Kobe City University of Foreign Studies

Kobe City University of Foreign Studies is committed to providing an academically balanced and responsible education. By promoting the study and teaching of foreign languages and cultures, it seeks to instill in students a deeper understanding of international affairs and foreign countries.

Founded in 1946, the university offers undergraduate and graduate-degree programs in English, Russian, Chinese and Spanish studies, as well as International Relations. The undergraduate programs offer a choice of the following courses: Linguistics and Literature, General Culture, Social Sciences, and International Communication. In 1991, a graduate program offering a degree in Japanese studies was added to the curriculum.In 1991, a graduate program offering a degree in Japanese studies was added to the curriculum.

The current university enrollment is approximately 2,184. The faculty includes many distinguished scholars and eminent researchers with doctoral degrees who are committed to excellence in teaching.

The university has teacher exchange programs with the University of MoscowOpens in a new tab, Northeast Normal University and Shanghai Normal University in China, the University of Alcala in SpainOpens in a new tab. and Sapienza University of Rome in Italy.

In order to help students gain cross-cultural experiences and valuable practical knowledge for their future careers, the university offers an accredited student exchange programmes through arrangements with 4 universities in North America, 7 universities in Europe, 3 universities in China, 2 universities in Russia, as well as 21 other partner universities of all over the world.

The university also encourages its students to participate in off-campus educational programs abroad at leading educational institutions and organizations.

The city of Kobe stands at a crossroad, geographically as well as historically, connecting Japan with the world. As befits its location, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies prepares its students to work in a variety of multilingual environments. Our campus is filled with students who are interested in foreign cultures and languages in their various dimensions, as well what is currently happening in the world. We welcome anyone who aspires to live and work in the global community.

At our university, you can study the language and society of a country from many different aspects. If you are interested in Japan, for instance, you can study it through the prisms of its society, culture, economy, history, people, and international relations. On our campus, you will find many Japanese and international students who share your interests.

The area around Kobe is home to more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other region in Japan. You may travel to sites in Hiroshima, Miyajima, and the old capitals of Kyoto and Nara as one-day trips, though of course you may want to extend your visit. Here in Kobe, you may appreciate the dynamism of tradition and modernity mixed together.

Kobe City University of Foreign Studies has the aim of cultivating the "active cosmopolitan" who can participate in various disciplines, including business, diplomacy and education by utilizing the advanced foreign languages skills which are needed to effectively function in an international society. Additionally, our students will be educated with the skills and knowledge to make capable, competent, and flexible decisions.

Based on this educational philosophy, we set the goal of enabling students to master more than two foreign languages in order to adapt to international society, which is always changing.

By promoting this philosophy and these goals, we hope that students will not only maintain an interest in their own language and culture, but also that they will become cosmopolitan citizens.