The Department of Economics of Keio University is one of the leading economics departments in Japan. Together, the Faculty and Graduate School of Economics at Keio University form one of the leading centers for the academic study of economics in Japan. For well over a hundred years now, Keio economics graduates have gone on to positions of leadership in the corporate world, and many have risen to prominence in political and academic circles. We have therefore developed a strong international alumni network. Our aim is to continue to produce graduates uniquely prepared to acts as leaders in the global economy.
The Institution
Keio has a proud history as Japan's very first private institution of modern higher learning. It was founded in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901), as a school for Dutch studies in Edo (now Tokyo). Ever since then the students of Keio have proved themselves to be social and economic leaders, and have risen to the forefront of innovation in every imaginable academic field.
The forerunner of the present faculty/graduate school was founded in 1890 as the first higher education department in Japan to promote the theoretical and empirical investigation of economic issues. Ever since then, economics has been taught in a liberal, unprejudiced atmosphere, with a strong spirit of independence. The majority of Keio Economics graduates proceed to careers in business, politics or education and research. Alumni from outside Japan also include several influential leaders.
Despite our long history, we constantly adopt new and innovative educational programs. The Faculty of Economics offers a four-year undergraduate program which is designed to enable students to put theory into practice, especially on the international stage. The Graduate School of Economics, which offers masters and doctoral programs, allows students to enjoy close interaction with faculty members and to develop the high-level of economic knowledge and expertise needed for dealing with real world problems.
We are committed to research in a wide range of fields. In 2008, the Japanese Ministry of Education selected the Graduate Schools of Economics and Business and Commerce at Keio jointly with Kyoto University for the establishment of a Global Center of Excellence, an advanced center of economics research and education, that will be funded for 5-years by a generous research grant.
