UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program

1) Program Description

The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of undergraduates each year with the opportunity to undertake scientific research projects at many of the world's leading institutions. Launched in 2006 in the United States, 2008 in Europe, and 2015 in Japan at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, the Amgen Scholars Program has expanded to additional world-class institutions in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

The objective of the program is to provide undergraduate students from different countries (including some from Japan) who are committed to or who are considering a career in biology or related sciences and looking to continue to graduate studies, with eight weeks of biomedical research experience in the basic and translational sciences.
At UTokyo, research opportunities will be provided by various Graduate Schools and Institutions as listed under the 3. Project section.
By the end of their summer experience, students are expected to have acquired the knowledge and skills for conducting research. The students are also expected to extend their international friendship through their collaborative experiences. These experiences will help the students to develop future collaborations in many situations.

In addition to working full time in the laboratory for 8 weeks, the program features:

• Online Japanese language classes
• Excursions and other program activities, including cultural events and networking sessions
• Access to UTokyo facilities, including libraries, the Health Care Center, and sports facilities

 

2) Schedule

Full participation throughout the specified period is mandatory; however, exceptions can be considered for reasons related to events organized by the affiliated university or faculty based in Japan. If applicable, please specify so in the last paragraph of your Statement of Purpose in your application.
 

Program	Date (* subject to change)
Check-in at Residence	June 2, 2027
UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program 2027	June 3 - July 30, 2027
Check-out from Reidence & Travel to Kyoto	August 2, 2027
Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium 2027 at Kyoto University	August 3 - 5, 2027

3) Number of Admission

About 10

4) Financial Support

Accommodation:
Accommodation at an off-campus residence near the Hongo or Yayoi Campus will be provided for the duration of the program. Please check the location of your assigned laboratory, as some laboratories are not located on the Hongo or Yayoi Campus and may require commuting by train.

Travel Expenses:
The program will provide round-trip airfare for the most direct and economical route between the city of your home institution and Tokyo for international students, or round-trip train tickets for domestic students. The program will also cover the cost of participating in the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium at Kyoto University. Once the travel allowance amount is announced by the Program Office, you will be responsible for making your own flight arrangements.

Stipend:
A stipend of JPY 280,000 will be provided and may be used at your discretion for meals and personal expenses during your stay in Japan. However, please note that this stipend is also intended to cover local transportation costs required for participation in the program, including travel between your home and departure airport, as well as between Narita or Haneda Airport and the residence in Tokyo.

* All participants must arrange their own private health and travel insurance. Please note that neither the Amgen Foundation nor the University of Tokyo can provide health or travel insurance.
* If you are assigned to a campus other than Hongo or Yayoi, you will receive an additional transportation allowance.
* If you fail to fully participate in the program, you may be required to reimburse both the travel expenses and stipend provided by the program.

1) Eligibility

UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program (hereinafter the program) applicants must be undergraduate students who:

• Are attending colleges or universities across the Asia region* that award a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent); and
• At the minimum, have completed their first year of undergraduate study at the time the program begins; and
• Are not graduating before the program begins, and will resume undergraduate studies for at least 1 semester or 1 quarter after the program ends.

* For a list of eligible countries, please check the Eligibility section of the Amgen Scholars Program webpage.

UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program applicants must also have:

• A strong record of academic performance; and
• A good working knowledge of English. If English is not your first language, and if your current degree program is not taught in English, you must demonstrate your English proficiency through one of the following qualifications: a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 72, an IELTS overall band score of 5.5, Cambridge English FCE, a TOEIC score of 1,095, a TOEIC Listening & Reading score of 785, or a TOEIC Speaking & Writing score of 310. (TOEFL ITP is not accepted)
• An interest in pursuing a Ph.D.

 

2) Expectations

• Commit to full participation in the program during the specified period, including the orientation on the first day of the program, required conferences, activities, social events, and the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium. Participants cannot take any courses or hold employment during the program period; and
• Reside in the accommodation provided by UTokyo; and
• Participate fully in the day-to-day life of the research group, respect the work of all laboratory members, and attend and actively participate in laboratory meetings or other gatherings. However, for participants based in Japan, consideration may be given to obligations related to their home university or department; and
• Give both oral and poster presentations describing their research project.

