Overview

The Tokyo Institute of Technology, also known as Tokyo Tech, is a Japanese national university. The institution dates back to 1881 when it was originally established as the Tokyo Vocational School. Tokyo Institute of Technology is a national research university in Greater Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Tech is Japan's largest university of science and technology, one of the top five National Designated Universities, and selected as a Top Type University of Top Global University Project by the Japanese government. It is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. 

Tokyo Institute of Technology merged with Tokyo Medical and Dental University to form Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) on October 1, 2024. Over time, content on this site will be migrated to the Science Tokyo Web. This historic merger — combining two of Japan's National Designated Universities — created a uniquely comprehensive research institution where pure and applied science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry converge under a single institutional umbrella. The resulting Institute of Science Tokyo is now Japan's most focused science, technology, and medicine university — a powerhouse of STEM research with no equivalent in Japan. 

Tokyo Tech provides full degree programs in English at all levels. The Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) is a transdisciplinary Bachelor of Engineering program, while the International Graduate Programs (IGP) cater to those hoping to pursue graduate study. The institute boasts world-class research facilities and fosters a collaborative environment, generating a large number of discoveries. 

Science Tokyo operates across three main campuses: Ookayama (main campus — engineering, science, and core research), Suzukakedai (engineering and life sciences), and Tamachi (former Tokyo Tech campus in the heart of the city). The Tokyo Medical and Dental University campus in Yushima (Bunkyo, Tokyo) now forms the Medical and Dental Sciences campus of Science Tokyo.

Some notable alumni include Yasuharu Suematsu (researcher — inventor of semiconductor laser with ultra-low threshold), Julia Nesheiwat (former United States Homeland Security Advisor), and Norio Adachi (Mathematician). There are approximately 9,835 students from the legacy Tokyo Tech side, of which 1,433 are international students. Nobel laureates affiliated with Tokyo Tech include Kenichi Fukui (Chemistry, 1981 — also Kyoto) and Yoshinori Ohsumi (Physiology or Medicine, 2016 — autophagy mechanisms), with additional Nobel-calibre research ongoing across the merged institution. 

Intakes

Science Tokyo operates on a Japanese academic calendar with two intakes.

April Intake — Primary intake; UG programs (GSEP and Japanese-medium); some graduate programs.

• GSEP (English UG) applications: November–December of the preceding year for April enrollment
• Japanese-medium UG: February entrance examinations
• Graduate programs (April enrollment): applications typically September–November

September/October Intake — Secondary intake; primarily for international graduate students through IGP programs.

• Application period for IGP(A): mid-September to late November 2025 for September 2026 enrollment; supervisor consent required before application 

Important for Indian Students:

• Application fee: ¥30,000 (approximately ₹17,350); reimbursed for MEXT scholarship recipients
• Admission fee (one-time): ¥282,000 (approximately ₹1,63,100)
• Annual tuition: ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3.1L/year) — same for all students
• GSEP (English Bachelor) and IGP (English graduate): all subjects taught entirely in English; no Japanese language proficiency required 
• For IGP graduate programs: contact and secure a supervisor before applying — absolutely essential first step
• Japan Student Visa required; international students may work up to 28 hours per week (with permission)
• Tokyo living costs are higher than Kyoto or Sendai; budget ¥100,000–¥150,000/month

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Confirm specific intake dates at admissions.isct.ac.jp.

Top Courses

Tokyo Tech provides full degree programs in English at all levels. The Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) is the flagship English-medium Bachelor of Engineering program. The International Graduate Programs (IGP) offer Master's, Doctoral, and Integrated Doctoral programs entirely in English across a wide range of science and engineering fields. 

