Hokkaido University

In Hokkaido there is a diversity of opportunities, both academic and personal, which makes it an attractive institution for international students. Hokkaido is an island with a lot of vegetation, it has six national parks, a geopark, as well as 12 natural parks.

Without a doubt, studying here and obtaining a degree from the university is a unique and incredible experience. However, you should consider whether you have enough funds to achieve your dream. The application fee for this university is $155 USD. Regarding the registration costs for undergraduate and graduate programs, it is $2,570 USD.

While the semester registration has a cost of $48,827 USD for both programs . Other expenses that you should consider is the cost of maintenance. Monthly you can invest up to $1,048 USD in expenses such as rent, meals or personal items.

How to study at Hokkaido University? What do you need?

Hokkaido University seeks students who are known for having an inquisitive mind and being ambitious in their field of study. Studying at this university will prepare you for the future and you will have lifelong experiences. It is also a great opportunity to meet and make many Japanese and international friends.

Although the requirements to enter Hokkaido University are many, they all represent an opportunity to present yourself to the university as a potential student of its programs. In addition, its procedure is relatively simple compared to other universities. If your goal is to earn a Hokkaido degree, keep reading!

Requirements to study at Hokkaido University as a foreign student

• International Baccalaureate Diploma.
• Mastery of the Japanese language, for programs taught in this language.
• English language proficiency.
• Valid passport and visa. If you want to know more about the visa process you can enter here .
• Motivation letter.
• Statement of purpose.
• Annual financial plan.
• Academic recommendation letter.
• Academic record.
• Printed admission application.
• Front photograph, with name written on the back.
• International Baccalaureate thesis or own essay.

How to apply for Hokkaido University?

1. You must register online and print your application for admission.
2. Send all your documents and transcripts, along with the paper application by mail to the admissions area.
3. Pay the admission application fee of $155 USD.
4. Once you have completed your online application, you will receive an application number with which you must check the results.
5. Wait for the results of the university that will be published on its website .
6. Finally you must formalize your registration.

Tips for Studying in Hokkaido

We know how important it is for you to enter a university like Hokkaido, so we will give you some tips that will be useful for your admission to this institution.

As we mentioned in the previous section, some of the requirements are an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself to the school here we will tell you more about them. Take note!

• Motivation letter. In it you must explain why you are interested in this specific university and why not another. Likewise, you must make clear your reasons why you want to study the program of your interest. The projects or plans that you have once you have finished your studies.
• Thesis or essay activities in which you have been involved . If you studied within an International Baccalaureate, you must attach your thesis. Otherwise, you must write an essay of the academic and work activities in which you have participated during your pre-university training. Consider emphasizing those that are related to the program of your interest.
• Academic recommendation letter . Your academic recommendation should be from a professor who knows your academic history as well as your potential to excel in an undergraduate program in Hokkaido.

What can you study in Hokkaido?

Hokkaido University has 12 undergraduate schools as well as 21 graduate schools, covering almost all areas of study from the humanities to practical sciences, and its research activity is leading in Japan and the world.

In addition to undergraduate and graduate educational programs, this university has the Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) which offers about 125 graduate student programs and 25 undergraduate programs. Continue reading to learn more about its academic offer!

Study in Hokkaido – What you need to know

To study at this university you must know more than its educational programs and its fees. Therefore, below we present other important aspects about this university.

• During 2020, this university had just over 18,000 students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Of which just over 2 thousand students are international students. Therefore, the admission of international students is something very common in this university.
• As an international student, you have the Supporter System that helps new students integrate into the life of the university community.
• Its location is on the largest northern island of Japan. Its main campus is located in Sapporo, which is the largest city in Japan and has incredible nature. So studying in this city will be an experience that lasts a lifetime.

Can you work while studying?

For Hokkaido, having a part-time job is not ideal, as it takes away from students’ study time. However, a percentage of students require this to meet their maintenance and school expenses. If you are one of them, consider that your student visa does not allow you to perform any job.

To do this, it is necessary to process a permit to participate in activities other than those allowed under the state of residence that you initially processed. This permit is processed at the Immigration Services Office and allows you to work 28 hours a week during the class period and no more than 8 hours a day during the vacation period.

Also, this permit does not apply to work in adult entertainment venues, which is prohibited by law. Likewise, earnings from your work cannot be saved or sent abroad. Finally, take into account that with a part-time job you will earn around 518 USD per month , which is considered insufficient to cover school and living expenses.

