The title Imperial university should literally denote a university established under an empire, however many universities have adopted the title simply to add a sense of prestige or lineage.

Japan

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Nine Imperial Universities (帝國大學 teikoku daigaku) were founded and run by the Empire of Japan between 1877 and 1939, seven in Japan, one in Korea and one in Taiwan.

Japanese Imperial Universities include:

• Tokyo Imperial University (東京帝國大學) - Now The University of Tokyo (東京大学)
• Kyoto Imperial University (京都帝國大學) - Now Kyoto University (京都大学)
• Tohoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學) - Now Tohoku University (東北大学)
• Kyushu Imperial University (九州帝國大學) - Now Kyushu University (九州大学)
• Hokkaido Imperial University (北海道帝國大學) - Now Hokkaido University (北海道大学)
• Osaka Imperial University (大阪帝國大學) - Now Osaka University (大阪大学)
• Nagoya Imperial University (名古屋帝國大學) - Now Nagoya University (名古屋大学)
• Keijo Imperial University (京城帝國大學) - Absorbed as part of Seoul National University (서울大學校) (see note)
• Taihoku Imperial University (臺北帝國大學) - Now National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學)

NB: Changed its name to Gyeongseong University after World War II, and closed on August 22, 1946, by US Military Ordinance No. 102.

China

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There was at least one imperial university created, under the Kingdom of Wu in 258.

• Imperial Central College - Now Nanjing University.

Europe

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In Europe, there are at least three additional universities which bear the title; it is debatable how accurate the title is in each case.

• Imperial College London
• Imperial University of Odessa, Ukraine
• Imperial University of Philosophy and Theology, Sofia, Bulgaria

Empire of Japan | Japanese national universities | Universities and colleges in Japan | Korea under Japanese rule | History of Taiwan

Kaiserliche Universität | 帝国大学 | 帝國大學