Prefectural University of Kumamoto (PUK) for International Students— Admissions, Tuition, Scholarships, and Student Life

Thinking about studying in Japan but want a campus that balances small-community warmth with serious academics? Prefectural University of Kumamoto (PUK) could be that sweet spot. Located in the heart of Kyushu, PUK blends liberal arts strengths with distinctive programs in environmental and public administration fields, plus hands-on global learning. This guide gathers the essentials—fees, faculties, student life, exchange options, climate, and outcomes—so you can decide whether PUK fits your goals.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Prefectural)
Total Students	2,194 (as of May 1, 2025) — source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF), “学生数・教職員数”
Campuses	Tsukide (Kumamoto City) — Access to PUK (EN)
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Letters (Japanese; English); Faculty of Environmental & Symbiotic Sciences (Environmental Resources; Human Habitats; Food & Health Environmental Sciences); Faculty of Administrative Studies (Administrative Studies). Source: Undergraduate (EN)
学费	Tuition ¥535,800/year; Admission fee ¥282,000; Entrance exam fee ¥17,000. Source: Tuition and Entrance fees (JP)
Gender Ratio	≈ 39% male / 61% female (total 2,194). Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF)
Intl‑Student %	≈ 0.8% (17 international students). Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF),
Students per Staff	≈ 25:1 (2,194 students / 87 faculty). Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF)

Campus Maps

Tsukide Main Campus (University Headquarters, Kumamoto City)

Address: 3-1-100 Tsukide, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Prefectural University of Kumamoto (PUK) is a public institution established by Kumamoto Prefecture to serve the region while engaging globally—captured in the motto “Think Globally, Act Locally.” The university’s three-faculty structure integrates the humanities, environmental/symbiotic sciences, and administrative studies to address real-world problems. A concise institutional overview, including governance and academic units, is available on the official English site and in the university’s annual overview. See PUK English Top and the latest PUK Overview 2025 (PDF).

Historically, PUK has deep ties with the local community and a long-running commitment to international exchange—especially with sister or partner institutions in Korea, the U.S. (notably Montana State University Billings), and Taiwan. You can see the exchange history and snapshots in the “International Exchange” section of the official overview (pp. 26 and related pages). Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF).

As a prefectural university, PUK’s mission is practical and people-centered: educate graduates who can lift regional communities while engaging with global challenges. This shows up in common education (“Center for General/Common Education”) and the “Moyaist Development” thread that encourages students to link local problem‑solving with a global perspective. See Undergraduate (EN) for outlines of these programs.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Japan Studies (English‑Medium) & Global Liberal‑Arts Core

PUK offers English‑medium “Japan Studies” courses designed for exchange and degree students who want academic content in English—plus a shared core curriculum that integrates languages, information literacy, and liberal arts across faculties. Details appear on the Undergraduate (EN) page and in the CIEE Pamphlet (2024, PDF).

Flagship: Environmental & Symbiotic Sciences (Graduate Mercury Scholarship)

PUK’s Graduate School of Environmental & Symbiotic Sciences leads a distinctive PhD pathway focused on mercury pollution and health hazards, backed by Kumamoto Prefecture. The International Postgraduate Scholarship for Research on Mercury covers entrance fee, tuition, monthly living stipend, and travel. See the official page Graduate ES Admission Policy (EN) and the current application documents (e.g., Special Selection for International Students 2025 (PDF)).

Faculty of Letters & Administrative Studies

Humanities at PUK are hands‑on: Japanese/English linguistics and literature, language education, and cultural studies often connect to local communities and schools. Administrative Studies integrates sociology, public administration, social welfare, management, and information science for public‑sector or civic careers. Faculty outlines and intakes are listed on the Undergraduate (EN) page.

Compact Community, Direct Access to Faculty

With about 2,200 students and ~87 full‑time faculty, students can access instructors readily and collaborate across faculties. The small scale also makes it easier to build a campus network—useful for Japanese practice, career advice, and research projects. Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

PUK has a lively circle culture (sports, culture, music). International students are welcome—joining a club is one of the fastest ways to meet people. List: Club Activities (JP).

Support Offices & Handbook

The Center for International Education & Exchange (CIEE) offers one‑stop support for visas, daily procedures, and community life. See Campus Life (EN) 和 International Students’ Handbook (PDF). General CIEE info/events are also posted here: CIEE (JP).

Language‑Exchange & Global Lounge

PUK’s Global Lounge hosts monthly exchange events, and student‑led language mini‑courses are periodically offered. Examples and news appear on the university website (JP). See CIEE (JP).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

PUK maintains exchange relationships in Korea, the U.S., Taiwan, and more. A long‑standing partner is Montana State University Billings—see its info sheet for inbound students here: MSUB Study Abroad – PUK Guide (PDF). The University of Seoul lists PUK among partners on its OIA page: UOS Partners (EN). A concise history of PUK’s exchanges is also summarized in PUK Overview 2025 (PDF) .

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Snapshot (recent years)

Kumamoto’s summers are hot and humid; winters are cool with occasional cold snaps. For recent year data (2024, Kumamoto Airport), see WeatherSpark’s history page: 2024 Weather History – Kumamoto, plus the Japan Meteorological Agency station data for precise monthly highs and lows.

Safety & Everyday Convenience

Japan is generally safe, and Kumamoto offers an easygoing pace. For visitor safety resources, see JNTO’s Japan Safe Travel Information and the 24/7 Japan Visitor Hotline. Local tourist info (Wi‑Fi, shopping maps, emergency contacts) is on the official Kumamoto tourism site: Kumamoto Guide (EN) 和 Emergency Contacts.

Cost of Living

Compared to Tokyo, Kumamoto housing and daily expenses are notably lower. Benchmarks: Numbeo: Kumamoto and city comparison Tokyo vs. Kumamoto. (Individual budgets vary by lifestyle.)

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, PUK hosts 17 international students (≈0.8% of total enrollment). A country‑by‑country table appears in the “International Exchange” section of the latest overview. Source: PUK Overview 2025 (PDF).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career pathways reflect PUK’s strengths: public administration and social services (government and NPOs), community‑facing business roles, teaching and educational services, and environmental/health fields. University‑wide educational information and institutional reports are published on PUK’s official disclosure pages: Educational Information (JP). Faculty‑specific guidance for graduate admissions and research appears on each graduate school’s English page: e.g., Graduate Schools (EN).

Admissions Snapshot (Fees & Notes)

Tuition & Fees: Undergraduate tuition is ¥535,800/year; admission fee ¥282,000; entrance exam fee ¥17,000. Source: Tuition and Entrance fees(JP). Graduate environmental sciences (mercury) scholarship: see the latest call and forms for Fall 2025 at Special Selection 2025 (PDF) and policy page Graduate ES Admission Policy (EN).