Meiji University: GJS English-Taught Undergraduate Program, Surugadai and Izumi, Tokyo’s Private MARCH Leader for International Students

Published on May 14, 2026

If you ask Japanese office workers, “Besides Waseda and Keio, which private universities are most popular with employers?” the answer is almost always the same: “MARCH” - Meiji, Aoyama Gakuin, Rikkyo, Chuo, and Hosei. The “M” in MARCH is Meiji University: with 33,000 students, it is one of Japan’s largest private universities; founded in 1881 (one year before Waseda); its Surugadai Campus is in Tokyo’s Jimbocho district, Japan’s largest bookstore area; and its career outcomes have ranked in the top 5 among private universities for years.

For Taiwanese families, Meiji is especially easy to understand: it is like “a Japan-version NTU in scale, alumni network, and city-center convenience.” Meiji was not one of the original 13 G30 universities and is not on the HSP +10 point bonus list, but it is one of the 24 SGU Type B driver universities: private flagship institutions that the Japanese government has invested in for internationalization. The GJS (Global Japanese Studies) fully English-taught undergraduate program is Meiji’s most open entry point for international students. The English Track Program has also been established in the School of Political Science and Economics, School of Commerce, and School of Global Japanese Studies. Annual tuition is about JPY 1.1M (around TWD 240,000): twice that of national universities, but slightly cheaper than ICU and Sophia, and nearly one-third cheaper than Waseda SILS.

Meiji’s biggest advantage is “high recognition of MARCH within Japanese society and the corporate world”. This brand recognition is extremely practical when it comes to employment.

1. Basic Information

2. World Rankings

Note: Meiji’s global overall ranking is relatively modest (large private-university scale dilutes research density in the ranking denominator), but on the three practical indicators of “domestic employability in Japan, bar exam results, and civil service exam results,” Meiji remains firmly in the private university top 5. Its status as one of the 24 SGU Type B driver universities shows that the Japanese government views Meiji as a leader in the next wave of internationalization.

3. Admissions Data (2024 Entry)

Global Japanese Studies (GJS, School of Global Japanese Studies English Track)

Other School English Track / Partially English-Taught Options

• School of Political Science and Economics English Track: politics, economics, sociology
• School of Commerce ABS (Advanced Business Studies): partially English-taught commerce program
• School of Global Japanese Studies “Global Initiative”: programs in cooperation with global partner universities

Overall G30 / SGU Undergraduate Admissions

Application Requirements (GJS)

International Students

• International students make up around 40-50% of GJS (a mix of Japanese and international students)
• Meiji’s overall international student ratio is around 5-6% (typical for a large private university)
• Main regions of origin: Asia (China, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia) + some students from Europe and North America

4. Tuition and Financial Aid

2025 Tuition (Private University, Varies by School)

Meiji’s tuition is about twice that of national universities, around 25-30% cheaper than Waseda SILS, and close to ICU / Sophia. For Taiwanese families, Meiji’s tuition plus Tokyo living costs fall into the “mid-tier private university” range and require clear budget planning.

Meiji University Scholarships

• Meiji University Grant-Type Scholarship: JPY 400,000-1,000,000 per year, selected based on academic performance and financial need
• Meiji University International Exchange Scholarship (for international students): JPY 300,000-600,000 per year
• JASSO Honors Scholarship: JPY 48,000-80,000 per month
• MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship: Meiji is also one of the universities eligible to recommend students for MEXT (full tuition waiver + monthly living stipend)

5. Program Structure / Signature Programs

Global Japanese Studies (GJS)

Meiji’s most important English-taught undergraduate entry point. It is primarily English-taught over four years, with some Japanese-language courses:

• Core areas:
• Japanese Pop Culture: academic study of anime, manga, J-pop, games, and cosplay
• Japanese Society: politics, social issues, gender, generational studies
• Japanese Media: traditional / new media, journalism, advertising
• Japanese Business: Japanese corporate culture, strategic management
• Japanese History & Thought: intellectual history, religion, literature
• Strong encouragement for overseas exchange in Year 3: 300+ partner universities
• Japanese minor: students are advised to reach N2 before graduation; some courses mix in Japanese

The defining features of GJS are that it is “the easiest to apply to, the friendliest to international students, and covers Japanese popular culture plus academic research.” It suits students interested in “cool Japan.”

