Type G (For Graduates)

Eligibility

Only graduate students satisfying all of the following requirements may apply:

1. Students who will be enrolled full-time at a Partner University during their entire period of study at UTokyo. (See the list of partner universities)
2. Students who are nominated by their home university.
3. Students who will return to their home university after completing their study or research at UTokyo.
4. Students who demonstrate excellent academic performance.
5. Students who have a clear intention to study or research at UTokyo.
6. Students who meet the prerequisites that are set by individual Graduate Schools.

 

Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants

Application requirements vary by Graduate School.
Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants
Note: A supervisor’s approval may be required prior to submitting an application, depending on conditions set by each Graduate School. If the Graduate School requires a pre-approval of a supervisor, failure to do so will result in rejection of the application.              
How to get supervisor’s pre-approval

Graduate Schools Accepting Exchange Students

• Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
• Graduate School of Education
• Graduate Schools for Law and Politics
• Graduate School of Economics
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Graduate School of Science
• Graduate School of Engineering
• Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
• Graduate School of Medicine
• Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences
• Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
• Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
• Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
• Graduate School of Public Policy

For details on each Graduate School, please refer to its website.
 

Exchange Students' Status

After you have decided which graduate school you apply for, Type G applicants need to select their exchange student status: Special Auditors or Special Research Students.

 

Status	Definition	Credits awarded
Special Auditor	Students registered for courses	Yes
Special Research Student	Students receiving research guidance	No

For detailed requirements and conditions for each status in each Graduate School, please refer to Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants.

Special Auditors register for courses, and the credits they earned at UTokyo will be awarded to them.
Special Research Students conduct research under the guidance of a faculty advisor and do not receive credits.

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar for AY 2025 will be available around March 2025.
Academic Calendar
 

Period of Study / Research

1	April to September [1 semester (S1S2)]
2	April to March [2 semesters (S1S2 A1A2 (W))]
3	October to March [1 semester (A1A2 (W))]
4	October to September [2 semesters (A1A2 (W) S1S2)]

 
Note: The actual period of study / research (including examination period) varies depending on each graduate school.

 

Course Information (for Special Auditors)

Courses available at each Graduate School can be searched for at the following website:
The University of Tokyo Online Course Catalogue
*Available courses change every year and the courses currently on the webpage may not be offered in the subsequent year.

Please follow the following instructions when you register for courses:

• Students with a status of Special Auditor are required to register for a minimum of six classes per week, equating to at least 10 hours of class time. This is a requirement under Japanese visa law.
• Special auditors are expected to be enrolled at courses offered by the Graduate School to which they belong. In case students wish to register for courses offered by other Graduate School(s), they may be permitted to do so with the approval from both the host Graduate School and the Graduate School offering the course. Other details shall be as prescribed by the Graduate School concerned.

Note: Credit transfer
Students should consult their home universities for procedures. UTokyo has asked partner universities to refer to the following credit system at UTokyo and decide how to transfer credits earned at UTokyo.
 
In principle, courses worth 2 credits consist of 13 weeks of 105-minute classes. The length of each class period may vary depending on college/faculty. There may be some courses offered by the other Faculties are 90 minutes long. If it is a 90 minute-long class, supplemental learning will be offered for the rest of 15 minutes. (e.g., discussion lead by TA after classes)
 

Japanese Language Education

Japanese Language Education Division offers Japanese language classes (General Course). Type G students are eligible to register for these classes. Please note that no credits are awarded for these classes. Further information about the classes at the center is available at the following website: The Japanese Language Education Division, the Center for Global Education
In addition, some Graduate Schools may provide their own Japanese language classes.

Faculty Search

Exchange students who will conduct research under the supervision of a research adviser may use the faculty search system at the following website: Faculty Search
Locating an adviser in the search results does not guarantee that the adviser will be able to supervise the students' research.

The minimum required funds for the exchange

In accordance with Japanese visa requirements, applicants will be asked to submit a bank statement demonstrating a balance of 120,000 JPY per month for each month of enrollment at the University of Tokyo. (ex. if you will apply for one semester, you will need at least 600,000 JPY)

Please be well prepared to secure at least monthly funds of 120,000 JPY when you apply.
Shortly after the announcement of the result, you will be asked to submit the bank balance showing that you have 120,000 JPY per month.

Scholarships

Scholarships may be available depending on the year. Please note that any scholarship we may offer is intended as a supplemental resource and not as an essential means to support your stay. They cannot be used to meet the financial requirements outlined above when applying for a Japanese student visa.

