Nagasaki International University

What Nagasaki International University does

Nagasaki International University is a private Japanese university founded in 2000, operating under the school corporation Kyushu Bunka Gakuen and headquartered on a single campus in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, near the Huis Ten Bosch theme park. It serves domestic and international students across four undergraduate faculties — International Tourism, Social Welfare, Health Nutrition, and a six-year Pharmacy program — and three graduate schools in Human and Social Studies, Health Management, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, with a fifth faculty (Information Science / Information Design Department) announced for April 2027 pending regulatory approval. The university's core technology stack consists of standard educational infrastructure: a web-based course registration system (Active Academy), a portfolio and learning management platform (manaba), a career-services portal (NIU Career Tasu), and a web-based admissions application, supplemented by specialized facilities such as mock pharmacies, clinical training rooms, and a tea room supporting its signature tea-culture-based pedagogy.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees collected on a per-semester / annual cadence from undergraduate and graduate students, with additional streams from application fees, certification fees, entrance fees, and ancillary programs such as NIU Kids Campus community outreach and continuing-education lectures; specific tuition amounts and total revenue are not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market model is event-driven and regionally anchored: open campus events, a dedicated applicant support site (niupr.jp), official social media, and high-school articulation programs drive domestic enrollment, while international student recruitment flows through ~20 partner universities across Asia, North America, and Europe. Beyond core education, the university operates a substantial regional-embedded ecosystem of municipal, healthcare, and corporate partnerships — including Sasebo City, Hirado City, Omura City, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, JAL, Mizuno, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical — that support internships, joint research, clinical training, sports programs, and community revitalization. The institution is recognized for nationally competitive sports teams (volleyball, soccer, karate), a distinctive tea ceremony education program, and quality-assurance credentials from JIHEE (2025) and the Japan Association of College of Pharmacy third-party evaluation (2026).

Name

Nagasaki International University

Legal name

学校法人九州文化学園 Nagasaki International University

Website

https://niu.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nagasaki International University is a private Japanese university in Sasebo, Nagasaki, serving domestic and international students across four undergraduate faculties (International Tourism, Social Welfare, Health Nutrition, Pharmacy) and three graduate schools, with revenue from tuition and fees and growth via a new Information Design faculty planned for April 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate programs
• Pharmacy education
• Social welfare studies
• International tourism studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Sasebo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: University generates revenue through tuition fees from undergraduate and graduate students across four faculties and three graduate schools. Additional revenue from application fees, certificate issuance fees, and admission fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nagasaki International University is a private Japanese university offering undergraduate education across four faculties — International Tourism, Social Welfare, Health Nutrition, and Pharmacy — as well as graduate programs in Human and Social Studies, Health Management, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The university supplements classroom instruction with digital platforms for course registration (Active Academy), learning management (manaba), and career services (NIU Career Tasu), and is expanding into information design education through a new faculty planned for April 2027.

