Innovate in Tokyo: Shibaura Institute of Technology’s Innovative Global Program (IGP)

Tokyo’s Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) has engineered an English-medium bachelor track that catapults you into real research from day one: the Globales innovatives Programm (IGP). From waterfront campuses minutes from Ginza to labs that partner with Sony and Airbus, SIT IGP gives you the skills—and network—to thrive in the world’s largest tech marketplace. Curious whether this could be your launch pad? Dive in below.

1. Why Choose SIT IGP?

Global City Advantage

Study engineering in a metropolis ranked the world’s safest and second most innovative, according to the Economist Safe Cities Index. SIT’s Toyosu and Omiya campuses sit within commuting distance of 300+ R&D centers, giving you internship access few suburban universities match.

English-Medium Engineering

All core lectures, labs, and capstones run in English, yet free Japanese classes push most students to JLPT N2 by graduation (curriculum outline). Employers love the bilingual edge.

Industry Recognition

SIT ranks 32^nd in the 2025 Times Higher Education Japan Rankings and is the only private sci-tech university selected for the Top Global University Project. In 2023, 36 % of graduates joined Japan’s 400 most-sought-after firms (employment data).

2. Curriculum & Learning Experience

Research from Year 1

The “Research-Based Learning” model slots you into a laboratory after your first semester—collecting data, co-authoring posters, and presenting at an in-house conference before most freshmen elsewhere finish calculus.

Flexible Majors & Honors Tracks

Choose one of eight engineering majors—Mechanical, Civil, Applied Chemistry, and more—then customize electives and projects. A faculty adviser meets you each semester to map goals and graduate pathways.

Project-Based Learning Worldwide

Global PBL sends teams to partner schools in Thailand, Poland, and the U.S. to solve real design briefs—earning credits and cross-cultural agility. See current destinations on the Global PBL portal.

Sample Four-Year Path

Jahr	Key Focus	Signature Experience
1	Math, Physics, Japanese I	Join lab; poster day
2	Major foundation	Overseas PBL (Thailand)
3	Advanced electives	Industry capstone with Honda R&D
4	Honors thesis	Present at IEEE conference

3. Admissions, Tuition & Scholarships

Application Timeline & Tests

IGP enrolls each April. Apply online August–October (early) or November–January (regular). Short-listed students interview on Zoom; offers arrive in February—leaving two months for visa paperwork (How to Apply & Tuition).

Tuition & Fees (JPY)

Numbers below come from the official SIT tuition chart.

Figures for AY 2025.

Item	Year 1	Years 2-4
Enrollment Fee (one-time)	¥280,000	–
Tuition	¥1,482,000	¥1,582,000
Campus & student fees	¥33,020	¥23,020
Total Annual Payment	¥1,795,020	¥1,605,020

Scholarship Options

High achievers may receive the government-funded MEXT-Stipendium (full tuition + stipend). SIT also grants 30–70 % tuition waivers and administers JASSO Honors Scholarships at ¥48,000 / month.

4. Student Life & Career Outcomes

Campus Vibes

With 60+ nationalities and 150 clubs—from Formula SAE to taiko drumming—networking is baked into daily life. International lunches every Wednesday keep language practice fun.

Career Services

The bilingual Career Center offers résumé clinics and mock interviews. Latest stats show 97 % of IGP seniors secured a job or grad-school spot within 12 months (2024 data).

Alumni Highlights

Graduates now design EV drivetrains at Honda, build drones at Sony AI, and pursue PhDs at ETH Zurich—proof that SIT’s badge travels well.

5. Living in Tokyo on a Student Budget

University dorms start at about ¥45,000 / month; shared apartments near campus range from ¥55,000–75,000. A commuter rail pass costs roughly ¥10,000 per month, while student canteens serve hot meals for ¥400.

Work up to 28 hours weekly on a “Permission to Engage in Activity” visa add-on—most tech interns earn ¥1,400–1,800 per hour, easily covering groceries and weekend sightseeing.

Download the detailed IGP Application Guide (PDF), polish that personal statement, and get ready to innovate in Tokyo.