Type U (For Undergraduates)
USTEP at the University of Tokyo offers highly motivated and academically-oriented students an invaluable experience of studying at Japan's premier institution of higher education. The university is renowned for both its research and education throughout the world and offers a range of academic experiences through its College and Faculties as well as Graduate Schools. USTEP students at the University of Tokyo may take these courses both in English and Japanese, provided they satisfy certain language requirements.
USTEP also offers international students an opportunity to experience the life in Japan. Students will reside in Tokyo, one of the most exciting metropolises of the world. They will learn about traditional and contemporary life in Japan and will also be able to reflect upon the meaning of living in a "global city" where an amazing range of values and expectations exist, at times in harmony and other times in tension.
Through USTEP and other educational programs, the University of Tokyo strives to nurture students with global outlook who will become leaders of the next generations. We invite the students at our partner-universities to come and join our community of excellence!
PDF version of the USTEP/TypeU information
1. Qualifications
Exchange Students' Status
Students participating in the Type U program will be affiliated with the Center for Global Education of UTokyo. Their status will be “Special Auditors” who are eligible to register for university courses for credit. (Students should consult their home universities for procedures regarding credit transfers.)
Eligibility
Only undergraduate students satisfying all of the following requirements may apply:
- Students who will be enrolled full-time at a Partner University during their entire period of study at UTokyo. (See “7 Partner Universities”)
- Students who will return to their home university after completing their study at UTokyo.
- Students who demonstrate excellent academic performance.
- Students who have a clear intention to study at UTokyo.
- Students who have official proof of their required language proficiency and meet other conditions at the time of submission of application.
Note: In principle, first- and second-year undergraduate students are not accepted for USTEP. For students enrolled in three-year undergraduate programs, they must have finished at least 1.5 years of the program at the time of their arrival at UTokyo.
Language Requirement
The Type U program requires exchange students to meet the language requirements in English and/or Japanese, depending on the courses they wish to take.
| Students who wish to take courses offered in English | - A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90, IELTS overall band score of 6.5, or Cambridge English Qualifications "C1 Advanced"*TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are accepted. *TOEFL iBT “MyBest scores” is not accepted. *TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores are valid only if dated within two years of the USTEP application deadline. or - Attend a university or have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is English *Applicants must submit a proof that certifies that the degree program they belong to is taught entirely in English, unless they attend a university in an English speaking country or are a native speaker of the language (*A native speaker is defined here as someone who graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is English). |
|---|---|
| Students who wish to take courses offered in Japanese | - JLPT Level N1, or - Have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is in Japanese |
2. Courses and Academic Calendar
Students will officially register for courses in April or September after their arrival and orientation at UTokyo.
Note: Since students admitted to the Type U program may take various courses offered across the College and Faculties, please take careful note where the courses are held. There are two main campuses—Hongo and Komaba—and travel between the two takes about one hour by public transportation. Because of this we recommend that students select most of their courses at one of the campuses. However, this does not mean students are not allowed to choose courses on the other campus.
Academic Calendar
Please refer to the Academic Calendar.
The Academic Calendar for AY 2024 will be available around March 2024.
Period of Study
| 1 | April to August [1 semester (S1S2)] |
|---|---|
| 2 | April to March [2 semesters (S1S2 A1A2 (W))] |
| 3 | September to March [1 semester (A1A2 (W))] |
| 4 | September to August [2 semesters (A1A2 (W) S1S2)] |
Note: S: summer, A: autumn, W: winter (W term is optional).
Course Catalogue
Courses offered in the Type U program can be found in the Course Catalogue for Type U students.Note:
1. Available courses change every year and the courses currently on the website may not be offered in the following year.
2. List of courses open to USTEP students for AY 2024 (April-March) will be available in late March of 2024.
3. Some academic fields may only have a limited number of courses. The course listing should be reviewed carefully to assess whether it meets the students’ needs and expectations.
4．Courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences (course codes starting with 08) will be held on Komaba Campus. Most of the other courses offered by other Faculties will be held on Hongo Campus.
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.
Special Certificate Programs
- Global Studies in Asia (GSA)
*The information for 2024 will be announced later.
