📚 Hokkaido University: Faculties, Research and Study Guide | 北海道大学:学部、科研与留学指南
Hokkaido University is one of Japan's most respected national universities and a member of the former Imperial University group. Located in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, it combines a broad academic profile with outstanding strength in agriculture, environmental science and the natural sciences. This guide covers its history, ten undergraduate faculties, research institutes, international partnerships, campus life, admissions requirements, tuition, scholarships and career outcomes, with practical notes for A-level and IB students who are considering Japan as a study destination.
北海道大学是日本最负盛名的国立大学之一,也是旧帝国大学体系的重要成员。学校坐落于北海道首府札幌市,学科门类齐全,在农学、环境科学与自然科学领域实力突出。本文将系统介绍它的历史沿革、十个本科学院、研究机构、国际合作、校园生活、入学要求、学费与奖学金以及就业去向,并为正在考虑赴日留学的 A-level 与 IB 学生提供实用参考。
1. Overview and Key Facts | 概览与核心信息
Hokkaido University is a comprehensive national university with around 18,000 students, of whom more than 2,000 come from overseas. It is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in Japan and usually inside the global top 200 of major world rankings. Its reputation rests on research quality, international openness and a distinctive frontier spirit rooted in the development of Hokkaido.
北海道大学是一所综合性国立大学,在校生约一万八千人,其中海外学生超过两千人。学校长期位居日本国内前十,在主流世界大学排名中通常处于全球前二百位左右。它的声誉建立在高水平科研、高度国际化以及源于北海道开拓史的独特"开拓精神"之上。
| Founded / 建校 | 1876 (Sapporo Agricultural College) / 1876 年(札幌农学校) |
| Status / 性质 | National comprehensive university, former Imperial University / 国立综合大学,旧帝国大学 |
| Location / 位置 | Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan / 日本北海道札幌市 |
| Undergraduate faculties / 本科学院 | 10 / 十个 |
| Language of instruction / 授课语言 | Mainly Japanese; some English-taught graduate programmes / 主要为日语,部分研究生课程英语授课 |
For international applicants, the two most important facts are that undergraduate teaching is delivered mainly in Japanese and that admissions are handled faculty by faculty, so requirements differ between subjects.
对国际申请者而言,最关键的两点是:本科教学主要以日语进行;招生由各学部独立负责,因此不同专业的录取要求并不相同。
2. History: From Sapporo Agricultural College to a National Flagship | 历史沿革:从札幌农学校到国立旗舰
The university traces its origins to 1876, when Sapporo Agricultural College was established to promote agriculture and the settlement of Hokkaido. Its first vice-principal, William S. Clark, left behind the famous words 'Boys, be ambitious', which remain the university's best-known motto. The institution later became the agricultural college of Tohoku Imperial University in 1907, was reorganised as Hokkaido Imperial University in 1918, and took its present name, Hokkaido University, in 1947.
北海道大学的历史可追溯至 1876 年,其前身札幌农学校旨在推动北海道的农业发展与区域开拓。首任副校长威廉·克拉克留下了名言"Boys, be ambitious"(少年啊,要胸怀大志),这句话至今仍是学校最广为人知的格言。1907 年,学校成为东北帝国大学的农科大学;1918 年改组为北海道帝国大学;1947 年正式定名为北海道大学。
Over more than a century the college grew into a full comprehensive university, adding humanities, social sciences, engineering and medicine, and accumulating exceptional academic prestige and brand recognition both in Japan and abroad.
在一个多世纪的历程中,学校从单一农科院校迅速壮大为学科齐全的综合性学府,陆续增设人文、社会科学、工学与医学等领域,在日本国内与国际上积累了卓越的学术声望与品牌影响力。
3. Academic Structure: Ten Undergraduate Faculties | 学科设置:十个本科学院
Hokkaido University has ten undergraduate faculties covering humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine and agriculture. This breadth allows students to combine majors with minor fields and to move into interdisciplinary research at graduate level.
