🎌Keio University

Tokyo, Japan

Japan's oldest private university, and one of its most prestigious for Business, Law and Economics.

About Keio

Founded in 1858 by educational reformer Fukuzawa Yukichi, Keio is consistently grouped with the University of Tokyo and Waseda as one of Japan's most prestigious institutions, particularly for Economics, Law and Business. The PEARL programme (Political Science and Economics) offers a fully English-taught undergraduate track for international students who don't yet have Japanese fluency.

Why students choose it

  • Japan's oldest private university, founded in 1858
  • PEARL — a fully English-taught undergraduate track in Political Science and Economics
  • Elite reputation in Economics, Law and Business

🎓 Free application support for Keio

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Keio — 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 34

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

Tuition (international, per year)

¥500,000–¥1,500,000/yr

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

Language of instruction

Japanese (most Bachelor's programmes) — a limited number of English-taught tracks exist (e.g. PEARL at the Faculty of Economics). Check the specific programme.

Campus

city campus, Tokyo

🏆 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 Keio'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

Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Business and Commerce

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

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

Letters

⏱️ 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 Keio ranks on your personal shortlist

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

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More Japan universities

Keio FAQ

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

What grades do I need to get into Keio?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Keio expects around AAB at A Level or 34 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Keio'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 Keio's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Keio cost for international students?

International tuition at Keio typically falls in the ¥500,000–¥1,500,000/yr range (high tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Keio'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 Keio?

Keio 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 Keio's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Keio?

Japan universities, including Keio, 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 Keio known for?

Japan's oldest private university, and one of its most prestigious for Business, Law and Economics. Founded in 1858 by educational reformer Fukuzawa Yukichi, Keio is consistently grouped with the University of Tokyo and Waseda as one of Japan's most prestigious institutions, particularly for Economics, Law and Business. The PEARL programme (Political Science and Economics) offers a fully English-taught undergraduate track for international students who don't yet have Japanese fluency.

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

Yes — Keio 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 Keio and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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