Study Japanese in Hokkaido

Through the International Student Center, Japanese courses are offered for international students who will take courses taught in this language. The General Japanese Course has eight proficiency levels:

• Basic 1-4
• Intermediate from 1 to 3
• Advanced

In addition, the language ability necessary for academic or social life is divided into three aspects: interaction, comprehension, and expression. These courses have a duration of 5 months.

How to go on an academic exchange to Hokkaido?

If you are already studying an undergraduate program at a university in your home country and don’t want to miss the opportunity to study in Hokkaido, Hokkaido Summer Institute may be an option! There are around 150 courses offered by the different faculties of the university and more than 160 leading researchers in their field.

On the other hand, the Hokkaido University Short-Term Exchange Program (HUSTEP) is a “third year abroad” program that is designed to provide undergraduate students from Hokkaido affiliated universities with the opportunity to study in Japan. This program is carried out in two central divisions Culture and Society and; Science, Technology and Environment. They are courses taught in English, they have the opportunity to study the Japanese language.

In addition, students who wish to do so may carry out independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. During the exchange time, students have opportunities to participate in traditional and contemporary Japanese cultural activities.

Requirements

• You must be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s program at an overseas university that has a Hokkaido exchange agreement.
• At the time of application, you must be enrolled and pay tuition fees at your home university as a full-time student and for the entire period of study in Japan.
• Have at least two years completed in the undergraduate program before coming to Japan.
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent in your country.
• Proof of English proficiency, have a score of at least TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5.
• Exchange request .
• Letter of recommendation.
• Health certificate.
• Enrollment letter at your home university.

Scholarships and Grants offered by this university

The scholarships that students have access to are offered by government organizations and they can apply for them once they have been admitted into the university. Some of them are the following:

• Japan Government Scholarship. Aimed at undergraduate students with an outstanding academic record, it offers around $1,064 USD per month.
• Honors Scholarship for International Students. Aimed at international students with demonstrable economic needs, it offers between $272 and $436 USD per month.
• Jaso Scholarship. The Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO) offers a limited number of scholarships to short-term exchange students. Said program offers $730 USD per month for between five to eleven months.

Campus

Student life at Hokkaido University takes place in a warm and welcoming environment. All of its campuses are safe and clean, and are also located in beautiful surroundings.

Facilities and Extra Academic Offer

Student life at Hokkaido University is much more than just lectures and classes. There are thousands of opportunities for activities on campus. It has approximately 50 cultural clubs and 70 sports clubs.

The Student Support Division offers multiple cultural and sports activities such as the following:

• Art
• Jazz
• Judo
• Rugby
• Dance
• Volleyball
• Basketball

Library and digital classrooms

Hokkaido’s library system consists of the Central Library, North Library, and the departmental libraries containing more specialized books. The university library is open almost every day of the year, including Saturdays and Sundays.

So students can make the most of the library’s resources. The university libraries house about 3.8 million resources , in addition to dictionaries, bibliographies and other materials necessary for study. For its part, the North Library has a variety of books related to Japanese culture and Japan’s participation in social sciences and business.

Laboratories

Since this university is a research-intensive institution, it has the necessary facilities to carry out research activities.

• Center for Ainu & Indigenous Studies
• Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences
• Field Science Center for Integrated Quantum Electronics
• Proton Beam Therapy Center
• Center for Natural Hazards Research

Sports facilities

This university has a wide range of high-quality sports facilities for students to use to stay fit and healthy. The largest sports facility on campus is located just north of the Institute for International Collaboration.

This complex consists of two large gyms, a smaller gym, an athletic field covered with artificial grass, a swimming pool and a martial arts training room.

Cafeteria and other recreation centers

Within its campuses there are several cafeterias, restaurants and grocery stores where students can consume a variety of foods during their school day. Its cafeterias and restaurants serve the best quality of food throughout the year.

Some of them are Restaurant Royal, Clark Cafeteria, Elm Forest Shop, Hokubu Cafeteria, among many others. This is the information we have gathered from Hokkaido University. We invite you to fill out the form that you will find below.

At EstudiarEn we have a team of expert advisors who can guide you in this process. Do not miss out on this excellent opportunity!

Hokkaido University Photos