With the addition of the new College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University has become a comprehensive university encompassing five colleges and fifteen departments in the arts and sciences. Initially established as a pre-eminent technical university for the Chubu region, in April 1984 Chubu University added to its original College of Engineering, the College of Business Administration and Information Science, and the College of International Studies. April 1998 saw the foundation of the College of Humanities, and finally in April of 2001, the university opened its newest faculty, the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology.

Characteristic of the university is its establishment of a structure that is truly comprehensive, including studies of the fields of nature, society, and the humanities at its five colleges and fifteen departments of arts and science. The university has created an academic environment in which students can study beyond the spheres of each department or college. Considered extremely important is the combination of fostering a multi-lateral outlook, while gaining in-depth specialization. The university strives to educate students who can contribute fully to a 21st century society — providing knowledge in the arts to technology students, as well as teaching the fundamentals of science to those majoring in the humanities. Therefore, Chubu University encourages students to attend lectures in colleges and departments other than their major, and honors credits acquired if students change department or college after entering the university.