The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo overview
The University of Tokyo is a national university in Japan. It was formed in 1877, when Tokyo Kaisei School and Tokyo Medical School merged. It is widely regarded as the most selective and prestigious university in Japan. The university is made up of 10 faculties, 15 graduate schools, 11 research institutes, and 13 university-wide centers. It also includes three libraries, two institutes for advanced study, and the University of Tokyo Hospital. About 30,000 students study here, 4,200 of them international.
The university holds more than 450 international exchange agreements with universities around the world.
Among research institutions, the university receives the highest amount of national grant funding. It ranked 1st in Asia and 20th in the world in the 2012 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. Its alumni include 18 Nobel Prize recipients, 17 Japanese prime ministers, and 5 astronauts. According to The Japan Times, the university had 1,282 professors as of February 2012.
As Japan's oldest university, the University of Tokyo offers a wide range of unique experiences and opportunities. Classes are taught in Japanese and English.
About The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo is a national university in Japan. It was formed in 1877, when Tokyo Kaisei School and Tokyo Medical School merged. It is widely regarded as the most selective and prestigious university in Japan. The university is made up of 10 faculties, 15 graduate schools, 11 research institutes, and 13 university-wide centers. It also includes three libraries, two institutes for advanced study, and the University of Tokyo Hospital. About 30,000 students study here, 4,200 of them international.
The university holds more than 450 international exchange agreements with universities around the world.
Among research institutions, the university receives the highest amount of national grant funding. It ranked 1st in Asia and 20th in the world in the 2012 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. Its alumni include 18 Nobel Prize recipients, 17 Japanese prime ministers, and 5 astronauts. According to The Japan Times, the university had 1,282 professors as of February 2012.
As Japan's oldest university, the University of Tokyo offers a wide range of unique experiences and opportunities. Classes are taught in Japanese and English.
The University of Tokyo faculties and programs
Urban and Environmental Studies
Agricultural Development Studies
Global Health Sciences
Sustainability Science
Intelligent Information Processing
Information, Technology, and Society in Asia
Technology Management
Chemistry and Biotechnology
Economics
Global Society
The University of Tokyo scholarships and financial aid
Various scholarship opportunities are available if you wish to study in Japan. Through these scholarships, students can pursue a university education abroad without financial hardship. You submit scholarship applications during the enrollment period.
For more information about scholarships, you can visit the university's own page.
The University of Tokyo Exam Requirements
Submitting at least one of the exams below with the required score is a prerequisite for application. The score threshold may vary by program.
How to get into The University of Tokyo
If you are applying to an undergraduate program at the University of Tokyo, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Completion of 12 years of primary and secondary education
- Diploma with a strong GPA
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
- English proficiency certificate from an internationally recognized exam such as TOEFL or IELTS
- Official transcripts showing the courses you took and the grades you earned in high school
- Application fee
If you are applying to a graduate program at the University of Tokyo, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- 4-year bachelor's degree diploma
- Strong GPA
- English proficiency certificate from an internationally recognized exam such as TOEFL or IELTS
- Official transcripts showing the courses you took and the grades you earned throughout your education
- A GRE/GMAT score may be required to meet admission requirements.
- Application fee
You must submit official proof of your English proficiency. This does not apply if you attended a university, or graduated from a high school, where the language of instruction is English. You need at least a TOEFL iBT score of 90, an overall IELTS band score of 6.5, or a Cambridge English Qualifications "C1 Advanced" score.
Depending on the program you apply to, the university may request additional examinations.
Take a closer look at The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo campus is the first modern Japanese university campus. Japan's Ministry of Education and Science has designated it a "center of excellence" for three new research areas. The main campus is Hongo, which also hosts the university's annual May Festival.
The university's other campuses are Komaba and Kashiwa. Komaba is home to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences. Kashiwa holds its faculties along with the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) and the Institute for Solid State Physics. It also houses the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, which is entirely dedicated to graduate-level study.
The University of Tokyo campuses were built to bring traditional Japanese architecture and modern design together. Faculty buildings, workshops, classrooms, and laboratories across the university are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. On campus you will find cafes and restaurants, computer labs (similar to internet cafes), a bookstore, gyms, athletic facilities, and shops.
More than 450 student organizations run on campus, and students run them themselves. They range from team and individual sports to volunteer work. Made possible through student clubs, these activities keep campus life vibrant. Through the clubs you can socialize and get to know other students.
If you come from abroad, dormitories and apartments are available on campus. The Housing Office offers both long-term and short-term accommodation to overseas students and researchers applying through the University of Tokyo. Its goal is to provide high-quality housing at affordable prices.
Tokyo is considered one of the world's safest cities. As in any urban environment, a number of measures have been put in place on campus to keep students safe.
Notable Alumni of the University of Tokyo
Nobel Prize Laureates:
- Yasunari Kawabata, Literature, 1968
- Leo Esaki, Physics, 1973
- Eisaku Sato, Peace, 1974
- Kenzaburō Ōe, Literature, 1994
- Masatoshi Koshiba, Physics, 2002
- Yoichiro Nambu, Physics, 2008
- Ei-ichi Negishi, Chemistry, 2010
- Takaaki Kajita, Physics, 2015
- Yoshinori Ohsumi, Physiology or Medicine, 2016
- Syukuro Manabe, Physics, 2021
Authors:
- Kōbo Abe
- Ryunosuke Akutagawa
- Osamu Dazai
- Shinichi Hoshi
- Otohiko Kaga
- Yukio Mishima
- Dhan Gopal Mukerji
- Atsushi Nakajima
- Wafu Nishijima
- Mori Ōgai
- Hiro Sachiya
- Tatsuhiko Shibusawa
- Naoya Shiga
- Masaoka Shiki
- Natsume Soseki
- Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
Notable Physicians:
- Kunie Miyaji (Japan's pioneering female physician)
- Kitasato Shibasaburō
- Katsusaburo Yamagiwa
The University of Tokyo Location
Tokyo, Japan
The University of Tokyo Contact
How to Get Into The University of Tokyo
In your first meeting with a Dream Uni advisor, your academic background, goals, and expectations are analyzed in detail.
By assessing your English level and academic grades, your eligibility for the universities and colleges Dream Uni partners with is determined.
The application process is managed meticulously by our professional team, and your acceptance letter is delivered to you.
Why The University of Tokyo?
Other Universities in Japan
Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)
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