Applying To Tokyo University: A Guide For International Students

how to apply to tokyo university as an international student

The University of Tokyo is a prestigious institution that welcomes international students to its undergraduate and graduate programs. The application process for international students is conducted online, with varying requirements depending on the program. For instance, graduate programs require a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and English language proficiency, while undergraduate programs require a high school diploma and a high level of Japanese proficiency. International applicants should prepare the necessary documents, which may differ by country, and submit their applications by the specified deadlines. The University of Tokyo is an excellent choice for international students seeking a world-class education in a vibrant cultural setting.

Characteristics Values
Application deadline for undergraduate admission 13 December 2024
Application deadline for graduate admission 1 December 2024
Application process Online
Requirements Varies from programme to programme. For e.g., a Special Screening Test for students who graduated from high schools abroad, a high level of proficiency in Japanese for undergraduate courses taught in Japanese, English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English, etc.
Application fee Non-refundable

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Undergraduate vs graduate admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

The University of Tokyo offers two types of screening tests for undergraduate admissions: the General Screening Test and the Special Screening Test. The General Screening Test is for students who graduated from high schools in Japan, while the Special Screening Test is for students who graduated from high schools abroad. As most undergraduate programs are taught in Japanese, a high level of proficiency in the language is required for enrollment. The Special Screening Test (Class-1) is specifically for non-Japanese nationals without permanent residency in Japan. Admitted students can proceed to the Senior Division faculty and department indicated in their application, provided they fulfill the Junior Division requirements.

The University of Tokyo also offers a Bachelor of Arts program called PEAK, based on a traditional liberal arts curriculum. After two years of liberal arts education, PEAK students can advance to the International Program on Japan in East Asia or the International Program on Environmental S.

Graduate Admissions

At the graduate level, students may enroll as regular students or international research students. For degree programs offered in Japanese, a high level of Japanese proficiency is required. However, the University of Tokyo also offers various graduate degree programs taught in English, some of which have no Japanese proficiency requirement.

International research students are those who wish to engage in specialized field research at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School. No degrees or qualifications are awarded to these students upon completion of their research term. Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals with academic abilities equivalent to those of qualified applicants for regular Master's or Doctoral programs. However, qualifications may vary depending on the specific Graduate School, so it is advisable to contact the school for detailed information.

Those applying for Master's or Doctoral programs must take an entrance examination. To be granted a Master's degree, students must attend the school for a minimum of two years, studying specified subjects and earning the required credits.

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Screening tests

The University of Tokyo offers admissions to international students as regular students or international research students. The majority of the courses in the traditional undergraduate programs are taught in Japanese, so a high level of proficiency in Japanese is required upon enrollment. International students who wish to enroll in a Master's or Doctoral program are required to take an entrance examination conducted by The University of Tokyo.

The University of Tokyo has a General Screening Test for students who graduated from high school in Japan and a Special Screening Test for students who graduated from high schools abroad. The Special Screening Test (Class-1) is for non-Japanese nationals without permanent residency in Japan. Students admitted through this screening will proceed to the Senior Division faculty and department that they indicated in their university application form, provided that they fulfill the Junior Division requirements.

The University also offers a variety of graduate degree programs taught in English, some of which do not require Japanese proficiency.

The Graduate School of Medicine (excluding Health Sciences, Nursing Science, and International Health courses), the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, and the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences consist of Doctoral programs that require a minimum of 4 years of attendance.

International research students belong to a special category for those who wish to engage in research activities in specialized fields at a University of Tokyo Graduate School. No degrees or qualifications are awarded to postgraduate research students after completing a research term. Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals with academic abilities equal to those of qualified applicants for regular Master's or Doctoral programs at University of Tokyo Graduate Schools.

Additionally, newly admitted international students to the Tokyo Institute of Technology (formerly Tokyo Tech, now Institute of Science Tokyo as of October 1, 2024) are required to submit a health certificate and undergo an annual medical checkup while enrolled. International students who have passed the entrance exam and whose registered enrollment period will be three months or longer are required to submit Part I: Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and Part II: Certificate of Vaccinations. For TB screening, individuals must undergo an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test and have a physician complete the form. The IGRA test is highly recommended over the PPD test (tuberculin test) due to the latter being prone to false-positive and false-negative results.