• Clicking on the names of the host professors will take you to the details of the project topics and requirements.
• Applicants may select only one project and applications cannot be considered for multiple projects.
• Access to each campus: Hongo/Yayoi, Komaba Tanashi

* Please note that the Komaba II Campus requires an hour commute by train each way.

*Usage of Artificial Intelligence* 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. For the statement on this issued by the Amgen Scholars Program, please refer to No. 25 in the Q&A section.

Application Flow

Application Deadline	3 p.m. on February 1, 2027 (JST)
Screening Result	Middle to late March 2027
Note	- All applications must be submitted through the designated online application system, The Admissions Office (TAO). Any documents sent via email will not be considered. - Once your application is submitted, you cannot make any changes, even if it is prior to the deadline. - Please check your application status on TAO by clicking on “Applications” in the top menu tab. - Feedback on screening status and admission decisions will not be provided.

Step 1. Create Account and Prepare Documents

To initiate your application, please create a TAO account by clicking on “Account registration.” Your account name should match your legal name in the alphabet as written on your passport or travel document issued by the government. Click here to create an applicant's account.

In addition to your personal information, educational background, statement of purpose, and questionnaire, please upload the following supporting documents in PDF format through TAO. PDF files must not be encrypted or password-protected.

Step 2: Start Application and Nominate Recommenders

Once your account is created, ensure the language is set to English and search for the application page for the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program.
(TAO Home > The University of Tokyo > Center for Global Education > UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program)
Click on “Start my application” to proceed.

You are required to nominate two recommenders to provide letters of recommendation, one of whom must be a faculty member at your current institution familiar with your educational background, academic performance, and motivation for attending the Program. Since the system will not allow you to submit your application without all required recommendation letters, we strongly advise you to nominate your recommender(s) as early as possible.
For details, please see the 5. Recommendation Letter section.

Step 3: Submit Application

You can save and edit your application as you progress, but once submitted, no changes can be made, and no exemptions will be granted. Upon completion of submission, your application status will change from “Application in progress” to “Application completed”

<Note>
- By creating an account on TAO, you agree to the “Terms of Use” and “Handling of Personal Information” provided by Samadhi Co., Ltd., the service provider for TAO.
- The Program Office of the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program will not be responsible for any consequences resulting from applicant's failure to receive, read, and/or reply to messages sent from our office, as well as any malfunctions of networks, PCs, or other devices that may prevent the applicant from submitting their application on time.

To Applicants

1. Requirement
You are required to nominate two recommenders to provide letters of recommendation, one of whom must be a faculty member at your current institution familiar with your educational background, academic performance, and motivation for attending the Program.
Please note that the system will not allow you to complete your application until two recommendation letters are submitted.

2. Action Steps
1) Make nominations by clicking 'Request' in the top right corner of item 7, 'Recommendation Letter', on your application page.
An email notification will be sent to the recommenders immediately after you make the request.
This email title will start with [The Admissions Office] and be sent from <no-reply@admissions-office.net>.
To ensure smooth completion, you are suggested to personally notify recommenders that nominations were made.
2) Ensure the status shows "Submitted". Once recommenders complete their submissions, you will receive a notification by email.
If the status remains "Not Submitted", it is possible that the recommender has not clicked on the final "Submit" button.

To Recommenders/Requestees

1. Objective
The student is applying for the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program, an 8-week summer research internship in laboratories of the University of Tokyo where extended research in the areas of bioscience and biotechnology is being conducted.
Applicants for the program are required to submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a faculty member at their current institution.

