Undergraduate Students

1. Overview

The purpose of the programs in the Faculty of Law is to cultivate talented individuals with broad vision, a sharp legal mind and the basics of political insight through education and research centered on legal and political studies.

The origin of the Faculty of Law dates back to the "Law School" established by the Ministry of Justice in July 1872 (Meiji 5) and the “Law Department of Kaisei Gakko” established by the Ministry of Education in April 1873 (Meiji 6). Since then, the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo has consistently served as the research center for legal and political studies, and provides highly sophisticated education supported by its history. The Faculty has produced innumerable outstanding professionals including both Japanese and foreign nationals in the fields of law practice, government service, politics, business, news media and academia. The focus of the education in this Faculty is to cultivate legal and political viewpoints and to provide students with a broad perspective and powers of discernment relating to social life through the understanding of basic theory in relation to a wide range of legal and political matters.

The students of the Faculty of Law are divided into three departments in accordance with their choice at the time of enrollment. They are Department I: Private Law Course; Department II: Public Law Course; and Department III: Politics Course. In the Private Law Course, the focus is on the rights and obligations of individuals, and on the structure and function of law regarding disputes involving such rights and obligations. In the Public Law Course, education is focused on the organization and function of the government and administration as well as international legal systems. In the Politics Course, education is focused on the theories, history, thought and reality of politics. Unlike departments in other faculties, there are no high barriers between the departments in the Faculty of Law and there is no ceiling on the number of students in each. The primary difference between department curriculums lies in the number of units allocated for the compulsory subjects and electives to be undertaken, according to the focus of each department. Depending on the student's curriculum choices, it is possible to have quite similar educational content whichever department the student belongs to, and the professions the students choose in their future may have only slight correlation with the Course in which they enroll.

The classes mainly consist of lectures and seminars. In addition to a wide variety of lectures which stimulate students and help them to realize the appeal of learning and achieve depth of knowledge, many professors and associate professors offer a wide range of carefully planned seminars and the students can select and take any seminars in which they are interested regardless of their department. In order to ensure that all students enjoy the benefits of seminars, students must earn at least two seminar credits as a condition for graduation.

2. Departments

Department I: Private Law Course
Department II: Public Law Course
Department III: Politics Course

3. Website

http://www.j.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/course.html

4. Type of Degree

Bachelor of Laws

5. Contact

Undergraduate Section:　
International Student Adviser: