DEGREE PROGRAM
University of Tokyo
Tokyo
Electrical Engineering and Information Systems; Systems Design Lab (d.lab)
Japan's top university, home of the d.lab chip-design platform.
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT, university
- LANGUAGE
- English programs
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INSTITUTES · JAPAN
Studying semiconductors in Japan
Japan is training engineers fast to staff TSMC's Kumamoto fabs and Rapidus in Hokkaido. Universities near those sites have launched new semiconductor programs, and MEXT scholarships fund many international graduate students.
- 7PROGRAMS LISTED
- MEXTMAIN SCHOLARSHIP
- KyushuNEW PROGRAMS
- JapaneseHELPS FOR JOBS
Checked by hand, last reviewed October 2026. Program names, fees and intakes change, so confirm on each institute's official site.
THE LANDSCAPE
New programs near the new fabs
The University of Tokyo and Tohoku University lead in research; Tohoku is famous for spintronics and memory. Tokyo Tech merged with Tokyo Medical and Dental University in October 2024 to become the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Kyushu University and Kumamoto University, close to TSMC's JASM fab, have expanded semiconductor education, and Hokkaido University is building ties with Rapidus.
Many graduate programs teach in English. The MEXT scholarship covers tuition and living costs for selected international students, applied for through the Japanese embassy or a university.
ADMISSIONS AT A GLANCE
How admission works in Japan
| Degree | Master's (2 years) and PhD. |
|---|---|
| Entry | Often requires contacting a professor first; English or Japanese proficiency. |
| Intake | April and October. |
| Cost | National-university tuition is moderate; MEXT covers it for scholars. |
| After graduating | Job-hunting visa, then work visa; Highly Skilled Professional points visa. |
Fees, thresholds and deadlines change every year. Treat these as orientation and confirm on the official sites before you apply.
DIRECTORY
All 7 programs and institutes, filterable
Filter by type, or search a name, city, role or technology. Every link goes to the organisation's own site, not a job board.
Showing all 7
UNIVERSITIES
University programs
DEGREE PROGRAM
Tohoku University
Sendai
Electronic engineering; Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems
World-class in spintronics and memory devices.
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
- STRENGTH
- Memory, spintronics
DEGREE PROGRAM
Institute of Science Tokyo
Tokyo
Electrical and electronic engineering (formerly Tokyo Tech)
Formed in 2024 from Tokyo Tech and Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
- STRENGTH
- Circuits, devices
DEGREE PROGRAM
Kyushu University
Fukuoka
Electrical engineering; semiconductor programs
Expanding semiconductor training for the Kyushu chip cluster.
- NEAR
- Kumamoto fabs
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
DEGREE PROGRAM
Kumamoto University
Kumamoto
Semiconductor education programs
Launched new semiconductor programs next to TSMC's JASM fab.
- NEAR
- JASM
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
DEGREE PROGRAM
Hokkaido University
Sapporo
Information science and electronics
Building semiconductor ties with Rapidus in nearby Chitose.
- NEAR
- Rapidus
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
DEGREE PROGRAM
Hiroshima University
Higashi-Hiroshima
Research Institute for Nanodevices
Has its own cleanroom; Micron runs a DRAM fab in Hiroshima.
- NEAR
- Micron Hiroshima
- SCHOLARSHIP
- MEXT
Nothing matches that. Try a broader word, or clear the filter.
AFTER THE DEGREE
From Japanese degree to a job
- Join a lab with industry tiesProfessors' connections matter a lot in Japan.
- Start job hunting a year before graduatingJapan's new-graduate cycle is early and structured.
- Improve your JapaneseN2 opens most doors.
KEEP GOING
Related guides
FAQ
Common questions
Is Tokyo Tech still a university?
In October 2024 it merged with Tokyo Medical and Dental University to form the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Can I study semiconductors in Japan in English?
Yes, at graduate level. Many master's and PhD programs teach in English, and MEXT scholarships fund selected international students.
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