Tohoku Fukushi University Guide for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Scholarships & Student Life

Thinking about Japan for your degree? Tohoku Fukushi University (TFU) in Sendai blends hands‑on learning with a strong community mission. Known for welfare, health sciences, education, and management, TFU sits in a student‑friendly city with winter snow, mild springs, and festival‑packed summers. This guide gives you the essentials—program strengths, research culture, exchange options, international student support, climate and daily costs—so you can quickly judge if TFU fits your goals. Where possible, we point you to official pages for hard facts you can verify.

Quick Facts: Tohoku Fukushi University

Snapshot of the university at a glance. Numbers reflect the latest English “Students & Staff Numbers” update (as of May 1, 2023) unless otherwise noted. Source links in blue.

Type	Private University (Wikipedia / TFU English)
Total Students	8,107 current enrollment (all categories, 2023) — Students & Staff Numbers
Campuses	Main: Kunimi Campus; plus facilities near Sendai Station East Gate (e.g., “Welcom 21”). See Access (JP) and Kunimi Campus (JP)
Faculties / Schools	Comprehensive Welfare; Comprehensive Management; Education; Health Sciences — overview at TFU English
Tuition Fees	Varies by program; official guidance (JP): Tuition & Fees (Undergraduate / Practicum, etc.) / Graduate: Graduate School Tuition
Gender Ratio	Not published for students on the English “Numbers” page
Intl‑Student %	≈0.2% (degree+research: 15/8,107) / ≈0.4% including exchange (34/8,107) — source
Students per Staff	≈24.5 : 1 (full‑time students per full‑time faculty; weighted across faculties) — see “Number of students per teacher” on source

Campus Maps

Kunimi Campus (Main)

Address: 1-8-1 Kunimi, Aoba Ward, Sendai 981-8522, Miyagi, Japan

Sendai Station East Exit Campus (Miyagino)

Address: 2-5-26 Tsutsujigaoka, Miyagino Ward, Sendai 983-8511, Miyagi, Japan

Station Campus

Address: 1-19-1 Kunimi, Aoba Ward, Sendai 981-8523, Miyagi, Japan

Kunimigaoka First Campus

Address: 6-149-1 Kunimigaoka, Aoba Ward, Sendai 989-3201, Miyagi, Japan

Kunimigaoka Second Campus

Address: 7-146 Kunimigaoka, Aoba Ward, Sendai 989-3201, Miyagi, Japan

Kitayama Campus

Address: 3-11 Kitayama, Aoba Ward, Sendai 981-0931, Miyagi, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tohoku Fukushi University’s educational philosophy centers on the “integration of learning and practice,” a Buddhist‑inspired approach that frames academic study as a means to create well‑being for individuals and communities. The English top page puts it plainly: the aim is to “build meaningful relationships” and “create paths to well‑being (happiness) for all mankind.” That mission has guided TFU’s growth across four faculties—welfare, health sciences, education, and management—and into lifelong learning and regional partnership work. TFU English

Historically, TFU traces roots to the late 19th century (often shown as “1875/1962”), with a modern charter established in 1962. The university expanded alongside postwar social needs in the Tohoku region, adding practice‑oriented programs and on‑campus clinics, training facilities, and community outreach hubs. Today TFU is widely identified as a private university in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture—the largest city in the Tohoku region and a gateway to the mountains and Pacific coast. Wikipedia

One hallmark is the longstanding investment in human‑centered (“kansei”) welfare and preventive care. TFU’s Kansei Fukushi Research Institute pushes interdisciplinary research—neuroscience, psychology, community design—through to real‑world applications, a natural fit for an institution that values field practice. The institute maintains advanced facilities (including a 3‑Tesla MRI) and draws on the legacy of fMRI pioneer and TFU Special Distinguished Honorary Professor, Seiji Ogawa. Ogawa’s BOLD effect underpins modern fMRI and earned global recognition through prizes such as the Keio Medical Science Prize. Kansei Fukushi Research Institute (EN) / Institute Equipment (JP) / Keio Medical Science Prize

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Human‑Centered Research: The Kansei Fukushi Edge

