🗼University of Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

QS World 2026 · #36

Japan's most prestigious university, and the historic training ground for the country's political and business elite.

About UTokyo

University of Tokyo (Todai) is consistently Japan's highest-ranked university and has produced more Japanese prime ministers and senior civil servants than any other institution. Its PEAK programme (Programs in English at Komaba) offers a small number of fully English-taught undergraduate places for international students, alongside the much larger Japanese-medium intake.

Why students choose it

  • Japan's most prestigious university — the traditional training ground for the political elite
  • PEAK programme offers fully English-taught undergraduate places
  • Deep research strength across Science, Engineering and Law

🎓 Free application support for UTokyo

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UTokyo — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

A*A*A (A Level)  ·  IB 38

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

National universities (fixed statutory fee)

low tier for Japan — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

Japanese (most Bachelor's programmes) — a small number of English-taught tracks exist (e.g. PEAK); the mainstream Bachelor's is Japanese-medium and typically requires Japanese-language proficiency.

Campus

city campus, Tokyo

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or UTokyo's financial aid office.

Japan's flagship scholarship is government-funded and well known internationally, alongside university-specific tuition waivers that are common at national universities regardless of the scholarship route.

  • MEXT Scholarship: Japanese government-funded, covers tuition plus a monthly stipend — available via both an embassy-recommendation and a university-recommendation track, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Highly competitive.
  • University tuition waivers: Many national universities offer partial-to-full tuition exemption based on financial need or academic merit, independent of MEXT — check each university's international student office.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Mechanical Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Natural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology

Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Humanities

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Durations are typical for Japan — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
April, September / October (English-taught programmes)
Typical deadline
November – January for an April intake
Note
Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only)

TOEFL: 72–100 iBT

Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

See where UTokyo ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Japan University Shortlist Builder to see whether UTokyo is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Japan university that matches.

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More Japan universities

UTokyo FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to UTokyo as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into UTokyo?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UTokyo expects around A*A*A at A Level or 38 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UTokyo's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on UTokyo's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UTokyo cost for international students?

International tuition at UTokyo typically falls in the National universities (fixed statutory fee) range (low tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not UTokyo's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for UTokyo?

UTokyo follows Japan's typical intake calendar: April, September / October (English-taught programmes), with applications generally due november – january for an april intake. Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school. Always verify the exact date on UTokyo's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UTokyo?

Japan universities, including UTokyo, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only). Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

What is UTokyo known for?

Japan's most prestigious university, and the historic training ground for the country's political and business elite. University of Tokyo (Todai) is consistently Japan's highest-ranked university and has produced more Japanese prime ministers and senior civil servants than any other institution. Its PEAK programme (Programs in English at Komaba) offers a small number of fully English-taught undergraduate places for international students, alongside the much larger Japanese-medium intake.

Can I apply to UTokyo with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — UTokyo accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Japan University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against UTokyo and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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