Product overview

Nagasaki International University operates as a multi-disciplinary private university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across five faculties: the Faculty of Human Social Sciences (with International Tourism and Social Welfare departments), the Faculty of Health Management (Health Nutrition department), the Faculty of Pharmacy (Pharmacy department), and a planned Faculty of Information Science (Information Design department, opening April 2027). The university also offers graduate programs in Human and Social Studies, Health Management, and Pharmacy. Digital platforms supporting core operations include Active Academy (course registration), manaba (portfolio/learning management), NIU Career Tasu (career services), and a web-based online application system for admissions. The university is located in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, within the Kyushu Bunka Gakuen educational group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Faculty of Human Social Sciences — International Tourism Department An undergraduate department focused on international tourism studies, covering tourism management, hospitality, and sports tourism, with regional collaboration and global exchange programs.
• Faculty of Human Social Sciences — Social Welfare Department An undergraduate department providing education and training in social welfare practice, community care, and welfare service management.
• Faculty of Health Management — Health Nutrition Department An undergraduate department focused on nutritional science, health management, and food-related studies to promote community and individual health.
• Faculty of Pharmacy — Pharmacy Department A six-year pharmacy program preparing students for pharmacist licensure, pharmaceutical science research, and clinical pharmacy practice.
• Graduate Programs (Human and Social Studies, Health Management, Pharmacy) Three graduate-level programs offering master's and doctoral degrees in Human and Social Studies, Health Management, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, supporting advanced research and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 111th National Pharmacist Examination: successful graduates with strong pass rates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Social Welfare Corporation Nankou Airin Kai (社会福祉法人南高愛隣会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Partnership for social welfare education and community support services, linking the social welfare department with the organization's facilities.
• Mizuno Corporation (美津濃株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2020Sports partnership for experience-based regional social contribution, youth education, and sports brand value enhancement through collaborative programs.
• National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center (独立行政法人国立病院機構長崎医療センター)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2019Educational and research partnership for healthcare professional training. Supports clinical education and research collaboration between the university and medical center.
• Omura City (大村市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2019Partnership for regional vitalization including hosting the 11th Regional Revitalization Studies Association Conference in 2019 with faculty presentations and student support.
• Beppu University (別府大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2018Health-focused comprehensive partnership including sports nutrition research collaboration between NIU's sports teams and Beppu University's sports clubs.
• Hasami Town (波佐見町)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2018Comprehensive partnership with local municipality including cultural programs, public lectures on museum studies, and regional development collaboration.
• Kyushu Western Region University-Industry-Government Collaboration Platform (QSP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2017Regional industry-academia-government platform including universities from Nagasaki and Saga prefectures, local governments, and business associations. The university serves as a coordinating institution.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical (大塚製薬株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2017Health promotion and educational partnership supporting NIU Kids Campus community programs and health education initiatives.
• Japan Airlines (JAL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2016Educational partnership agreement covering internship programs, career discovery seminars, guest lectures from industry professionals, and participation in university events. The airline provides opportunities for students to learn about the aviation industry.
• Nagasaki Shimbun (株式会社長崎新聞社)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2016Media partnership including collaborative outreach through NIU Kids Campus programs and joint publication of the NR newsletter.
• V・farlane NagasakimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2016Sports business collaboration including internship programs, volunteer activities at home games, sports tourism lectures, and community engagement through the university's Sports Tourism course. The soccer team participates in the Emperor's Cup tournament.
• Shanghai University Museum (上海大学博物館)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2016Basic agreement for museum studies training program. The partnership allows Chinese students to receive museum studies training in Japan. First program implemented July-August with 3-week intensive training.
• COC+ Nagasaki Prefecture PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2016Regional vitalization partnership with Nagasaki University, Nagasaki Prefectural University, and other institutions for local community development and human resource cultivation over a 5-year initiative.
• Watermark Hotel Nagasaki (株式会社ウォーターマークホテル長崎)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2016Hotel partnership for joint research on tea sweets and local specialty products, supporting health nutrition department research activities.
• Medical Corporation Iwakikai (医療法人医和基会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2015Comprehensive partnership with medical corporation operating hospitals, elderly care facilities, and group homes for healthcare professional education and clinical training.
• Haiki Police Station (早岐警察署)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2015Safety and crime prevention partnership including participation in children's cafeteria programs and student safety patrol activities.
• Shinkin Bank (株式会社親和銀行) / Fukuoka Financial GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2015Industry-academia collaboration promoting financial education through money seminars for health nutrition students and participation in NIU Kids Campus community outreach programs.
• Nishi-Kyushu University (西九州大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2015Comprehensive university partnership for faculty and staff exchange programs and academic collaboration.
• Hirado City Social Welfare Council (平戸市社会福祉协议会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2015Partnership with social welfare corporation for social welfare education, disability surveys, and certificate programs for social welfare professionals.
• Sasebo City (佐世保市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2015Comprehensive partnership agreement for regional collaboration including internship programs, community events, sports promotion, and urban revitalization initiatives. The university conducts various community-based projects including regional coordination activities and local cultural preservation.
• Ainoura Regional Comprehensive Support Center (相浦地域包括支援センター)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2015Partnership for community welfare including festival support, home care education programs, and regional community care coordination.
• Sasebo Regional International Student Support Exchange Promotion CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2014Council established to support international students through collaboration among local governments, universities, and businesses. NIU President serves as council chair.
• Nagasaki Prefecture Municipal Administrative Promotion Council (長崎県市町村行政振兴协议会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2014Comprehensive partnership for regional development and municipal administrative support. The university participates in liaison meetings and collaborative initiatives with the council.
• Hirado City (平戸市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2013Comprehensive partnership for tourism marketing surveys, folk cultural heritage revitalization, internship programs, and traditional folk performing arts preservation. Professor Hara conducts tourism marketing research and local cultural preservation activities.
• Chinese Culture University Taiwan (中国文化大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2013International academic exchange agreement with Taiwan's third-largest private university for faculty, researcher, and student exchanges across tourism, social welfare, and other academic fields.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Direct peers

• Okinawa International University: Private Japanese university with strong international student recruitment and a regional/small-scale profile. Directly comparable to NIU in international student orientation, multi-faculty applied programs, and dependence on regional rather than metropolitan recruitment.
• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: Private Japanese university with strong international focus and bilingual programs. Comparable to NIU's international exchange orientation and Japan-based private university model, though operating at meaningfully larger scale.
• Tohoku Fukushi University: Private Japanese university in Sendai with a strong social welfare focus. Comparable to NIU's Faculty of Human Social Sciences — Social Welfare Department and similar private regional university profile.
• Hiroshima International University: Private Japanese university with multiple applied faculties including pharmacy, health sciences, and tourism. Comparable as a private multi-faculty university with international focus and a pharmacy program paralleling NIU's portfolio.
• Beppu University: Private Japanese university in Oita Prefecture with applied programs in hospitality management and social welfare. NIU has an active comprehensive partnership with Beppu University for sports nutrition research, indicating close comparability in regional multi-faculty scope and applied program mix.
• Kyoto Pharmaceutical University: Private Japanese university with a dedicated pharmacy program. Directly comparable to NIU's six-year Faculty of Pharmacy in program structure, regulatory exposure, and reliance on pharmacist examination pass rates for reputation.
• Nishi-Kyushu University: Small private Japanese university in Saga Prefecture with comparable applied/professional programs. NIU has an active comprehensive partnership with Nishi-Kyushu University for faculty and staff exchange, signaling near-identical institutional profile and peer-level scale.
• Hokusei Gakuen University: Small private Japanese university in Hokkaido with social welfare, business, and applied programs. Directly comparable as a regional private multi-faculty university of similar scale facing the same demographic-cliff pressures.

Broad incumbents

• Nagasaki University: Main public national university in Nagasaki Prefecture with comprehensive faculties across all major disciplines. Comparable as the dominant regional higher-education incumbent against which NIU competes for local applicants and faculty.

Regional players

• Nagasaki Prefectural University: Public university in the same Nagasaki Prefecture as NIU, offering applied programs in nursing, nutrition, and international information. Comparable as the principal regional higher-education peer serving the same Kyushu student pipeline, though differing in public-vs-private funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/niu_pr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/%E9%95%B7%E5%B4%8E%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nagasaki International University