(Asia Financial Observer, Reporter Yuan Yin in Tokyo)In late November 2025, Tohoku University announced that starting from the 2027 academic year, tuition for international students will increase from the current 535,800 yen (approximately 24,379 RMB) per year to 900,000 yen (approximately 40,936 RMB) per year — a 1.7-fold rise. Notably, tuition for Japanese domestic students will remain unchanged. This is the first time that Japan’s national university system has explicitly implemented differential tuition fees based on student nationality. The move has attracted widespread public attention and signals a potential reassessment of Japan’s long-held reputation for “high cost-effectiveness” in study-abroad education.
This article analyzes the potential impact of this policy change on Chinese students planning to study in Japan from three perspectives: international comparison, historical trends, and practical advice for prospective students.
International Comparison:
Japan’s “low-cost advantage” in studying abroad is shrinking compared with the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada
For many years, Japan’s national universities have been one of the most popular choices for Asian students due to “low tuition and low overall living costs.” In 2019, for example, national university tuition was roughly 540,000 yen per year (about 27,000 RMB), and the policy of charging international students the same tuition as Japanese students was unique among major study-abroad destinations.
However, Japan’s advantages are becoming less pronounced when compared with Western countries:
The United States remains the most expensive study destination.In the 2024–2025 academic year, the average tuition at the top 100 U.S. private universities reached USD 64,491 (about 460,000 RMB). Public universities in the top 100 charged out-of-state students about USD 39,972 (about 280,000 RMB).
Over the past three years, U.S. tuition has increased by about 5–8%. Although the U.S. remains the most expensive globally, it also offers extensive scholarships and teaching/research assistantships for international students.
The U.K., Canada, and Australia also charge international students significantly higher tuition than domestic students.
Typical tuition for undergraduate and master’s programs ranges from 200,000 to 350,000 RMB per year, and programs such as business and medicine can exceed 400,000–600,000 RMB annually.
Given Japan’s recent “wave of tuition hikes,” exemplified by Tohoku University, a raise to 900,000 yen per year would still leave Japan slightly cheaper in total cost (tuition + living expenses) than many Western destinations. But the previously strong “low-cost advantage” is clearly narrowing.
According to Fiona, a study-abroad consultant with 15 years of experience, Japan’s cost-effectiveness is no longer “absolutely cheap,” but rather “moderately priced.” For students with limited budgets seeking the lowest-cost overseas degrees possible, countries like France or Nordic nations—offering low or even no tuition—may become more attractive.
Historical Comparison:
Study-abroad costs in Japan have been rising for five years; the era of uniform tuition is ending
Currently, national universities in Japan—including Tohoku University—charge international students roughly 535,800 yen per year for undergraduate and master’s programs, regardless of nationality (with certain program exceptions).
In the past two years, however, some universities and government agencies have shown signs of policy shifts. The government loosened the cap on tuition for international students at national universities, allowing institutions to independently set tuition levels.
From 2027 onward, Tohoku University will officially raise tuition for international students to 900,000 yen per year, marking the first explicit introduction of nationality-based differential tuition in national universities.
Compared with the last 3–5 years, the financial burden on international students in Japan has been steadily increasing. The trend is clear: a shift from “uniform low tuition” to “differential tuition based on cost recovery.”
Combined with rising prices, rent, and insurance fees, the students hit hardest by this change will likely be those with tight budgets who rely on part-time work.
Practical Advice from Study-Abroad Consultants
Plan ahead.“After the tuition increase, the total cost of studying in Japan may approach that of mid-tier universities in Western countries. Students and families considering Japan should plan their total budget for the next three to five years in advance,” Fiona advises.
Seek financial aid.With rising expenses, applying for scholarships, grants, and on- or off-campus work opportunities becomes even more critical. Students with strong grades, research background, or language skills can ease their financial burden significantly through funding.
Clarify your goals.If students choose Japan for career development, long-term residence, or for specific academic or geographic advantages, the higher cost may still be worthwhile. But if the goal is simply to “get a degree cheaply,” a careful cost-benefit comparison is necessary.
Follow policy updates.Since this marks the beginning of differential tuition, other national universities in Japan will likely follow. Prospective students must confirm official tuition policies in advance and closely monitor changes in program requirements and any special conditions for international students.
[Reporter’s Commentary]
A necessary transition from “low-cost option” to “quality-driven competition”
Yuan Yin
Tohoku University’s 1.7-fold tuition increase for international students—and the introduction of differential tuition—represents a major turning point in Japan’s higher education strategy regarding international recruitment, cost management, and global competitiveness.
Behind this change lie structural shifts in Japan’s education system. For years, national universities charged international students the same tuition as Japanese students. But as international student numbers increased, and as education and support costs rose amid inflation and higher living expenses, universities and the government moved toward reform.
For universities, the policy may be a “win-win” strategy. Higher tuition can increase revenue to improve international programs, services, and infrastructure. At the same time, universities may shift toward recruiting “high-quality, internationally competitive students” rather than simply maximizing enrollment or relying on international students as a source of low-cost labor.
For Japan’s study-abroad market as a whole, the “low-cost” label may weaken while the “high-quality” brand strengthens.
For Chinese and other Asian students, this change may encourage more cautious, rational decision-making regarding school choices, budgets, and long-term goals.
