official
Total Students	4,843 (Undergraduate 4,424; Graduate 419) — as of May 1, 2025 Number of Students (EN)
Campuses	Main Campus: Kodaira (Tokyo), Ichigaya (Tokyo) and Mitake (Tokyo) Campus (EN)
Faculties/Schools	College of Art & Design — Departments: Japanese Painting; Painting; Sculpture; Visual Communication Design; Industrial, Interior & Craft Design; Scenography, Display & Fashion Design; Architecture; Science of Design; Art, Culture & Design Studies; Design Informatics. College of Creative Thinking for Social Innovation (CTSI) — Departments: Creative Innovation; Imaging Arts & Sciences. Academics (EN)
ค่าธรรมเนียมการศึกษา	Undergraduate first‑year (typical range): ¥1,263,000–¥1,958,000 (by department); Graduate first‑year (typical range): ¥1,153,000–¥1,814,000. See official schedule (JP). Tuition & Fees (JP)
Gender Ratio	Approx. 47% male / 53% female (aggregate across undergrad/grad; derived from official department totals). Source
Intl‑Student %	~14.9% (720 international students out of 4,843). Source
Students per Staff	~31:1 (based on 4,843 students ÷ 155 full‑time faculty: Professors/Associate Professors/Senior Lecturers/Research Associates). Faculty (EN)

Notes: Tuition varies by department, year and program; always confirm the latest official amounts. In 2024, Japanese media reported additional fees for some foreign students at private universities—check current MAU guidance before applying. Kyodo News (EN)

Campus Maps

Takanodai (Main) Campus — Kodaira, Tokyo

Address: 1-736 Ogawa-cho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo 187-8505, Japan

Ichigaya Campus — Shinjuku, Tokyo

Address: 1-4 Ichigaya Tamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0843, Japan

Mitaka Room — Musashino, Tokyo

Address: Musashino YS Building 6F, 1-19-3 Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0006, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Musashino Art University traces its roots to 1929, when it began life as the Teikoku Art School before evolving into today’s comprehensive art-and-design institution in western Tokyo. The school’s mission is often summarized as cultivating “a new generation of artists with culture and intelligence,” while advancing art education that supports genuine human freedom—ideas that still guide its curriculum and campus culture. History (EN)

MAU became a formal university in 1962 and steadily broadened its departments to reflect Japan’s changing creative industries—from traditional disciplines like painting and sculpture to highly applied areas such as Visual Communication Design, Design Informatics, and the socially engaged fields grouped under the newer College of Creative Thinking for Social Innovation (CTSI). This dual structure—the historic College of Art & Design and the forward-looking CTSI—captures MAU’s ongoing effort to connect craft, theory, and real-world contexts. Academics (EN)

Today’s campus in Kodaira, Tokyo, concentrates studios, labs, galleries, and a landmark Museum & Library. The Kodaira site fosters a walkable environment where students from different departments bump into each other (and their teachers), keeping interdisciplinary exchange natural and frequent. It’s an “art village” vibe: a network of workshops and labs, critique spaces, and student-run clubs, all a short stroll from the central library. Campus (EN) Museum & Library (EN)

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Departments that Shape Japan’s Creative Scene

Visual Communication Design (VCD)

VCD is a long-standing pillar at MAU, sitting at the crossroads of typography, branding, editorial, motion and interface design. The department’s strength lies in combining strong fundamentals (form, composition, narrative) with an openness to new media. Graduates appear in Japan’s design awards and major agencies, and the faculty roster includes working designers and scholars. Department list and outlines are on the official Academics site. Academics (EN)

Imaging Arts & Sciences (IAS)

IAS sits within CTSI and offers a comprehensive pathway across six domains: photography, motion picture, animation, image computing, media art, and image‑based space. The curriculum starts broad and then tightens into seminar-led fourth-year work, preparing students equally for independent practice and industry collaboration. IAS Curriculum (EN)

A World‑Class Museum & Library Designed by Sou Fujimoto

MAU’s Museum & Library—designed by the internationally acclaimed architect Sou Fujimoto—is both a resource and a daily inspiration. The two-story, spiral bookshelf concept encourages serendipitous browsing and immersion in visual culture. It houses ~200,000 items (open + closed stacks) and anchors MAU’s research environment. Museum & Library (EN) Project Overview (ArchEyes)

