Have you ever wondered what Tokyo can offer you as a foreign student in terms of education? Are you interested in a wide array of graduate programs specifically for international students? Then you should look at the University of Tokyo, also known as UTokyo or Todai. It is the first Japanese national university that has become one of the leading research universities in Japan. It aims to provide a rich academic environment and provide its students with numerous professional skills and intellectual development opportunities.

There are ten faculties at the University of Tokyo – Faculty of Agriculture, College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Faculty of Science. One key feature that sets Todai apart from other universities is that the first two years are specifically dedicated to learning the necessary skills for the student’s chosen field. For the remaining two years, students will select a field of specialization to pursue, focused on honing more unique skills and fundamental knowledge of the chosen program.

The University of Tokyo has over 26,000 students, 3,900 of which are international students. Thus it should be no surprise that it provides a wide range of programs specifically designed for international students.

What is the Top Study Program at the University of Tokyo?

Engineering is the field of study in which most international students have shown interest. It offers a wide array of programs, and there are plenty of master’s and doctorate places available. The International Multidisciplinary Engineering Graduate Program is among the most popular engineering courses. It was launched in 1999, and ever since, it has offered international students the opportunity to receive a degree in engineering from Todai without having to learn Japanese. The lectures and research are all in English. Lastly, applicants who have impressed the admission committee can be awarded a scholarship and financial aid.

How Competitive is the Application Process at the University of Tokyo?

Being a top university not just in Japan but also in the world, getting a spot at this prestigious university requires one to undergo a rigorous admission process. With an estimated acceptance rate of 32%, you have to be very knowledgeable of the admission requirements to boost your chances of securing a chance to study there. Ensure you understand your course requirements, prepare well for the screening interviews, and submit all the required documents on time to guarantee a smooth and successful application process.

Recommended Fields of Study at the University of Tokyo

While most programs at the University of Tokyo are taught in Japanese, the university offers a range of advanced and interdisciplinary courses lectured in English.

1. International Multidisciplinary Engineering

As we have shared above, the international multidisciplinary engineering graduate program is the most popular and hands down best program to study at Todai if you are an international student. It offers lectures and research exclusively in English.

The curriculum for a master’s degree in engineering will give you a broad view of all aspects of engineering – from mechanical engineering to aeronautics, all the way to bioengineering. Because it covers such a wide array of subjects connected to engineering, it is popular among skilled students across the globe.

There are three application periods – July, September, and January. Applications can be made both online and on paper; however, you must remember that hard copies of your documents must arrive before the deadline to be considered. More about the application process can be found here in sections I, II, and III.

2. Intelligent Information Processing

UTokyo is renowned for its information processing research, so it is no surprise that its graduate program on Intelligent Information Processing is incredibly popular amongst foreign students. The program includes topics such as AI, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, cybernetics, VR, and supercomputing.

To take part in this program, prospective students have to be master’s or doctorate students at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology of UTokyo.

Interested students will have to sign up and prepare for the requirements before a specific date. Aspiring students should always keep a close eye on requirements and future application deadlines. Once the university starts accepting applications, fill out this form for the master’s course and this one for the doctorate course.

3. Chemistry and Biotechnology

This program offers an advanced curriculum that prepares students to sharpen the core scientific knowledge they received during their undergraduate studies. It consists of four subject groups – Fundamental Subjects, Standard Subjects, Special Topics, and Advanced and Specialized Subjects. By the end of the program, each student will have enhanced research skills that can be advantageous in their future careers. While not all subjects are offered in English, half of them are, which means that any non-Japanese-speaking student can quickly get the credits needed to pass.

It is a good idea that you frequently check the application dates and timelines. Students should grab the opportunity to apply early to secure a place in one of the sought-after programs in UTokyo. After the end of the application period, you will have to take an Entrance examination which consists of an oral and a written part. This applies to both master’s and doctorate applicants; however, Ph.D. applicants will have a stage two oral examination connected to their Master’s thesis.

4. Economics (UTIPE)

This program is ideal for international students who want to learn and conduct research under supervision and with the assistance of leading scholars in economics. The course is taught exclusively in English, which makes it one of the most popular graduate study programs. It offers a 2-year master’s and 4-year doctorate degrees. Only 15 students per year can get into the master’s while there are five vacancies in the Doctorate programs.

The Economics program is one of the few non-engineering programs that foreign students can enroll in. However, it is still an incredibly well-known program, primarily because of the world-renowned lecturers who offer not only basic theoretical knowledge but also bring significant insights and experiences to the table.

5. Resilience Engineering (Systems Innovation Course)

This program is focused on people who may already have experience in resilience engineering. This comprehensive program is conducted in English and taught by professors and experts in the following departments: the Department of Systems Innovation, the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, and other departments in Todai.

It also includes numerous activities aimed at helping students hone their skills and acquire practical ability on the subject. Moreover, students can choose to participate in one of the extra activities, such as the Advance Seminar on Systems Innovation, The English for Science and Technology, and The Special Lecture on Systems Innovation (these lectures are handled by educators outside the university.) These activities are one of the reasons why this program is famous among international students. Another reason is that completing this program will open up many opportunities for future employment in consulting, resource and energy, manufacturing, or financial industries.

The application process is similar to the other ones, though you will have to follow a deadline by which your English language certificate will have to arrive at the university before the target date. Furthermore, you will have to take an entrance examination. follow the timeline here for more information.

The University of Tokyo is the home of over 3,900 international students, so it offers many programs suitable for their specific interests. Most of the programs mentioned above are in the field of engineering, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 4 out of our top 5 programs to study at the University of Tokyo are from the Faculty of Engineering. And some of the best courses are taught in English rather than Japanese. The cherry on top is that all of these programs have opportunities for scholarships, too.

 

We hope that the above programs at the University of Tokyo will help you narrow down your study options. You can visit our Study in Japan page and browse the available Open Courses to learn more about studying in Japan and the availability of financial assistance.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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