Study Healthcare in Japan: Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences (CPUHS) — Guide for International Applicants

Thinking about studying health sciences in Japan, but prefer a focused, career-ready campus over a massive university? Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences (CPUHS) might be the right fit. Located in coastal Chiba City—an easy ride to central Tokyo—CPUHS is a compact public (prefectural) university dedicated to producing licensed healthcare professionals in nursing, nutrition, dental hygiene, and rehabilitation. Below, you’ll find up-to-date facts, program strengths, campus life tips, realistic costs, climate notes, and graduate outcomes—curated specifically for international prospects comparing options across Japan.

Quick Facts

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Prefectural)
Total Students	740 (source: University Overview (EN))
Campuses	Makuhari (main); Nitona (Chuo‑ku, Chiba) (Access Map (EN))
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Health Sciences: Departments of Nursing; Nutrition; Dental Hygiene; Rehabilitation Sciences (Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy) (Departments (EN))
ค่าธรรมเนียมการศึกษา	¥535,800 / year (admission fee separate; residency rules apply) (Official Tuition (JP))
Gender Ratio	Not publicly disclosed by CPUHS
Intl‑Student %	Not published (programs are taught in Japanese; international intake is limited)
Students per Staff	≈ 9.4 : 1 (740 students ÷ 79 full‑time faculty) (Faculty Count (JP))

Notes: Enrollment of 740 is stated on the official English overview page (updated 2025‑04‑10). Tuition reflects the current annual fee; admission fee varies by residency status—see official tuition for details. Students‑per‑staff was calculated from official student and full‑time faculty totals.

Campus Maps

Makuhari Campus (Headquarters)

Address: 2-10-1 Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261-0014, Japan

Reviews: “A compact yet well-equipped campus with strong interdepartmental collaboration.”

Nitona Campus

Address: 645-1 Nitona-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-0801, Japan

Reviews: “Specialized for rehabilitation sciences—focused and professional environment.”

Mission, History & Founding Story

CPUHS was founded in 2009 through the reorganization of two legacy institutions in Chiba Prefecture, consolidating health‑profession training into a single public university aligned with regional healthcare needs. The university’s purpose is practical and clear: train highly competent health professionals who can serve communities in Chiba and beyond, while contributing to public health through evidence‑based practice, interprofessional teamwork, and community engagement. CPUHS’s guiding educational ideas emphasize ethical conduct, patient‑centered care, and a foundation of scientific knowledge that supports safe, effective clinical decision‑making. The university highlights small cohorts, supervised practical training, and strong ties with local hospitals, clinics, welfare facilities, and public health agencies.

The institutional narrative is tightly connected to Chiba’s healthcare landscape. As one of the country’s largest prefectures by population, Chiba requires a steady pipeline of licensed nurses, public health nurses, midwives, registered dietitians, dental hygienists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. CPUHS answers this demand through its single Faculty of Health Sciences and five focused programs, all taught in Japanese. The university underscores collaboration between departments—nutrition students working with nursing on diet counseling, rehabilitation students supporting recovery plans, and dental hygiene students addressing oral‑health promotion. These synergies express the school’s mission to educate professionals who can operate in multidisciplinary teams, something Japan’s aging society increasingly needs.

CPUHS also inherits a tradition of public service from its precursors. Being a prefectural institution brings a responsibility to prioritize community impact—through high licensure pass rates, strong employment in local health systems, and outreach such as health‑promotion events. The university’s English overview clearly presents its compact scale (740 students), the location of its two campuses (Makuhari and Nitona), and the professional pathways available to graduates. For additional insight into educational principles, curriculum architecture, and departmental outcomes, students can consult the official English and Japanese pages linked throughout this guide: University Overview (EN) และ Educational Principles (EN), plus the latest Education & Research Yearbook (JP, 2023).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Health-Profession Programs

CPUHS focuses on five professional pathways within one Faculty of Health Sciences: Nursing; Nutrition (training registered dietitians); Dental Hygiene; and Rehabilitation Sciences (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy). This specialization means students study with classmates who are all health‑profession bound. Departments and intake quotas are listed on the official English page (EN). Details on curricular design, graduation requirements, clinical placements, and department‑level goals are further explained on the English curriculum page (EN).

Nursing (including Public Health Nurse & Midwifery paths)

Nursing students prepare for licensure as Registered Nurses and may pursue additional qualifications as Public Health Nurses and Midwives. The university publicly reports licensure outcomes, which consistently track at or near 100% for many categories (National Licensure Results, JP).

Rehabilitation Sciences (Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy)

Small cohorts allow significant hands‑on practice. Graduates target licensure in physiotherapy or occupational therapy and typically place in hospitals, clinics, and community facilities in and around Chiba. See the curriculum overview (EN) and department pages (EN).

Licensure Outcomes & Skills‑First Curriculum

CPUHS publishes annual licensure results by program, alongside national averages. Recent figures illustrate the university’s strengths: for 2024 (R6), many categories maintained 95%–100% pass rates (e.g., RN 100%, PHN 97.4%, Dietitian 91.3%, Dental Hygienist 100%, PT 100%, OT 95.8%)—see National Licensure Results (JP). These outcomes reflect an applied curriculum, progressive clinical exposure, and targeted support leading to licensure readiness (Curriculum (EN)).

