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Japan · Kyoto · Imperial University of Fundamental Discovery · Reviewed 14 October 2026

Kyoto University (京都大学 - Kyodai)

Established in 1897 as Japan's second imperial university, Kyoto University (Kyodai) is world-renowned for its spirit of academic freedom and ground-breaking fundamental discoveries. Kyoto University has produced 19 Nobel laureates (more than any other institution in Asia), 2 Fields Medalists, and a Gauss Prize winner. Renowned for Hideki Yukawa's discovery of the meson and Shinya Yamanaka's discovery of iPS stem cells, Kyoto University excels in theoretical physics, mathematics, chemistry, and informatics. Explore verified English-medium degrees, fully funded doctoral scholarships, and distinguished faculty profiles.

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

Verified degree programs and opportunities

Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:

Kyoto University President's Award & MEXT Scholarships

Kyoto University's premier international doctoral fellowship, providing full tuition and admission fee exemptions plus living allowances for outstanding privately financed and government-sponsored international PhD students.

Kyoto University PhD in Informatics

Three-year doctoral curriculum inside the Graduate School of Informatics at Yoshida campus, offering world-class research in intelligence science, social informatics, speech recognition, and complex network algorithms.

Kyoto University Master of Informatics

Two-year English-medium research Master's degree inside the Graduate School of Informatics, focusing on theoretical foundations, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotic intelligence.

Kyoto University Master of Science in Physics

Two-year Master of Science program inside Kyoto University's historic Department of Physics, offering world-renowned training in condensed matter physics, particle astrophysics, and theoretical cosmology.

Kyoto University Amgen Scholars Summer Research Program

Prestigious eight-week summer research program (June–August) offering undergraduate scholars from around the world direct laboratory research apprenticeships under Kyoto faculty in molecular biology, chemistry, and bioengineering.

Admissions, language requirements & application process

Master's admission eligibility
Completion of 16 years of formal education culminating in an accredited Bachelor's degree (or equivalent 4-year undergraduate diploma) in relevant disciplines.
Doctoral admission eligibility
Recognized Master's degree or professional degree with demonstrated research accomplishments, publications, or Master's thesis of superior academic merit.
Language proficiency
Demonstrated English proficiency: Academic IELTS 6.5/7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 85+ for English-language graduate degree tracks (e.g., International Graduate Program).
Research statement / Proposal
Comprehensive 2 to 3-page research plan (研究計画書) detailing the intended research questions, background literature, methodology, and faculty supervisor alignment.
Application fee
¥10,000 to ¥30,000 examination fee depending on graduate school and international applicant category.
Required documentation
Graduation certificate, official transcripts with grading rubric, statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and passport scan.

Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems

Under Japanese national university regulations, annual tuition is standard across all faculties at ¥535,800 per year (approx. USD $3,600), plus a one-time admission fee of ¥282,000. Recipient scholars of the Japanese Government MEXT scholarship or Kyoto University President's Award receive 100% full tuition exemption plus monthly living allowances of ¥147,000 to ¥200,000.

Verified faculty profiles and research leaders

Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Kyoto University:

Prof. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka

Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2012) / Director Emeritus, CiRA; specializing in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), Stem Cell Biology, Cellular Reprogramming.

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro

Visiting Professor at Kyoto University & ATR Fellow / Sanken; specializing in Android Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, Geminoid Series.

Prof. Dr. Katsumi Tanaka

Professor Emeritus of Informatics / Graduate School of Informatics; specializing in Information Retrieval, Web Mining, Multimedia Databases.

Important verification note

Facts reflect official Kyoto University documentation reviewed 2026-10-14. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.

Reviewed 2026-10-14 · Editorial standards · Report an issue