GSEP — Global Scientists and Engineers Program (English Bachelor of Engineering)

• All subjects are taught in English, allowing qualified international students who have little or no proficiency in Japanese to pursue an engineering bachelor's degree; GSEP students belong to the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, including science, engineering, and management courses 
• 4-year program; transdisciplinary; project-based; team-taught format
• Up to 8 MEXT scholarships awarded annually to GSEP students — full tuition + ¥120,000/month stipend

International Graduate Programs (IGP) — English-Medium Master's and Doctoral

School of Science

• MSc / PhD in Mathematics / Physics / Chemistry / Earth and Planetary Sciences
• IGP-A (Applied Physics) — English-taught; highly popular for Indian students

School of Engineering

• MSc / PhD in Mechanical Engineering / Civil Engineering / Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• MSc / PhD in Computer Science
• MSc / PhD in Systems and Control Engineering
• MSc / PhD in Architecture and Building Engineering

School of Computing

• MSc / PhD in Mathematical and Computing Science — English-taught; AI and algorithms
• MSc / PhD in Information and Communications Engineering

School of Life Science and Technology

• MSc / PhD in Life Science and Technology — English-taught; biotechnology, biomedical
• MSc / PhD in Bioscience and Biotechnology

School of Environment and Society

• MSc / PhD in Technology and Innovation Management — English-taught; unique globally
• MSc / PhD in Social and Human Sciences
• MSc / PhD in Urban Design and Built Environment

School of Materials and Chemical Technology

• MSc / PhD in Chemical Science and Engineering
• MSc / PhD in Materials Science and Engineering

Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Former TMDU — Science Tokyo Medical Campus)

• MD / DDS programs (Japanese-medium; highly selective)
• Master of Public Health (MPH) in Global Health — English-taught; newly available to international students
• MSc / PhD in Medical and Dental Sciences — some English tracks
• International Working Professionals Course — English-taught doctoral track

Cost of Studying at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)

The annual tuition fee at Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech) for all programs is ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3.1L/year). The one-time admission fee is ¥282,000 (approximately ₹1.63L). These fees are the same for domestic and international students — an extraordinary value for a top-85 global institution. 

Tokyo is Japan's most expensive city for living; however, Science Tokyo's university dormitories and government-subsidised student housing provide affordable options. The MEXT scholarship makes study here effectively free for successful recipients. Note: 1 JPY ≈ ₹0.578.

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 JPY = ₹0.578. Science Tokyo's annual tuition of ¥535,800 (approximately ₹3.1L/year) is identical to UTokyo and Kyoto University — extraordinarily low for a top-85 global STEM university. MEXT Scholarship recipients pay zero tuition and receive ¥147,000/month for Master's students and ¥148,000/month for Doctoral students (approximately ₹85,000–₹85,600/month) plus round-trip airfare. Please refer to Science Tokyo's official fees page (isct.ac.jp) for the most current 2026–27 fee schedule.

Scholarships

Science Tokyo provides several scholarship opportunities for its international student community including the Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) MEXT scholarships for undergraduates, the Student Employment (Assistantships) program, the Scholarship for Outstanding International Undergraduates, the LST Research Fellow Program, and the Tokyo Tech Academy for Convergence of Materials and Informatics (TAC-MI) Scholarship for PhD students. 

Key funding opportunities include:

• Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — University Recommendation via IGP(A) — Science Tokyo MEXT Scholarship covers tuition fees, air travel costs, and a monthly stipend of ¥148,000 (approximately ₹85,600/month) for doctoral students and ¥147,000 (approximately ₹85,000/month) for master's students; apply by contacting a supervisor and submitting IGP application mid-September to late November annually; Science Tokyo nominates candidates to MEXT by early March 
• MEXT Embassy Recommendation (Graduate) — Graduate-level students selected through Embassy Recommendations receive ¥147,000/month (Master's) or ¥148,000/month (PhD); application, admission, and tuition fees shall be waived; apply through the Japanese Embassy in India (New Delhi) in April–June annually; a supervisor Letter of Acceptance from Science Tokyo required 
• GSEP MEXT Scholarship (Undergraduate) — Eight outstanding GSEP applicants who pass the examination are recommended for the MEXT Scholarship; undergraduate MEXT scholarship recipients will receive a monthly stipend of ¥120,000 (approximately ₹69,360/month) for four years; students who receive a MEXT scholarship are exempted from paying enrollment fee and tuition 
• JASSO Honors Scholarship (Privately Financed International Students) — Monthly stipend of ¥48,000 (approximately ₹27,750/month); available for non-Japan-resident applicants who are not MEXT recipients; valid from April 2026 through March 2027 
• Scholarship for Outstanding International Undergraduates — Full or half tuition coverage based on academic performance; automatically considered for high-achieving GSEP students
• TAC-MI Scholarship — The Tokyo Tech Academy for Convergence of Materials and Informatics provides substantial annual funding for PhD students who pass screening or qualifying exams; up to ¥700,000/year additional research funding 
• RA / Research Assistantship — Most PhD students receive research funding through supervisor grants; typically ¥50,000–¥200,000/month depending on laboratory