School of Political Science and Economics English Track

• Four-year partially English-taught program (core courses in English; electives available in Japanese / English)
• Three majors: political science, economics, and regional administration
• Suitable for students interested in Japanese policy studies and public administration

School of Commerce ABS

• Advanced Business Studies
• Partially English-taught commerce program
• Mixed classes with Meiji School of Commerce undergraduates

School of Law, School of Arts and Letters, School of Agriculture, School of Science and Technology

• Primarily taught in Japanese
• A small number of English-taught electives are open to international students each semester

Naitei System (Graduate Level)

For Meiji graduate school applications, students must first contact a professor and obtain informal acceptance. Meiji University’s office for international student programs is well developed, and this is one of the areas where Meiji has the strongest reputation among international students.

6. Campus Culture / School Personality

Meiji’s culture can be summarized in a few words: MARCH leader, Tokyo, social elite, sports powerhouse.

• No. 1 in MARCH: the leader of the private university group known as “Mei-Ao-Rik-Chu-Ho,” with the largest student body and strongest employability
• Member of the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League: alongside Waseda, Keio, the University of Tokyo, Rikkyo, and Hosei. Meiji’s baseball team is a training ground for Nippon Professional Baseball players
• Surugadai Campus “Liberty Tower”: a 23-story high-rise academic building, Meiji’s modern landmark, with a distinctive design
• Jimbocho cultural immersion: Surugadai Campus is in “Jimbocho used bookstore district,” Japan’s largest old-bookstore area, with a high density of cafes and a strong cultural atmosphere
• 500+ student clubs: Meiji has one of the largest numbers of student clubs in Japan, covering sports, arts, academics, study abroad, and many other fields
• Deep job-hunting culture: Meiji students’ commitment to shukatsu (job hunting) and their confidence in the MARCH brand reflect Japanese workplace culture
• Strict senpai-kohai relationships: as a large private university, Meiji has a dense alumni network across the corporate world

Meiji’s character is that of a “training ground for Tokyo’s Japanese social elite”: a combination of large private university scale, city-center location, and employability that national flagship universities cannot replicate.

7. Location / Campus Environment

City Positioning

Meiji’s four major campuses are in Tokyo:

• Surugadai Campus (Chiyoda-ku): main campus for the School of Law, School of Commerce, School of Political Science and Economics, School of Arts and Letters, and School of Business Administration. Located between JR Ochanomizu Station and Jimbocho subway station: 5 minutes from Tokyo Station and 10 minutes from Otemachi
• Izumi Campus (Suginami-ku): foundation courses for Years 1-2 (most schools). 8 minutes from Shinjuku Station
• Ikuta Campus (Kawasaki, Kanagawa): School of Science and Technology and School of Agriculture
• Nakano Campus (Nakano-ku): School of Global Japanese Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, and interdisciplinary programs

Advantages of Surugadai Campus

• Jimbocho used bookstore district: Japan’s largest old-bookstore area, with 180+ used bookstores; a paradise for students
• 5 minutes by train to Akihabara: anime, electronics, and cosplay culture
• Imperial Palace + Kitanomaru Park: within walking distance, good for exercise, cherry blossoms, and autumn leaves
• Tokyo Station and Otemachi financial district: 15 minutes on foot, extremely convenient for internships

Climate

• Winter: 2-10°C, dry and cold with little snow
• Summer: 26-35°C, humid and muggy
• Comfortable cherry blossom season in spring and foliage season in autumn

Campus Landmarks

• Liberty Tower: Surugadai’s 23-story academic building and Meiji landmark
• Academy Commons: Surugadai exhibition space and Meiji University Museum
• Central Library: around 2.5 million volumes
• Izumi Campus Library Mead Hall: one of Japan’s most beautiful university libraries

