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Special Selection for International Applicants

Graduate Students
Special Selection for International Applicants

Instructions for International Students applying to the Graduate School of Science (Special Selection for International Applicants)

Application Form

1. Applicant Qualifications (must meet one of the following qualifications listed below)

(1) Master's Program

  1. One who has completed, or is expected to complete 16 years of education abroad before entering the Master's Program of the University of Tokyo.
  2. One who has been conferred a degree equivalent to that of a bachelor's degree or is expected to be conferred one before entering the Master's program of the University of Tokyo from a foreign university or other foreign institution (limited to those whose comprehensive status of education and research activities have been assessed by the government of the said foreign country or a related organization), having completed a program with a completion period of three years or more.
  3. One who has been approved by the Graduate School of Science of the University of Tokyo through an individual entrance screening as being academically equivalent or superior to a college graduate and who is at least 22 years of age.
  4. Those applying as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship Candidate must be considered in the categories 1.-3. listed above and must also have passed the preliminary selection by a Japanese Embassy/Consulate General.

(2) Doctoral Program

  1. One who has been conferred or is expected to be conferred one of the following degrees from an institution abroad before entering the Doctoral program of the University of Tokyo : a Master's Degree, a Professional Degree, or a degree equivalent to either of the aforementioned degrees.
  2. One who has completed at least 16 years of academic education overseas, and has been engaged in research at a university, research institute, or other institution in Japan or abroad for at least 2 years, or is expected to have been engaged in research for at least 2 years before entering the Doctoral program of the University of Tokyo, and who is recognized by the Graduate School of Science as having abilities equivalent or superior to those who have a Master's degree or a professional degree as a result of said research.
  3. One who has been approved by the Graduate School of Science of the University of Tokyo through an individual entrance screening as being academically equivalent or superior to a Master's Degree or Professional Degree holder and who is at least 24 years of age.
  4. Those applying as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship Candidate must be considered in the categories 1.-3. listed above and also must have passed the preliminary selection by a Japanese Embassy/Consulate General.
Notes:
  • Regardless of nationality, students can apply to this selection if they have completed both senior high school and college education abroad, or if they have obtained similar education in Japan. For inquiries, please contact the Graduate School Office prior to the application period.
  • Applicants for both Master's and Doctoral programs are not allowed to submit more than one application for the same enrollment term in the Graduate School of Science. However, applicants are allowed to apply for both "Special Selection for International Applicants" and "Global Science Graduate Course (GSGC)" for the same enrollment term.

2. Selection Procedure

  1. Successful applicants for the Master's program and the Doctoral program will be selected based on an evaluation of their applications, submitted documents and test scores (see 3. Application Documents).
  2. Some Departments may reject applicants whose GRE or TOEFL scores fall beneath their cutoff level. GRE and TOEFL test scores are invalid if the tests were taken more than two years ago counting from the application start date.Applicants whose native language is English may in some cases be exempted from submitting a TOEFL score, with the advance approval of the Graduate School of Science. Those who wish to request such an exemption must contact the Graduate School Office prior to the application period and complete the necessary procedure.
  3. Some Departments may have additional requirements such as interviews and online written examinations to applicants. (See 9. Information Specific to Each Department)

3. Application Documents

Please submit your application through our online system, by filling out the form for Application Document 1 directly on the web and uploading a file or scanned copy each for Application Documents 2-10 as designated. The Official Score Report of Application Documents 2 and the Institutional Score Report of Application Documents 3 should be arranged to be sent directly to the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science from Educational Testing Service. Your referees must fill out Application Document 11 directly on the website. All application documents must arrive by the end of the application period.

  1. Application Form (Fill out the form directly on the web.)
  2. The GRE Subject or General Test Score (The required test is different for each department. See the table below.) Please upload a scanned copy of your Examinee's Score Report, and also submit the Official Score Report. For applicants to the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, submit required documents as described in the list of subjects and examination methods set by individual faculty members.
    Notes:
    • The GRE code number for the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science is 7048. Please enter this code on your answer sheet when you sit for the examination. In case you need the record of tests taken previously you should also enter this code on Score Report Request Forms. The Official Score will then be sent directly to the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science from Educational Testing Service.
    • Required GRE Test for each department is as follows:
      DepartmentSubject TestGeneral Test
      Physics
      • Physics
      not required
      Astronomy
      • Physics
      not required
      Earth and Planetary Science Requirements set by individual faculty members. Use following link to examine full list of subjects and examination methods.
      URL:https://www.eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/eps-requirements/
      not required
      Chemistry not required required
      Biological Sciences not required (Note: Applicants may submit the score of Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry instead of General Test score.) required

      (See 9. Information Specific to Each Department for more information)