Japanese Language Education
Type U students accepted to the student exchange program are eligible to register for these courses. Further information about the courses are available on the following websites:
(Hongo Campus) JLCSE
(Komaba Campus) Global Komaba
Restrictions:
1. Students interested in taking seminars offered in “Japanese” and “Japanese and English” at the Faculty of Law are allowed to apply for only one seminar course per semester. Further information will be provided to those who have been successfully accepted to study at UTokyo. There is no such restriction for the number of seminar courses students can apply for and take, if the seminars are noted as being instructed in “English.”
2. Please note that it is not possible to take graduate-level classes that are not listed in the course catalogue for Type U students. There is limited availability for graduate-level classes that Type U students can access and register for.
3. Type U students are not allowed to participate in practical work (e.g. laboratory work, design studio work etc.)
4. Type U students are required to register for minimum of 10 hours worth of classes per week during their stay (this is a Japanese legal requirement). At least one of the classes must be a non-language class.
3. Tuition and Fees
Pursuant to the memorandum on student exchange, exchange students are exempt from paying examination fees, admission fees and tuition fees to UTokyo.
4. University Housing
Exchange students can also apply for privately managed residence 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
5. Additional Information
Entry to Japan/Visa (eligibility to reside in Japan)
Exchange students must have a valid passport during their stay in Japan. In principle, students must possess “College Student” visa during their stay. After their application to study at UTokyo has been approved, the International Education Promotion Group at UTokyo will provide information about the process for obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility. Students will then need to take the Certificate of Eligibility and other required documents to the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate to obtain a College Student visa.
In order to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, students must be able to provide an official proof that they will have a minimum of 120,000 JPY per month during their stay. For example, if they are staying for seven months, they must submit a proof that they will have 840,000 JPY.
Note:
The coursework at the University of Tokyo is rigorous. Though legally possible for international students with a valid work permit, the University of Tokyo strongly advises its exchange students not to seek off-campus part-time work during the academic terms. We require students to register for minimum of 10 hours of classes per week during a semester (this is a legal requirement as well). Each class can be quite demanding in its expectations. 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 work permit before they begin their employment.
Scholarships
A Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship for students who meet the requirements as well as scholarships from private foundations may be available. For further information, please refer to each link:
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship: Obtaining grants from JASSO is becoming more difficult each year. There is a possibility that we may not be able to provide the scholarship.
*Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship (for students of Peking University, Nankai University, Fudan University): application will be provided through partner universities.
*Sato Yo International Scholarship Foundation (SISF) (students of Gadjah Mada University, University of Indonesia, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, University of the Philippines, University of Malaya, Chulalongkorn University): application will be provided through partner universities.
*These scholarships are available only for Autumn Admission.
The above information is subject to change.
Students can apply for both JASSO and Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship/SISF at the same time. 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.
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 "Gakkensai" for a fee (JPY 8,060 for six months). It complements a scope of insurance liabilities in the student’s daily 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.
Inbound Medical Assistance Service (IMAS)
IMAS is the “Inbound Medical Assistance Service” for international students at UTokyo. (This is NOT an insurance.) All USTEP students must register for IMAS.
IMAS offers:
- Telephone consultation for medical issues, 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Referral to an appropriate hospital.
- Interpretation service 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.
- Contacting and assisting family members in one's home country, etc.
IMAS: Inbound Medical Assistance Service for International Students at UTokyo
Response to COVID-19
Regarding the latest information of COVID-19, please refer to the following website.
-Notice for international students regarding COVID-19 (Website for International Students): https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/adm/inbound/en/index.html
6. FAQs
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 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.
- Q2. I would like to participate in the Type U during my first (or second) year in a 4-year bachelor's program. Am I eligible?
- A2. No. The Type U students will be registered in the Senior Division of UTokyo, which is for the 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students. Thus in a four-year degree program, students must have completed 2 years of study at their home institutions before coming to UTokyo. For students enrolled in three-year undergraduate programs, they must have finished at least 1.5-year of the program at the time of their arrival at UTokyo.
Letters of reference
- Q3. Who should write my letter of reference?
