Nara Women's University
Japan • Founded 1908 • THE 2025 #1501-2092
Updated Nov 2026 · Source: nara-wu.ac.jp
Overview
Nara Women's University is a national university corporation in the city of Nara and the only national women's university in western Japan.
It grew out of a government-run women's higher normal school and continues that tradition of higher education for women. All faculties and the graduate school share a single campus a short walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
Undergraduate study is organised into four faculties. The Faculty of Letters covers human sociology, language and culture, and human sciences; the Faculty of Science covers mathematics and physics, and chemistry, biology and environmental science; the Faculty of Human Life and Environment covers food and nutrition, health and wellbeing, living environment, clothing and environmental information, and cultural informatics; and the Faculty of Engineering, which the university describes as a first for a women's university, offers an engineering department.
The Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences has master's and doctoral courses, and a six-year programme links undergraduate and master's study.
Kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools are attached to the university, which supports teaching licences. Student housing is offered at a monthly rent the university gives as 4,700 yen, and about half of students come from outside the Kinki region.
Location & Contact
Find Nara Women's University on the map and its contact channels below.
Academic Details
Enrolment, faculty headcount, and accreditation data for Nara Women's University are listed below.
Academic Structures
The academic units through which Nara Women's University delivers teaching are listed below.
Unit 16 items
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Environmental Science
- Department of Clothing and Environmental Information
- Department of Cultural Informatics
- Department of Engineering
- Department of Food and Nutrition
- Department of Health and Wellbeing
- Department of Human Sciences
- Department of Human Sociology
- Department of Language and Culture
- Department of Living Environment
- Department of Mathematics and Physics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Human Life and Environment
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Science
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences
Faculties & Divisions
Each of Nara Women's University's faculties and its subject areas are listed below.
Engineering (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Engineering
Human Life and Environment (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Cultural Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Food Science
- Home Economics
- Nutrition
Letters (Faculty) 24 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Asian Studies
- Child Care and Development
- Clinical Psychology
- Comparative Literature
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies
- Gender Studies
- Geography (Human)
- History
- Information Sciences
- Literature
- Mass Communication
- Media Studies
- Museum Studies
- Physical Education
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Sports
Science (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Information Sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Sciences
- Physics
Humanities and Sciences (Graduate School) 70 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- American Studies
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Architectural and Environmental Design
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence
- Arts and Humanities
- Asian Studies
- Behavioural Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Computer Science
- Cultural Studies
- East Asian Studies
- Education
- English
- English Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- European Studies
- Family Studies
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- German
- Germanic Studies
- Health Sciences
- History
- Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Inorganic Chemistry
- International Studies
- Japanese
- Landscape Architecture
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Mechanics
- Microbiology
- Modern Languages
- Molecular Biology
- Music
- Natural Sciences
- Nuclear Physics
- Nutrition
- Organic Chemistry
- Paediatrics
- Philosophy
- Physical Chemistry
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Regional Studies
- Social Studies
- Sociology
- Sports
- Textile Technology
- Toxicology
- Welfare and Protective Services
Programs Offered
Every programme Nara Women's University currently runs, grouped by degree level and searchable.
5 programmes on record. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Japan
Bachelor's Degree 4 programmes
Master's Degree 1 programme
How to apply to Nara Women's University
What applying to Nara Women's University involves, in five steps.
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1
Identify the right programme
Use the programme finder to browse Nara Women's University's 5 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.
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2
Check entry requirements
Programme-level requirements at Nara Women's University typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.
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3
Prepare your application documents
Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.
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4
Submit via the institution
Nara Women's University processes applications through www.nara-wu.ac.jp. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.
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5
Get in touch with admissions
Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nara Women's University
Below are key facts about Nara Women's University, drawn directly from institutional records.
In what year was Nara Women's University established?
Nara Women's University was founded in 1908 (approximately 118 years ago).
Where can I find Nara Women's University?
The institution is located in Nara, Japan.
Is Nara Women's University a public or private institution?
Nara Women's University operates as a public institution.
How is Nara Women's University ranked?
Nara Women's University holds rank THE 2025 #1501-2092.
How is Nara Women's University organised academically?
Nara Women's University is organised into 16 academic units across its disciplines.
Is Nara Women's University accredited?
The institution holds recognition from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
What is Nara Women's University's official website?
You can find Nara Women's University online at www.nara-wu.ac.jp.
Top-Ranked Universities in Japan
Graduate-school placement rates among Japan's top universities set the upper bound for that signal. Nara Women's University's placement rate relative to leaders is one signal of academic preparation depth.
Where Else to Study Humanities & Cultural Studies
Other institutions in Japan teaching Humanities & Cultural Studies are listed below for comparison with Nara Women's University.
Universities Compared with Nara Women's University
Universities of a similar scale and standing to Nara Women's University are listed below.
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