Temple University Japan Undergraduate Enrollment Tops 4,000 Amid Rapid Expansion

Students engage with President Matthew Wilson (center) during Welcome Week in late August.

• Undergraduate enrollment surpasses 4,000 for the first time at TUJ
• Hillside Center opens as TUJ expands its presence in Tokyo
• Temple ranks among the top 50 U.S. public universities for four straight years

Temple University Japan (TUJ) continues to set enrollment records. For the current fall 2026 semester, TUJ’s undergraduate enrollment has surpassed 4,000 for the first time. This brings total enrollment to more than 4,200 degree-seeking students, including graduate students. TUJ is the Japanese branch campus of Temple University, which ranks among the top 50 U.S. public universities.  Students studying at any of TUJ’s three locations in Japan －Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kawasaki－ earn their degrees directly from Temple University.

Temple’s student body in Japan has grown steadily in recent years, even as admissions standards and competition for admission continue to rise. Undergraduate enrollment has more than tripled from 1,254 in fall 2020. As the university gains greater recognition in Japan and internationally, TUJ continues to strengthen academic offerings, add new programs, and support student success by responding to students’ evolving needs. 

This growth comes alongside the opening of a new major location near Tokyo and the expansion of TUJ’s academic programs. Most recently, on September 4, Temple University formally opened the Hillside Center, a 7,000-square-meter academic building and TUJ’s second major location in the Tokyo metropolitan area, near its City Campus in Setagaya City. The opening came less than two years after TUJ Kyoto was established in western Japan in January 2025.

Matthew Wilson, president of Temple University Japan, emphasized that “the value proposition of Temple University in Japan is exceptional.” Wilson highlighted that “students receive a world-class education from faculty from around the world, in an academic environment that prepares them for today’s workplace. They can choose from a wide range of majors, study alongside students from more than 100 countries, and earn a valuable Temple University degree at an affordable cost.”

“For internationally minded students, Temple University in Japan also offers opportunities that few universities can match. Students can study at our campuses in Tokyo, Kyoto, Rome, and Philadelphia while remaining part of the same Temple community. A motivated student could spend a year at each campus and graduate with a Temple University degree for less than $50,000 in tuition.”

Along with the opening of the Hillside Center, the university has broadened its academic curriculum with two undergraduate majors, the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, beginning this fall semester. TUJ has also started offering a Graphic Design concentration in its Art program and a certificate in Data Science: Computational Analytics.

The new programs come as enrollment in TUJ’s computer science program continues to grow, making it one of the university’s most popular undergraduate majors. Since fall 2024, students have been able to complete a Temple University computer science degree entirely in Japan. These initiatives reflect the university’s broader strategy to strengthen its curriculum in rapidly evolving STEM-related areas.

Since its establishment in 1982, Temple University has provided American-style international education in Japan, offering students an immersive learning experience. TUJ was officially recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2005 and designated as a Foreign University, Japan Campus. TUJ is the only American university in Japan offering 14 undergraduate degrees through which students can complete an entire American degree in Japan.

TUJ is a branch campus of Temple University, one of only 21 universities in the U.S. to hold both the highest research rating of Research-1 (R1) status and the Opportunity College and University designation in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. Temple was also ranked among the top 50 public universities for the fourth consecutive year in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. In addition, it was ranked No. 71 in the Best Value category.

Beyond TUJ’s degree programs, TUJ has played a proactive role in advancing English-language education in Japan for more than four decades. Temple offers non-degree programs to learners of all ages, with a community focus on advancing English-language education from youth through adulthood.

TUJ’s Graduate College of Education has regularly conducted training programs for Japanese English teachers and has provided numerous training sessions for TUJ’s local partners, including local municipalities and public organizations.

• Temple University Japan Opens Hillside Center, Expanding Presence in Tokyo Region (September 7, 2026)
• Temple University Japan Further Expands Academic Offerings with Launch of Cybersecurity Major and Data Science Certificate in Fall 2026 (June 11, 2026)
• Temple University Japan Advances Academic Offerings with Launch of Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Fall 2026 (April 3, 2026)