Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

About Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (東京外国語大学 Tokyo Gaikokugo Daigaku, colloquially known as TUFS or Gaidai), originated in 1857 during the Tokugawa Shogunate as the Bansho Shirabesho (Institute for the Study of Foreign Books / 蕃書調所) and formally established as an independent modern national institution of higher education in 1899. Located in Fuchu, Tokyo, TUFS is Japan’s oldest, most distinguished, and premier national specialized university devoted exclusively to foreign language studies, diplomacy, international relations, regional area studies, and intercultural humanities. As a designated MEXT Super Global University (SGU), TUFS commands extraordinary global eminence: over 80 languages are taught on its modern Fuchu Campus, with specialized degree majors offered in 28 languages across 14 geographical regions. The university is organized into three innovative undergraduate schools — School of Language and Culture Studies, School of International and Social Studies, and School of Japan Studies (SJS) — alongside the comprehensive Graduate School of Global Studies (featuring renowned English-medium tracks such as Peace and Conflict Studies PCS and the Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research). Host to the prestigious Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), TUFS educates approximately 4,400 students, including more than 800 international scholars representing over 75 countries, within a vibrant, multilingual global community featuring statutory national tuition (¥535,800/yr) and robust tuition waiver and MEXT scholarship ecosystems.