Established in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa as a small school of Western learning, Keio has a history as Japan’s very first private institution of higher learning. Over 160 years since its founding, Keio has thrived under its founder’s motto of jitsugaku*, or empirical science, as it continues to transform Japan as a modern nation through contributions to education, research, and medicine.
Keio University leverages its strengths as a comprehensive university to promote multidisciplinary research under the three initiatives of Longevity, Security, and Creativity. We are also cultivating individuals equipped with international mindsets and making contributions to solve both domestic and global challenges through international joint research under these three initiatives while developing various educational programs.
*: Jitsugaku is a way of learning about the world pursued by Keio University’s founder Yukichi Fukuzawa through the application of reason, observation, and verification, and it stemmed from his desire to break free of the Confucian ideals that informed scholarship in 19th-century Japan. Jitsugaku is science in the truest sense of the word and a powerful tool in Keio University’s never-ending search for practical solutions to real-life problems.
- Located in TokyoーThe World's Best City
Keio is located in Tokyo and Kanagawa, one of the world's largest major metropolitan areas. Living in Tokyo is a chance to experience Japan through its capital city with its many contrasting faces: unique customs, natural beauty, and futuristic technology. With all of the modern trappings and conveniences of a modern city, Tokyo was recently ranked the world's best city to live in for the third consecutive year, and is also one of its safest and cleanest. Tokyo is also a convenient gateway for all of Japan and the rest of Asia.
Come to Keio and start your own journey through the heart of the city, with the contrasting sights and sounds of Keio's academics and extracurricular activities
- Wide-Ranging Academic Programs
Between its undergraduate faculties and graduate schools, Keio offers an extensive range of subjects, including numerous degree programs offered entirely in English. 3 undergraduate faculties and 9 of Keio's graduate schools offer degree programs in English. The GIGA Program, launched in 2011 and taught in English, seamlessly integrates information and communication technology and governance. The Faculty of Economics, as one of the most renowned in Japan, has launched its PEARL Program to train the next generation of business leaders in Asia and the world.
Keio has over 300 partner institutions overseas and is one of the top universities in Japan for its number and quality of double degree programs with top universities abroad.
Keio also values Japanese language education. The Japanese Language Program provides students with high quality Japanese language training and fosters students' specialist knowledge of Japan.
- A Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment
Where you live is just as important as where you study. Keio affords students comfortable, safe living environments that encourage interaction yet allow privacy, so you can enjoy the company of your peers but also have some space to study for that next exam. And all at much lower costs than comparable universities elsewhere in Japan and abroad. International students are eligible for a whole host of scholarships, and the Office of Student Services is available to assist students with issues they may face in their daily life.
Outside of the classroom (and your dorm room), a fulfilling campus life awaits. There are over 400 clubs and societies run voluntarily by students for all manners of sports and interests. Attend one of the popular sporting events put on by the Keio University Athletic Association, which currently has 43 official clubs and teams. Don't forget to join one of Keio's student-run campus festivals, which are key highlights of the academic year and held annually on each of Keio's campuses as some of the largest student events anywhere in Japan.
- Outstanding Research Opportunities
Keio was first to bring the university model to Japan, and it has paved the way for high-quality education and research in an open-minded environment since opening its doors in 1858. At Keio, the distinction between student and teacher is seamless: they study together, teach together, conduct research together, and reach their potential together.
As a world-class research university, Keio has the research brains and the brawn to do the heavy lifting that great research often requires. The Faculty and Graduate School of Science and Technology has a dedicated campus with cutting-edge facilities, and Keio University Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the country for its leading medical education, research, and treatment. With 10 undergraduate faculties, 14 graduate schools, over 30 research centers, and a university library boasting one of Japan's largest collections of books, we can proudly say that we value research across the whole spectrum of humanities and sciences. The breadth and depth of research at Keio is unrivaled at any other private university in Japan.
- A Close-Knit Community of Alumni
Keio's development has always been dependent on the strength of its community. Our inclusive community includes students, faculty members, staff, alumni, parents, and other supporters of Keio, making it one of our most valuable resources. When alumni first find out they are both Keio graduates, they forget any difference in age, occupation or social status, and these encounters are often the start of new connections.
As our top 10 ranking on the Global Executive Alma Mater Index attests, an international education at Keio is an asset that has launched many global leaders onto their path to success. Keio alumni can be found in almost any profession, from politics and public service to industry, academia, medicine, and the arts. Our alumni stay connected through Mita-kai, voluntarily formed alumni associations that can be found all over the world. Organized by year, region, and occupation, Keio currently counts more than 870 Mita-kai.
