Tokyo International University is a private university founded in 1965, and one of the earliest Japanese institutions to build its identity around international exchange rather than adding it on later. Its main campus began in Kawagoe, Saitama, and in 2023 TIU opened a second campus in Ikebukuro, right in central Tokyo, built specifically to house its international and English-track programs.

Japan is a newer but rapidly growing option for students from Kerala looking to study abroad, and TIU is one of the more accessible entry points into it. TIU's E-Track Program, launched in 2014, is taught entirely in English — no Japanese is required to apply or to study — which removes the biggest barrier that usually keeps Indian students from considering Japan at all. This is also the first Japanese university IRS Study Abroad is listing, reflecting the growing interest we're seeing in Japan as a study-abroad destination.

Why TIU Stands Out — No Japanese Language Required

Study in Japan without knowing Japanese. TIU's E-Track degrees are taught 100% in English, and Japanese language ability is not required for admission — Japanese is offered as a course you can pick up during your degree, not a prerequisite to get in. This single fact is what makes TIU realistic for most Indian applicants, since it's usually the language requirement that rules Japan out.

A 60-year academic partnership with a US university. TIU has held a sister-university relationship with Willamette University in Oregon since 1965 — one of the longest-running of its kind between a Japanese and American university. Students can spend a year on the Willamette/TIUA campus in the US as part of their degree, and some can complete a dual degree (TIU + Willamette or Southern Oregon University) in as little as four and a half years.

Key strengths include:

• English-taught degrees with no Japanese language entry requirement
• A CERN research partnership through the Digital Business & Innovation program, where faculty contribute to feasibility studies for CERN's next-generation particle collider
• ISEP membership, giving access to 30 partner universities abroad for exchange semesters
• A genuinely international student mix — around 1,400+ students from over 75 countries on the English track
• More accessible English-proficiency requirements than Japan's top-ranked universities (IELTS 5.5 overall vs. 7.0 at University of Tokyo, for instance)

Popular Programmes, Fees & Scholarships

• TIU's E-Track offers a small, focused set of English-medium majors rather than a broad catalogue — each tied to a specific career direction:
• BA in Business Economics — TIU's founding discipline, dating back to its origins as the International College of Commerce
• BS in Digital Business & Innovation — combines business fundamentals with data, AI, and the CERN-linked research track
• BA in International Relations — includes access to TIU's affiliated Institute for International Strategy
• MA in International Relations and MS in Digital Business & Innovation at the graduate level

On fees: TIU charges tuition plus an Operations Fee and a one-time Enrollment Fee, separate from the 40,000 JPY Alumni Association fee added at enrollment. At the graduate level, published figures show a total of roughly ¥1,570,000 (tuition + operations + enrollment) before any scholarship reduction. The TIU Tuition Reduction Scholarship, open to every E-Track applicant, cuts this by 30%, 50%, 80%, or even 100%, based on academic merit, statement of purpose, and English test scores — so the fee you actually pay can vary enormously depending on your application strength. This is worth budgeting around early, since — unlike many universities — the scholarship decision comes with your admission result, not as a separate application later.

Career Opportunities & Student Value

TIU's Career Center works specifically with international students — resume reviews, interview practice conducted in both English and Japanese, and job-hunting seminars aimed at connecting graduates with companies actively looking to hire international talent in Japan. That bilingual layer matters in a job market where most local hiring still runs in Japanese, even for roles aimed at foreign graduates.

Students also get access to Career Experience Practicums — direct project work with real companies (past examples include presenting business models to a corporate CEO) — before they graduate.

Admission Requirements for Indian Students & Japan Student Visa

Japan is a newer but fast-growing interest area for Kerala students, and TIU addresses the two questions that usually come up first: do I need to know Japanese? and can I realistically get in? The answer to both is favorable here — English-track admission with moderate language-test requirements (PTE 45, TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95), and Japanese language taught as a course from beginner level for students who want to pick it up during their degree.

Once admitted, Indian students apply for a Japan student visa (Ryugaku visa) through the Japanese embassy or consulate, using TIU's Certificate of Eligibility as the core supporting document — IRS Study Abroad handles this documentation and application process as part of our visa service. Graduates who want to stay on and work can typically transition to a job-seeker visa while searching for employment in Japan.

For students weighing Japan against the more commonly chosen destinations (UK, Canada, Germany), TIU offers a lower cost of living than most Western study destinations, a currently favorable yen exchange rate, and a country with a well-known low crime rate and structured, employer-driven job market — factors that come up often in family discussions around safety and long-term value.

Is TIU Right for You?

TIU may be a good fit if you:

• want to study in Japan but don't want to learn Japanese before you go
• are interested in Business Economics, Digital Business & Innovation, or International Relations specifically, rather than a broad general degree
• want a scholarship to meaningfully affect your total cost, not just a small discount
• are drawn to the idea of a year or dual degree in the US as part of a Japan-based programme
• want structured, English-language career support in a country where job hunting is usually conducted in Japanese

Interested in Studying at TIU?

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