Institute of Science Tokyo (Formerly Tokyo Tech) Admission Guide for International Students

What is Institute of Science Tokyo?

Institute of Science Tokyo — known in English as 'Science Tokyo' — is a national university created in October 2024 by integrating the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU). It is one of Japan's leading science, engineering, medicine and life-sciences institutions, based in Tokyo.

If you have searched for 'Tokyo Tech', that institution is now part of Science Tokyo; its official website and application portals moved to the isct.ac.jp domain. Because the name changed recently, always cross-check that you are on the current official Science Tokyo pages, and treat older 'Tokyo Tech' links as legacy.

The main route: English graduate and research programmes

For most international students, the primary way in is at the graduate level. Science Tokyo runs International Graduate Programs (IGP) — master's, doctoral and integrated doctoral tracks taught in English for students who may have little or no Japanese. These are research-intensive programmes built around joining a laboratory.

Some IGP tracks are linked to Japan's MEXT (Japanese Government) scholarship, while others are for privately-financed students. The available fields, tracks and funding differ each year, so confirm the current programme structure on the official admissions portal before you plan.

• International Graduate Programs (IGP): master's, doctoral, integrated doctoral — taught in English
• Research- and lab-centred study; suited to students with a clear field of interest
• Some tracks are MEXT-linked, others privately financed (verify)
• Programme lists and application windows change yearly — check the official portal

Securing a supervisor first

A defining feature of the research route is that you usually need an academic supervisor before you can be admitted. For graduate/IGP applications, Science Tokyo expects you to contact a prospective faculty member by email and obtain their consent to supervise you — applications may not be considered without it.

That makes your first task identifying labs whose research matches your interests, reading the faculty's work, and writing a focused, professional enquiry. Give yourself months for this: responses take time, and a strong supervisor match is central to both admission and, often, funding.

• Identify labs and faculty whose research fits your interests
• Email a well-prepared enquiry and secure the supervisor's consent before applying
• Start early — supervisor matching can take weeks or months
• A confirmed supervisor is often key to both admission and funding

GSEP — the English undergraduate route

At undergraduate level the options are limited but real. The Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) is an English-taught Bachelor of Engineering programme for international students with little or no Japanese, admitting through a document-based international screening rather than the Japanese-medium entrance exam.

GSEP is competitive and has its own eligibility, tests and deadlines. Required qualifications and English evidence change by cycle, so read the official undergraduate admissions page for the current requirements rather than relying on summaries elsewhere.

MEXT and funding

Funding at Science Tokyo commonly comes through the MEXT (Japanese Government) scholarship — via either the embassy-recommendation route (applied for in your home country) or the university-recommendation route (applied for through the university once you have a supervisor). There are also privately-financed places and other scholarships.

Stipend amounts, coverage and eligibility are set by the official schemes and change over time, so do not rely on figures from unofficial sites. Confirm current funding options on the Science Tokyo admissions portal and the official MEXT / Study in Japan resources.

How to apply — practical steps

Begin by choosing your level (graduate/IGP or GSEP undergraduate) and, for research routes, shortlisting and contacting potential supervisors early. Prepare academic transcripts, a research plan (for graduate study), English-proficiency evidence, and — where required — standardised qualifications for GSEP.

No agent or paid service can guarantee admission or a scholarship; official decisions rest with the university and the scholarship bodies, so be wary of anyone promising a place or a MEXT award for a fee. Apply only through the official portal and verify every requirement on isct.ac.jp.