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Language requirements

The University of Tokyo offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Japanese and English. The language requirements for international students will depend on the program they wish to enrol in.

Japanese-taught Programs

For undergraduate programs taught in Japanese, a high level of proficiency in the language is required upon enrollment.

Similarly, graduate programs offered in Japanese also require a high level of Japanese proficiency.

English-taught Programs

The University of Tokyo offers a variety of graduate degree programs taught in English, some of which do not require Japanese proficiency. However, international applicants whose first language is not English must meet English language proficiency test score requirements.

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Application deadlines

The University of Tokyo has different application deadlines for its undergraduate and graduate programs. For undergraduate admission, the deadline for international students is December 13, 2024. The University of Tokyo recommends that students start the online application process as early as possible and submit their applications at least one day before the deadline.

The application process for international students is conducted online. Students first need to log in to the admission portal and provide their details. Next, they select their course and submit the required documents. International applicants whose first language is not English must meet the English language proficiency test score requirements. Additionally, as most undergraduate courses are taught in Japanese, a high level of proficiency in the language is required upon enrollment.

For graduate programs, the University of Tokyo admission deadline for most programs is December 1, 2024. Similar to the undergraduate process, students are advised to begin the application process early and submit their applications before the deadline.

Graduate students may enroll as regular students or international research students. The University offers a variety of graduate degree programs taught in English, some of which do not require Japanese proficiency. However, for degree programs offered in Japanese, a high level of Japanese proficiency is necessary.

International research students belong to a special category for those who wish to engage in research activities in specialized fields. Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals with academic abilities equivalent to those of qualified applicants for regular Master's or Doctoral programs.

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Required documents

The required documents for applying to the University of Tokyo as an international student will vary depending on the course and level of study you are applying for. Here is a detailed breakdown of the documentation you may need to provide:

Undergraduate Admissions

The University of Tokyo offers two types of admissions tests for undergraduate programs: the General Screening Test and the Special Screening Test. The Special Screening Test is designed for international students who graduated from high schools outside of Japan and can further be divided into two categories:

  • Special Screening Test (Class-1): This is for non-Japanese nationals without permanent residency in Japan. Applicants who pass this screening will proceed to the Senior Division faculty and department indicated in their application, provided they fulfill the requirements of the Junior Division. A high level of proficiency in Japanese is required for enrollment in traditional undergraduate programs.
  • Program in English at Komaba (PEAK): This is a Bachelor of Arts program based on a traditional liberal arts curriculum. After two years of liberal arts education, PEAK students can advance to the International Program on Japan in East Asia or the International Program on Environmental Studies, which are taught in English.

Graduate Admissions

At the graduate level, international students may enroll as regular graduate students or as international research students. The University of Tokyo offers a variety of graduate degree programs taught in Japanese and English. Here are the required documents for each type of enrollment:

  • Regular Graduate Student: For degree programs offered in Japanese, a high level of Japanese proficiency is required. International applicants whose first language is not English may need to meet English language proficiency requirements. A completed bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline is also necessary.
  • International Research Student: This category is for those who wish to engage in research activities in specialized fields at the University of Tokyo. Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals with academic abilities equivalent to those applying for regular Master's or Doctoral programs. International research students should note that no degrees or qualifications are awarded after completing a research term.

It is important to note that the University of Tokyo recommends that international students start the online application process as early as possible and submit their applications before the specified deadlines. The required documents may vary for different countries, so it is advisable to request a list of necessary documents directly from the university or through their online admission portal.

Frequently asked questions

For degree programs offered in Japanese, a high level of Japanese proficiency is required. International applicants whose first language is not English must also meet English language proficiency requirements.

The academic requirements vary depending on the program. For graduate programs, a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline is required, as well as meeting the English language proficiency test requirements. For undergraduate programs, there are two options: a general screening test for students who graduated from high schools in Japan, and a special screening test for students who graduated from high schools abroad.

The application process is conducted online. Students must first log in to the admission portal and provide their details, then select their course and submit the required documents. The University of Tokyo recommends starting the application process as soon as possible and submitting the application by at least one day in advance of the deadline.

For undergraduate admission, the deadline is December 13, 2024. For graduate programs, the deadline is December 1, 2024, for most programs.

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