Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has approved special measures allowing three national universities to increase their international student intake starting in the 2026 academic year, as per a report by The Asahi Shimbun. The measure is introduced to attract more overseas talent and easing long‑standing restrictions on foreign enrolment, the ministry announced on February 17, 2026.
Faculties and universities covered under the new policy
Under the new policy, Tohoku University, Hiroshima University and University of Tsukuba will be allowed to raise foreign student enrolment beyond existing caps at specific faculties. According to The Asahi Shimbun report, the exemption applies at 11 faculties across the three universities.
At Tohoku University, it will include the Faculty of Science. Hiroshima University’s changes cover the School of Science, the School of Applied Biological Science and the School of Integrated Arts and Sciences. At the University of Tsukuba, seven faculties qualify, including the School of Humanities and Culture, parts of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the School of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences.
Relaxed enrollment limits and tuition adjustments
Previously, universities that exceeded prescribed enrollment standards risked losing eligibility to establish new faculties, which discouraged them from admitting more international students. Under the new measure, that penalty is relaxed, allowing large universities with overall student capacity of 4,000 or more to increase faculty enrollment caps from 105 % to 110 % of limits for programmes admitting 300 or more students.
The ministry has encouraged universities to raise tuition for international students to support improved education quality, though it has not mandated this. At Tohoku University, tuition for incoming undergraduate and master’s international students will rise to 900,000 yen (about $5,900) per year starting in the 2027 academic year. The University of Tsukuba will raise tuition to 608,800 yen annually for newly enrolled overseas students. Hiroshima University has likewise decided to increase undergraduate tuition for international students.
National universities in Japan are permitted to set tuition up to 1.2 times the standard annual rate of 535,800 yen for domestic students, but this cap was eliminated for international students in 2024. The ministry’s latest move reflects broader efforts to internationalise Japan’s higher education sector and make it more competitive in recruiting global talent.
