Number of places available: 5 full year places (includes 3 places for MLAC students)

The University of Tokyo has some of its total number of places pre-allocated for Japanese Studies so places for non Japanese Studies students may be limited.

• University of Tokyo website
• Student exchange website
• General contact: intex-ut@ml.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp
• University of Tokyo Fact Sheet 2023-2024

Dates

Term dates:

• Tokyo operates on a 4 term system. The term dates would usually be from September to the following August.

Application period (after a Global Opportunities place has been allocated by DU)

• September Admission: January 1 to February 28
• April Admission: August 1 to September 30

Academic Information

There are courses available in both English and Japanese. A full list of courses available can be found here.

Students should be aware that courses change annually and courses on the website above may not be offered in the next academic year.

USTEP Overview

Type U (For Undergraduates)

Study Load

Type U students are required to register for minimum of 10 hours worth of classes per week during their stay (Japanese immigration law stipulates that international students with a “student” visa spend a minimum of ten hours in class per week.). At least one of the classes must be a non-language class. For more information, please see University of Tokyo Fact Sheet 2023-2024.

Language Requirements

There are a variety of courses available in English. Tokyo requires students to be proficient in English and/or Japanese. Non-native English speakers will be required to provide evidence of English language ability.

If students wish to take courses in Japanese, they are required to have a minimum JLPT level 1.

Students can register for Japanese Language Education classes to help with Japanese Language.

Accommodation

Exchange students can apply for housing, but this is not guaranteed.

More information from the Housing Office website. 

Supporting Documents Required

• Exchange Application Form
• Academic Transcript
• Proof of Financial Support (e.g. bank statement)
• Copy of Passport
• Reference Letter
• ID Photos
• Certificate of Eligibility Application Form

Student Support

The University of Tokyo has a range of student support such as moving to and living in Japan, career advice, studying Japanese and family support in Japan.  

Summer Opportunities

The University of Tokyo runs a summer internship programme in Kashiwa, which:

• provides hands-on research internship opportunities in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences
• offers lectures from the world-leading researchers at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
• is a seven-week summer program for academically motivated undergraduate students
• provides a scholarship and accommodation.

Further details are available here. 

JSPS Summer Programme

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) are currently offering short term placements for PhD or MPhil students:

The JSPS Summer Programme provides the opportunity for current MPhil or PhD students to receive a one week orientation on Japanese culture and research systems on arrival and then move to a host institution in Japan of their choice and approved by JSPS, to conduct collaborative research activities for 2 months during the summer.

Value of award: Return international airfare, maintenance allowance (534,000, JPY), research support allowance (158,500 JPY) and overseas travel and accident insurance policy are provided.

Eligibility: Applicants must be a British national and a current MPhil or PhD student based at a UK university or research institution at the time of application. Eligible research fields are not limited.

Applications should be sent to the British Council Tokyo. Application guidelines and form are available on the website.

Read case studies written by former UK JSPS Summer Programme Fellows.

Other Information

Exchange students who will be studying in Japan for longer than 3 months will be expected to join the National Health Insurance Program.