The 21st century has been dubbed the “Century of Biology”. Technological advances have led to a revolution in our understanding of the relatedness of living organisms, and to the development of new research fields seeking to understand the processes underlying organismal development. Meanwhile, our society faces a broad range of challenges in terms of both food and fuel security. All these research areas and more can be studied in our undergraduate degree program in biological sciences.

We offer an undergraduate degree program in Biological Sciences, aimed at students which hold a non-Japanese passport. Our 4-year program starts at a basic level, learning foundational subjects in biology, chemistry, and physics. In the second and third year, students can choose from a wide variety of classes, allowing you to explore new areas, or to specialize in one particular subject. In their final year, students will join a research lab and complete a 1-year research project. In your project, you will conduct cutting edge research, supervised by experts in the subject.

Our department allows students to focus their studies in one of a range of different areas.  In second year, students choose one of the following courses, available in English or Japanese.  Please note, we do not offer human or medical biology in English.

※Starting with students who will enroll in the 2025 AY, we plan to shift to a new curriculum style in which students design their study areas, such as Biodiversity, Molecular Cell, Applied Biology, and Human Biology (tentative name), with a view to the research field they will explore in their graduation research.

Students collaborating for a field report

Global Biology in English (E)

Humanity faces environmental and ecological problems which are both broad in scope and great in their scale of impact. As biologists we are in a unique position to develop potential solutions to these crises. In order to meet these challenges, we need a broad view of science and an international perspective. In this course, we emphasize the development of high-level communication and critical thinking skills, and the nurturing of world-class graduates able to work effectively in a global context. This course will provide broad English education in biology, along with excellent study abroad opportunities.  Students with sufficient langauge proficiency may also take classes taught in Japanese.

Biodiversity Course (J / E)

After a long evolutionary history, our planet has a rich diversity of living organisms, which influence each other to make up the earth’s nature. In this course, students will learn how these life forms originated, diversify, and keep their lives in relation to the environments, based on their diversity at each level, including molecules, cells, individuals, populations, and ecosystems. Students also learn about the phenomena and laws of nature created by the activities of these organisms and the environment. Through these learning, students will be expected to think about what life is and refine their view of nature as a global citizen

Molecular and Cellular Biology Course (J / E)

The structure of the cell, tissue, and body of living organisms is fabulously elaborate. How do the organisms form such sophisticated and functional structures at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels? This course is intended for students who are interested in understanding the basic principles of molecular and cellular biology. The knowledge gained in this course will also contribute to appreciating applied aspects, such as medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial sciences.

Applied Biology Course (J)

Living organisms produce various biofunctional molecules ranging from low- to high-molecular weight compounds. These molecules are used for the regulation of dynamic metabolism, homeostasis, and communications at cellular to ecological levels. In the Applied Biology course, students learn basic knowledges about the structures and functions of biomolecules which are utilized in microorganisms/animals/plants to support their life. The aim of the course is to contribute to the solution of various problems that mankind faces by learning the development and utilization techniques of useful functions of organisms and by applying these techniques

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Course (J)

Modern research technologies allow the generation of large-scale datasets related to the diversity and universality of biological structure and function at every level of complexity, from molecules to populations. To make sense of this data, we use computer analysis to extract useful information which can be applied to diverse biological phenomena. In the Computational Biology & Bioinformatics course we explore the interaction between advanced biological research methodologies and high-level computer analysis. Furthermore, we aim to deeply understand the diverse methods of mathematical and information sciences which are fundamental to bioinformatics. Biology specialists with excellent computer skills are in high demand, and graduates of this course have excellent career prospects.

Basic biology lab