北海道大学下设十个本科学院,横跨人文、社会科学、自然科学、工程技术、医学与农学等领域。这种宽广的学科布局使学生能够将主修与辅修方向结合,并在研究生阶段进入跨学科研究。
- Faculty of Humanities — 文学部:language, philosophy, history, cultural studies / 语言、哲学、历史与文化研究
- Faculty of Education — 教育学部:education theory, psychology, teacher training / 教育理论、心理学与师资培养
- Faculty of Law — 法学部:law and political studies / 法律与政治学
- Faculty of Economics and Business — 经济学部:economics, management, accounting / 经济、经营与会计
- Faculty of Science — 理学部:mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences / 数学、物理、化学、生物与地球科学
- Faculty of Medicine — 医学部:medicine and health sciences / 医学与保健科学
- Faculty of Engineering — 工学部:mechanical, electrical, materials, civil, information engineering / 机械、电气、材料、土木与信息工程
- Faculty of Agriculture — 农学部:agronomy, bioscience, food science / 农学、生物科学与食品科学
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine — 兽医学部:veterinary science and animal health / 兽医科学与动物健康
- Faculty of Environmental Science — 环境科学部:earth system, ecology, environmental policy / 地球系统、生态与环境政策
Applicants should note that faculties such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Science typically set higher subject requirements and additional examinations than humanities faculties.
申请者需注意:医学部、兽医学部与理学部等通常比人文学部设有更高的科目要求和额外的考试环节。
4. Flagship Strengths: Agriculture and Environmental Science | 优势领域:农学与环境科学
Agriculture and environmental science are the university's signature fields. The Faculty of Agriculture descends directly from the original Sapporo Agricultural College, and its research covers crop science, plant pathology, animal science, food chemistry, forest science and agricultural economics. The Faculty of Environmental Science takes a strongly interdisciplinary approach, linking climate, ecosystems, ocean and atmospheric science with policy and social analysis.
农学与环境科学是北海道大学最具标志性的领域。农学部直接承袭自札幌农学校,研究涵盖作物科学、植物病理学、畜牧学、食品化学、森林科学及农业经济。环境科学部则强调跨学科方法,将气候、生态系统、海洋与大气科学同政策和社会分析相结合。
Field-based learning is central to both faculties. Students work at research forests, farms, marine stations and the northern biosphere field centres, which is difficult to replicate at universities in large cities.
野外实践是这两个学部教学的核心。学生可在研究林、农场、海洋实验站以及北方生物圈野外中心开展研究,这种条件在位于大城市的大学中很难复制。
Soil Science + Climate Modelling + Environmental Policy → Sustainable Agriculture Research
5. Graduate Schools and Research Institutes | 研究生院与研究机构
Above the undergraduate level, Hokkaido University operates more than a dozen graduate schools, including Agriculture, Environmental Science, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Health Sciences, Letters, Education, Law, Economics and Business, Chemical Sciences and Engineering, and Information Science and Technology. Many of these offer English-taught master's and doctoral programmes.
在本科之上,北海道大学设有十余个研究生院,包括农学、环境科学、理学、工学、医学、兽医学、保健科学、文学、教育学、法学、经济学、化学科学与工程以及信息科学与技术等研究科,其中不少开设英语授课的硕士与博士课程。
Attached research institutes strengthen the university's research capacity. The Institute of Low Temperature Science studies snow, ice, permafrost and the cryosphere, while the Institute for Catalysis is internationally known for catalyst design and green chemistry. These institutes accept graduate students and often co-supervise doctoral projects.
附属研究所进一步增强了学校的科研能力。低温科学研究所研究雪、冰、永久冻土与冰冻圈;催化科学研究所则在催化剂设计与绿色化学方面享有国际声誉。这些研究所招收研究生,并经常参与博士课题的联合指导。
6. International Exchange and Global Partnerships | 国际交流与全球合作
Hokkaido University treats internationalisation as a core strategy. It has established close cooperation networks with numerous leading universities and research institutions worldwide, running student exchange programmes, joint degree pathways and collaborative research projects across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
北海道大学将国际化视为核心战略。学校与世界各地众多知名高校及研究机构建立了紧密的合作网络,在亚洲、欧洲、北美与大洋洲开展学生交换项目、联合学位路径以及合作研究。
The university actively recruits overseas students and visiting scholars and offers a wide range of scholarships and mobility opportunities. Incoming exchange students can take Japanese language courses, and outgoing students can apply for short-term summer programmes or one-year exchanges.
学校积极招收海外学子和访问学者,并提供丰富的奖学金与流动交流机会。 incoming 交换生可修读日语课程,本校学生也可申请短期暑期项目或为期一年的交换。
In addition, Hokkaido University regularly organises academic symposia and international conferences, creating valuable platforms for cross-cultural academic dialogue and for students to present their own research in English.
