Hokkaido University

Sapporo, Japan
Website: www.hokudai.ac.jp Founded: 1876 year Type of University:Public 501–600 place StudyQA ranking: 881 pts. No. Students: 17983 Frgn. Students: 1570 No. Staff: 6250 Languages: Japanese Phone: +81117162111
Campuses:
International House Kita 8 East (Sapporo, Japan) International House Kita 23 Building 2 (Sapporo, Japan) International House Kita 23 Building 1 (Sapporo, Japan) Sosei-Ryo (Sapporo, Japan) International House Kita 8 (Sapporo, Japan) Keiteki-Ryo (Sapporo, Japan) International House Fushimi (Sapporo, Japan)
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About Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University (北海道大学 Hokkaidō daigaku), or Hokudai (北大), is one of the national universities of Japan. It is a member of the National Seven Universities, which were established as the best national higher education or research institute. It is located in downtown Sapporo, just north of Sapporo Station, and stretching approximately 2.4 kilometers northward. It is considered one of the top universities in Japan.

History of Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University (Hokudai for short) was originally founded in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農學校 Sapporo nōgakkō) by William S. Clark with the help of five faculty members and a first class size of 24 students. In September 1907, Tohoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學 Tōhoku teikoku daigaku) set up the faculty of Agriculture in Sapporo. Sapporo Agricultural College took the lead it. Tohoku Imperial University ceded the Faculty of Agriculture to Hokkaido Imperial University (北海道帝國大學 Hokkaidō teikoku daigaku) on April 1, 1918. It was one of nine Imperial Universities. The School of Medicine was established in 1919, at which time the Agricultural College became the Faculty of Agriculture. This was followed by the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science, and finally in 1947, the Faculty of Law and Literature. The current name of Hokkaido University also came into use in 1947. In 1953, the Graduate School was established.

Since 2004 the university has been incorporated as a National University Corporation under a new law which applies to all national universities. Although the incorporation has led to increased financial independence and autonomy, Hokkaido University is still partially controlled by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

In 2014 the university was selected under the Super Global Universities program that began as an initiative of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe who stated its aim was to help more of Japan's universities rank in the top 100 worldwide. Under the program, it is listed in the top university category or Type A—(Top Type) The Top Type is for world-class universities that have the potential to be ranked in the top 100 in world university rankings. Each Type A university will receive ¥420 million ($US 4.2 million) annually until 2023.

Accreditation

  • Institutional Accreditation or Recognition - Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
  • Year of first Accreditation - 1949

Rankings

General rankings

  • The university has been ranked 9th, 10th and 14th in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.
  • In another ranking, Japanese prep school Kawaijuku ranked Hokkaido as the 9th best university in Japan.
  • In 2013 QS World University Rankings ranked Hokkaido at 144th in the world. Their highest score was for Faculty Student Score (88 out of 100). Their lowest was for International Faculty Score (13.5 out of 100).
  • In an effort to boost their International Faculty Score, Hokkaido has recently been selected to be part of Japan's Super Global Universities Program. This program provides special funding to hire international faculty.

Research performance

  • According to Thomson Reuters, Hokkaido is the 6th best research university in Japan.
  • Its research standard is especially high in Materials Science (7th in Japan, 86th in the world), Chemistry (8th in Japan, 52nd in the world), and Biology & Biochemistry (6th in Japan, 104th in the world).
  • Weekly Diamond reported that Hokkaido has the 10th highest research standard in Japan in terms of research funding per researchers in the COE Program.
  • In addition, Nikkei Shimbun on 16 February 2004 surveyed the research standards in Engineering studies based on Thomson Reuters, Grants in Aid for Scientific Research and questionnaires to heads of 93 leading Japanese Research Centers, and Hokkaido was placed 17th in this ranking.
  • According to the Qs World university rankings in September 2012, Hokkaido University was placed 135th (worldwide) and 6th (in Japan) for general standards in engineering and technology.
  • It also has a good research standard in Economics, as RePec ranked Hokkaido as the 16th best Economics research university in Jan 2011.
  • The university received attention in 2010 when Professor Akira Suzuki won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry jointly with Richard F. Heck and Ei-ichi Negishi.

Graduate school rankings

  • Hokkaido Law School was ranked 6th in 2010 (8th in 2009) in the passing rate of Japanese Bar Examination.
  • Eduniversal ranked Hokkaido as 2nd in the rankings of "Excellent Business Schools nationally strong and/or with continental links " in Japan.

Alumni rankings

  • According to the Weekly Economist's 2010 rankings, graduates from Hokkaido have the 49th best employment rate in 400 major companies in Japan.

Student life @ Hokkaido University

At Hokkaido University, there is more to student life than just lectures and tutorials. An abundance of opportunities await international students to become part of the many activities available on campus. There are approximately 50 cultural clubs and approximately 60 athletic clubs at Hokkaido University. If you wish to know Japan and get better acquainted with Japanese students, participation in club activities will prove to be extremely rewarding.

