Thinking about studying in Japan? The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), often called “Todai,” is a top-ranked national university known for world-class research, diverse academic pathways, and an energizing student life in the heart of Tokyo. This guide gives overseas applicants a practical, well-sourced overview—quick facts, what makes UTokyo special, life on and off campus, exchange and partner networks, climate, costs, and career outcomes—so you can decide if UTokyo is the right fit for you. Every section includes links to official pages for deeper reading. No fluff—just the essentials you need to move from idea to application.

Quick Facts

Type National (Public)
Total Students Regular students: 28,479
 – Undergraduate: 14,058  |  Graduate (MA+Professional+PhD): 14,421
(As of May 1, 2024. Source: Enrollment (official))
Campuses (main) 3 — Hongo (Bunkyō), Komaba (Meguro), Kashiwa (Chiba). Access & maps: Access and Campus Maps
Faculties/Schools 10 faculties — Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Arts & Sciences, Science, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Agricultural & Life Sciences. Full list: Faculties (official)
Tuition Fees Undergraduate (entrants from Apr 2025): ¥642,960/year  |  Admission fee: ¥282,000
Master’s / Professional (excluding Law): ¥535,800/year (through 2028 entrants) → ¥642,960 (entrants from Apr 2029)
Doctoral: ¥520,800/year (no revision announced)
Evidence: Tuition Fee Revision & Student Support (EN, PDF)  /  Admission Fee & Tuition (EN)  /  PEAK Fees/Scholarships
Gender Ratio / Intl-Student % Male ~75% / Female ~25% (regular students)
International students: 15% (4,350 of regular students)
Source: Enrollment (official)
Students per Staff 7.2 students per academic staff (28,479 ÷ 3,954)
Academic staff used for this ratio: Professors (1,349) + Associate Professors (983) + Lecturers (300) + Research Associates (1,296) + Research Assistants (26). Sources: Staff Numbers (official)  /  Enrollment (official)

Campus Maps

Hongo Campus (Bunkyō, Tokyo)

Address: 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Komaba Campus (Meguro, Tokyo)

Address: 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan

Kashiwa Campus (Chiba)

Address: 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8561, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

UTokyo traces its origins to 1877, bringing together several predecessor schools into Japan’s first modern national university. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive research institution spanning the humanities to cutting-edge science and engineering. The official “About UTokyo” pages and “History” outline this institutional pathway and current mission, including commitments to public service, inclusivity, and global engagement (About UTokyo; History; Mission).

UTokyo Compass is the university’s guiding framework, emphasizing diversity, dialogue, and co-creation of a better future—practical themes international applicants will feel in classrooms and labs. Start here to understand the president’s vision and institutional priorities: UTokyo Compass 2.0.

Historically, UTokyo’s faculties matured in step with Japan’s modernization. The Faculty of Letters (humanities) and peers helped set national academic standards and trained generations of leaders and researchers. A concise historical digest is available from Faculty websites, e.g., the Faculty of Letters: History (Faculty of Letters). For the big picture, use the main site’s “About,” “History,” and “Mission” sections to anchor your understanding of how UTokyo became a genuinely comprehensive university with global reach (University History | UTokyo top page).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Engineering and AI/Robotics at Scale

UTokyo’s School of Engineering has long welcomed international students and runs many graduate programs that admit in English. Start with the School’s dedicated information pages for international applicants: International Students (School of Engineering). For outcomes after graduation, the official “Present Situation of Graduates” provides a snapshot by field (Present Situation of Graduates).

Fundamental Physics & Mathematics: Kavli IPMU (WPI)

At the Kashiwa campus, the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU) hosts a globally diverse community researching the deepest questions in cosmology, particle physics, and pure math. Explore PhD pathways and research programs here: Kavli IPMU PhD Programs | Research Programs. UTokyo also provides an English page about the IPMU building and context: Kavli IPMU Building, while the Kavli Foundation summarizes the institute’s mission: Kavli Foundation: IPMU.

