Kyoto Imperial University was founded by imperial ordinance on 18 June 1897, the second university to be established in Japan.
Within ten years of the founding of the University, the Colleges of Science and Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Letters were opened. In July 1914 the College of Science and Engineering was divided into the College of Science and the College of Engineering.
Many come to Kyoto for the freedom to conceive and explore radical ideas. They include physicist Hideki Yukawa, the first Japanese Nobel laureate, and Kitaro Nishida, who founded the Kyoto school of philosophy. Yamagiwa is also a pioneer, spending years in the African jungle living with gorillas and studying human evolution.
Students seeking employment in Japan may learn Japanese and business etiquette through the classes offered by the Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture of the Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences of Kyoto University.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 7 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 57 | 64 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 25 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | 187 | 162 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 61 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | 46 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Kyoto University has seven accommodation facilities available for international students and researchers, located in the Shugakuin, Yoshida, Hyakumanben (for students only), Okazaki, Misasagi (for students only), Uji and Ohbaku areas of Kyoto.International students at Kyoto University can also stay at other accommodation facilities provided by external parties with which Kyoto University has a leasing agreement.
Internet users must subscribe to an internet service providers. Some internet providers offer an IP telephone service. Kyoto University Co-op accepts applications to the internet providers such as Seikyou Internet (Co-op).
University students and employees are legally required to receive annual medical exams. In addition, those at Kyoto University who are frequently exposed to radioactive material, microbes, specified chemical agents, extreme temperatures, or a hyperbaric environment, or who work at night, must have their health status checked every six months by the Kyoto University Health Service.
Yoshida Campus has been at the core of the university's activities since its founding. In particular, the main campus is home to structures of varying architectural styles, ranging from brick buildings dating back to the time of the institution's establishment—such as the Clock Tower Centennial Hall that has become the symbol of the university—to modern laboratory buildings. It can be said that Yoshida Campus truly represents the history of Kyoto University in tangible form. The Campus is further subdivided into seven sections.
Extra-curricular activities at Kyoto University range from the fun and casual ‘circles’ to highly competitive clubs with an emphasis in intensive training. Cultural circles are student gatherings of those who share an interest in an activity ranging from volunteer work, to photography, to dance and beyond. Sports clubs represent Kyoto University in inter-university competitions, while those who join Sports circles seek friendship through sports in a more casual manner.
Students who wish to join a student organization should apply directly to the organization of their interest. For contact information concerning the organizations listed below (officially recognized organizations as of May 2013), you can inquire at the Extracurricular Activities Office, Student Affairs Division, Academic Affairs Department.
According to the findings, “the evaluation results indicated that Kyoto Sangyo University was accredited as conforming to this association's criteria for universities.” The current accreditation period spans 7 years from April 1, 2017, until March 31, 2024.
Based on 7 reviews
Kyoto University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is well known for its strong research culture and academic freedom. The campus has a calm atmosphere and a long history, making it a great place for serious study.
the university of Glasgow is very beautiful. Students there were very hard-working.
The better university provided me with better circumstances. My first university experience was in the radiography technique course at the National University. After several years working as a radiograph technologist, I entered medical university, which provided me with fulfilling time, good friends, high-volume learning, and motivation. Now I entered a graduate university to learn epidemiology and how to research. I have kept my job while studying, therefore I cannot spare enough time to take classes. Still, it is an activating environment, with a talented professor, supportive staff, and motivated classmates. Now, I would like to study abroad to be an academic physician.
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