International Research Students

Admission Information for Graduate International Research Students (kenkyusei) for 2025

Last updated: May 24, 2024

A Graduate International Research Student (kenkyusei) is an international student admitted to the Graduate School of Science to study a specific subject under the supervision of a faculty member. Note that a "kenkyusei" is not entitled to receive any degree or qualification on completion of the program. If you wish to apply for admission as a candidate for a Master's or doctoral degree, see "Graduate Admissions Information" at: http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/admission/

1. Qualifications for Applicants

One who holds foreign citizenship and who meets one of the following three qualifications listed below.

1. One who has completed, or is expected to complete 16 years of education abroad before enrolling the University of Tokyo as a Graduate International Research Student.
2. One who has been conferred a degree equivalent to that of a bachelor's degree or is expected to be conferred one before enrolling the University of Tokyo as a Graduate International Research Student 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 as being academically equivalent or superior to a college graduate.

Those who apply as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship - hereinafter referred to as MEXT Applicants - for 2025 must meet one of the conditions1.-3. listed above and in addition must also have passed the preliminary selection organized by the relevant Japanese Embassy or Consulate General.

2. Application Period

* Please check the respective period carefully and prepare all the application documents listed in 3.

1. From July 1 to 17:00 on August 9, 2024, by Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900): for applicants wishing to enroll on April 1 or October 1, 2025, as Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Students
2. From October 25 to 17:00 on November 15, 2024, by Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900): for applicants wishing to enroll on April 1, 2025, as Self-Supported Students
3. From April 22 to 17:00 on May 9, 2025, by Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900): for applicants wishing to enroll on October 1, 2025, as Self-Supported Students

Note: All application documents must arrive by the designated time and date of the application period.

3. Application Documents

Prepare all of the application documents listed below, and upload 1. in Excel format as it is and 2. through 10. in a single scanned PDF file.

Note: Before submitting an application, please contact a potential supervisor and obtain his/her consent to supervise you. The consent obtained here is the consent to be your supervisor if you are accepted and does not guarantee your acceptance.

1. Application for Admission as a Graduate International Research Student
2. Confirmation of degree or certificate of (expected*) graduation/completion issued by the university(ies) or college(s) attended (must state the name of the degree).
   * If you are expected to complete your current degree program after the application period, you must submit an official statement of expected graduation/completion issued by your university. In this case, successful applicants will be required to submit a certificate of graduation/completion officially issued by your last university attended, at the time of enrollment.
3. Transcript of academic record issued by each of the university(ies) or college(s) attended.
4. Recommendation letter written and signed by your current supervisor or individual who is familiar with your academic or scientific work. (Your recommender can directly submit the recommendation letter from the URL below.)
5. Study Program(Form provided)
6. Proof of your prior consultation with the potential supervising professor at the Graduate School of Science, such as a copy of correspondence emails.
7. Statement of balance of your bank account (only required for Self-Supported Students)
8. Financial Plan Questionnaire(Form provided, only required for Self-Supported Students)
9. Certificate of preliminary selection issued by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General (only required for MEXT applicants for 2025)
10. Payment confirmation of Examination Fee
    Please refer to the section below for the details of payment confirmation.
    Payment confirmation of the Examination Fee
    Submit a screen capture of the "Result" page if using the e-shiharai online payment option.

Notes:

• You need to attach a Japanese or English translation issued by the university if the document is not written in either of these languages.
• To view the above required documents (PDF files), you need "Adobe Reader" which may be downloaded from the Adobe site
• If you fill in your TOEFL score in the application form, please include a copy of Test Taker Score Report in your application.

4. Examination Fee

9,800 yen

NOTE: Payment is possible only during the designated application period. Make sure to select "Graduate School of Science", "Admission for Graduate International Research Students", and "Graduate International Research Students JPY9,800" in the dropdown selection boxes. Note that these choices will not appear before or after the application period, when you cannot make a payment for this application.

• Payment confirmation of the Examination Fee (Last updated in May 2015)
• How to make a Payment of Examination Fee by Credit Card (Last updated in May 2023)

5. Application Submission Method & Contact Address

For your submission to be considered, you must upload all application documents to the designated URL in the manner described below. Note that we cannot accept submissions via email or of a different file format.

Inquiries:
NAME	Graduate School Office Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
TEL	+81-3-5841-7630
E-MAIL	(*Do not send your application by email. When emailing us, please clearly indicate "Kenkyusei" or "Research Student" in your email title.)

6. Selection Result

Applicants will be notified of the results at the following times:

1. As soon as the decision has been made: for applicants (MEXT applicants for 2025) wishing to enroll on April 1 or October 1, 2025
2. Around end of December, 2024: for applicants (Self-Supported Students) wishing to enroll on April 1, 2025
3. Around June, 2025 : for applicants (Self-Supported Students) wishing to enroll on October 1, 2025

7. Period of Enrollment

Normally the period of enrollment for a Graduate International Research Student is six months, but applications for an extension of this period are possible. The total period as a Graduate International Research Student cannot exceed 2 years^*.

^*NOTE: For the Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship period, please be sure to check the APPLICATION GUIDELINES JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2025 (RESEARCH STUDENTS) published on MEXT's official website.

8. Other Important Points

• All submitted documents and your Application Fee are non-returnable.
• A Graduate International Research Student (Self-Supported Student) is required to pay the admission fee and tuition fee after being admitted to the University. The current charges and fees are as follows (as of April 1st, 2024).
  1. Admission Fee : 84,600 yen
  2. Tuition Fee : 173,400 yen (for 6 months)
  Successful applicants will be informed of the payment deadlines and procedures for 1. and 2. There are no tuition waivers for Graduate International Research Students.
• Graduate International Research Students are not in general eligible to purchase discount commuter passes or receive other student discounts.
• 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 screens prospective international students based on these regulations. The University assumes no responsibility for cases in which admission cannot be granted or desired research activities are restricted, such as when the regulations apply or when a Certificate of Eligibility is not issued based on the judgment of the Immigration Services Agency. Details can be obtained from the following website:
  Office of Export Control (Japanese only)
  https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/adm/export-control/ja/rule.html
• 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.
  The examination results used for admission selection may be used in future studies for the improvement of admission and education systems at the University of Tokyo.

9. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)