University of Tokyo Admission Guide for International Students

Two routes into the University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) admits international students through two broad routes: English-medium degree programs that need no prior Japanese, and the standard Japanese-language entrance route used by most domestic and international applicants. Which route fits you depends on the language you can study in and the subject you want.

At undergraduate level the English-taught options include the Global Science Course (GSC), a transfer-in program for science students, and the newly established UTokyo College of Design (its first intake is planned from 2027). The long-running PEAK program (Programs in English at Komaba) has closed to new applicants. At graduate level there are many English-taught master's and doctoral programs, plus the distinctive 'research student' (non-degree) route that many applicants use as a stepping stone.

Because programs, deadlines and requirements are revised each cycle, treat this guide as an orientation and confirm every detail on the official prospective-students pages before you apply.

• English-medium undergraduate: GSC (science transfer) and the new UTokyo College of Design
• Japanese-track undergraduate: the general entrance examination
• Graduate: English- or Japanese-taught master's/PhD, plus the research-student route

English-taught undergraduate: GSC and the College of Design

For years, PEAK (Programs in English at Komaba) offered full English-taught bachelor's degrees for students who completed secondary school largely outside the Japanese system. The University has announced that PEAK's student recruitment has concluded — its final intake was the Fall 2026 enrolment — so it is no longer open to new applicants. Confirm this on the official site.

The current English-medium undergraduate routes are the Global Science Course (GSC) and the newly launched UTokyo College of Design. GSC is a transfer program: students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at a university outside Japan are admitted into the third year of the Faculty of Science to finish an English-taught science degree. The UTokyo College of Design is a new all-English undergraduate program with its first intake planned from 2027 — check its official site for eligibility, structure and deadlines.

Typical English-medium applications assess your secondary-school record, a standardized examination (such as SAT, A-Levels or the IB), an English-proficiency test, essays and references. Exact accepted qualifications and score expectations change, so verify them on the official program page.

• PEAK — recruitment has ended (final intake Fall 2026); no longer open to new applicants
• GSC — English-taught science, transferring into the third year of the Faculty of Science
• UTokyo College of Design — new all-English undergraduate program, first intake from 2027 (verify details)

The Japanese-track general entrance examination

Most undergraduate places at UTokyo are filled through the Japanese-language general entrance examination. International applicants can sit this route, but it requires strong academic Japanese and, in most cases, Japan's standardized tests for international students.

Students on this route usually take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) and then the university's own subject examinations. Preparation typically includes Japanese-language study to the level needed for lectures and exams.

If you are early in your planning, decide realistically whether you will study in English or in Japanese — this single choice shapes your whole timeline, from language tests to which faculties you can enter.

Graduate admission and the research-student route

For master's and doctoral study, you apply to a specific graduate school and, often, to a specific supervisor's laboratory. Many graduate programs are available in English, including English-taught courses supported by Japan's national internationalization initiatives.

A widely used pathway is the 'research student' (kenkyusei) route: a non-degree status where you join a lab under a professor before formally sitting the entrance examination for a degree program. Securing a supervisor's agreement is usually the crucial first step.

Graduate requirements vary sharply by department — bachelor's background, a research plan, references, language proficiency and interviews are common. Always read the individual graduate school's admissions page.

• Apply to a specific graduate school (and often a specific lab/supervisor)
• Research-student (kenkyusei) status is a common non-degree stepping stone
• A research plan and a willing supervisor are frequently decisive

English tests, documents and timeline

English-taught programs generally require a recent TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score; some accept other recognized qualifications. Confirm the exact test list and minimum on the official page, since these are revised regularly.

Common documents include academic transcripts and certificates, standardized-test results, a personal statement or study plan, letters of recommendation, a passport copy and proof of English proficiency. Prepare certified English translations where originals are in another language.

Intakes differ by route — some English programs enrol in autumn, while the Japanese-track undergraduate year begins in April. Deadlines fall months ahead of enrolment, so work backward from the official dates.

• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic (verify current minimum)
• Transcripts, test scores, study plan, references, passport, translations
• Autumn intake for some English programs; April for the Japanese-track year

Fees, scholarships and the student visa

As a national university, UTokyo's tuition and entrance fees are set within Japan's national framework; check the current figures and any additional program costs on the official site rather than relying on older numbers.

Funding options often discussed include the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, university tuition-fee waivers and various private scholarships; eligibility and amounts change every year, so verify each on its official source and never pay anyone who 'guarantees' a scholarship or a place.

Admitted students typically need the 'Student' residence status to study in Japan, arranged after you receive a Certificate of Eligibility. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify the current process on the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan website before you act.

• Tuition/fees: national-university framework — verify current amounts
• Funding: MEXT Scholarship, tuition-fee waivers, private scholarships (verify each)
• Study visa: 'Student' status via a Certificate of Eligibility (verify on the official immigration site)