  3. TOEFL Score. Please upload a scanned copy of yourTest Taker Score Report and also submit the Institutional Score Report.
    Notes:
    • The TOEFL code number for the University of Tokyo, School of Science is 8002-01. Please enter this code on your answer sheet when you sit for the examination. In case you need the record of tests taken previously you should also enter this code on Score Report Request Forms. The Institutional Score Report will then be sent directly to the University of Tokyo, School of Science from Educational Testing Service.
    • The Graduate School of Science only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores.
  4. Transcripts of all colleges and universities attended AND statement of (expected) completion of all colleges or universities attended (if unavailable, copy of diploma)
  5. Payment confirmation of the Application Fee (Monbukagakusho Scholarship Students are exempted from paying the Application Fee. If you are a Monbukagakusho Scholarship Student, please instead submit a Certificate of a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship recipient.
  6. For Applicants to the Doctoral program: Transcript of Master's program, Master's thesis and/or scientific publications/documents. If you are currently enrolled in a Doctoral Program, have completed one such program, or have withdrawn after having fulfilled the requirements of one such program, please also submit a transcript of the program.
    For Applicants to Master's program: If you are currently enrolled in a Master's program or a Doctoral program, have completed one such program, or have withdrawn after having fulfilled the requirements of one such program, please submit a transcript of the program.
    Also submit any papers you have published including ones published in scientific journals, along with the transcript.
  7. The most recent GPA (Grade Point Average) score report from your university / college, if available.
  8. Personal Statement (1 or 2 pages of A4-size paper, in English, single space, in any format):
    Please describe what you have studied, what research you have conducted, and your other activities. Give detailed descriptions of the things you wish to emphasize in order to show your abilities, self-initiative, conviction, etc.
  9. Statement of Purpose (1 or 2 pages of A4-size paper, in English, single space, in any format): Please describe the research content you wish to conduct at the Graduate School of Science. Give detailed descriptions of your motivations for conducting research in the specific field and, if possible, your research plan, by explaining the specific research field and specifying the name(s) of the potential supervising professor(s) you wish to study under.
  10. Proof of your prior consultation with the potential supervising professor(s) at the Graduate School of Science:
    Please contact your potential supervisor and submit the proof of your prior consultation such as a copy of correspondence e-mails. The proof submitted is the consent to be your supervisor if you are accepted and doesn’t guarantee your enrollment. For applicants to the Department of Earth and Planetary science, Preliminary Evaluation Certificate should be submitted as evidence of this contact. Preliminary Evaluation Certificates are issued by potential supervising professors. For applicants to the Department of Physics, only one potential supervising professor should be chosen.
  11. Two recommendation letters from your current supervisors or individuals who are familiar with your academic or scientific work:
    Please enter the referees' names, organizations, positions and email addresses on the Application Form on the website. Our system will automatically send emails to the referees asking them to fill out our recommendation form. The referees will then have to access the designated URLs to fill out the form.

Notes:

  • Whenever a transcript, statement of completion or diploma, or recommendation letter is written in neither English nor Japanese, an English or Japanese translation of the document must be officially issued by the institution from which the original has been issued.
  • Whenever papers are written in neither English nor Japanese, contact the Graduate School Office in advance for instructions, and upload an English or Japanese translation of the abstract in addition to the papers.
  • All documents and the Application Fee are non-returnable.

4. Application Period

*Application period(s) and dates below are subject to change as necessary.

  1. From October 10 to October 31, 2024 (JST): for applicants wishing to enroll in April 2025
  2. From October 10 to October 31, 2024 (JST): for applicants wishing to enroll in October 2025.
    *Those who have applied during this period can apply for "University Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship for 2025". For the details on the scholarship, please click here.
  3. From December 16 2024 to January 6, 2025 (JST): for applicants wishing to enroll in October 2025

For those who have passed the preliminary screening to become Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Students in 2025, the application dates are as stated below.

  1. From July 1 to August 9, 2024 (JST): for applicants wishing to enroll in either April or October 2025 as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Student

5. Application Fee

10,000 yen (Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship Recipients are exempted from paying the Application Fee)

You can make a payment by credit card. For details, please see "How to make a Payment of Application Fee by Credit Card"

6. Costs of Admission for Selected Students (as Planned for 2025)

  1. Entrance Fee: ¥282,000
  2. Tuition Fee:
    • Master's Program: ¥267,900 per 6 months (¥535,800 annually)
    • Doctoral Program: ¥260,400 per 6 months (¥520,800 annually)
    • * In case there is an amendment of the fees, new fees may apply from the time the amendment becomes effective.

7. Admission Decision

  1. End of December, 2024: for applicants wishing to enroll in April 2025
  2. End of December, 2024: for applicants wishing to enroll in October 2025
    *The results of the MEXT Scholarship Selection will be announced separately.
  3. Beginning of March, 2025: for applicants wishing to enroll in October, 2025
  4. The results for applicants who are Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Candidates for 2025 will be sent as soon as they are available.

Notes:

  • You will only receive an applicant ID once we have confirmed your application after the application period ends.
  • ID numbers of successful applicants will be posted on our website as well.

8. Contact Address

Graduate School Office
Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Room 275, School of Science Bldg.1 (Area E)
7-3-1, Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 JAPAN

Tel +81-3-5841-4009
Fax +81-3-5841-8779
Email daigakuin.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

9. Information Specific to Each Department

10. Other Points to Note

  1. The University of Tokyo shall use the personal information obtained through the application process only for the purpose of (1) Selection procedures, (2) Notification of results and (3) Enrollment procedures. For those who enroll, this personal information and the examination results used for admission selection shall also be used for (4) Educational Affairs (school registration, attendance, etc.), (5) Student Support (healthcare, career support, application procedure for tuition exemption and scholarships, use of libraries, etc.) and (6) the Management of tuition payment.
  2. In addition to the above, the personal information of new students will be used for the following purposes.
    • Student data base administration, course registration records and transcripts
    • Health management procedures, Application procedures for the Exemption of Tuition fees/ scholarships, Use of library, Support for job seekers
    • Management of tuition payment
  3. We may use the scores submitted by applicants to improve our selection procedures and the quality of education at the University of Tokyo.
  4. We reserve the right to reject your application even after enrollment if a misstatement regarding your educational background or any false information is to be found in the application form.
  5. The University of Tokyo has established the “The University of Tokyo Security Export Control Regulations” in accordance with Japan’s “Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act”, and rigorously implements security export control for potential students before and after their enrollment on the basis of these regulations. In particular, pre-enrollment screenings are mandatory for all international students and also for Japanese students in certain circumstances. Please be aware that applicants who fall under any of the conditions set out in the Act may not receive permission to enroll at the university or may have their research activities restricted after their enrollment even if they have passed the entrance examinations.