History
The university started out in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College, the first modern academic institute in Japan. During its long history, the college was promoted to an Imperial University and then flourished after the creation of the new university system.
Education
We develop curricula of international quality, so that students may be given a distinguished all-round education and acquire global perspectives. This is so that we may nurture students who are open-minded, of high intellect, and who possess a wide knowledge base. Graduate courses are designed with the aim of producing highly skilled individuals who can a play central role in their respective field and will contribute to society with their expertise and ethical views. For undergraduate courses, there is more of an emphasis on improving the liberal arts education they receive so that they may become talented as global citizens.
Research
Research Centers:
- Center for Innovation and Business Promotion
- Center for Food and Medical Innovation (FMI)
- Creative Research Institution (CRIS)
- Institute of Low Temperature Science
- Research Institute for Electronic Science
- Institute for Genetic Medicine
- Institute for Catalysis
- Slavic-Eurasian Research Center
- Information Initiative Center
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control
- Central Institute of Isotope Science
- Research Center for Integrated Quantum Electronics
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere
- Center for Advanced Tourism Studies
- Center for Ainu & Indigenous Studies
Career
Hokkaido University has a proud history of nurturing great research and innovation, and has produced some of the finest minds in academia and the professional world, culminating in a recent Nobel Prize winner.
Regardless of the work you do here, you’ll be encouraged to embrace a “Frontier Spirit” in an environment where there is never a shortage of inspiration. We encourage you to apply for a position, academic or administrative, here at Hokkaido University.
University Ranking
Housing services
The accommodation available at Hokkaido University is one of the many advantages of studying here. There is a great variety and number of university-owned accommodation available. There are a total of 642 rooms available, all of which are within walking distance to the campus and equipped with free high-speed internet access.
Each dormitory is different in price and design, making it difficult to fully convey the variety of options available.
We do offer accommodation for married couples and families. Some dormitories are single-sex, others unisex, some mix Japanese students with International Students, and others are purely for international students.
Library services
Hokkaido University has two main libraries: the Main (Central) Library, and the North Library, as well as departmental libraries. The University Library is open almost every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, throughout the year.Students are encouraged to make the most of the library during their time at Hokkaido University.
ICT services
ELMS is Hokkaido University’s educational information system for students, faculties, and staff members. Services include an email client and learning management system (LMS). An ELMS ID and password are needed to use the ELMS client PCs and its web services.
Medical services
The Health Care Center, is located in the center of campus is your on-campus resource to meet your primary health care needs. The staff includes physicians, nurses, counselors and administrative staff members. Hokkaido University’s Health Care Center provides medical checkups, health consultation and primary care for non-life threatening conditions to students and staff.
Campus life
Sapporo Campus - It is rare anywhere in the world for a campus of approximately 180 hectares (stretching 2 km from north to south, and 1.6 km east to west) to be located in the center of a city with a population of two million people. Remarkably, the built environment covers a mere 12% of this extensive campus, with the remaining consisting of open spaces such as farms, green spaces, forests, creeks, and pathways.
Hakodate Campus - Since it opened in 1935, the Hakodate campus has had a proud history of being at the forefront of fisheries research and is one of the largest campuses of its kind in Japan.
Sports facilities
Hokkaido University has a wide range of high quality sports facilities for students to utilize to keep fit and stay healthy. The largest sports facility on campus is located just north of the Institute for International Collaboration. This complex consists of two large gymnasiums, a smaller gymnasium, an indoor athletic field with artificial grass, a swimming pool and a martial arts training hall.
The university also has a large range of outdoor facilities available for use: 2 baseball grounds, soccer/rugby grounds, hockey/handball grounds, 4 artificial grass tennis courts in the north, as well as 3 artificial grass tennis courts and 3 clay tennis courts to the south.