Tokyo City University (TCU) Guide for International Students: Programs, Admissions, Tuition, Scholarships & Careers

Considering a STEM-focused university in Tokyo with hands-on labs, friendly class sizes, and study-abroad pathways? Tokyo City University (TCU)—formerly Musashi Institute of Technology—offers a practical route into engineering, architecture, informatics, urban life studies, and environmental fields, all from a safe, well-connected corner of the world’s largest metropolis. This guide walks you through quick facts, campuses, programs and research strengths, student life, exchange options, climate and lifestyle, and career outcomes so you can decide if TCU fits your plans.

Quick‑Facts Table

Item	Detail
Type	Private University
Total Students	7,593 (latest profile on Times Higher Education)
Campuses	Setagaya (Main), Yokohama
Faculties/Schools	Science & Engineering; Architecture & Urban Design; Information Technology; Environmental Studies; Informatics; Urban Life Studies; Human Life Sciences; Design & Data Science
Tuition Fees	Approx. ¥1,302,000–¥1,602,000 per year (by faculty) + admission fee (≈¥200,000); application fee (≈¥35,000)
Gender Ratio	25% female : 75% male
International‑Student %	~2%
Students per Staff	≈27.1 : 1

Sources: Times Higher Education profile (key stats); official TCU pages for campus locations and faculties/programs; JPSS overview (TCU on JPSS) and Science & Engineering page (faculty snapshot).

Campus Maps

Setagaya Campus (Main, Tokyo)

Address: 1-28-1 Tamazutsumi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan

Yokohama Campus (Tsuzuki-ku, Kanagawa)

Address: 3-3-1 Ushikubo-Nishi, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 224-8551, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tokyo City University (TCU) traces its roots to 1929, when Musashi Senior Engineering School was founded to train practical engineers for a rapidly modernizing Japan. After post‑war educational reforms, it became Musashi Institute of Technology in 1949, then—in 2009—reorganized as Tokyo City University, reflecting broader academic offerings while retaining its engineering DNA. See the official timeline for milestone changes and campus consolidation on the History page.

The university belongs to the Tokyo City University Group (managed by the Gotoh Educational Corporation), a school network established by industrialist Keita Gotō—founder of the Tokyu Group—whose education philanthropy built a pipeline from K‑12 to higher education. The broader school corporation’s background is summarized by the Tokyu Group’s disclosure site (English), and the President’s message outlines current priorities for internationalization and industry‑linked education.

Today the main Setagaya Campus sits along the Tama River—quiet, green, and residential, yet minutes from Jiyugaoka and Futako‑Tamagawa—while the Yokohama Campus anchors environmental and informatics fields in Kohoku New Town. The former Todoroki campus was integrated into Setagaya in 2022, part of an ongoing campus redevelopment that added new academic space for Urban Life Studies and Human Life Sciences (campus overview). For a design case of Setagaya Building 7, see ITOKI’s project write‑up here.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Advanced Research Laboratories (ARL): City‑Scale Problems, Lab‑Scale Solutions

TCU’s Advanced Research Laboratories (ARL) brings together cross‑disciplinary centers—from nano‑electronics and hydrogen engines to robotics and retrofit technology—running a steady calendar of technical seminars (e.g., 2025 events spanning HEET hydrogen engines and intelligent robotics). That means undergrads and graduate students can plug into research lines that mirror Japan’s urban and industrial priorities: energy efficiency, automation, and resilient infrastructure. Start with the ARL portal here and the Intelligent Robotics Center overview.

Joint & International Programs: Environmental Sustainability with ECU, Indo‑Pacific Mobility

A headline initiative is the International Collaborative Program of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Sustainability—a joint degree with Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia. All coursework is in English; students typically spend one semester at ECU and three at TCU, culminating in a joint Master of Environmental Studies (TCU×ECU). See the official flyer (PDF) and ECU’s course page here.

Flagship Faculties: From Core Engineering to Architecture, Informatics & Data

Science & Engineering

The Faculty of Science & Engineering is the historical core, spanning Mechanical and Mechanical Systems, Electrical/Electronics & Communication, Medical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Nuclear Safety Engineering, and Natural Sciences (program menus summarized on TCU’s English pages and academic profiles). Program outlines (with selection/exam info) are available via official study pages and JPSS faculty snapshot.

Architecture & Urban Design

Architecture and Urban/Civil Engineering train designers and engineers to shape dense Asian cities—buildings, transport corridors, and public spaces—grounded in materials, structures, and planning practice. Typical employment destinations for Urban & Civil graduates include construction firms and consulting companies (see the faculty’s career description) here.

Information Technology, Informatics & Design/Data Science

If you want computing plus people‑centric problem solving, TCU offers Information Technology (Computer Science; Intelligent Systems), a social‑tech‑oriented Faculty of Informatics (Sociology & Media; Information Systems), and the newer Faculty of Design & Data Science that blends data skills with design thinking and prototyping. Career descriptions from Design & Data Science (industry‑facing, grad school, or tech roles) are summarized here.

