🏅 QS World Rank #95
Osaka University — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Japan’s second-largest national university — QS World Rankings 2027 #95
Osaka University is a national research university in the Osaka area of Japan, founded in 1931 as Osaka Imperial University. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 95th in the world. This guide covers its schools, admission routes, the official 2026 fee figures, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most.
Osaka University Overview
Osaka University was founded in 1931 as Osaka Imperial University and became a national university after the Second World War. Its roots reach back further, to Tekijuku, a private school of Western medicine opened in Osaka in 1838 by Ogata Koan.
The university works across three campuses in the Osaka area: Suita, Toyonaka and Minoh. It is best known for medicine, engineering and the natural sciences. Physicist Hideki Yukawa, Japan’s first Nobel laureate (Physics, 1949), developed his meson theory in 1935 while at Osaka Imperial University.
Osaka University Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
Osaka University is 95th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
The tagline calls Osaka “Japan’s second-largest national university”. We could not confirm that enrolment claim on official pages, so treat it as unverified.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Osaka University is known for:
- Medicine and life sciences, including immunology research
- Engineering and engineering science
- Physics and chemistry, building on the Yukawa tradition
- Pharmaceutical sciences and dentistry
- Humanities, law and economics, taught across several faculties
- International public policy, through the Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP)
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International applicants use admission routes that differ from the Japanese domestic entrance-exam system. We could not read the current undergraduate international pages, so confirm every step on Osaka University’s official admissions site.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Routes | Osaka offers separate admission routes for international applicants. Most undergraduate programmes are taught in Japanese, while English-taught options are more common at graduate level. Check the route for your programme |
| Language | Japanese-taught programmes need Japanese proficiency. English-taught programmes need English evidence |
| Documents | Transcripts, proof of secondary-school completion, passport and any programme-specific documents |
| Selection | Depends on the route: academic records, test scores, essays or interviews may be used |
| Postgraduate | Master’s and doctoral applicants usually need a relevant degree and often contact a supervisor before applying |
| Visa | A student visa is required for study in Japan |
Osaka University Acceptance Rate
Osaka University does not publish one acceptance rate for international applicants, so this page does not quote one. Medicine, engineering and the sciences are the most competitive areas.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on Osaka University’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Osaka University’s own page lists these national-university fees:
- Enrolment (admission) fee: ¥282,000
- Tuition: ¥267,900 per semester, which is ¥535,800 per year
The page says both amounts may change at any time, and a revised rate applies to enrolled students from the date of revision. Living costs in Osaka are extra. Medicine, dentistry and some graduate programmes may have other charges, so check your programme.
Source: Osaka University fee information. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship: a national scheme for international students that has covered tuition and a monthly allowance. Check the current rules and application route with the Embassy of Japan.
- Other support: Osaka University and Japan’s student-support agency JASSO may offer awards or funding. We could not confirm current names or amounts, so check the university site.
- More funding ideas: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027.
Osaka University for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the international route:
- Language: decide between Japanese-taught and English-taught programmes early. Our IELTS preparation guides can help with English evidence
- Scholarship: MEXT applications run through the Embassy of Japan. Check dates early
- Graduate study: contact a prospective supervisor before applying
- Visa: a student visa is required after admission
Campus & Student Life
- The main Suita campus is in the northern part of the Osaka area, with the Toyonaka and Minoh campuses nearby
- Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities and a major commercial and cultural centre
- The university has large medical, engineering and science research facilities
- Student clubs, a university hospital and an international student community support daily life
Research & Career Opportunities
- Osaka University is research-intensive, with strong medicine, engineering and science departments
- Osaka and the Kansai region have manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceutical and healthcare employers
- Graduates work in research, healthcare, industry and public service
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Hideki Yukawa, Nobel Prize in Physics 1949, did his meson work at Osaka Imperial University
- Osamu Tezuka, the manga artist, qualified in medicine at Osaka University
- Check the official Osaka University pages for other notable graduates
Contact & Location
Osaka University
1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Official website: osaka-u.ac.jp/en
Use the contact details on the official site for admissions questions, as email addresses and phone numbers change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Osaka University is ranked 95th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
It was founded in 1931 as Osaka Imperial University. Its roots go back to Tekijuku, a school of Western medicine opened in Osaka in 1838.
Osaka University lists a tuition of ¥267,900 per semester, or ¥535,800 per year, plus an enrolment fee of ¥282,000. These amounts can change.
Osaka University is best known for medicine, engineering, life sciences and physics.
Yes. It is in the Osaka area, one of Japan’s largest urban regions, with campuses in Suita, Toyonaka and Minoh.
English-taught options exist, mainly at graduate level, but many undergraduate programmes are taught in Japanese. Check each programme page.
Yes. The MEXT Scholarship is a national scheme. Check the current application route with the Embassy of Japan.
Hideki Yukawa, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949, did his meson research at Osaka Imperial University.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply through the international routes and need the language evidence and visa Osaka University lists.
Check Osaka University’s official pages at osaka-u.ac.jp/en. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare Osaka University With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Osaka University’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.