Overview

The University of Tokyo traces its roots to three independent institutes founded during the Edo period (1603–1868). The oldest, a Shogun-funded Confucian school called Senseiden, was founded in 1630 by Razan Hayashi in Ueno. This school was renamed the Shoheizaka Institute and came to be operated directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1791. The University of Tokyo was founded in 1877 as the first Japanese institution of higher learning formed on a Western model, incorporating three schools established in the late 18th and 19th centuries devoted, respectively, to the Chinese classics, Western studies, and Western medicine. The university was reconstructed after the great earthquake and fire of 1923. After World War II it was renamed the University of Tokyo (1947) and then reorganised (1949). 

Popularly known as Tōdai (東大) in Japan, UTokyo is Japan's most prestigious and influential academic institution — a national research university that has shaped Japan's modern history, scientific achievement, and global leadership for nearly 150 years. The university is the most prestigious in Japan, and admittance to it almost guarantees students attractive job offers upon graduation. Of note is the high proportion of government bureaucrats who are Tōdai alumni.

As of 2025, UTokyo's alumni and faculty include 17 prime ministers of Japan, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, seven astronauts, and a Fields Medalist. Additionally, UTokyo alumni have founded some of Japan's largest companies, such as Toyota and Hitachi. UTokyo alumni held chief executive positions in approximately a quarter of the Nikkei 225 companies, a fifth of the total seats in the National Diet in 2023, two-thirds of the prefectural governorships in 2023, and two-thirds of the justiceships at the Supreme Court of Japan in 2024. 

In 2011, the university was ranked second in the world behind Harvard for the number of alumni in CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies. Tokyo consists of 10 faculties and 15 graduate schools, and has 30,000 students enrolled, of which 2,100 are from overseas. Unusually for a Japanese university, it also runs undergraduate programs taught entirely in English: the International Program on Japan in East Asia and the International Program on Environmental Sciences. In 2014, the university's School of Science introduced an all-English undergraduate transfer program called Global Science Course. 

The university has three major campuses in Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa, as well as two smaller campuses in Shirokane and Nakano and other facilities outside Tokyo. The iconic Hongo campus — anchored by the magnificent red Akamon (Red Gate, 1827) and the Yasuda Auditorium — is one of Asia's most beautiful and historically significant university campuses, set in the heart of Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. 

Intakes

UTokyo operates on a Japanese academic calendar (April start) with a secondary October intake for select programs.

April Intake — Primary intake; open to all undergraduate and most postgraduate programs.

• Research postgraduate (Master's/PhD) applications: typically October–December of the preceding year for April enrollment
• English-taught graduate program applications: varies by department; typically November–February; PEAK UG applications: October–November for April enrollment

October Intake — Secondary intake; available for select graduate programs and MEXT scholarship holders.

• Applications: typically April–June of the same year

Important for Indian Students:

• Application fee: approximately ¥30,000 (approximately ₹17,350) for most graduate programs 
• Admission fee (one-time, upon enrollment): ¥282,000 (approximately ₹1,63,100)
• Annual tuition fee: ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3,10,000/year) for most programs — same for domestic and international students; one of the most affordable tuition rates for a top-30 global university 
• Most programs require Japanese language proficiency; English-taught programs (PEAK, GSC, and select graduate programs) do not require Japanese
• A supervisor / academic advisor must be secured before applying for most research postgraduate programs — this is a critical first step
• Japan Student Visa required; proof of sufficient living funds required for visa application
• International students may work up to 28 hours per week during term (with work permit)
• Post-Study Work: Japan's Highly Skilled Professional Visa and specified activities for job-searching graduates (up to 1 year) facilitate post-graduation employment

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Students are encouraged to confirm specific intake dates and program availability on u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Top Courses

UTokyo consists of 10 faculties and 15 graduate schools, offering programs across virtually every discipline. For international students, the most accessible route is through English-medium programs at the graduate level or through the PEAK program at the undergraduate level: 

PEAK — Programs in English at Komaba (Undergraduate — English-taught)

• International Program on Japan in East Asia (PEAK-JEA) — interdisciplinary; liberal arts approach
• International Program on Environmental Sciences (PEAK-ES) — science-based; global environmental focus
• Both are 4-year undergraduate programs taught entirely in English on the Komaba campus
• Highly competitive; approximately 30 students accepted per program per year