2. Deadline
The application deadline for applicants is 3 p.m. on February 1, 2027 (JST), and the system will not allow them to complete their applications until two recommendation letters are submitted.
In order for applicants to finalize their applications, submissions from recommenders must be completed before the application deadline.
To maintain fairness and due to its highly competitive nature, we regret that late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

3. Action Steps (Please also refer to the Application Flow in the 4. Application section)
A. Create Account
Once you receive a request email from [The Admissions Office], please create a TAO account as "Recommenders/Requestees", using the same email address that you received the request.
If you are unable to create an account, it is likely that you already have an existing TAO account.
B. Complete Entry & Upload Recommendation Letter
Enter information such as name, position title, affiliated university, relationship with the applicant, and then upload the letter.
C. Save & Submit
Click on "Save" then "Submit" to complete the process; the status on the applicant's application will then change to "Submitted".
Please note that once the letter is submitted, recommenders will not be able to make changes even if it is before the deadline.

4. Requirements
There is no specific format for the letter of recommendation, but it should:

• Be on departmental or university letterhead paper, if written by a faculty member
• Include the full name of the applicant
• Be signed and dated by the recommender

5. Suggestions in writing a letter
Please kindly address the following questions.

• In what capacity and for how long have you known the applicant?
• How would you evaluate the applicant's academic and research performance based on your previous experience working with them?
• How would you rate the applicant’s potential to successfully conduct and complete an independent research project?
• To your knowledge, what is the applicant’s commitment to a career in science?
• Any additional comments about the applicant.
• For inquiries regarding letters of recommendation, please contact the Program Office. Contact information is available under the 6. FAQ section.
• For technical difficulties, please refer to TAO Help Center.

Eligibility

Q1. I am pursuing a second bachelor's degree. Am I eligible to apply?

A1 . No. The program is designed for students who have not previously earned a bachelor's degree.

Q2. My academic schedule conflicts with the program dates. Can I arrive late or leave early?

A2. No. The 8-week program schedule is fixed as stated above. Full participation in both the program and the Asia Symposium is required.

Q3. I need a visa to enter Japan. Will UTokyo assist with this?

A3. Yes. UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program will assist successful applicants with this process. If you are required to obtain a visa, please let us know as soon as you find out your application. You will need to apply for the visa immediately to ensure your particiapation in the program. For more information, please visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Application/ Screening Process

Q4. Are the decisions made continuously until the deadline (i.e., rolling admissions) or after the deadline all together?

A4. Our admission is not on a rolling basis, and the selection begins after the application period.

Q5. Should I upload both the original and the English translations of my transcripts?

A5. Yes, if your transcripts are in a language other than English, they must be translated into English. The translation must be provided by the issuing university.

Q6. Can I submit an unofficial transcript, or do I need to submit an official transcript (i.e., printed and signed by the university registrar)?

A6. An official transcript is strongly preferred. However, if an official transcript is not available by the application deadline, an unofficial transcript or equivalent may be submitted. Applicants who are shortlisted may be asked to submit an updated official transcript at a later stage.

Q7. My university uses an electronic academic transcript service, which issues official online transcripts as a substitute for paper ones. Would it be acceptable for me to attach this transcript to my application?

A7. Yes. Please upload its PDF format to your application page.

Q8. My application page does not allow me to submit my application. Why is that?

A8. The system will not allow you to submit your application if any required section is incomplete or if any required recommendation letter has not yet been submitted. Please check your application and recommendation letter status in TAO.

Q9. I completed all sections of my application, but my recommender(s) did not submit their recommendation letter(s) before the deadline, which prevented me from submitting my application. Can my application still be accepted?

A9. No. Recommendation letters are considered part of the application and must be submitted by the deadline. Unfortunately, applications that remain incomplete after the deadline cannot be considered. This includes cases involving technical issues. We therefore strongly advise applicants to nominate their recommender(s) at the earliest possible stage of the application process (see Step 2 of the Application Flow).

Contact

To Applicants:
Due to a high volume of inquiries, the program office will prioritize responses to questions not already addressed on this webpage. If you do not receive a reply, it may be because the information you are seeking is already available here. We encourage you to check this page carefully, including the FAQ above.

Please note that the program office will be closed on January 30 and 31, 2027. Inquiries received after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2027 will not be answered.

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Program Office <amgenscholars.adm[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp>
* Please change [at] to @
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Testimonials

**Please be reminded that, starting with the 2024 program, we no longer accept applications from outside the specified Asian region**

Updates are also available on our GlobE (Center for Global Education) accounts