❄️Hokkaido University

Sapporo, Japan

One of Japan's original Imperial Universities, based in Sapporo with a strong Agriculture and Veterinary tradition.

About Hokkaido

Founded in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College, Hokkaido University remains especially strong in Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Environmental Science, alongside broad science and engineering faculties. Its sprawling, forested Sapporo campus is unusually large and green for a Japanese national university.

Why students choose it

  • One of Japan's original Imperial Universities, founded 1876
  • Strong Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Environmental Science faculties
  • Large, forested Sapporo campus

🎓 Free application support for Hokkaido

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Hokkaido — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

AAB (A Level)  ·  IB 33

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

National universities (fixed statutory fee)

low tier for Japan — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

Japanese (most Bachelor's programmes) — Hokkaido offers a Modern Japanese Studies Program and some English-taught options; check the specific programme.

Campus

campus campus, Sapporo

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Hokkaido's financial aid office.

Japan's flagship scholarship is government-funded and well known internationally, alongside university-specific tuition waivers that are common at national universities regardless of the scholarship route.

  • MEXT Scholarship: Japanese government-funded, covers tuition plus a monthly stipend — available via both an embassy-recommendation and a university-recommendation track, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Highly competitive.
  • University tuition waivers: Many national universities offer partial-to-full tuition exemption based on financial need or academic merit, independent of MEXT — check each university's international student office.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Agriculture

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Veterinary Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Natural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Fisheries Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Durations are typical for Japan — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
April, September / October (English-taught programmes)
Typical deadline
November – January for an April intake
Note
Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only)

TOEFL: 72–100 iBT

Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

See where Hokkaido ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Japan University Shortlist Builder to see whether Hokkaido is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Japan university that matches.

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Hokkaido FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Hokkaido as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Hokkaido?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Hokkaido expects around AAB at A Level or 33 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Hokkaido's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Hokkaido's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Hokkaido cost for international students?

International tuition at Hokkaido typically falls in the National universities (fixed statutory fee) range (low tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Hokkaido's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Hokkaido?

Hokkaido follows Japan's typical intake calendar: April, September / October (English-taught programmes), with applications generally due november – january for an april intake. Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school. Always verify the exact date on Hokkaido's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Hokkaido?

Japan universities, including Hokkaido, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only). Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

What is Hokkaido known for?

One of Japan's original Imperial Universities, based in Sapporo with a strong Agriculture and Veterinary tradition. Founded in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College, Hokkaido University remains especially strong in Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Environmental Science, alongside broad science and engineering faculties. Its sprawling, forested Sapporo campus is unusually large and green for a Japanese national university.

Can I apply to Hokkaido with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Hokkaido accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Japan University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Hokkaido and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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