Overview

Keio University (慶應義塾大学, Keiō Gijuku Daigaku), abbreviated as Keio (慶應) or Keidai (慶大), is a private research university located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally established as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo. It was granted university status in 1920, becoming one of the first private universities in the country — co-founding Japan's private university system alongside Waseda University. Keio traces its history to 1858 when Fukuzawa Yukichi started to teach Dutch while a guest of the Okudaira family. In 1868, he changed the name of the school to Keio Gijuku and devoted his time to education. 

Keio University was founded in 1858 under the feudal system of Edo period Japan. Its founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, believed that for Japan to keep up with the Western powers of the time, it was vital to modernise not only the nation's systems but also the way its people think — leading him to establish a private school. Keio University went on to produce many of Japan's nascent industrial leaders. In its current form, Keio encompasses 10 undergraduate faculties, 14 graduate schools, and approximately 33,700 students. Although research universities around the world are often characterised by their output in the sciences, Keio University is notable for its high output of research in the humanities and social sciences.

Keio University is home to over 33,000 students and 5,700 faculty and administrative staff, with a rapidly growing international community. Keio offers more than 940 courses, 31 double degree programs — the most double degree programs with overseas universities among Japanese universities as of June 2025 — and 23 degree programs conducted entirely in English. Keio is particularly proud of its strong alumni network, with active branches throughout the world. Notable alumni include many CEOs of Japan's most successful companies, alongside numerous world-class athletes, 3 prime ministers, and 2 astronauts.

Keio alumni include Japanese prime ministers Shigeru Ishiba (2024–2025), Junichiro Koizumi (2001–2006), Ryutaro Hashimoto (1996–1998), and Tsuyoshi Inukai (1931–1932). Keio alumni include 230 CEOs of major companies and 97 CEOs of foreign-affiliated companies. Keio has over 400,000 graduates and 320,000 alumni in 866 alumni associations. Keio is also one of two Japanese universities — alongside the University of Tokyo — to be a member of the World Economic Forum's Global University Leaders Forum (GULF). Every year, the university awards the prestigious Keio Medical Science Prize, which has come to be known as a precursor to winning a Nobel Prize. 

Keio University has six campuses throughout the Greater Tokyo Area: Mita, Shinanomachi, and Shiba-Kyoritsu in Tokyo, and Hiyoshi, Yagami, and Shonan Fujisawa in the adjacent prefecture of Kanagawa. Mita and Shiba-Kyoritsu campuses are just a short walk from the iconic Tokyo Tower. The Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) is home to the innovative Faculty of Policy Management and Faculty of Environment and Information Studies — widely regarded as pioneering interdisciplinary faculties in Japan. The Shinanomachi Campus houses the School of Medicine and Keio University Hospital — one of Japan's leading university hospitals. 

Notable alumni include PM Junichiro Koizumi, PM Shigeru Ishiba (2024–2025), Tadashi Yanai (founder of UNIQLO's parent company, Japan's richest man), Sony's and many other Fortune 500 company CEOs, Nobel Prize precursor Keio Medical Science Prize winners, astronauts Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai.

Intakes

Keio University follows the Japanese academic calendar. As a private university it offers more flexible timing for English-medium programs:

• April Intake (Spring) — Primary intake for most Japanese-taught undergraduate and graduate programs
• September/October Intake (Fall) — Primary intake for English-medium GIGA Program (SFC), English-taught graduate programs, and exchange students

Application Deadlines (Indicative):

Note: Application fee: JPY 35,000 (undergraduate); JPY 35,000 (graduate). International students need a Japanese Student Visa. As Japan's oldest private university, Keio has an extensive scholarship system. Verify at keio.ac.jp/en/admissions.

Top Courses

Keio University encompasses 10 undergraduate faculties and 14 graduate schools. Keio offers more than 940 courses, 31 double degree programs, and 23 programs conducted entirely in English. The Graduate School of Business Administration (Keio Business School — KBS) is one of Japan's most prestigious MBA programs. The Faculty of Policy Management and Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) are internationally recognised as pioneering interdisciplinary faculties. 

Key faculties and flagship programs include:

Faculty of Economics (Mita Campus — Japan's oldest economics faculty):

• BA in Economics (Japanese-taught)
• MA / PhD in Economics
• Research in macroeconomics, international economics, econometrics

Faculty of Business and Commerce (Hiyoshi/Mita):

• BA in Business and Commerce
• MA / PhD in Business and Commerce
• Graduate School of Business Administration (KBS — MBA)

Keio Business School (KBS — Japan's Premier MBA):

• Full-Time MBA (Executive Business Programs — Japanese and English)
• Executive MBA
• One of Japan's most prestigious business schools with strong alumni networks in Japan's leading corporations

Faculty of Law (Mita Campus):

• LLB in Law and Political Science
• MA / PhD in Law
• Graduate School of Law (professional law school)

Faculty of Letters (Mita Campus):

• BA in Humanities — Literature, Philosophy, History, Psychology, Sociology, Education
• MA / PhD in Letters
• Classics & Ancient History — QS global top 50 (2026)

Faculty of Medicine (Shinanomachi Campus — with Keio University Hospital):

• MD in Medicine (6-year single cycle — Japan's top private medical school)
• MSc / PhD in Medical Sciences
• Clinical research and hospital care — associated with Keio Medical Science Prize

Faculty of Science and Technology (Yagami Campus, Kawasaki):

• BSc / MSc in Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics
• BSc / MSc in Information and Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
• MSc in Systems Design Engineering
• QS — Data Science & AI: #101–200 globally, #3 in Japan (first-ever entry 2026)

Faculty of Policy Management (SFC — Shonan Fujisawa Campus — innovative):

