Japan has about 800 universities. Not all of them offer degree programs in English, but each university has its own unique strengths, which makes choosing a study destination quite challenging. Once you decide on a university, it is also important to explain to your family — who will support your study abroad journey — why that university is the right choice and how it is recognized globally, so they can feel confident about your decision. In this article, we will introduce the international accreditations in the field of business and provide a list of universities in Japan that have obtained these accreditations.
When choosing a business school, one important way to understand its global reputation is through international accreditations. These accreditations are awarded by trusted organizations that carefully evaluate the quality of education, research, and international outlook of universities.
The three most recognized accreditations are:
- AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, USA) Ensures high standards in teaching, research, and student outcomes.
- AMBA (Association of MBAs, UK) Focuses on MBA, DBA, and Master’s programs, guaranteeing strong leadership and management training.
- EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System, Europe) Evaluates the entire business school, including internationalization, corporate links, and research excellence.
Below, we will provide a list of Japanese universities that have obtained each of these international business school accreditations.
AACSB-Accredited Schools
| University | Level | Programs |
| International University of Japan | Master’s | Graduate School of International Management – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – International Business – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Japan Global Development – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Management – Master of Digital Management – Master of Social Entrepreneurship |
| Keio University | Master’s Doctoral | Graduate School of Business Administration – Executive MBA – General Business – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – General Business – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – General Business |
| Nagoya University of Commerce and Business | Undergraduate Master’s | Nagoya University of Commerce and Business – Bachelor of Business Administration – Management – Bachelor of Science (BS) – Accounting – Bachelor of Science (BS) – CIS/ MIS – Bachelor of Science (BS) – Economics – Bachelor of Science (BS) – Management – Bachelor of Science (BS) – Marketing – Executive MBA – Leadership – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – International Business – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Management – Master of Science (MS) – Accounting – Master of Science (MS) – Taxation – Master of Science (MSc) – International Business |
| Waseda University | Master’s | Waseda Business School – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – General Business – Master of Science (MS) |
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | Undergraduate Master’s | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University – Bachelor of Business Administration – General Business – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – General Business |
| Hitotsubashi University | Master’s Doctoral | School of International Corporate Strategy – One-Year MBA Program – General Business – Two-Year MBA Program – General Business – Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – General Business |
| Hitotsubashi University | Undergraduate Master’s Doctoral | School of Business Administration – Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Management – General Business – Master of Business Administration (MBA) – General Business – Master of Science in Commerce and Management – General Business – Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration – General Business – Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce and Management – General Business – Doctor of Philosophy in Finance – Finance – incl Banking |
| Rikkyo University | Undergraduate Master’s | College of Business – Bachelor of Arts (BA) – General Business – Master of Business – Master of International Business – International Business |
AMBA-Accredited Schools
| University | Level | Programs |
| Doshisha University | Master’s | Doshisha Graduate School of Business – Business Studies – Global Business and Management Studies |
| Chuo University | Master’s | Graduate School of Strategic Management – MBA |
| Nagoya University of Commerce & Business | Master’s | NUCB Business School – EMBA – General Manager Programme – MBA – English Track – MBA (Japanese Track) |
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | Master’s | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University – MBA |
EQUIS-Accredited Schools
| University | Level | Programs |
| Kyoto University | Master’s | Graduate School of Management |
| Nagoya University of Commerce & Business | Master’s | NUCB Business School |
| Waseda University | Master’s | Waseda Business School |
Global University in Japan view:
Business schools that achieve all three are called Triple Crown institutions, representing the top 1% of business schools worldwide. In Japan, there is currently only one university that holds the Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS) — Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB Business School). When choosing a university, it is important not to focus only on the institution’s overall ranking, but also to pay attention to its global reputation in the specific field you plan to study.