此外,北海道大学定期组织各类学术研讨会和国际会议,为跨文化学术对话搭建宝贵平台,也让学生有机会用英语展示自己的研究成果。
7. Research Achievements and Innovation | 科研成果与创新技术
The university has a strong record of scientific discovery and technological innovation. Research teams have made important advances in agricultural biotechnology, environmental science, biomedical science, materials science and mechanical engineering. In 2010, Professor Akira Suzuki shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for palladium-catalysed cross-coupling, a reaction now widely used in pharmaceutical and materials synthesis.
北海道大学在科学发现与技术革新方面成就斐然。校内研究团队在农业生物技术、环境科学、生物医学、材料科学与机械工程等领域取得重要突破。2010 年,铃木章教授因钯催化交叉偶联反应分享诺贝尔化学奖,该反应如今广泛应用于药物与材料合成。
The university also supports entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer. Start-up incubation, industry-academia collaboration and technology licensing help turn research results into practical productivity, driving economic growth and social progress.
学校同样大力支持创新创业与知识转化。通过创业孵化、产学研合作与技术许可,推动研究成果转化为实际生产力,以此驱动经济增长和社会进步。
ine: Basic Science → Applied Research → Patent / Licensing → Start-up or Industry Adoption
8. Campus Environment and Student Life | 校园环境与学生生活
The Sapporo campus is famous for its green space: tree-lined avenues, the ginkgo avenue in autumn and the poplar avenue that appears on postcards. The campus is often described as a park with a university inside it, and the air is clean and the seasons distinct, with heavy snow in winter and pleasant summers.
札幌校区以绿地景观著称:林荫大道、秋天的银杏大道,以及常出现在明信片上的白杨林道。人们常形容这里"像一座公园里藏着一所大学",空气清新、四季分明,冬季多雪,夏季宜人。
The university provides multiple libraries, laboratories, student dormitories and sports facilities, creating a high-quality study and living environment. A large number of clubs and societies give students room to develop hobbies and take part in sport, making life outside class varied and lively.
学校配备有多座图书馆、实验室、学生宿舍和运动设施,为学子营造优质的学习与生活环境。种类繁多的社团和俱乐部为学生提供了发展兴趣爱好、参与体育活动的广阔空间,使课余生活多姿多彩。
Student life in Sapporo is also shaped by the city itself: the Snow Festival in February, the YOSAKOI Soran Festival in June, relatively low living costs compared with Tokyo, and easy access to ski resorts and national parks.
札幌的生活也深受这座城市影响:二月的雪祭、六月的 YOSAKOI 索朗节、相对东京更低的生活成本,以及前往滑雪场与国家公园的便利交通。
9. Admissions: How International Students Apply | 入学申请:国际学生如何申请
Undergraduate admission for international students is usually based on the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), an English proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS, and a university-specific examination or interview. Requirements vary by faculty, and some faculties admit students mainly through the EJU route.
国际学生的本科入学通常依据日本留学考试(EJU)、托福或雅思等英语能力证明,以及校内考试或面试。具体要求因学部而异,部分学部主要以 EJU 渠道招生。
| Step 1 / 第一步 | Check the faculty's application guidelines / 查阅目标学部的募集要项 |
| Step 2 / 第二步 | Take EJU in June or November / 参加 6 月或 11 月的 EJU 考试 |
| Step 3 / 第三步 | Submit documents, English score and application fee / 提交材料、英语成绩与报名费 |
| Step 4 / 第四步 | Sit the university examination and interview / 参加校内考试与面试 |
| Step 5 / 第五步 | Receive result and apply for a student visa / 获取结果并申请留学签证 |
EJU Total = Japanese (0–400) + Mathematics (0–200) + Science or Japan and the World (0–200)
A-level and IB students should note that the EJU science paper is set at a level close to A-level content in physics, chemistry and biology, so strong A-level grades usually translate well, provided Japanese ability is sufficient. Language is usually the deciding factor, not subject knowledge.
