Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

Motto	Latin: Pax Mundi per Linguas (World Peace through Language)
Type	Private university
Established	May, 1945
Chancellor	Yoshikazu Morita
President	Takeshi Matsuda
Undergraduates	4445
Postgraduates	97
Location	Ukyō-ku, Kyoto , Kyoto , Japan
Website	www.kufs.ac.jp (engl.)

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (京都外国語大学, Kyōto gaikokugo daigaku), also known as KUFS, is a foreign language university in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages is attached to this university. KUFS specializes in 9 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. In addition Global Affairs and faculty of global engagement that includes global studies and global tourism.

History

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) was founded in 1947 as the Kyoto Foreign Language School, with the aim of promoting foreign language education in postwar Japan. In 1950, the institution established the Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages, launching a Day School English Department and, in subsequent years, expanding to include an Evening School, teacher training programs, and commercial and non-degree courses.

The university’s development continued with the establishment of Kyoto Nishi High School in 1957, followed by the foundation of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies in 1959. The newly formed university began with the Department of British and American Studies under the Faculty of Foreign Studies and included its own teacher training program.

During the 1960s and 1970s, KUFS expanded its academic offerings significantly. New departments in Spanish, French, German, Brazilian and Portuguese, and Chinese Studies were created. The university also launched its first overseas seminars in the Americas (1965) and Europe (1969), reflecting its growing commitment to international engagement. In 1971, the Graduate School (Master’s Degree Program) was established, offering advanced study in several foreign language fields.

The institution signed its first international exchange agreement with San Francisco State University in 1974, initiating a tradition of global academic collaboration. It later established consulates and honorary consulates for various Latin American nations within the university, underlining its diplomatic and intercultural reach.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, KUFS continued to grow. The Japanese Studies Center for International Students was established in 1980, and new programs were added in fields such as curation and librarian training. The International Research Institute for Studies in Language and Peace was launched in 1990, further advancing the university’s interdisciplinary research efforts.

In 1997, KUFS marked its 50th anniversary with the introduction of new programs in East Asian languages and cultures. The Kyoto Career College of Foreign Languages was opened in 1998 to expand vocational opportunities in language education. By 2001, Kyoto Nishi High School was renamed Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School, reflecting its integration into the broader KUFS network.

The 2000s saw the creation of the Department of Italian Studies, expansion of graduate programs to include doctoral degrees, and the founding of the Kyoto Institute of Latin-American Studies. The university also updated its infrastructure, opening new residence halls and athletic facilities.

In the 2010s, KUFS further diversified its academic structure with the establishment of the Faculty of Global Engagement, which houses departments such as Global Studies and Global Tourism. Honorary consulates of Nicaragua, Guatemala, and other nations were also established at the university during this time. In 2017, KUFS celebrated its 70th anniversary.

In recent years, KUFS has continued to evolve in response to global trends in education. A Department of Russian Studies was launched in 2020, while the Department of Global Affairs was phased out in 2023.

Academic departments

There are 8 specialized language departments under Faculty of Foreign Studies in addition to *a course in Japanese studies for overseas students.

• Department of British and American Studies
• Department of Spanish Studies (renamed from "Hispanic Studies" effective April, 2007
• Department of French Studies
• Department of German Studies
• Department of Brazilian and Portuguese Studies (Portuguese: Departamento de Estudos Luso-Brasileiros da UEEQ)
• Department of Italian Studies
• Department of Chinese Studies
• Department of Japanese Studies
• Department of Global Affairs
• Department of Global Studies
• Department of Global Tourism
• Course in Japanese Studies for Overseas Students (in Japanese) (in English)