Graduate School of Engineering

• MEng / DEng in Civil Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering
• MSc / PhD in Computer Science
• MSc / PhD in Electrical Engineering
• MSc / PhD in Architecture and Urban Design
• MSc / PhD in Chemical System Engineering
• GSGC (Global Sustainable Gateway Course) — English-taught; interdisciplinary engineering

Graduate School of Information Science and Technology

• MSc / PhD in Computer Science
• MSc / PhD in Creative Informatics
• MSc / PhD in Mathematical Informatics

Graduate School of Science

• MSc / PhD in Physics / Chemistry / Biology / Mathematics / Astronomy / Earth Sciences
• Global Science Course (GSC) — English-taught transfer program for Science undergraduates

Graduate School of Economics

• MA / PhD in Economics — select English-taught tracks
• MA in Public Policy (GraSPP — Graduate School of Public Policy) — English-taught; flagship for international students

Graduate School for Law and Politics (GLP)

• LLM / SJD — some English tracks; international law focus

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences

• MSc / PhD in Agricultural Sciences — some English tracks

Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (Kashiwa Campus)

• MSc / PhD in Environmental Studies — English-taught tracks
• MSc / PhD in Advanced Energy / Biosciences / Complexity Science

Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies (III)

• MSc / PhD in Information Studies — English-taught tracks; interdisciplinary

Cost of Studying at The University of Tokyo

The annual tuition fee for most full-time programs at the University of Tokyo is ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3.1L/year). This rate applies equally to domestic and international students, making UTokyo one of the most affordable top-30 global universities by tuition fee alone. The admission fee paid once at enrollment is ¥282,000 (approximately ₹1.63L). Note: 1 JPY ≈ ₹0.578. 

Tokyo is Japan's most expensive city for living, but UTokyo's government-funded dormitories, subsidised canteens, and Japan's efficient public transport system keep living costs manageable. Additionally, Japan's relatively weak yen in recent years has made Tokyo significantly more affordable for Indian students than in previous decades.

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 JPY = ₹0.578. UTokyo's annual tuition of ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3.1L) is extraordinarily low for a top-30 global university — less than many Indian private universities. The main cost driver is Tokyo living expenses, not tuition. MEXT Scholarship recipients pay zero tuition and receive a monthly stipend, making study at UTokyo effectively free for successful MEXT candidates. Please refer to UTokyo's official fees page (u-tokyo.ac.jp) for the most current 2026–27 fee schedule.

Scholarships

The University of Tokyo offers a range of programmes taught in both Japanese and English, with several fully funded scholarships such as the MEXT Scholarship, UTokyo Fellowship, and JASSO support. 

Key funding opportunities include:

• Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — Japan's most prestigious government scholarship; covers tuition fees, provides a monthly stipend (¥117,000+ for graduate students; approximately ₹67,700+/month), and includes round-trip travel expenses; apply through the Japanese Embassy in India (New Delhi); two routes: Embassy Recommendation (apply April–June) and University Recommendation (apply through UTokyo's international office); extremely competitive; India is a priority country 
• UTokyo Fellowship (UTF) — UTokyo's flagship internal fellowship; covers admission fees, full tuition, and provides a monthly living stipend of ¥126,000 (approximately ₹72,900/month) for undergraduate students; Graduate Fellowship provides a research grant of ¥200,000/month (approximately ₹1,15,600/month); merit-based; awarded to the most outstanding admitted students 
• Tuition Fee Exemption — Eligible students can receive a full waiver of tuition fees for one academic year; applicable to Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs; need and merit-based; applied for after enrollment 
• JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students — Monthly stipend of ¥48,000 (approximately ₹27,750/month) for a fixed period; available for international students admitted to programs conducted completely in English; applied for through the university upon admission 
• Joint Japan / World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program — Fully funded for Master's students; covers tuition, basic medical insurance, round-trip airfare, and monthly stipend for living expenses; open to mid-career professionals from developing countries including India; apply through the World Bank 
• UTokyo-GlobE / PEAK Program Scholarship — For students admitted to PEAK English-taught undergraduate programs; partial or full tuition support plus living stipend; awarded competitively at time of admission
• TOBITATE! Study Abroad Japan Scholarship — Competitive Japanese Government scholarship for research exchange; full living support for stays at partner institutions

Note: Indian students should apply for the MEXT Embassy Recommendation Scholarship through the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi — applications typically open in April–June. The MEXT scholarship is the single most transformative funding opportunity for Indian students in Japan, covering everything including travel and living costs.