The Office of International Affairs offers many kinds of cross-cultural events and cultural exchange opportunities which are open to international students, international researchers, their families, Japanese students, and University staff. Come by the OIA to find upcoming events on the message board or in the OIA Bulletin News.

Services of Hokkaido University

Once you get to Hokkaido you’re not alone. We run a wide range of services to help you get the most out of your time here, to prepare for life beyond university, and to help you if times get tough. These are just a few of the ways we will support your health and welfare, academic life, and career planning during your time with us. The Office of International Affairs specializes in providing the following services :

Supporter System

The International Student Supporter System is designed to provide assistance to first-comers to Sapporo to ensure that International Students commence their lives in Hokkaido smoothly. 

Newly arrived International Students are paired up with an enrolled student and are given help in the form of airport or Sapporo station pick-ups, accommodation advice, and administrational support. (eg. dealings with the Municipal / Ward Office, help setting up a bank account, etc.)

Student Support Desk

At the Student Support Desk, experienced international students provide consultation and can answer any questions you may have. Need help reading Japanese documents? Don’t understand procedures you need to carry out at your local government office? Want advice on where to shop? Don’t hesitate to drop into the Student Support Desk directly and ask away. Support provided in Japanese, English, and other languages (depending on staff rotation e.g. Chinese). Office hours: Mon-Fri, 09:00-18:00

Counselling Service

Being far away from your family and friends, you may experience homesickness and loneliness. Starting your study in a new environment may cause anxiety, and adjusting to a different culture and climate can also be tough. Many people feel anxious and stressed when going through changes and life transitions. If you are experiencing any difficulties in your study, career decision-making, interpersonal relationships, or cultural adjustment, do not hesitate to ask for help. The OIA counselor can help you resolve your difficulties and provide you with professional advice or counseling. Language : Japanese or English

Career Support

The Career Center provides various job search support including resume critique, mock interviews, career advice, and seminars. If you are planning on gaining employment in Japan, you should start your job search process early. We encourage you to take advantageof the

Why Hokkaido University?

One of The Seven Major National Universities In Japan

Hokkaido University was established in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College, and was the first higher education institution in Japan to award a bachelor’s degree. It later became Hokkaido Imperial University and has since been recognized as one of the seven major universities in Japan.

Top-Level Research

Hokkaido University can boast of top-level research in a variety of fields; representative of this is the Nobel Prize in Chemistry that Emeritus Professor Akira Suzuki was awarded in 2010 for his work in catalytic chemistry. In addition, according to the QS World University Rankings, Hokkaido University ranks 39 in the field of Agriculture/Forestry and within the top 100 in six fieldsChemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Biological Sciences, and Earth/Ocean Sciences

Extensive Career Support

Because we are a comprehensive university, our graduates are able to pursue careers in industry, government, and international organizations. We can also boast of substantial career support for our international students that endeavor to work in Japan. Our Career Center offers guidance and preparation for job hunting in Japan such as how to write an entry sheet and interview training.

12 Undergraduate and 18 Graduate Schools—the Most Comprehensive Curriculum of National Universities

Hokkaido University’s 12 undergraduate and 18 graduate schools cover almost all areas of the humanities, social and natural sciences, and our research leads Japan and the world. Our faculty of over 2,000, allows us to offer our students highly specialized knowledge from researchers in diverse fields.

Great Location

Hokkaido University is located in the northern-most major island in Japan. Its main campus is located in Sapporo which is the 5th largest city in Japan and all faculties and schools except for one are located there. Faculty of fisheries Sciences is located in Hakodate, south-west of Hokkaido Island. The natural bounty of Hokkaido is an attraction for tourists, and our Sapporo campus has been chosen as “most favorite campus” in a questionnaire by a major Japanese newspaper. 

Hokkaido University on map:
Study programs at :
Local: $ 3.54 k / год
Foreign: $ 3.54 k / год
Deadline: Feb 27, 2025
Duration: 4 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 4380
Local: $ 3.54 k / год
Foreign: $ 3.54 k / год
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Duration: 2 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 4752
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / Year(s)
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Duration: 3 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 5176
Foreign: $ 3.54 k / год
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Duration: 2 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 4050
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / Year(s)
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Duration: 3 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 3912
Foreign: $ 3.54 k / год
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Duration: 2 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 1934
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / Year(s)
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Duration: 3 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 1590
Deadline: Oct 31, 2024
Duration: 3 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 3604
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / год
Deadline: Feb 13, 2025
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 4843
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / Year(s)
Deadline: Feb 27, 2025
Duration: 2 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 5950
Foreign: $ 2.35 k / Year(s)
Deadline: Feb 27, 2025
Duration: 3 years
Languages: English
Study mode: On campus
Study type: Full-time
StudyQA ranking: 5207