Nanzan University was officially established in 1949, however its history dates back to 1932 when Nanzan Junior High School was founded. In 1946 Nanzan Foreign Language School was opened and in 1949 it was renamed Nanzan University.
The university is located in Yagoto, in the eastern part of Nagoya.
There are eight faculties at the university specialising in the fields of business administration, economics, foreign studies, global liberal studies, humanities, law, policy studies, and science and engineering. Each faculty is divided into departments, which offer both undergraduate and graduate courses.
In 1974 the university opened its Centre for Japanese Studies, which provides intensive Japanese languages courses. Every year more than 150 international students enrol in these language programs for a semester or a year. International students also come to the university to study as part of an academic exchange with one of the university’s 100 partner institutions.
The university’s Catholic origins are derived from the Divine Word Missionaries – an international religious congregation of priests and brothers. Josef Reiners, who founded Nanzan Junior High School, was a member of the Divine Word Missionary. The university’s religious motto "For Human Dignity" refers to the university’s role in making each student aware of his or her God-given dignity.
Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. Unfortunately the 1945 air raids destroyed most of the city, including its historic buildings. Nagoya has now become the manufacturing centre of Chūbu and is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation headquarters. The city is situated between Tokyo and Kyoto, which is ideal for students who wish to explore more of what Japan has to offer.