Interdisciplinary, Practice‑Based Learning

From first year, MAU students mix studio practice with theory and liberal arts. The College of Art & Design builds deep material literacy (e.g., ceramics, textiles, glass, wood in Industrial, Interior & Craft Design), while CTSI programs cultivate problem‑finding/problem‑solving with real‑world partners. You’ll see cross‑department seminars, critiques, and project studios structured to reflect contemporary workflows. Academics (EN)

Active International Links & Exchange Stories

MAU maintains a network of affiliated institutions and runs semester exchanges. The university publishes first‑person accounts from inbound/outbound exchange students—useful for previewing studio life, facilities, and class culture. Check official exchange pages and the affiliated schools list. Exchange (EN) Affiliated Institutions (EN)

Faculty Bench Strength

As of May 1, 2025 MAU lists 120 Professors, 19 Associate Professors, 2 Senior Lecturers and 14 Research Associates (plus guest faculty and part‑time instructors). The faculty page also shows department rosters and specialties—look up potential supervisors before applying. Faculty (EN)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Student‑run circles range from studio practice groups to music, media, and sports. International students often find circles helpful for language immersion and networking across departments. Clubs & Circles (JP)

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

MAU’s English pages outline the admissions process and highlight typical support (financial aid information, procedures, and Q&A). For scholarships, MAU lists on‑campus and external programs; for off‑campus funding and exchanges, refer to government/agency links, too. Admissions Guide (EN) Scholarships (JP)

Language Exchange & Buddy Culture

While formal “buddy” programs change over time, you’ll regularly meet bilingual peers through seminars, circles, and exchange classes. MAU’s exchange pages include student voices that illustrate how internationals settle into studios and critiques. Exchange (EN)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

MAU maintains a wide network of overseas partners across Europe, North America, and Asia. Use the official Affiliated Institutions list to plan where you could study for a semester and how credits map back to your degree. MAU also posts yearly exchange student stories that show what studio expectations look like abroad and at MAU. Affiliated Institutions (EN) Exchange (EN)

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Tokyo)

Weather: Tokyo has four distinct seasons. Expect mild winters (cool mornings/evenings) and hot, humid summers; typhoon season usually peaks late summer to early autumn. For objective, recent data, consult Japan Meteorological Agency tables/graphs (Tokyo station code 47662). JMA ClimatView (EN)

Typical Highs	~9–12°C (Jan), ~20–24°C (Apr–May), ~29–32°C (Jul–Aug), ~17–20°C (Nov) — based on recent JMA references.
Typical Lows	~1–4°C (Jan), ~10–15°C (Apr–May), ~23–26°C (Jul–Aug), ~8–12°C (Nov) — JMA references.

Safety & Liveability: Tokyo consistently ranks high on international safety benchmarks (see EIU Safe Cities Index). While no city is perfect, its infrastructure and public transport are excellent by global standards. EIU Safe Cities Index (EN)

Cost of Living: Costs vary by lifestyle and neighborhood. Benchmark current figures via crowd‑sourced indices (keep in mind these are estimates): Numbeo: Tokyo. Transit fares and commuter pass prices can be checked using the official Tokyo Metro planner; student passes are typically discounted. Tokyo Metro Fare/Transfer — background explainer (EN): How to Buy a Commuter Pass

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, MAU reports 720 international students (undergraduate + graduate), which is ~14.9% of total enrollment. The official English page provides the up‑to‑date counts and an indicative list of countries/regions represented. Number of Students (EN)

Total Enrollment	4,843
International Students	720
Selected Countries/Regions (examples on official page)	China, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, and others. See official table for the evolving full list. Source

Career & Graduate Prospects

MAU alumni appear across Japan’s design, media, culture and tech sectors. Typical destinations include branding/advertising agencies, product and UI/UX studios, publishers, film/animation houses, fashion/display firms, and museum/culture institutions. For department‑specific snapshots and project portfolios, explore the official department pages under Academics. Academics (EN)

Tip: For applicants, non‑university sites like JPSS can supplement practical details (e.g., “faculties,” quota language, and contact info), but always prioritize MAU’s official pages for requirements. JPSS – MAU (EN) Admissions Guide (EN)