Tokyo Women’s Medical University (TWMU): International Student Guide to Programs, Tuition, Exchanges, and Careers

Thinking about studying healthcare in Japan? Tokyo Women’s Medical University (TWMU) is a long‑standing private medical university in central Tokyo, known for educating women physicians and nurses since 1900 and for pioneering translational research through its joint TWIns center with Waseda University. Undergraduate programs are for women only, while graduate schools are co‑educational—so international candidates (any gender) aiming at master’s/doctoral study or short‑term research exchanges will find concrete pathways. Below you’ll find clear facts on campuses, tuition (¥), research strengths, support for overseas students, climate and lifestyle, exchange partnerships, and career outcomes—curated from official English/Japanese pages and recent PDFs.

Quick Facts (Tokyo Women’s Medical University)

Type	Private medical university (women‑only Undergraduate; co‑ed Graduate)
Total Students	1,353 (as of May 1, 2024; includes undergraduate, graduate, and nursing school totals) Official totals (PDF)
Campuses	Kawada‑cho (Shinjuku, Tokyo—Main); Yachiyo (Chiba) Access (EN)
Faculties / Schools	School of Medicine; School of Nursing; Graduate School of Medical Science; Graduate School of Nursing; TWMU Nursing School (3‑year) About TWMU (EN)
Tuition Fees (¥)	Medicine (Undergrad): Admission ¥1,300,000; Tuition/yr ¥3,300,000 (other fees separate). Kei‑Net fees Nursing (Undergrad): First year total ¥2,000,000; Years 2–4 ¥1,750,000/yr. Nursing prospectus (JP, PDF)
Gender Ratio	Undergraduate programs admit women only (by policy); graduate schools and research are open to all genders. Medicine admissions (JP, PDF) / Nursing admissions (JP, PDF)
Intl‑Student %	Not publicly stated; active inbound/outbound exchanges (see partner data). Exchange/partners (PDF)
Students per Staff	Medicine 0.61; Nursing 11.68 (as of May 1, 2024). Students per staff (PDF)

Campus Maps

Kawada-cho Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Address: 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan

Adachi Medical Center (Adachi, Tokyo)

Address: 4-33-1 Kohoku, Adachi City, Tokyo 123-8558, Japan

Yachiyo Medical Center (Yachiyo, Chiba)

Address: 477-96 Owada Shinden, Yachiyo, Chiba 276-8524, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tokyo Women’s Medical University traces its origins to 1900, when physician and educator Yoshioka Yayoi founded the Tokyo Women’s Medical School in an era when higher medical education for women was rare. Her purpose was to empower women with professional skills that create social and economic independence—a mission that still shapes TWMU’s ethos today. The university’s guiding ideal, often translated as “Sincerity and Love” (Shisei to Ai), anchors not just bedside care but also leadership development, research integrity, and service to society. TWMU later established the School of Medicine (1950) and evolved into a comprehensive institution with both undergraduate and graduate education, adding the School of Nursing in 1998 to meet modern healthcare needs. For international students, the history matters: TWMU’s identity is built around educating medical professionals who combine strong science with compassion.

The founder’s message is preserved on the university’s official site; it explains that the decision to create a women‑focused medical institution was intentional and values‑driven—a response to limited opportunities and to maintaining a learning environment appropriate for women at the time. Over a century later, that foundation informs a blended model: women‑only undergraduate training coupled with co‑educational graduate research that welcomes collaborators worldwide. For more background, see TWMU’s English overview and the founder’s page (JP). About TWMU (EN) / Founder’s message (JP)

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship Faculties & Integrated Teaching Hospitals

TWMU’s flagship undergraduate programs are the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing, both taught primarily at the Kawada‑cho campus in Shinjuku. Clinical education leverages university hospitals and centers with advanced surgery volume (e.g., ~10,000 surgeries/year; ~600 robot‑assisted annually per the English hospital overview). For prospective international graduate students and short‑term trainees, this environment offers abundant clinical departments for observation and research collaboration. Hospital Facilities (EN)

TWIns: Joint Life‑Science Innovation with Waseda University

The Center for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns) is a joint research facility established by TWMU and Waseda University. It houses the Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science and the Medical Innovation Laboratory—spaces where clinicians, engineers, and industry partners collaborate to translate basic discoveries into clinical applications. Many TWMU departments reference TWIns in their research statements. For an overview, see TWMU’s English research page and TWIns’ own site. Research Facilities (EN) / TWIns official site

