Temple University Continues Setting New Enrollment Records, Exceeding 2,700 Degree-Seeking Students in Japan

New students gather in the Parliament student lounge during Welcome Week in September 2024. Photo by Rie Nakajima (TUJ student)

Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) has reached a significant milestone, with undergraduate enrollment exceeding 2,500 students for the first time. Alongside a rise in admissions standards and competitiveness, TUJ’s undergraduate population has more than tripled over the past decade. Including graduate programs in education, business and law, TUJ’s degree-seeking student population, representing nearly 80 countries and regions, is surpassing 2,700.

With over four decades of history in Japan, TUJ is experiencing one of its most dynamic periods of growth with the addition of new programs, roll-out of strategic initiatives, opening of new facilities, and expansion of its presence across Japan. The university has also recently expanded its visibility and enhanced its recognition by forging new partnerships with universities globally and forming collaborative agreements with Japanese municipal governments.

Commenting about how TUJ has doubled in size over the past four years, TUJ Dean Matthew Wilson said, “The remarkable growth in TUJ’s student population is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing a superior American-style international education in Japan. At TUJ, we prioritize students, equipping them with the tools to imagine, explore and thrive in an interconnected world. Along with smaller class sizes, innovative teaching and exceptional care, we have cultivated a multicultural environment that embraces the values associated with a world-class Temple University education. As we grow, we remain focused on providing a personalized experience while fostering global competencies, critical thinking and leadership—ensuring that our students are prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing global workplace.”

Steady Enrollment Increase

Fueled by a series of bold initiatives, TUJ’s growth picked up momentum during the pandemic and accelerated once Japan re-opened its borders. Over the past three years, TUJ has introduced new curricula, boosted its full-time faculty and launched new facilities. This year, TUJ announced one of its most significant developments — the opening of a multi-building location in Kyoto in January 2025.

TUJ’s enrollment has shown steady growth since the fall of 2014, when the undergraduate student body was 809. By fall 2022, that number had more than doubled to 1,841. Last year, it reached 2,184 students. This year, enrollment rose by about 17 percent, boosting the total to 2,562 students.

New Programs and Campus Enhancements

Students started the fall 2024 semester with new academic curricula and facilities. TUJ has expanded its undergraduate computer science program such that students can now earn a computer science degree in Japan. Previously, students had to complete part of the program at the main campus in Philadelphia. This change benefits Japan-based students by providing greater flexibility and easier access to a quality education.

TUJ also made several facility upgrades to improve student life. This semester, the university opened the Owl Center, its fourth and largest satellite facility just a short walk from its main building in Tokyo’s Setagaya City. The Owl Center will support the physical and mental well-being of faculty, staff and students through a fitness center, a studio classroom for yoga and fitness classes, collaboration spaces, offices, and more.

New Partnerships and Global Connections

TUJ has recently introduced other new undergraduate programs: Temple University’s highly ranked Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management major and an esports certificate program. The university has also established collaborative agreements with several Japanese local governments, including Ehime Prefecture and Nagasaki Prefecture in March 2024, and Yamanashi Prefecture and Setagaya City in December 2022. Beyond partnerships with local governments, TUJ’s growing recognition led to new agreements in 2024 with top-tier universities such as O.J. Jingdal Global University in India and Universidad Anahauc Mayab in Mexico.

TUJ: A Leader in Global Education

Established in 1982, TUJ has excelled in building bridges between cultures and advancing the globalization of higher education. It is the largest and longest-running branch campus of a foreign university in Japan and currently hosts students from nearly 80 different countries and regions. The Japan campus is the flagship Asian operation of Temple University, a leading public university in Pennsylvania, with more than 360,000 alumni worldwide. In 2005, TUJ was recognized by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and officially designated as a Foreign University, Japan Campus.

In addition to a wide range of undergraduate degree programs, TUJ offers non-degree programs through its continuing education and Academic English Program to serve various needs of the local community. The university also provides graduate programs, including the Graduate College of Education, the Master in Management program and the Law program. In the fall 2025 semester, TUJ will introduce a new Master of Science degree in Communication Management in Kyoto.