A-level 与 IB 学生需注意:EJU 理科卷的难度接近 A-level 的物理、化学、生物内容,因此 A-level 成绩优秀的学生通常在学科上适应良好,前提是日语能力足够。真正的门槛往往是语言,而不是学科知识。
10. Tuition, Scholarships and Cost of Living | 学费、奖学金与生活成本
As a national university, Hokkaido University charges the standard national tuition: about ¥535,800 per year for undergraduate programmes, plus a one-off admission fee of about ¥282,000. Graduate tuition is similar. Fees are typically paid in two instalments per year.
作为国立大学,北海道大学执行全国统一的国立大学学费标准:本科每年约 535,800 日元,另有一次性入学金约 282,000 日元。研究生学费大致相当,通常每年分两次缴纳。
Four-year cost ≈ ¥535,800 × 4 + ¥282,000 = ¥2,425,200 (before waivers and scholarships)
Financial support is available. MEXT scholarships, JASSO honours scholarships, university-specific tuition reduction and exemption schemes, and private foundation grants all apply to international students. Many students receive a 50% or full tuition waiver based on academic performance and financial need.
学校提供多种经济支持:文部科学省(MEXT)奖学金、JASSO 荣誉奖学金、校内学费减免制度以及民间财团奖学金均面向国际学生开放。不少学生可依据学业表现与经济状况获得 50% 甚至全额学费减免。
Living costs in Sapporo are lower than in Tokyo or Osaka. A student dormitory place may cost around ¥10,000–¥30,000 per month, while a private one-room flat typically runs ¥30,000–¥50,000 plus utilities. Food, transport and heating add roughly ¥50,000–¥70,000 per month in total.
札幌的生活成本低于东京或大阪。学生宿舍每月约 1 万至 3 万日元;私人单间公寓通常为 3 万至 5 万日元,另加水电燃气费。餐饮、交通与取暖等合计每月大致 5 万至 7 万日元。
11. Rankings, Reputation and Career Outcomes | 排名、声誉与就业前景
Hokkaido University is generally placed among the top ten universities in Japan and within the global top 200 in major world rankings. Its strongest international reputations lie in agriculture, environmental science, chemistry, materials science and earth sciences.
北海道大学通常位列日本国内前十,在主流世界大学排名中处于全球前二百位左右。其国际声誉最强的领域为农学、环境科学、化学、材料科学与地球科学。
Graduates move into a wide range of destinations: domestic and international graduate schools, manufacturing and engineering firms, pharmaceutical and food companies, public administration, research institutes and environmental consultancies. Because the university is a national flagship, its degrees are well recognised by Japanese employers, and the alumni network is strong in Hokkaido and across Japan.
毕业生的去向十分多元:进入国内外研究生院、制造业与工程企业、医药与食品公司、公共行政部门、研究机构以及环境咨询公司。作为国立旗舰大学,其学位受到日本雇主的高度认可,校友网络在北海道及全日本都相当活跃。
For students aiming at postgraduate study abroad, the university's English-taught programmes and research internships make it a practical stepping stone to doctoral work in Europe, North America or elsewhere in Asia.
对于打算未来赴海外深造的学生,该校的英语授课项目与研究实习经历,可作为通往欧洲、北美或亚洲其他地区博士阶段的实用跳板。
12. Conclusion: Crossing Boundaries, Creating the Future | 结语:跨越边界,创造未来
As a leading Japanese national comprehensive university, Hokkaido University is recognised for both teaching and research. It pursues the idea of 'crossing boundaries and creating the future', aiming to deliver outstanding education and training, to supply society with high-quality talent and innovative technology, and to contribute to human progress and sustainable development.
作为日本国立综合大学的佼佼者,北海道大学在教学与科研方面的实力备受认可。学校秉持"跨越边界,创造未来"的理念,致力于提供卓越的教育与培养,为社会输送高素质人才与创新技术,持续为人类社会的进步和可持续发展贡献力量。
For an international applicant, the practical message is simple: build Japanese language ability early, prepare the EJU alongside your A-level or IB subjects, choose your faculty carefully because requirements differ, and plan your finances with scholarships and waivers in mind. Hokkaido University rewards students who are willing to work across disciplines and across cultures.
对国际申请者而言,最实用的建议很直接:尽早打好日语基础,在准备 A-level 或 IB 的同时备考 EJU;因为各学部要求不同,务必谨慎选择目标学部;并提前结合奖学金与学费减免规划财务。北海道大学会给那些愿意跨越学科与文化的学生以丰厚回报。
Published by TutorHao | Hokkaido University Guide | aleveler.com
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