Few Japanese universities tie welfare, health, and human factors together as tightly. TFU’s Kansei Fukushi Research Institute advances neuro‑ and behavioral science (including high‑resolution fMRI work) to inform welfare practice, aging support, and inclusive design. The institute’s English overview outlines its preventive‑welfare focus; the facilities page details the 3T MRI and method development track record; and Professor Seiji Ogawa’s internationally recognized work anchors the lab’s global credibility. Institute (EN) / Facilities (JP) / Ogawa Prize Profile

Signature Faculties: Health Sciences & Applied Welfare

TFU’s reputation is built on practical training in health and welfare—nursing, rehabilitation (OT/PT), healthcare management, and social welfare. Fieldwork and community placements are common, and labs/clinics bridge classroom learning with real patients and residents. For a headcount context, TFU publishes per‑faculty student totals and “students per teacher” on its English numbers page, which shows relatively low ratios in Health Sciences—an indicator of lab‑heavy, hands‑on training. Students & Staff Numbers

Community, Education & Management with Real‑World Projects

Through the Faculties of Education and Comprehensive Management, TFU students engage schools, NGOs, local government, and businesses in project‑based work—lesson design, welfare administration, data management, and program evaluation. This aligns with the university’s practice‑first philosophy and produces portfolios and contacts that matter when you graduate. See TFU’s English gateway for the four‑faculty structure. TFU English

Sports Culture & Notable Alumni

TFU is famous in Japanese collegiate baseball and has produced elite athletes, including 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (golf). If you’re sporty, you’ll find serious teams and casual circles on campus. For reference, see Matsuyama’s profile and TFU’s long‑running baseball achievements. ESPN Profile / Baseball‑Reference (BR Bullpen) / Matsuyama (Wikipedia)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Expect a wide range: varsity and recreational sports (baseball, golf, football, track), culture and volunteer groups, and language practice meetups. Circles are student‑run and usually eager to add international members.

Dedicated Support: Visa, Tuition Relief, Daily Advice

TFU’s International Relations office handles exchange, documentation, and coordination; the Tuition Exemption page outlines fee‑reduction schemes for privately funded international students. Contact details for international matters also appear on the English “Numbers” page. Tuition Exemption (JP) / Students & Staff Numbers

Language Exchange & Buddy‑Style Help

While formal “buddy” programs vary by year, international students typically find peer support through circles, seminar groups (ゼミ), and neighbors in dorms or apartments. Asking your faculty office or International Relations desk is the quickest way to find a conversation partner or mentor.

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

TFU lists partner universities and tuition‑waiver exchange options on its International pages. Programs typically run one semester (spring or fall) with credit transfer under faculty approval. Start with the official exchange outline and browse recent partner lists. Exchange Overview (JP) / Study in Japan (Gov) – TFU Profile

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather in Sendai: What to Expect

Sendai has four distinct seasons. Winters are cold with occasional snow; nights often dip below 0 °C. Spring is cool–mild; summers are warm and humid with highs commonly around the upper‑20s °C to low‑30s °C; autumn is crisp and sunny. For recent data snapshots (e.g., 2024), see WeatherSpark and the Japan Meteorological Agency’s English climate tables. WeatherSpark: 2024 Sendai / WeatherSpark: Year‑Round / JMA Climate (EN)

Safety, Costs & Daily Convenience

Sendai is a mid‑sized, generally safe city with abundant supermarkets, clinics, and transit along JR and subway lines. Living costs are typically lower than Tokyo. For rough comparisons, combine a community‑sourced index like Numbeo with university guidance from Tohoku University’s International Support Center (also in Sendai). Numbeo: Cost of Living / Numbeo: Quality of Life / Life in Sendai (TU Support) / Fees & Expenses (Tohoku Univ.)

International Student Statistics

On May 1, 2023 TFU reported: Graduate 3, Undergraduate 11, Research Students 1, Exchange 19, Short‑term Exchange 0. That equates to ≈0.2% of total enrollment for degree+research (15/8,107) or ≈0.4% including exchange (34/8,107). Always check the English “Numbers” page for updates. Students & Staff Numbers

Career & Graduate Prospects

Most TFU graduates move into welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, local government, and service‑sector roles that value interpersonal skills and practical training. Health and education licensure pathways (e.g., nursing, OT/PT, teacher training) are well established. On the research side, Kansei‑related labs prepare students for graduate study and R&D roles in human factors, psychology, and community health. For snapshots of degrees granted and cohort sizes by program, TFU’s English “Numbers” page provides annual totals and award ratios. Students & Staff Numbers