Note: Indian students should simultaneously pursue both the MEXT Embassy Recommendation (through the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi — applications open April–June) and Science Tokyo's University Recommendation via IGP (mid-September to late November). Securing a supervisor email of acceptance is essential for both routes.

Admissions

The acceptance rate range is 0–9% making Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech) an extremely selective institution. Different programs have varying acceptance rates; GSEP and IGP for international students are competitive but accessible for strong STEM candidates. 

For Graduate (Master's / Doctoral) Programs — IGP:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field; strong academic record essential
• Critical first step: Contact and secure a supervisor / academic advisor at Science Tokyo BEFORE applying; use the STRDB (Science Tokyo Researcher Database) to identify supervisors; obtain a formal Letter of Acceptance from the supervisor
• English Proficiency: CEFR level B2 or higher equivalent; TOEFL iBT 72+ / IELTS 6.0+ for most programs; applicants from English-medium institutions may be exempted
• Research Proposal / Statement of Research Interests
• CV / Résumé; Letters of Recommendation (2–3 academic referees)
• Official academic transcripts; Application fee: ¥30,000

For Undergraduate Programs — GSEP:

• Higher secondary certificate (Class 12 / CBSE / ISC / IB) with outstanding STEM academic record
• TOEFL iBT 72+ / IELTS 6.0+; no Japanese language required
• GSEP application period: November 4 – December 4 (preliminary), followed by secondary screening in November; detailed application including essays and interviews 
• Approximately 30–40 international students admitted annually; extremely competitive

Indian students can check Science Tokyo's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

In total 9,500 students are enrolled at Science Tokyo at undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels, with roughly 17% international students. The university's QS Employer Reputation score places it among the top 25 universities globally for graduate employability. Science Tokyo ranked 5th for Physics in Japan and 56th in the World — research excellence in these fundamental disciplines creates exceptional career pathways into Japan's most advanced technology companies. 

Jobs After Graduating from Institute of Science Tokyo

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 JPY = ₹0.578. Science Tokyo graduates entering Japan's semiconductor, automotive, aerospace, and AI sectors receive some of the highest engineering graduate salaries in Japan. The new medical campus adds clinical and biomedical career pathways previously unavailable to Tokyo Tech graduates. Actual salaries vary by role, employer, location, and experience.

Science Tokyo's career support ecosystem includes:

• Career Support Office — Career counselling, employer presentations, on-campus recruitment sessions by Japan's leading corporations, alumni networking, and internship information for all enrolled students
• #22 Global Employer Reputation (Legacy Tokyo Tech) — Science Tokyo graduates are among the most sought-after by Japan's top engineering, technology, and manufacturing employers; Sony, Toyota, Toshiba, Hitachi, NEC, Fujitsu, and Sharp actively recruit on campus
• Japan's First Combined Science + Technology + Medicine University — The 2024 merger with TMDU creates unique career pathways at the intersection of engineering and medicine — biomedical devices, AI-driven diagnostics, pharmaceutical engineering, and health technology
• Top Type National Designated University — Japan's government designation as one of 10 "Top Type" universities comes with funding and mandate for world-class research; direct industry-academia partnerships with Japan's largest technology corporations
• Yoshinori Ohsumi (Nobel 2016) Autophagy Research Legacy — Tokyo Tech's Nobel-winning research in autophagy creates direct career pathways in cellular biology, ageing science, and pharmaceutical development
• Japan Post-Graduation Job-Seeking Visa — International graduates can apply for a designated activities visa allowing up to 1 year in Japan to seek employment; Tokyo's dense employer ecosystem ensures excellent job placement prospects

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