Tuition-free program at the University of Hyogo: It is not free for everyone—conditions for the system covering all grade levels starting in fiscal year 2026

At the University of Hyogo, for residents of the prefecture who meet the requirements, the admission fee of 282,000 yen and the annual tuition fee of 535,800 yen are fully waived. Starting in fiscal year 2026 (academic year 2026), the support, which had been expanded in stages, now covers all grade levels.

However, this is not a system where it is free for anyone just because they live in Hyogo Prefecture. There are conditions that must be confirmed, such as the addresses of the student and their financial supporter, the period leading up to enrollment, academic performance, and the application process.

What is covered by the waiver

The following expenses are waived under the prefectural system.

• Admission fee: 282,000 yen

• Tuition fee: 535,800 yen per year

The admission fee waiver applies to new students who enrolled in the application fiscal year. If you apply after enrollment and are certified as eligible, the admission fee paid at the time of enrollment will be refunded.

On the other hand, initial university expenses, textbook costs, practical training fees, housing costs, commuting expenses, and living expenses are not waived. Even if a large portion of tuition is reduced, this is not a system that makes all expenses necessary for university life zero.

All grade levels covered starting in fiscal year 2026

This system did not cover all grade levels from the beginning. According to Hyogo Prefecture's materials, the target was expanded in stages: for undergraduate programs, to 4th-year students in fiscal year 2024, to 2nd-4th year students in fiscal year 2025, and to all grade levels starting in fiscal year 2026. For graduate schools, the target was also expanded sequentially for master's and doctoral programs, reaching all grade levels in fiscal year 2026.

The prefecture has announced a policy to make admission and tuition fees for both undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Hyogo and the Professional College of Arts and Tourism free for residents of the prefecture, regardless of income.

What is important here is not to isolate the phrase "regardless of income." Requirements other than income still remain.

The biggest condition is the address of the student and their financial supporter

It is required that both the student and their financial supporter (in principle, parents) have continuously maintained an address in Hyogo Prefecture for at least three years as of April 1 of the application fiscal year. For autumn enrollment, the reference date for the enrollment fiscal year is October 1.

Not only the certificate of residence but also whether they actually live there will be confirmed. If one parent lives outside the prefecture due to a job transfer, they may be eligible if they meet certain conditions and can submit documents such as a certificate from their employer.

In other words, even for those entering a university within the prefecture, the residency history of both the student and the financial supporter must be checked separately.

There are also conditions regarding enrollment timing and academics

The program applies to regular students in undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Hyogo. Those who entered through entrance examinations for international students are excluded from the prefectural system. Additionally, those who are enrolled beyond the standard period of study or those who are confirmed to be unable to graduate or complete their program within the standard period of study are also excluded.

For undergraduate students, the basic condition is that no more than two years have passed between the end of the fiscal year in which they first graduated from high school and the date of enrollment at the university. There are also conditions for master's and doctoral programs regarding age at the time of enrollment and whether the student is continuing directly from the previous program.

Furthermore, starting with applications for fiscal year 2026, academic requirements will be reviewed. Undergraduate students will be excluded if it is determined they cannot graduate, if they have earned 60% or less of the standard number of credits, or if their motivation for learning is judged to be extremely low. Falling under the warning criteria for two consecutive years will also lead to the termination of support.

New students are exempt from academic performance requirements because they do not have grades from the previous year. However, this does not mean that other conditions, such as residency requirements or the period leading up to enrollment, are waived.

The tuition-free program will not begin unless you apply

The prefectural tuition-free program is not applied automatically, even if you meet the conditions. You must apply within the period specified by each campus and undergo a university review. The university states that applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

The main required documents are as follows:

• Application form for the Prefectural University Tuition-Free Program

• Application checklist and additional documents for eligible applicants

• A copy of the Certificate of Residence (Juminhyo) listing the student, the primary breadwinner, and any dependents

• If there has been a change of address, a deleted copy of the Certificate of Residence from the previous address

• For undergraduate students not covered by the national system, the results from the JASSO study fund simulator

The Certificate of Residence must be issued within the last three months and must not contain an Individual Number (My Number). Since required documents vary based on individual circumstances, please check the application guidelines and Q&A, and consult the office at your campus if you have any questions.

Relationship with national systems and university-specific systems

The prefectural tuition-free program is separate from the national "New System for Higher Education Study Support." If you are eligible for the national system, you must also apply for it. Under the national system, in addition to tuition and admission fee reductions, you may be eligible for grant-type scholarships.

On the other hand, the university states that those receiving support under Category I of the national system or the full exemption category for multi-child households do not need to apply for the prefectural tuition-free program. Because the combination of systems varies depending on household circumstances, it is not necessarily the case that you only need to look at the prefectural system.

The budget amount alone does not reveal how the system reaches students

In the fiscal year 2026 initial budget request summary for Hyogo Prefecture, 1,957,394,000 yen has been allocated for the University of Hyogo's tuition-free program. The materials indicate the waiver of admission and tuition fees for residents of the prefecture, the reduction of admission fees for students from outside the prefecture, and independent prefectural support for students from outside the prefecture.

However, dividing this amount by the number of students does not reveal the support amount per person. Who is actually eligible, when to apply, which fees are waived, and which fees remain? When reading about the system, it is necessary to look past the total budget and return to the conditions for individual students.

The University of Hyogo's tuition-free program is a significant system in that it does not exclude students based on income. However, eligible individuals are regular students who meet the requirements, apply, and are certified. Those considering enrollment should not judge based solely on the word "free," but should check the residency of the student and the breadwinner, the enrollment period, academic requirements, application period, and remaining costs in order.

Source

• Hyogo Prefecture / Tuition-free program for prefectural universities(Updated July 2, 2026)

• University of Hyogo / Tuition-free program

• Application Guidelines for the FY2026 Prefectural University Tuition-Free Program (PDF)

• Hyogo Prefecture: Overview of Initial Budget Requests for FY2026 (Materials for the Standing Committee on Education and Culture, PDF)

*This article is based on official documents confirmed as of August 10, 2026. Please reconfirm application periods and individual eligibility with the latest information from your specific campus.
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