The University of Tokyo has announced a new partnership with Acumen to boost the number of students from South Asia studying in Japan.  

“I would love to see more students from South Asia joining us to experience world-class education, an exciting campus life, affordable tuition, and a safe, welcoming society,” said Dr. Kaori Hayashi, UTokyo executive vice president.  

Acumen, a part of Sannam S4 Group, will support UTokyo attracting students from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives. 

Earlier this year, UTokyo announced a new five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree to be comprised of 50% international students and taught in English, launching in 2027.  

The oldest university in Japan, UTokyo ranked 32^nd in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and is one of the key tennets of Japan’s internationalisation plans.

The university is aiming to raise the proportion of international students to at least 30% of total undergraduate students and 40% of graduate students by 2049, up from 2% and 30% respectively.  

Through student recruitment and the development of TNE, the partnership aims to double the number of South Asian students at UTokyo between 2022 and 2029.

This is in line with the Japanese government’s ambitious internationalisation goals, including a target of attracting 400,000 international students by 2033.  

The number of international students in Japan grew by more than 20% in 2023, the first recorded increase since Japan lifted its stringent Covid restrictions, according to JASSO’s annual report.  

The report recorded approximately 280,000 overseas students in Japan as of May 1, 2023, driven by a record number of students enroled in Japanese language institutions, up 83% on the previous year. 

Currently, most international students in Japan come from East and Southeast Asia, with China sending the largest number of students, followed by Nepal, Vietnam and South Korea.

Japan aims to attract 400,000 international students by 2033

According to a 2024 INTO survey, Asian students are increasingly opting to stay within the region, partly due to the reduced cost of staying closer to home.  

The relative affordability of Japanese higher education makes it well-placed to attract students from growing South Asian markets.  

“There is a tension between student mobility and immigration policies in many countries currently,” said Acumen chief partnership officer, Marnie Watson. 

“However [this contract] highlights how if nations develop intentional strategies and works with key stakeholders in the sector, student mobility can be leveraged as a critical and highly valuable contributor to a nation’s own economic and strategic needs,” Watson added.