For those students who may encounter financial difficulties, we strongly recommend that students apply for scholarships in their home university or their home country. When participating in an exchange program, it is common to receive scholarships from your home university or country of residence.

FUTI (for students enrolled at U.S. partner institutions): application details will be provided through your home university.
*Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship (for students of Peking University, Nankai University, Fudan University): application details will be provided through your home university.
*Sato Yo International Scholarship Foundation (SISF) (for students of O.P. Jindal Global University, Gadjah Mada University, University of Indonesia, University of Malaya, University of the Philippines, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Chulalongkorn University): application details will be provided through your home university.

*The scholarships are available only for those students who enroll in Autumn semester and study for a year.
 
Students with scholarships from other foundations must check beforehand if their scholarship allows receiving other scholarships.
Replies to inquiries concerning these scholarships will only be sent to those who have been accepted to study at UTokyo.

Part-time Jobs

The coursework at the University of Tokyo is rigorous. The University of Tokyo strongly advises its exchange students NOT to seek off-campus part-time work during the academic terms. Students who wish to gain work experience while studying in Japan should not apply to USTEP. Any students who wish to work during the break(s) must obtain a work permit before they begin their employment.

University Housing

Exchange students may apply for University Housing arranged by UTokyo. However, due to the limited number of facilities available, housing cannot be guaranteed. The International Education Promotion Group at UTokyo will contact the students with further details about applying for housing once their application to study at UTokyo has been approved.


Exchange students can also apply for privately managed residences of Kyoritsu Maintenance Co., Ltd.
- RUTIL (Residence of the University of Tokyo for International Life Guide)
- Other student residences managed by Kyoritsu Maintenance Co., Ltd.

Further information about university housing is available at the following website:
Housing Office
 

Insurance

• It is the exchange students’ own responsibility to be insured for the entire period of their stay in Japan.
 
• National Health Insurance Program
USTEP students must join the National Health Insurance (NHI) Program regardless of the kind of insurance they may already have. This is a strict legal requirement in Japan. Once they arrive in Japan, they must complete the required procedures at their local city/ward office.
 
• Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research "Gakkensai" and the optional "Inbound futai-gakuso".
"Gakkensai" provides necessary support in the case of accident or injury suffered in the course of activities related to research or education. Exchange students do not need to apply for this insurance as UTokyo enrolls all its students and pays premiums. "Futai Gakuso" is an option that can be added to the "Gakkensai" for a cost (JPY 8,060 for six months). It complements a scope of insurance liability in your life such as compensation responsibility. We particularly recommend those who will be riding bicycles in Japan to obtain "Futai Gakuso," as bicycle-related accidents are common.
• Students are strongly recommended to come with sufficient insurance coverage for the entire period their stay. Payment of medical bills is the students' own responsibility and the university does not provide any assistance.
 

Inbound Medical Assistance Service (IMAS)

IMAS is the “Inbound Medical Assistance Service” for international students at UTokyo. This is NOT insurance. USTEP students who already have taken out insurance are eligible to sign up for this service.

You can receive the services listed below.

• Telephone Consultation available 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Referral to an appropriate hospital.
• Interpretation service provided over the phone while in the hospital or during transfer to the hospital.
• Contacting the University if necessary
• Arrangement of transportation to a medical facility or for transfer to another medical facility in Japan or in one's home country.
• Contact to and assistance for family in one's home country, etc.

Please see below for further information:
IMAS: Inbound Medical Assistance Service for International Students at UTokyo

Application

Eligibility

Q1. My university is not listed on the USTEP site as a partner university. Can I still apply?

A1. No. UTokyo accepts exchange students from partner universities with which the University has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding concerning university-wide student exchange. Applications to USTEP will be accepted only through the partner universities’ offices responsible for student exchange. However, your university may have College/Faculty-level exchange agreement(s) with UTokyo. Please consult your home institution first.

Letters of reference

Q2. Does my referrer have to be a professor whose class(es) I have taken before at my university?

A2. The reference must be filled out and signed by a faculty member of your major or specialty who knows you well. A reference by a teaching assistant is not accepted. Additional references are welcome as long as you provide at least one letter of reference issued by a faculty member at your home university who can assess your academic performance.

Language and other requirements

Q3. I am a Type G (graduate) applicant. Are there any language requirements?

A3. Each Graduate School has its own requirements for language proficiency and other conditions depending on your exchange student status, "Special Auditor" or "Special Research Student". For details, please refer to Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants.

