The university started out in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College, the first modern academic institute in Japan. During its long history, the college was promoted to an Imperial University and then flourished after the creation of the new university system.
We develop curricula of international quality, so that students may be given a distinguished all-round education and acquire global perspectives. This is so that we may nurture students who are open-minded, of high intellect, and who possess a wide knowledge base. Graduate courses are designed with the aim of producing highly skilled individuals who can a play central role in their respective field and will contribute to society with their expertise and ethical views. For undergraduate courses, there is more of an emphasis on improving the liberal arts education they receive so that they may become talented as global citizens.
Research Centers:
Hokkaido University has a proud history of nurturing great research and innovation, and has produced some of the finest minds in academia and the professional world, culminating in a recent Nobel Prize winner.
Regardless of the work you do here, you’ll be encouraged to embrace a “Frontier Spirit” in an environment where there is never a shortage of inspiration. We encourage you to apply for a position, academic or administrative, here at Hokkaido University.
The accommodation available at Hokkaido University is one of the many advantages of studying here. There is a great variety and number of university-owned accommodation available. There are a total of 642 rooms available, all of which are within walking distance to the campus and equipped with free high-speed internet access.
Each dormitory is different in price and design, making it difficult to fully convey the variety of options available.
We do offer accommodation for married couples and families. Some dormitories are single-sex, others unisex, some mix Japanese students with International Students, and others are purely for international students.
Hokkaido University has two main libraries: the Main (Central) Library, and the North Library, as well as departmental libraries. The University Library is open almost every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, throughout the year.Students are encouraged to make the most of the library during their time at Hokkaido University.
ELMS is Hokkaido University’s educational information system for students, faculties, and staff members. Services include an email client and learning management system (LMS). An ELMS ID and password are needed to use the ELMS client PCs and its web services.
The Health Care Center, is located in the center of campus is your on-campus resource to meet your primary health care needs. The staff includes physicians, nurses, counselors and administrative staff members. Hokkaido University’s Health Care Center provides medical checkups, health consultation and primary care for non-life threatening conditions to students and staff.
Sapporo Campus - It is rare anywhere in the world for a campus of approximately 180 hectares (stretching 2 km from north to south, and 1.6 km east to west) to be located in the center of a city with a population of two million people. Remarkably, the built environment covers a mere 12% of this extensive campus, with the remaining consisting of open spaces such as farms, green spaces, forests, creeks, and pathways.
Hakodate Campus - Since it opened in 1935, the Hakodate campus has had a proud history of being at the forefront of fisheries research and is one of the largest campuses of its kind in Japan.
Hokkaido University has a wide range of high quality sports facilities for students to utilize to keep fit and stay healthy. The largest sports facility on campus is located just north of the Institute for International Collaboration. This complex consists of two large gymnasiums, a smaller gymnasium, an indoor athletic field with artificial grass, a swimming pool and a martial arts training hall.
The university also has a large range of outdoor facilities available for use: 2 baseball grounds, soccer/rugby grounds, hockey/handball grounds, 4 artificial grass tennis courts in the north, as well as 3 artificial grass tennis courts and 3 clay tennis courts to the south.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 9 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 173 | 170 | 179 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
Dropped 25 places compared to 2026
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 351 | 351 | 376 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 29 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 439 | 434 | 405 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | 201 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 19 reviews
As one of the largest universities in Japan, the university is especially well known for its agricultural sciences. The campus has a very youthful and energetic atmosphere, while also maintaining a strong academic environment. My Ph.D. experience here has been truly enjoyable and meaningful.
Harokopio University is truly exceptional, boasting modern facilities and a team of outstanding staff who are dedicated to academic excellence. One of the standout features of Harokopio University is its beautiful campus, which seamlessly blends stunning outdoor spaces with well-maintained interiors. The serene atmosphere, complete with lush trees, creates a peaceful and inspiring environment that fosters learning and growth. I feel grateful to be a part of this wonderful university community!
The faculty is committed to delivering a high-quality education, and their support has been invaluable to me. The academic programs are challenging, but there are ample opportunities for growth and learning. The beautiful campus provides numerous resources for students to excel both academically and socially. The Harokopio University atmosphere fosters a strong sense of community and pride.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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