Programs Taught in English (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Undergraduate (PEAK)

UTokyo’s PEAK (Programs in English at Komaba) offers two majors—Japan in East Asia and Environmental Sciences—delivered fully in English on the Komaba campus. See the program structure and courses: PEAK Courses, fees & scholarships: PEAK Fees/Scholarships, and recent program news: PEAK News. For general tuition policy, refer to UTokyo’s official page: Admission Fee & Tuition.

Graduate (English‑Medium Programs)

UTokyo fields numerous English‑medium graduate options. For public policy, see the Master of Public Policy, International Program (MPP/IP): GraSPP (MPP/IP). Sustainability is anchored by GPSS‑GLI (Graduate Program in Sustainability Science—Global Leadership Initiative) at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences; overview (EN): GPSS‑GLI: Basic Concept. Agriculture/economics interface students should look at IPADS (International Program in Agricultural Development Studies): IPADS (official). For core sciences, the School of Science’s Global Science Graduate Course (GSGC) targets international applicants across physics, chemistry, earth/planetary science and more: GSGC.

Robotics & Perception: Flagship Labs

UTokyo’s robotics and vision research is widely cited. Explore the JSK Laboratory’s projects and publications: JSK Lab (overview) | JSK: Multi‑Link Aerial Robot. For high‑speed vision and perception, the Ishikawa Group’s work is a great reading list: Ishikawa Lab.

Entrepreneurship & Startups

UTokyo IPC (the university’s venture arm) runs the non‑equity “1stRound” program with expanding domestic and global partners. Read about recent cohorts and expansion: 1stRound overview (2025) and UTokyo’s feature on startup support: UTokyo FOCUS: Startup Support. UTokyo IPC site: UTokyo IPC.

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Student‑run circles and clubs cover sports, music, culture, volunteer activities, and more. See the English page curated for international students: Student Clubs/Circles (International Students site). (PEAK also summarizes campus life and activities.)

Dedicated Support Offices

UTokyo’s International Student Support Room (ISSR) offers individual consultations, workshops, and referrals for visas, housing, and campus life: ISSR. Housing guidance (dorms and private rentals): Housing overview. For mental health, the Counseling Center provides multilingual support: Counseling Center.

Language‑Exchange & Buddy‑style Programs

To practice Japanese (or help others with English/your native language), start with UTokyo’s Language Exchange page: Language Exchange Program. Some campuses also run their own variants and cultural‑exchange sessions.

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

UTokyo runs USTEP (University‑wide Student Exchange Program) and numerous faculty/graduate‑school exchanges. Overview and application flow here: Student Exchange Programs (official). For partner breadth and mobility data, see the Center for Global Education’s Annual Report (PDF): Annual Report 2023.

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Basics

Tokyo has four seasons with humid summers and mild winters. For official climate normals, refer to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA): JMA Climate Normals and the English index: JMA Data (EN).

Cost of Living & Housing

Living expenses vary by lifestyle and location. Official guidance for international students is here: Living Expenses (official). For the Tokyo rental market context and moving‑cost checklist, the Housing Office provides practical tips: Housing Situation in Tokyo and Costs for moving. If you aim for Engineering, also review their finance notes: Engineering guidance: Tuition & Expenses.

International Student Statistics

For the most current picture—numbers, ratios, and breakdowns—use UTokyo’s official stats dashboards and summaries. The following pages are the best starting points: About UTokyo, Enrollment (official).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career outcomes differ by field, but UTokyo’s reputation and networks are strong domestically and internationally. For a macro view, see the official graduate outcomes page: Present Situation of Graduates. Many faculties and graduate schools publish detailed career pages; for public policy careers, GraSPP’s site is a good model (MPP/IP).

How to Apply: Practical Pointers

Application routes depend on program level and faculty/graduate school. Begin with UTokyo’s Applications & Admissions gateway: Applications & Admissions (official). For PEAK, follow program‑specific guidance (admissions schedule, eligibility, required documents) on the PEAK site. For graduate programs, check the faculty/graduate school page for entrance exams, eligibility, and timelines. Budget for the admission fee and tuition (¥) and plan living costs using the official finance pages cited above.

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