Course selection

Q4. I want to see the list of courses for the next year(s) I will be at UTokyo. When will it be available?

A4. Our online course catalog is updated in March.

Q5. I want to receive course selection advice.

A5. You will receive such advice once you are admitted to USTEP, and you can modify your course list before registration.

Q6. The language of instruction for the course I wish to take at UTokyo is "Japanese/English". What does that mean?

A6. The language of instruction in "Japanese/English" indicates that the course is taught in both languages. Therefore, proficiency in both languages is required.

Credits

Q7. I need to earn and transfer certain credits to my home university. How many credits should I register for at UTokyo?

A7. At UTokyo, courses worth 2 credits consist of 13 weeks of 105-minute classes. The length of each class period may vary depending on graduate school. Some Graduate Schools have a minimum number of required credits. Please refer to Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants and consult with your home university to see how those credits would be counted and whether the courses you wish to take would be transferable.

 

Financial support

Scholarships

Q8. Are there scholarships available for USTEP students? If there are, how do I apply?

A8. Scholarships may be available depending on the year. For further information, please refer to "Scholarships" in 3. Financial Information.

 

Student life

Housing

Q9. Is university housing guaranteed?

A9. No. Exchange students may apply for university housing. However, because of the limited number of facilities, assignment to university housing is not guaranteed. The International Education Promotion Group at UTokyo will contact students with details of the procedure after their admission is granted. For further information, please visit our Housing Office website at https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/administration/housing-office/index.html

 

Other

Q10. Does UTokyo offer any short-term, non-degree programs held in English?

A10. You will find a list of short-term, non-degree programs offered in English at the following link: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/prospective-students/special_programs.html
A short-term program for summer called GUC (Global Unit Courses) started in summer 2021.

We have received many inquiries that have already been answered in the FAQs. We kindly ask students to thoroughly read the FAQs first to obtain basic information.
Please be aware that it may take some time for us to respond your inquiry due to the high volume of emails.

You can contact the International Education Promotion Group using the form linked below.
Please include the following information in your message:
[Home university]
[Current year (Type U or G)]
[Planned period of exchange at UTokyo]
[Major]
[(For Type G) Graduate School you would like to enroll in]

International Education Promotion Group Contact Form

Application Procedures and Deadlines

1. Apply at your home university

Prospective applicants must contact the office responsible for student exchange at their home university and check the application procedures for the exchange program to study at UTokyo.

2. Once we receive nominations from your home university during the application period, you will receive application instructions including the link to access an online application form.
3. Make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria for USTEP: See eligibility noted in “1. Qualifications.”

 
Important Notes:
1) Nominees who fail to meet all the eligibility criteria will NOT be accepted.
2) Nominees must remain registered at their home university for the duration of their academic stay at the University of Tokyo. Students who are not registered at a partner institution will not be accepted.
 
Schedule

	Autumn Admission	Spring Admission
Application period	From January 1 to February 28/29*	From August 1 to September 30
Nomination deadline	February 14	September 16
Application deadline	February 28/29*	September 30
Result announcement	By early May	By early December
Courses start (Note)	Late September to Early October	Early April
Courses end (Note)	Late January to Early February (A1A2), Late July to Early August (S1S2)
Transcripts available from	April for A1A2 and September for S1S2

*In leap years, the deadline for application of autumn admission changes to February 29th.
 
Note
- The actual period of study (including examination periods) will vary depending on which classes you will register for.
- The deadline for the Yale Fox International Fellowship Program application is April 15.
 
Online Application System
All applications must be submitted through the designated online application system, The Admissions Office (hereinafter TAO). After USTEP receives nomination by your home universities, we will send you the link to USTEP Type U application.
While you await your nomination by your home university, you can create an account at https://admissions-office.net/en/applicant/sign_up.
* Please note that the account name should match the name on your passport.
 
Application Documents
All the required application documents must be submitted through TAO.
Before you prepare your application documents, please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria outlined in “1. Qualifications”.
 

1. Application Form
2. Passport Data which is valid through the end of the student's exchange period.
3. Proof(s) of Language Proficiency
4. One Letter of Reference (must be submitted by your exchange coordinator)
5. Transcript of Records (must be submitted by your exchange coordinator)
6. Some Graduate Schools may require further documents in addition to the above application documents.

*Please note that if the graduate school requires a pre-approval of a supervisor, failure to do so will result in rejection of the application.
 
Please be advised that we can address inquiries related to application documents only from nominated students.