8. Research and Resources

Libraries

• Central Library + branch libraries on each campus: around 2.5 million volumes
• Comprehensive electronic resource subscriptions
• Some areas open 24 hours

Notable Research Institutions

• Meiji University manga library (Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library): Japan’s largest academic manga research library, with 240,000+ items
• School of Global Japanese Studies: an academic research center for Japanese popular culture
• Nakano Campus designed by Kisho Kurokawa: the architecture itself is a textbook example of modern architecture

Academic Strengths

• Law: rooted in Meiji Law School’s founding tradition; 4th-5th among private universities in successful bar exam candidates
• Commerce / business administration: among the strongest within the MARCH system
• Political science and economics: a high proportion of Meiji alumni in Japan’s political science community
• Agriculture / food and environmental policy: high concentration of Meiji professors in Japan’s food studies associations

9. Notable Alumni

• Politics: Tomiichi Murayama (former Prime Minister), Takeo Miki (former Prime Minister, alumnus of Meiji’s predecessor institution), Toshiki Kaifu (former Prime Minister)
• Major corporations: leadership at JR East, Suntory, Meiji Seika (same name but no formal relationship), Bandai Namco, Konami, and others
• Entertainment / media: Takeshi Kitano (manzai master and film director), Seiji Miyane (news anchor), Maki Horikita (actor), Ryohei Otani (actor, active in Korea’s entertainment industry)
• Sports: Senichi Hoshino (renowned former professional baseball manager), Sadaharu Oh (although from Waseda, he competed against Meiji baseball), Shigeo Nagashima (although from Rikkyo, he was a Tokyo Big6 rival of Meiji)
• Literature: Takashi Atoda (Naoki Prize author), Shu Fujisawa (Akutagawa Prize author)

Meiji alumni are especially concentrated in “Japanese entertainment, media, and sports”. This is the root of GJS’s emphasis on “Japanese popular culture studies.”

10. Lesser-Known Facts About Meiji University

1. Meiji University’s manga library is the world’s largest academic manga collection: with 240,000+ items, including out-of-print manga, doujinshi, and industry materials, it is a pilgrimage site for manga researchers worldwide.
2. The name “Meiji” does not come directly from the “Meiji era”; rather, the university was founded in 1881, which happened to be Meiji 14. Meiji University is the higher education institution most directly named “Meiji.”
3. Meiji’s baseball team has produced many Nippon Professional Baseball players: Senichi Hoshino, Kenshin Kawakami, and Kazuma Okamoto (the Giants’ current cleanup hitter) all graduated from Meiji’s baseball program. In Japan, “Meiji baseball” is a traditional powerhouse on par with Waseda and Keio.
4. The “Liberty” in Liberty Tower comes from Meiji’s motto, “Rights, Liberty, Independence, Self-Governance.” When completed in 1998, it was Japan’s first “high-rise university academic building.”
5. Meiji University receives over 100,000 applicants year after year: more than 100,000 people apply to Meiji each year (including general admissions, recommendations, AO admissions, and internal progression from affiliated high schools), making it one of Japan’s most-applied-to universities.

11. Typical Admitted Student Profile (GJS)

• High school GPA of 3.4/4.0 or above
• TOEFL iBT 85+ or IELTS 6.5+
• SAT 1250+, IB 32+, or A-Level 3B or above
• Able to clearly explain “why Meiji, not Waseda SILS / Keio PEARL / ICU”: usually through angles such as “Japanese popular culture studies,” “central Tokyo location,” “MARCH employability,” and “manga library resources”
• Genuine interest in Japanese anime, music, popular culture, and social issues (not just “I like watching anime”)
• Experience in overseas exchange, Model UN, student council leadership, or arts and cultural activities
• Recommendation letters from social studies / English / homeroom teachers
• A concrete vision for “working in Japanese companies + using the MARCH alumni network”

12. What Kind of Student Is It Suitable For?

✓ Suitable for:

• Students whose budget can handle annual tuition of JPY 1.1M and who want a famous private university in Tokyo
• Students with genuine passion for Japanese popular culture, media, and social research
• Students who want the boost of a central Tokyo campus + Jimbocho / Akihabara culture
• Students planning to work in Japan after graduation (Meiji has extremely high recognition in Japanese corporate circles)
• Students who want a large student community + rich club life + strong alumni network
• Students who do not need the aura of a G30 flagship university but do need practical employability
• Students interested in academic research on manga / anime

✗ Not necessarily suitable for:

• Budget-sensitive students who want national university tuition of JPY 535,800
• Students who want a top-tier program in pure medicine or pure engineering (Meiji’s science and technology programs are not in the top tier)
• Students who want the G30 / SGU Type A halo (Meiji is SGU Type B)
• Students who want the HSP +10 point bonus (Meiji is not on the bonus list)
• Students who want small classes, an elite environment, and a quiet campus (Meiji is a large university with 33,000 students)
• Students who dislike Japan’s “senpai-kohai and job-hunting culture”

13. HSP Highly Skilled Professional Permanent Residency Path

Meiji University is not on the HSP +10 point bonus list. This is Meiji’s biggest disadvantage compared with national flagship universities. But this does not mean Meiji graduates cannot take the HSP route: they simply need to accumulate points through salary + work experience + English ability + Japanese ability.

The most common HSP paths for Meiji graduates are:

• Meiji GJS / English Track → enter a major Japanese company (Dentsu, Hakuhodo, Suntory, JR, ANA, JAL, Bandai Namco, Sony Music) → accumulate 70 points over 3-5 years → apply for HSP
• Graduate school route: Meiji undergraduate degree → graduate school at the University of Tokyo / Kyoto University / Hitotsubashi University (master’s) → obtain a master’s degree from an HSP +10 point bonus university → take the HSP route directly
• Media / entertainment / creative industries: Meiji has strong placement in entertainment, advertising, and media, but salaries in these industries accumulate points more slowly, so the HSP path usually takes longer

Another path suitable for Meiji graduates is “regular permanent residency application”: work in Japan for 10 years (including 5 years of regular full-time employment) → permanent residency. For students not in a rush to use the HSP fast track, Meiji is completely viable for this route.

Practical recommendation: Meiji undergraduate degree + University of Tokyo / Hitotsubashi / Kyoto University master’s is the “Meiji upgrade” strategy most commonly used by Taiwanese families. It lets students benefit from Meiji’s undergraduate employability and alumni network while later obtaining a master’s degree from an HSP +10 point bonus university. For detailed strategy, please refer to Dr. G.’s internal materials: “Post-Graduation Visa Strategy / 05_Japan_Visa_Strategy,” “Master Grad School Database / Japan,” and the MARCH ROI comparison in the “Top 30 Cost-Performance Report.”

Conclusion

Meiji is a “famous private university that Taiwanese families underestimate the most, yet is in practice one of the most practical choices.” If your goal is to enter the Japanese workplace, establish yourself in Tokyo with a degree recognized by Japanese employers, and enjoy metropolitan life, Meiji’s MARCH leadership, 33,000-person alumni network, and Surugadai city-center location make it one of the best choices outside Waseda and Keio. It does not have the “research flagship” label of a G30 Type A university, nor the “fast track to permanent residency” of the HSP +10 point bonus. But it does have 30 years of accumulated brand recognition in Japan’s corporate world + the city-center advantage of Jimbocho / Akihabara / Otemachi in one line + the highly international-student-friendly GJS school.

The most common reasons Taiwanese families overlook Meiji are “lower QS ranking” and “tuition twice as high as national universities.” But this is the biggest misconception about studying at private universities: the value of a private university lies in its recognition within Japanese society and the corporate world, not in its QS global ranking. In one sentence: if you want to work after graduation at Dentsu, Hakuhodo, Suntory, or Bandai Namco, commute in a suit to Otemachi, and enjoy the urban life of young people in Tokyo, Meiji is the strongest entry point within the MARCH system.