Small Scale, Two‑Campus Convenience

With about 740 students total, classes are intimate and faculty access is high. CPUHS operates two sites: Makuhari (main campus, close to Kaihin‑Makuhari Station) and Nitona (Chuo‑ku), both in Chiba City. Commuting options and campus locations are provided on the official Access Map (EN). Libraries are available on both campuses (JP).

Community‑Rooted, Public Mission

As a prefectural university, CPUHS exists to serve public needs. Educational principles emphasize contributing to regional health and welfare, and training professionals who can respond to Japan’s demographic shifts (Educational Principles (EN)). The latest Education & Research Yearbook summarizes initiatives and outcomes in teaching, research, and community partnerships (JP).

Student Support & Learning Environment

CPUHS highlights close guidance by homeroom advisors, scholarships/fee reduction systems, and counseling services (Student Support, JP). Accessibility and accommodations for students with disabilities are set out in the official policy (Accessibility Support, JP). Libraries, student groups, and laboratory facilities round out the learning environment (Libraries, JP; Student Circles, JP).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

CPUHS lists student groups ranging from sports (volleyball, basketball, track & field, badminton, table tennis) to volunteering and health‑promotion initiatives (e.g., oral‑health outreach, cervical‑cancer awareness) and music/band activities. See the current roster here: Student Circles (JP).

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

Student support covers academic advising, counseling, and financial aid guidance, with clear windows for paperwork and certificates (Administrative Windows, JP; Student Support, JP). For broader life matters in Chiba City (legal consultation, daily‑life guidance, Japanese learning), refer to the Chiba City International Association hub: CCIA (EN) and its living info section Living Information (EN). The prefecture’s English portal for foreign residents is also handy: Chiba International Information Square (EN).

Language‑Exchange & Intercultural Events

While full degree programs are in Japanese, the university hosts international exchange activities and collaborative events. Recent examples include an exchange meeting with students from Mahidol University (Thailand) (JP), and a foreign‑language first‑aid workshop co‑hosted with Kanda University of International Studies (JP).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outgoing Focus)

CPUHS has an academic exchange agreement with Inje University (Republic of Korea), covering collaborative activities and exchanges (JP). The university also runs ad‑hoc exchange events with other institutions (e.g., Mahidol University). Interested students should monitor the Campus Life & International Exchange pages for current offerings: Campus Life (JP).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Pattern (Chiba City)

Chiba has warm, humid summers and mild winters compared with inland Kanto. Recent Japan Meteorological Agency data for Chiba City show that August daily highs typically reach the low 30s °C with lows around the mid‑20s °C, while January daily highs average around 9–10 °C and lows around 3–4 °C. See the JMA station tables (Chiba, block 47662) for monthly statistics: JMA Monthly Climate Tables (EN).

Cost of Living (Benchmarks)

Housing around Chiba City is generally cheaper than central Tokyo. As a rough benchmark, crowdsourced cost indices and market snapshots show Chiba rents below Tokyo and often below Osaka for similar units. For current aggregated price points, see: Numbeo – Chiba (EN) and comparisons with Tokyo (EN). As a local reference, Chiba University’s International Support Desk also posts practical costs (mobile, rent ranges near Nishi‑Chiba, utilities): Chiba‑U Cost of Living (EN). For prefectural lifestyle guidance and multilingual resources, consult: Chiba International Information Square (EN) and CCIA’s living information (EN).

International Student Statistics

CPUHS does not publish a dedicated breakdown of international students, and all degree programs are taught in Japanese. At the national level, however, Japan hosted 336,708 international students as of May 1, 2024—a 20.6% year‑over‑year increase—according to JASSO’s annual survey: 2024 Results (EN) and the overview page (EN). Prospective CPUHS applicants should plan for advanced Japanese proficiency (coursework, labs, and clinicals are Japanese‑medium).

Career & Graduate Prospects

CPUHS publishes annual “employment and further study” tables by department. For FY2023 (R5), results were exemplary: 99%–100% employment rates across most programs (e.g., Nursing 100% (77/77), Dietetics 100% (22/22), Physiotherapy 100% (21/21), Occupational Therapy 100% (24/24)). Many graduates stay within Chiba Prefecture (e.g., 125 in‑prefecture vs. 44 out‑of‑prefecture that year). See: Employment & Further Study (JP). These outcomes align with CPUHS’s mission and licensure support; see also the front‑page highlights on pass rates and job offers (JP) and detailed licensure results by discipline (JP).

How to Verify Details & Plan Your Next Steps

For the latest official updates, consult: University Overview (EN); Departments (EN); Tuition (JP); University Guide 2026 (JP); Licensure Results (JP); and Employment & Further Study (JP). For everyday life resources and multilingual help, see the prefectural portal (EN) and CCIA (EN).