Tohoku University, located in Sendai, Japan, is a nationally funded research university known for its education and research. It ranked first in the Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, it was ranked 103rd globally and third among Japanese universities included in that ranking.
Admission requirements at Tohoku University vary substantially by program, level of study, language of instruction, and enrollment period. Understanding the requirements for your particular admission route can help you prepare the correct documents, tests, and application materials before the deadline. This article explains the general steps international applicants should consider while emphasizing that the current application guide for the chosen program is the final authority.
Admissions Process at Tohoku University
In this section, we explain the general admissions process using information from the university’s official undergraduate admissions page. Graduate applicants should note that qualifications, application periods, examinations, and procedures differ among Tohoku University’s graduate schools. Applicants should therefore consult the admissions office or prospective academic supervisor for their chosen graduate program.
Step 1. Confirm that You Meet the Application Requirements
The first step is to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for your chosen admission route. Tohoku University has 10 undergraduate faculties or schools, numerous graduate schools, six research institutes, and a university hospital. It offers programs taught in Japanese, as well as graduate degree programs conducted partly or entirely in English.
In 2027, Tohoku University will offer the new English-taught Gateway College, with Humanities and Social Sciences and STEM admission tracks. Applicants looking for other English-taught options can review the university’s degree-course information.
For Gateway College’s fall 2027 enrollment, applicants generally need to have completed a 12-year school curriculum or possess an officially recognized equivalent qualification. Applicants who complete a 12-year curriculum in 11 years or less because of grade skipping or early graduation must contact the Admissions Division before applying. Applicants must also satisfy the applicable standardized entrance-examination and English-proficiency requirements.
International applicants to Japanese-taught undergraduate programs through the Privately Financed International Students Entrance Examination must generally take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) in June or November of the year before enrollment, meet the subject and minimum-score requirements set by the relevant faculty, submit the required TOEFL iBT score, and complete the university’s faculty-specific selection process in Japanese.
Step 2. Fill Out the Application Online
Application systems and fees are specific to each admission route. Applicants should follow the instructions in the current application guide rather than assume that every application is submitted through the same portal. Graduate-school procedures also vary, and some graduate applicants must contact a prospective academic supervisor before applying.
Older instructions stating that all applicants must apply through the TAO portal and pay a JPY 5,000 examination fee refer to the now-closed FGL undergraduate admissions process. Tohoku University has published preliminary requirements for Gateway College’s fall 2027 intake, but its detailed application guide, including final application procedures, schedules, documents, and fees, is expected to be published separately.
Depending on the admission route, required materials may include an academic transcript, proof of graduation or expected graduation, standardized examination results such as the International Baccalaureate, GCE A Levels, EJU, SAT, or ACT, proof of nationality, an application photograph, an essay or statement, and an accepted English language proficiency test result. Submit only the documents requested in the current guide for your program.
Step 3. Check your Success with the First Screening
Not every Tohoku University program uses the same screening structure. For Gateway College’s fall enrollment, the first stage consists of an evaluation of the accepted application documents. The university considers the applicant’s upper-secondary-school transcript, international university entrance qualifications or examination results, and English-proficiency results. Only applicants who pass this document screening may proceed to the second stage.
For Japanese-taught undergraduate admissions, selection is based on a comprehensive review of the application documents, EJU results, and any faculty-specific examinations or interviews. Graduate schools establish their own screening methods, which may include document reviews, written examinations, interviews, research proposals, and approval from a prospective supervisor.
Step 4. Prepare for the Online 2nd Screening Examination
Under the published requirements for Gateway College’s fall intake, applicants who pass the first stage proceed to a written examination and interview conducted in English. For the Humanities and Social Sciences track, the written examination evaluates logical reasoning, mathematical thinking, and related academic skills. For the STEM track, it evaluates mathematical thinking, a basic understanding of natural sciences, logical reasoning, and related skills. The interview considers factors such as communication skills, creativity, motivation, interest in global issues, and ethical awareness.
The Privately Financed International Students Entrance Examination is an undergraduate admission route for Japanese-taught programs, not a stand-alone Japanese-language proficiency test. The examination is conducted in Japanese, and its written examinations, interviews, and other assessments vary by faculty.
Step 5. Enroll Once Admitted
Successful applicants receive their results and enrollment instructions through the method specified by their admission route. Admission is not complete merely because an applicant’s examination number appears in a results announcement. Successful applicants must complete all required enrollment procedures, submit any requested original documents, and pay applicable fees by the stated deadlines. Failure to complete these procedures on time may result in the loss of permission to enroll.
Tips to Get Into Tohoku University
Here are several practical steps that can help you prepare a complete application.
Tip 1. Take the Right Language Tests if Needed
Applicants should check the exact language-test requirements for their program and intake. For Gateway College’s fall enrollment, the published minimums include an overall IELTS Academic score of 6.0, a TOEFL iBT score of 80 or a score of 4.0 for tests administered from January 2026, a Duolingo English Test score of 110, a Cambridge English score of 169, or an EIKEN score of 2,400 at Grade Pre-1 or Grade 1.
Gateway College applicants may be exempt from submitting an external English-test result if they completed at least three years of formal English-medium education during the four academic years before high-school graduation or completion of an equivalent qualification and submit the university’s designated documentation. Different programs may apply different exemptions and score requirements.
For Japanese-taught undergraduate programs, applicants generally must take the required EJU subjects, submit a qualifying TOEFL iBT result, and complete the faculty’s Privately Financed International Students Entrance Examination in Japanese. Applicants should consult the relevant Japanese-language application guide for the exact requirements.
Tip 2. Submit Applications Before the Deadline
Application periods vary by program, faculty, graduate school, admission route, and enrollment term. Start preparing your documents early, particularly when official test scores, translations, recommendations, or confirmation from a prospective graduate supervisor are required. Late or incomplete applications are generally not accepted.
Tip 3. Try to Apply for Scholarships
Review the eligibility conditions for each available scholarship before applying. Scholarship selection does not automatically improve an applicant’s chance of admission, and criteria vary among awards. Tohoku University lists options such as the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship and, for students enrolling from 2027, the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship. The latter is expected to support approximately the top one-third of eligible international students in participating undergraduate, master’s, and professional degree programs, including eligible Gateway College students, based on entrance-examination performance, academic performance after enrollment, and other applicable criteria.
Tohoku University is a highly ranked Japanese national university, and applicants may face demanding academic, examination, and language requirements. A carefully prepared application that follows the correct program guide is more likely to be accepted for review than a late or incomplete submission.
We hope these admission tips help you prepare a valid and complete application to Tohoku University. You can also read the Study in Japan guide and visit the Available Programs for international students!