Admissions

For graduate programs, the overall graduate acceptance rate is 52%, with Master's programs at 47% and PhD programs seeing a higher intake at 72%. Competition is still strong and chances will vary depending on the department applied to. The University of Tokyo is competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 35% for international students. 

For Graduate (Master's / Doctoral) Programs:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from a recognised university; strong academic record essential
• Most critical step: Contact and secure a supervisor / academic advisor at UTokyo BEFORE applying; most departments require this; use the UTokyo researchers database (researchers.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp) to identify potential supervisors
• English Proficiency: TOEFL iBT minimum 100 and IELTS minimum 7.0 for most English-taught programs; some programs accept lower scores; Japanese language programs may require JLPT N1/N2 instead 
• Research Proposal / Statement of Research Interests (essential for doctoral applications; detailed and relevant to the prospective supervisor's work)
• CV / Résumé; Letters of Recommendation (2–3 academic referees)
• Official academic transcripts
• Application fee: ¥30,000 (approximately ₹17,350)

For Undergraduate Programs (PEAK):

• Higher secondary certificate (Class 12 / CBSE / ISC / IB) with outstanding academic record
• TOEFL iBT 100+ / IELTS 7.0+ strongly recommended; no Japanese required for PEAK
• Short essays, Statement of Purpose, and Letters of Recommendation
• Application fee: ¥17,000 (approximately ₹9,830)
• Approximately 30 students accepted per PEAK program per year — extraordinarily competitive

Indian students can check UTokyo's specific admission requirements for their chosen graduate school and program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

The University of Tokyo is perceived by many Japanese as the best gateway to success in bureaucratic careers, particularly for central government agencies and in top enterprises. The university is the alma mater of all four Japanese judges of the International Court of Justice. UTokyo graduates are consistently the most sought-after by Japan's top employers. Sony, Toyota, Mitsubishi, NTT, and the Japanese national civil service recruit more UTokyo graduates than from any other institution. The university's graduates dominate Japan's most prestigious career pathways — government, law, medicine, and finance.

In 2011, the university was ranked second in the world behind Harvard for the number of alumni in CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies. For international graduates, UTokyo's global brand recognition — particularly across Asia, Europe, and North America — opens doors in academic research, international organisations, technology, and multinational corporations.

Jobs After Graduating from the University of Tokyo

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 JPY = ₹0.578. Japan's salaries have been increasing rapidly since 2023 as the yen stabilises and corporate Japan shifts to more competitive compensation structures. UTokyo graduates in AI, data science, and technology are receiving particularly strong salary increases as Japan's digital economy accelerates. Actual salaries vary by role, employer, location, and experience.

UTokyo's career support ecosystem includes:

• UTokyo Career Development Office (CDO) — Career counselling, employer networking events, on-campus recruitment sessions, alumni career access, internship information, and job fair organisation for all enrolled students
• #2 World for Fortune 500 CEO Alumni (2011) — Ranked second in the world behind Harvard for the number of alumni in CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies; UTokyo alumni network spans every sector of Japanese and global business
• Sony, Toyota, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, NTT, MUFG Recruitment Pipeline — UTokyo alumni have founded some of Japan's largest companies, such as Toyota and Hitachi; UTokyo alumni held CEO positions at approximately a quarter of Nikkei 225 companies 
• 450+ International Exchange Agreements — The university has just over 450 international exchange agreements with universities from all over the world; creating global research and career networks 
• Japan's Post-Graduate Job-Seeking Visa — International graduates can apply for a designated activities visa allowing up to 1 year in Japan to seek employment; with UTokyo's employer relationships, most graduates secure positions during this period
• UTokyo Alumni Network — A global community spanning Japan's government, judiciary, corporate world, and academia; 17 prime ministers, 20 Nobel laureates, and millions of Japan's most influential citizens are UTokyo alumni

For personalised guidance on University of Tokyo admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.