Application Information

Updated: August 7, 2025

Eligibility

• Must be enrolled at one of Keio University's partner universities

• Must have student status at your home university throughout your period of study at Keio University

• Must be formally nominated as an exchange student by your home university

• GPA requirement:
  All applicants MUST have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 / 4.0 or equivalent

• English proficiency requirements:
  Applicants for the "Keio International Program (KIP)" or "Graduate Studies Program (GSP) (if attending in English) "need to meet the following English proficiency requirements, unless you qualify for an exemption as below.

  Intended Program	English proficiency requirement
  Keio International Program (KIP)	TOEFL iBT 79 or equivalent　*1
  Graduate Studies Program (GSP)	If attending the program in English: TOEFL iBT 79 or equivalent　*1
  	If attending the program in Japanese: No proof of English proficiency required
  Japanese Language Program (JLP)	No proof of English proficiency required

  *1 If one of the following applies, you will be exempted from English proficiency requirements.
  -Student who is a national from countries where English is the first language
  -Student who is currently in the degree program where classes are given in English. (Regardless of whether English is the official language of the country)

  -How to submit English exam scores
  Score reports are NOT required and the expired score reports are also accepted.
  Upon nomination by the coordinator at the host university, please make sure that the nominating students have already obtained the required scores or will obtain the score by the application deadline.

  -Which English Exams should be taken
  We do not have specific rules regarding English proficiency certificates.
  As long as the certificate is accepted by the home university, it could be used as a valid English proficiency certificate to validate that the student(s) meet the requirement (TOEFL iBT 79 or equivalent).

  Application Deadline

  The application must be submitted Keio University NO LATER than the deadlines below.

  Fall Admission	March 30
  Spring Admission	October 5

  Important Notice

  • If you are a transfer student and wish to apply for the JLP, you must have completed at least one semester at your home university (nominating institution) at the time of application. You must be able to submit a transcript and a recommendation letter from your home university.

  • Incomplete applications will not be processed.

  • Your application will be reviewed by the selection committee of each program.

  • Acceptance to Keio is confirmed once you receive your acceptance letter. We recommend that you do NOT purchase an airline ticket prior to receiving your official letter of acceptance.

  • Extending your study period is not permitted. Please plan and choose your study period very carefully when you apply.

  • No credits or certificate will be given if you are not enrolled until the end of the course and miss the exams. No exceptions will be made for those who wish to leave early due to academic schedule conflicts or graduation from your home institution. Please check our "Academic Calendar" and "Important Dates", and consult with your home institution well in advance.

  Academic Calendar

  Please visit here for the latest exchange program scedule.

  Financial Requirement

  Be sure you can financially support yourself during the period of study at Keio. The average cost of living expense is at least JPY 130,000/month if you live in university-subsidized student housing. For the details, please visit here.

  Scholarships

  Scholarships such as JASSO are available but are not guaranteed for all the exchange students since the number of recipients is limited.

NOTES:
• We only accept the application online. Please DO NOT send us hard copy documents by post.
• The link for the online applicatin page will only be sent to the applicants who have been officially nominated by their home university.

FAQ

Q1: Do you have university dormitories?

Q2: Are there any scholarships available for exchange students?

Q3: What is the cost of living at Keio?

Q4: Can I attend for only one semester?

Students may choose to attend one semester or two semesters (one academic year). Extending your study period is not permitted. Please plan and choose your study period very carefully when you apply.

Q5: How many courses can I take? And how many credits can I earn?

Most of the courses at Keio are worth 2 credits per semester, whereas the Japanese language courses are usually worth 1 credit per semester. KIP and JLP students must register for seven (7) or more courses per semester. There is no maximum credit limit.

Q6: Do you have any Japanese language requirements for the Japanese Language Program?

We accept and welcome beginners (knowledge of Hiragana is required at least). However, we always recommend learning some basic Japanese before you come to Japan, so you can take full advantage of the program and your time here.

Q7: Can I take regular undergraduate courses at Keio University?

Almost all undergraduate faculty courses are conducted in Japanese. You can take those courses only if you meet the Japanese language proficiency requirements. Additional prerequisites may also apply to certain courses.

Q8: When will the course lists be available?

Course lists for the new academic year, from April to March, usually become available in late March.

Q9: Do you have a mentor program?

Yes, we have a mentor program called "Keio Mentor-Mentee Program". This program is organized by KOSMIC to help incoming exchange students feel welcome and smoothly transition to life in Japan and at Keio.

Q10: Is late arrival or early departure accepted?

No, we do not make special arrangements for late arrival or early departure. Please plan and choose your study period very carefully when you apply.