• BA in Policy Management (interdisciplinary — governance, business, technology, design)
• MA / PhD in Media and Governance

Faculty of Environment and Information Studies (SFC — globally pioneering):

• BA in Environment and Information Studies (unique interdisciplinary program)
• GIGA Program (Global Information and Governance Academic Program) — English-medium UG

Faculty of Pharmacy (Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus):

• BSc / PhD in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care (Shinanomachi):

• BSc in Nursing and Medical Care

Cost of Studying at Keio University

At Keio University, tuition fees vary and depend on the course. Social Science and Humanities studies have the lowest fees at approximately JPY 1,110,000 per year, with the School of Medicine having the highest fees at around JPY 3,610,000 per year. Tuition fees for graduate schools are lower than for undergraduate studies — for example, JPY 690,000 per year for Social Sciences & Humanities and JPY 1,313,000 per year for the School of Medicine. The entrance fee for undergraduate study is JPY 200,000 and for graduate study is JPY 310,000. It is acceptable to pay in two instalments — half in spring and half in autumn — but the entrance fee must be paid before enrolment. 

Note: Tokyo costs more than other Japanese cities but remains competitive globally. Graduate tuition at Keio is significantly lower than undergraduate tuition — a notable advantage for postgraduate applicants. Medicine is the most expensive faculty. MEXT and Keio scholarships can substantially reduce costs. Verify at keio.ac.jp/en/student-life/tuition.

Scholarships

In 2008, 9,764 students — about 30% of all students — used either scholarships or loans throughout their studies. Additionally, Keio funds over 3,000 students who receive, on average, scholarships of JPY 300,000. Keio's strong endowment enables it to maintain one of Japan's most generous private scholarship programmes. 

A full-ride scholarship for graduate students covers tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and travel expenses. Two types of scholarships are available for the GIGA Program applicants before entering — for students wanting to learn about social issues combining ICT and the social sciences. 

Key scholarships for international students:

Admissions

The acceptance rate of Keio University is approximately 23.9% overall. The acceptance rate for international students applying directly from abroad is considerably more competitive, around 1% for certain programs, making Keio one of the most selective private universities in Japan for international entry to its Japanese-taught programs. Students must complete IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0 to be eligible for admission to English-taught programs, and must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on the 4.0 scale. 

For GIGA Program Undergraduate (English-medium — SFC):

• Completion of 12 years of secondary education (CBSE/ISC Class 12 or equivalent)
• Strong academic performance across all subjects
• IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100+ for English-medium programs
• Personal essay / statement of purpose
• Academic transcripts and school reference letter
• Application fee: JPY 35,000

For Japanese-taught Undergraduate Programs:

• JLPT N1 proficiency (very high Japanese fluency required)
• Competitive written entrance examination (Keio holds some of Japan's most prestigious entrance exams)
• Faculty-specific aptitude and academic tests
• Application fee: JPY 35,000

For Graduate Programs (MSc / MA / MBA — English programs):

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with minimum GPA 2.5/4.0 (competitive programs require higher)
• IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100+ for English programs
• GMAT required for KBS MBA programs
• Statement of purpose, CV, 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Academic transcripts (certified)
• Research proposal for thesis-based programs
• Application fee: JPY 35,000

For PhD Programs:

• Master's degree with strong research record
• Prior supervisor contact strongly recommended before formal application
• IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100+ for English programs
• Research proposal
• Application fee: JPY 35,000

Placements

Keio University is said to be one of the best universities in Japan for employment after graduation. It consistently ranks among the best 50 universities in the world in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings — one of the most impressive employer reputation scores of any Japanese private university. Keio is home to the Mita-kai, one of Japan's largest and most powerful alumni networks — with 320,000 alumni in 866 alumni associations globally, providing extraordinary career access for graduates. 

Keio alumni include 230 CEOs of major Japanese companies and 97 CEOs of foreign-affiliated companies — confirming the extraordinary reach of its alumni in global business leadership. Keio ranks 53rd in the world in the Times Higher Education Alma Mater Index for producing senior leaders. The Keio medical and science programs are specifically noted for the Keio Medical Science Prize — a prize widely regarded as a precursor to winning the Nobel Prize — attracting the world's leading researchers to Keio's ecosystem. 

Tokyo — Japan's capital and economic powerhouse — provides Keio graduates with unparalleled access to Japan's most influential corporations, especially in finance, media, law, pharmaceuticals, and technology. The Mita-kai alumni network is legendary in Japanese business — in many industries, a Keio graduate faces an immediate advantage in the hiring process.

Key career sectors for Keio graduates:

• Finance & Investment — Nomura Securities, Daiwa Securities, Mizuho Financial Group, Goldman Sachs Japan, Morgan Stanley Japan
• Retail & Consumer — Fast Retailing (UNIQLO — founder Tadashi Yanai, Keio alumnus), Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corporation
• Technology & Innovation — Sony, NTT, NEC, Fujitsu, SoftBank, LINE, Mercari
• Medicine & Pharmaceuticals — Keio University Hospital (Japan's top private hospital), Takeda Pharmaceutical, Chugai Pharmaceutical
• Media & Publishing — Dentsu, Hakuhodo, Asahi Shimbun, NHK, Fuji Television
• Law & Public Service — Japan Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, top law firms

Jobs After Graduating from Keio University

Note: Salary figures are indicative annual gross values in JPY. Japan offers the J-Find Visa (job-seeking) and Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) for international graduates. The Mita-kai alumni network provides lifelong career support and is considered one of the most powerful professional networks in Japan. Actual salaries vary by employer, faculty, industry, and experience.

For personalised guidance on Keio University admissions, scholarships, and the Japanese student visa process, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.