- A3. The reference must be filled out by a full-time faculty member of the department you are currently affiliated with. It should, in other words, be filled out by a faculty member who can assess your academic performance in your specialty/major and who has the authority to give official grades to students at your institution. The reference should not be filled out by a Japanese language faculty unless the student is specializing in the field. The reference cannot be filled out by a teaching assistant. Additional references are accepted as long as you provide the first reference in accordance with the requirement explained above.
Language and other requirements
- Q4. I am a Type U (undergraduate) applicant. What is the language requirement?
- A4. The Type U program requires exchange students to be proficient in English and/or Japanese, depending on the courses they wish to take.
Students who wish to take courses offered in English:
Unless they attend a university or have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is English, students must submit an official certificate of a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90, IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or Cambridge English Qualifications "C1 Advanced". TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are accepted. TOEFL iBT “MyBest scores” is not accepted. TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores are valid only if dated within two years of the USTEP application deadline.
Students who wish to take courses offered in Japanese:
Unless they have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is in Japanese, students must submit an official certificate of JLPT Level N1.
Course selection
- Q5. I want to see the list of next year’s courses. When will it be available?
- A5. Our online course catalogue is updated in March.
- 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.
- Q7. I want to receive course selection advice.
- A7. You will receive such advice once you are admitted to USTEP, and you can modify your course list before registration.
- Q8. I want to take courses other than those in my major.
- A8. You can take any courses listed in our course catalogue regardless of your major as long as you satisfy the prerequisites. UTokyo offers a variety of courses, but some academic fields may only have a limited number of courses. Please check the course catalogue carefully and understand what kind of courses you may take during your stay at the University of Tokyo.
Credits
- Q9. How are the credits defined?
- A9. At UTokyo, courses worth 2 credits consist of 13 weeks of 105-minute classes. The length of each class period may vary depending on college/faculty. Please consult with your home university to see how those credits would be counted and whether the courses you wish to take would be transferable.
- Q10. Are there scholarships available for USTEP students? How do I apply?
- A10. Scholarships from other sources, such as the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), may be available. For further information, refer to "Scholarships" in 5. Additional Information.
Student life
Housing
- Q11. Is university housing guaranteed?
- A11. No. Exchange students may apply for university housing. However, because of the limited number of facilities, housing cannot be guaranteed. The International Education Promotion Group at UTokyo will contact students with details about housing applications after their admission is granted. For further information, please visit our Housing Office website.
Other
- Q12. Does UTokyo offer any short-term, non-degree programs held in English?
- A12. Every year, there are some short-term, non-degree programs offered in English for a limited number of students (subject to change). See: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/prospective-students/special_programs.html
A new short-term program for summer called GUC (Global Unit Courses) started in the summer 2021.
7. Partner Universities (student exchanges administered by the Center for Global Education)
| Country/Region | Partner University | |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | China | Fudan University |
| Nankai University | ||
| Nanjing University | ||
| Peking University | ||
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | ||
| Tsinghua University | ||
| Zhejiang University | ||
| Hong Kong | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) |
|
| The University of Hong Kong | ||
| Indonesia | Gadjah Mada University | |
| University of Indonesia | ||
| Malaysia | University of Malaya | |
| Philippines | University of the Philippines | |
| Republic of Korea | Korea University | |
| Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) |
||
| Seoul National University | ||
| Yonsei University | ||
| Singapore | Nanyang Technological University | |
| National University of Singapore | ||
| Taiwan | National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University | |
| National Taiwan University | ||
| Thailand | Chulalongkorn University | |
| Central and South America | Brazil | University of São Paulo |
| Chile | The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | |
| The University of Chile | ||
| Mexico | El Colegio de México | |
| The National Autonomous University of Mexico | ||
| North America | Canada | McGill University |
| University of British Columbia | ||
| University of Toronto | ||
| University of Victoria | ||
| United States of America | Johns Hopkins University | |
| Northeastern University | ||