City‑Facing Research & Industry Links

Because TCU’s heritage and location are urban, research often reads like a “city playbook”: hydrogen engines and tribology (HEET), advanced retrofit technologies for existing buildings, robotics and mechatronics for logistics and care, nano‑electronics for energy‑efficient devices—visible through ARL’s recent seminar lineup (ARL portal) and the Intelligent Robotics Center’s page here. Graduate pathways include an Integrative Science & Engineering route (TCU page) and a cooperative nuclear major with Waseda (program site).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Like most Japanese universities, TCU has student‑run “clubs” and “circles” that cover culture, sports, and creative interests—core to campus life across Japan. If you’re new to the concept, the University of Tokyo offers a clear English explanation of how circles work and how students join at the start of the year here.

Visa, Housing & Everyday Support

TCU’s English “For International Students” pages centralize essentials: entry & residency procedures (Residence Card, address registration, renewals), links to immigration bureaus, and pointers to counseling/consultation resources for foreigners in the Tokyo area. Start with the overview here and the step‑by‑step entry & residency guide. You’ll also find general support and scholarship pages, plus outside listings such as the Gotoh Educational Corporation / Tokyu Group scholarship announcements at partner universities (e.g., ITB) here.

Language Exchange & Buddy Programs (Outbound/Inbound Context)

Much of TCU’s “buddy” activity appears around its outbound Australia Program (TAP) and inbound partners—e.g., ECU and Murdoch University recruit local buddies to support groups of arriving TCU students each semester, creating a two‑way network you can join when you go abroad (and tap into when partner students visit Tokyo). See ECU’s Buddy Ambassador notices (PDF) and Murdoch’s volunteer call here.

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

TCU’s International Relations pages highlight exchange routes that have historically included the UK/Scotland, Hawaii, Fiji, Nepal, China, and Italy—alongside Asia‑Oceania links through AOFUA. Browse the partner/exchange snapshots via the International section (English) here and alliance overview (PDF). ECU’s International Office also outlines joint/dual degree frameworks here.

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather: What to Expect Across the Year

Setagaya and Yokohama share Tokyo’s humid subtropical climate: short, cool winters; long, hot, and humid summers; and two shoulder seasons that are comfortable but variable. Using recent‑years profiles, you can expect winter daytime highs around 9–10 °C with night lows near 1–3 °C (January), and summer peaks around 31–33 °C with sultry nights near 24–26 °C (August). Spring (April) often reaches 18–20 °C in the afternoon, while autumn (October) trends around 19–22 °C. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency’s data tool here or WeatherSpark’s long‑range climatology here.

Safety & Cost of Living

Tokyo consistently scores among the safest large cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities framework; see the project portal here and the 2021 report (PDF) here. For budgeting, compare Study in Japan’s estimates and TUFS’s breakdowns here.

International Student Statistics

TCU’s English admissions page provides a country breakdown snapshot for the undergraduate level (representative values): China leads, followed by Korea and Vietnam, among others. While the exact numbers shift year‑to‑year, the official breakdown table is published here. For a high‑level picture, the Times Higher Education profile aggregates overall internationals and student/staff ratios here, and sector news on Japan’s record‑high international student totals (2024) is summarized by StudyTravel here.

Career & Graduate Prospects

Where TCU Graduates Go

Outcomes naturally mirror the faculties: mechanical/electrical engineers into manufacturing, automotive and energy; civil/urban into general contractors and infrastructure consultants; architecture into design offices; IT/informatics and data science into software, media/communications, and systems integrators; environmental studies into sustainability roles. Faculty pages describe typical destinations and qualifications (e.g., Urban & Civil lists) here and Design & Data Science career notes here. The University’s Career Development Committee also posts updates here.

Employment Climate in Japan

For broader context, Japan’s graduate hiring remains strong by global standards; the employment rate for higher‑education graduates has hovered around the high‑90s in recent cycles (e.g., 98% as of April 1, 2025), reflecting steady demand across engineering, IT, and construction sectors (Japan Times). As an engineer‑heavy private university in Tokyo, TCU grads typically benefit from deep employer networks and on‑campus recruiting.

Admissions, Tuition & Money Matters (Quick Notes)

Faculty‑level admissions guidelines (application windows, screening/interview formats, and English/Japanese proficiency checks) are published on TCU’s English admissions pages and program PDFs; start at Undergraduate Admissions and Study at TCU. JPSS also mirrors basic fee and exam snapshots here. Scholarship options are listed here.

Why TCU? A Quick Recap for Overseas Applicants

• Strong engineering/architecture core with growing informatics/data offerings—ideal for city‑scale careers.
• Serious lab infrastructure via ARL; visible research strands in robotics, energy, retrofit and nano‑electronics (ARL).
• Study‑abroad depth in Australia (TAP) and a sustainability joint degree with ECU (English‑medium) (ECU program / TCU flyer).
• Livable, safe neighborhoods around Setagaya, with quick access to central Tokyo; city is consistently high in global safety indices (SCI).
• Transparent English resources on visa, housing, and scholarships for international students (support hub).

Helpful Official Links (English)

• TCU Top Page (EN): https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/
• History: https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/about/history/
• Campus Locations: https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/about/campuslocation/
• Study at TCU (faculties): https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/study/
• International Program & Partners: https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/international/
• For International Students (visa, housing, health): TCU support hub
• Scholarships: https://www.tcu.ac.jp/english/scholarshipandsupport/scholarship/
• Times Higher Education stats: TCU profile
• JPSS Tuition Snapshots: TCU on JPSS