Aichi Medical University for International Students: Admissions, Tuition , and Student Life in Nagoya

Thinking about studying medicine or nursing in Japan? Aichi Medical University (AMU) in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture combines a tight-knit campus, strong hospital integration, and practical simulation training with a patient-centered ethos. This guide walks you through AMU’s mission and history, what makes its programs distinctive, how international students can plug into campus life, practical exchange and scholarship avenues, and what living in Greater Nagoya actually feels like. Wherever possible, we point you to official pages and recent documents so you can verify details and plan with confidence.

Aichi Medical University Hospital (Nagakute, Aichi)

Aichi Medical University Hospital (2007)

Aichi Medical University – Entrance Sign (Main Campus)

Aichi Medical University Medical Clinic (Higashi-sakura, Nagoya)

Doctor-Heli Air Ambulance (Aichi Prefecture)

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private University Official Outline (EN)
Total Students	— (see latest university catalog for year-by-year totals) University Catalog 2024 (JP/EN mix, PDF)
Campuses	Main Campus: Nagakute (Aichi) Campus Map (EN)
Faculties/Schools	• School of Medicine (MBBS/MD equivalent, 6 years) • College of Nursing (Undergraduate; Graduate School of Nursing also available) Overview (EN)
学费	Medicine: see official fee breakdown (JP) Medicine Fees Nursing: see official fee breakdown (JP) Nursing Fees
Gender Ratio	— (varies by year/program; see Catalog) Catalog 2024 (PDF)
Intl‑Student %	Low; varies annually by program. Nursing mobility/stats: Inbound/Outbound (PDF)
Students per Staff	≈2:1 (indicative; check latest catalog and faculty counts) Catalog 2024 (PDF) / THE Profile

Campus Maps

You can browse or download the official campus layout here: Campus Map (EN). We recommend saving it on your phone for first-time visits.

Main Campus (Nagakute)

Address: 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan

Open in Google Maps (English) – see reviews & directions

University Hospital (Nagakute)

Address: 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan

Open in Google Maps (English) – see reviews & photos

Medical Center (Okazaki)

Address: 17-33 Kawagoe, Niki-cho, Okazaki, Aichi 444-2148, Japan

Open in Google Maps (English) – see reviews & photos

Eye Clinic MiRAI (Nagoya – Higashi Ward)

Address: 2-12-1 Higashi-sakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005, Japan

Open in Google Maps (English) – see reviews & photos

Mission, History & Founding Story

Aichi Medical University opened in 1972 with a clear promise: train skilled, humane clinicians who can serve the region and improve health outcomes through education, research, and clinical practice. The university’s founding spirit emphasizes integrity, community contribution, and a holistic view of patients—“seeing” the whole person, not just the disease. These values guide curricula, clinical immersion, and faculty development to this day. For a concise English overview, see the Outline of University (EN). For the historical milestones (e.g., the establishment of the University Hospital, the Clinical Simulation Center in 2016, and the Medical Center in Okazaki in 2021), the university’s annual Catalog 2024 (JP/EN mix, PDF) provides a bilingual timeline. A short English history page is also available: History (EN).

AMU’s mission translates into everyday choices: an early and continuous emphasis on bedside skills; interprofessional learning with nursing; and steady facility upgrades—from the central hospital expansion (2014) to specialized centers like the Center for Disaster Medical Sciences 和 Medical Education Center. The approach is pragmatic and community-facing: students learn not only in classrooms and labs but also through simulation, team-based practice, and supervised clinical exposure that map onto Japan’s evolving healthcare needs.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Clinical Simulation Center: Hands‑On, Risk‑Free Training

AMU’s Clinical Simulation Center allows students to rehearse critical procedures and team communication in a safe, controlled environment before real clinical duties. The Center’s development was formalized in 2016, and it is organizationally connected to the Medical Education Center for faculty training and curriculum design. See the official pages (JP): Simulation Center 和 Medical Education Center. The university catalog (English/Japanese) summarizes the Center’s objectives and activities: Catalog 2024 (PDF).

Ophthalmology & Eye Center “MiRAI”

Ophthalmology is a signature strength at AMU, with subspecialties spanning retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. In 2022, the university’s outpatient clinic was rebranded as the Eye Center “MiRAI,” reflecting AMU’s long-term investment in vision science, clinical innovation, and outreach. Prospective students can explore the center’s facilities and activities here (JP): Eye Center MiRAI (Official). Faculty profiles and research outputs are searchable via the university’s researcher database (EN): AMU Researcher DB.