| Princeton University | ||
| Swarthmore College | ||
| University of California, Santa Cruz | ||
| University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
| University of Washington | ||
| Oceania | Australia | Australian National University |
| Monash University | ||
| The University of Adelaide | ||
| The University of Melbourne | ||
| The University of Queensland | ||
| The University of Sydney | ||
| The University of New South Wales | ||
| New Zealand | The University of Auckland | |
| University of Otago | ||
| Middle East | Israel | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Turkey | Bogazici University | |
| Europe | Denmark | University of Copenhagen |
| Finland | University of Helsinki | |
| France | École Polytechnique | |
| Institut d'etudes politiques de Paris (SciencesPo) | ||
| The Université Grenoble Alpes | ||
| University of Strasbourg | ||
| Germany | Free University of Berlin | |
| Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich | ||
| University of Cologne | ||
| Ireland | Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin | |
| University College Dublin | ||
| Italy | Sapienza University | |
| Netherlands | Leiden University | |
| University of Groningen | ||
| Russia | Saint Petersburg State University | |
| Spain | Autonomous University of Madrid | |
| Sweden | KTH Royal Institute of Technology | |
| Lund University | ||
| Stockholm University | ||
| Uppsala University | ||
| Switzerland | Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) |
|
| University of Geneva | ||
| University of Zurich | ||
| United Kingdom | Durham University | |
| School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London |
||
| The University of Glasgow | ||
| The University of Manchester | ||
| The University of Sheffield | ||
| University College London | ||
| University of Exeter | ||
| University of Southampton | ||
| The University of Warwick | ||
| London School of Economics and Political Science | ||
8. Inquiries
Please read our FAQs before making inquiries. We are unable to reply to inquiries already addressed in FAQs.
You can contact the International Education Promotion Group using the form linked below. Be sure to include the following information in your message:
[Home university]
[Current year (Type U or G)]
[Planned period of exchange at UTokyo]
[Major]
International Education Promotion Group Contact Form
Related Links: Overview Type G (For Graduate students)
9. Application Instructions
Preparing your application documents is the first step towards your study at UTokyo. In doing so, you will think about what to study there and imagine what the experience may mean to you. In fact, this is indispensable to a successful UTokyo life.
The recent development of generative artificial intelligence has made it possible to generate essays with a simple command. However, you should not rely on such technology in preparing your application. Instead, it is important that you write about yourself in your own words.
Application Procedures and Deadlines
See eligibility noted in “1 Qualifications.” Exchange students need to be nominated by the student's home university to UTokyo. They 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. All applicants nominated by their home universities to apply to the University of Tokyo will receive the link to access an online application form.
Application documents
[All documents must be in English or Japanese.]Must be submitted through online system
- Application Form
- Consent Form with the applicant's signature and date
- Passport Data which is valid through the end of the student's exchange period.
- Proof(s) of Language Proficiency
Must be submitted by exchange coordinators
5. One Letter of Reference by a full-time teaching faculty of the major/specialty of the student.
*The reference should provide a detailed assessment of the applicant in light of their academic performance.
6. Official Academic Transcript with grading scale from each college, university or any other institutions of higher learning the applicant has attended in PDF format.
Important notes:
1) Nominees without required documents such as Proof of Language Proficiency and Academic Transcript will not be accepted.
2) Nominees must be the students who are or will be registered at their home university throughout the period of their academic stay at the University of Tokyo. Students who are not registered at partner institution will not be accepted.
Deadline for application and its procedure
- Autumn Admission: February 29
- Spring Admission: September 30
Note:
The deadlines for above are for the online application form. Partner universities may set their own deadlines for other documents for their students.
Application result
The result of the student’s application will be available around December (for Spring Admission) or May (for Autumn Admission). Students will be notified of the result by their exchange coordinator. Those who are accepted will receive a welcome package directly from UTokyo.
Schedule
| Autumn Admission | Spring Admission | |
|---|---|---|
| Application period | From January 1 to February 29 | From August 1 to September 30 |
| Nomination deadline | February 14 | September 16 |
| Application deadline | February 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) or Late July to early August (S1S2) | |
| Transcripts available from | April for A1A2 and September for S1S2 | |
Note: The actual period of study (including examination periods) will vary depending on the College and Faculty. Please refer to the Academic Calendar.