School of Nursing: Team‑based Learning and Clinical Exposure

Nursing education emphasizes interprofessional teamwork with the School of Medicine, exposure to both advanced and community healthcare, and early integration of research literacy (e.g., data science/AI coursework). The current School of Nursing guide details curriculum structure and pathways to public health nursing eligibility. Nursing guide (JP, PDF)

Global Engagement & Exchange Footprint

TWMU’s School of Medicine maintains exchange agreements with universities in the U.K., Belgium, France, the U.S., China, Taiwan, and South Korea, among others, with long‑running links to Cardiff, ULB (Brussels), Mount Sinai, Columbia, and more. The latest corporate‑disclosure sheet summarizes cumulative outbound/inbound exchange numbers and partner institutions; the English International Education page adds program narrative and milestones. International Education (EN) / Partners & exchange counts (PDF)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Cultural and athletic clubs span music, traditional arts, sports, and community health activities. While most student‑run groups orient around Japanese, circles welcoming overseas students are common in medical schools—particularly where lab groups and clinical departments have international collaborations.

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

International queries generally route through the International Office and relevant graduate school offices. Student handbooks outline counseling and health support; graduate research supervisors typically help with visa documentation and letters. International Education (EN) / Student Handbook (Medicine, JP, PDF)

Language Exchange & Buddy Programs

Buddy systems are often organized informally within labs, departments, and exchange cohorts. If you’re coming via an agreement school, ask your TWMU host lab or International Education Office to connect you early with student mentors. International Education (EN)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Exchange destinations include the U.K. (Cardiff University), Belgium (ULB), France (Aix‑Marseille), the U.S. (Columbia, Mount Sinai, Brown), China (Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China Medical University), Taiwan (TMU), and South Korea (Ewha Womans University), among others. TWMU’s disclosure shows aggregate outbound/inbound totals and yearly counts; for program structures and eligibility, see the English International Education page. Exchange/partners (PDF) / International Education (EN)

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Tokyo & Chiba)

Tokyo has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm to hot and humid; winters are cool with light precipitation. Expect the warmest period from late July–August, and the coolest in January–February. The rainy season typically falls in June–July, with occasional typhoons from late summer to autumn. Shinjuku (main campus) offers dense transit access, museums, parks, and diverse food scenes; Yachiyo (Chiba) provides a quieter suburban feel with easy rail access into Tokyo. For housing, international students commonly use university referrals or vetted private agencies.

International Student Statistics

TWMU does not publish a single “international student ratio” across all schools; however, the university discloses cumulative exchange figures and partner coverage by region. The 2024 disclosure lists partner institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia with running totals for outbound/inbound exchange students in Medicine and Nursing. Use these figures—plus your home university’s eligibility—to gauge the likelihood of a placement. Exchange/partners (PDF)

Career & Graduate Prospects

Medical and nursing graduates typically progress to residency/clinical roles at TWMU’s affiliated hospitals and leading institutions in Tokyo and beyond. University materials highlight strong “straight graduation” and national exam outcomes in Medicine and continued professional pathways in Nursing, including public health and advanced practice. See the applicants’ overview and the nursing recruitment materials for snapshots of outcomes and role types. TWMU overview for applicants (JP, PDF) / Nursing recruitment outline (JP, PDF)

Costs, Admissions Notes & What to Expect

Tuition & fees (¥): Kei‑Net (Kawaijuku) summarizes current medicine tuition/admission fees; consult the latest university prospectuses for fine‑print and non‑tuition expenses. Nursing publishes detailed first‑year and later‑year totals. Kei‑Net fee summary / Nursing fees (JP, PDF)

Eligibility: Undergraduate admissions are for women only; graduate programs are co‑ed. Medicine admissions (JP, PDF) / Nursing admissions (JP, PDF)

References (Official)

About TWMU (EN) / Access (EN) / Founder (JP) / International Education (EN) / TWIns official (EN) / Student numbers (PDF) / Students per staff (PDF) / Capacity fill rate (PDF) / Exchange & partners (PDF) / Kei‑Net fees / Nursing guide (JP, PDF)