Interdisciplinary Institutes & Specialized Centers

AMU maintains institute-level infrastructure that ties learning to research and patient care: the Institute of Comprehensive Medical Research, the Institute for Molecular Science of Medicine, the Institute for Medical Science of Aging, the Poison Analysis Center, and more. Details and organizational charts appear in the university catalog (see p. 3–5 for the organizational diagram and p. 27–31 for unit summaries): Catalog 2024 (PDF).

Flagship Programs: Medicine & Nursing

School of Medicine (6‑year program)

AMU’s medical curriculum builds clinical exposure incrementally, layering foundation sciences with skill labs, simulation practice, and clerkships at the University Hospital and affiliated facilities. For program and admissions details, start with the university’s English outline and the Japanese admissions site: Outline (EN) / Medicine Fees (JP).

College of Nursing (Undergraduate & Graduate)

The College of Nursing integrates classroom learning with practical placements, community projects, and short-term overseas opportunities. Current fee information is kept on the Japanese site: Nursing Fees (JP). For graduate headcounts (as an example of recent data disclosure), see the quick stat PDF (JP): Graduate Student Numbers (May 1, 2025).

Data Science & AI Literacy for Healthcare

AMU’s Medical Data Science Education Program aims to equip future clinicians with basic literacy in data science and AI. The program is coordinated across medicine and nursing and was recognized by Japan’s MEXT at the literacy level. See details here (JP): Program Overview and the committee page (JP): Program Committee.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles That Welcome Overseas Students

AMU has an active club culture, including both sports and academic/service groups. Browse the current list (JP): Clubs & Circles Hub. Examples include a clinical skills circle (ACSIS), sports teams like soccer and swimming, and cultural or academic circles:

• ACSIS (Aichi-Clinical-Skills-Improving-Society): Club page (JP)
• Soccer: Club page (JP) / Swimming: Club page (JP)
• Medical Science Club: Club page (JP) / Traditional culture (e.g., board games): Club page (JP)

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

International students typically coordinate visa, housing, and campus onboarding through the relevant faculty offices and the International Exchange Center. Nursing’s exchange portal (JP) gives a good sense of short-term mobility and contact points: International Exchange (Nursing). For hospital-adjacent services (health checks, counseling referrals), students coordinate with faculty and the University Hospital as required.

Language‑Exchange & Buddy Style Activities

While AMU is not a language school, circles and exchange initiatives often create informal “buddy” dynamics—study groups, club events, and exchange-student mixers. Nursing lists a variety of short-term inbound/outbound activities and online exchanges (JP): International Exchange (Nursing).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Outbound mobility is more common than long-term inbound study at Japanese medical schools, and AMU is no exception. Nursing maintains short-term partnerships with universities such as Case Western Reserve University (USA), Mahasarakham University (Thailand), National University of Singapore, the University of Oulu (Finland), and the University of San Diego (USA). See the current partner and program descriptions (JP): International Exchange (Nursing). For general study-in-Japan guidance, the government’s directory is helpful: Study in Japan (AMU).

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Greater Nagoya)

Weather Patterns (Recent Years)

Nagakute sits just east of Nagoya. Expect hot, humid summers and cool, relatively dry winters. To check monthly averages (highs/lows, precipitation) for the Nagoya area, use the Japan Meteorological Agency dashboards (EN/JP). They provide up-to-date monthly datasets you can filter by station and year: JMA Monthly (EN) / JMA Detailed (JP).

Cost of Living, Safety & Daily Conveniences

Greater Nagoya tends to be more affordable than Tokyo while still offering robust transport, food, and culture. For ballpark comparisons compiled from user-reported data, see: Numbeo: Nagoya 和 Tokyo vs. Nagoya. For quality-of-life perceptions, see: Numbeo QoL: Nagoya.

International Student Statistics

AMU’s inbound international enrollment is modest and varies by year and program (short-term exchanges are more frequent). Nursing publishes concise PDFs with inbound/outbound counts (JP): Inbound & Outbound (recent years). The IR/Statistics page (JP) collects additional internal stats; cross-check with the annual Catalog 2024 (PDF) for totals by school and year.

Career & Graduate Prospects

Because AMU is closely tied to its University Hospital and clinical network, most graduates pursue clinical careers—residency and specialist training in internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, emergency/critical care, etc. Nursing graduates enter hospitals and community care organizations across Aichi Prefecture and beyond. AMU’s Researcher DB offers a window into faculty expertise and potential research mentorship (EN): AMU Researcher DB. If you’re comparing institutions at a glance, third-party profiles like Times Higher Education can provide context for size and staffing: THE: Aichi Medical University.