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Kobe City University of Foreign Studies: International Relations, Linguistics & Intercultural Studies Guide

Kobe City University of Foreign Studies (Kobe CUFS) is a prestigious public municipal university in the cosmopolitan port city of Kobe, renowned throughout Japan for high-level foreign language education, international legal diplomacy, intercultural communication, and Asia-Pacific studies.

Official university portal ↗Graduate Funding & FacultyResearch checked, not sponsored

Verified degree programs and opportunities

Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:

Admissions, language requirements & application process

Master's admission eligibility
Completion of a 16-year curriculum of school education or equivalent Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
Doctoral admission eligibility
Master's degree or professional graduate degree in international relations, linguistics, or related cultural disciplines.
Language proficiency
JLPT N1 or N2 for Japanese-language seminars, or English proficiency (TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.5+) for English-taught international tracks.
Research statement / Proposal
A 2,000-character Japanese or 1,000-word English research proposal detailing thematic background, research questions, and methodology.
Application fee
¥30,000 application screening fee payable via international bank transfer or Japanese convenience store.
Required documentation
Official graduation certificate, certified academic transcript, research plan, statement of purpose, and two academic referee letters.

Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems

Tuition is standardized for Japanese public municipal universities at ¥535,800 annually (approx. $3,600 USD) with a one-time admission fee of ¥282,000 (¥141,000 for Kobe residents). Full and half tuition fee exemption waivers and MEXT scholarships are widely accessible for international students.

Verified faculty profiles and research leaders

Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies:

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Sato

Professor of International Relations & Asia-Pacific Diplomacy · East Asian Diplomacy, Maritime Security, Sino-Japanese Relations, Multilateral Governance

Prof. Dr. Keiko Tanaka

Professor of Applied Linguistics & Intercultural Communication · Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis, Cross-Cultural Pedagogy, Second Language Acquisition

Prof. Dr. Kenjiro Suzuki

Professor of International Law & Human Rights · Public International Law, Treaty Interpretation, Human Rights Law, Dispute Resolution

Important verification note

Facts reflect official Kobe City University of Foreign Studies documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.

Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue