Tokyo Tech’s Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) is Japan’s first fully English‑medium bachelor’s degree in transdisciplinary science and engineering. Since its launch in 2016, the program has attracted innovators from more than 40 countries by combining a world‑top engineering education with generous scholarships, hands‑on research, and life in one of the planet’s safest, most exciting capitals. This post takes a deep dive into GSEP—why it matters, how to join, and what life and careers look like after graduation.
Why Choose GSEP at Tokyo Tech?
Tokyo Tech ranks 44th worldwide in Engineering & Technology (QS 2025) and sits within the global top 200 overall (THE 2025). GSEP leverages this reputation while offering an intimate cohort of just 30–40 students each year.
Fully English‑taught—Japanese optional
All lectures, labs, and assessments are conducted in English, so you can begin degree studies immediately. Free Japanese courses up to JLPT N1 are available, letting you integrate into daily life at your own pace.
Small‑cohort mentoring
With a faculty‑to‑student ratio under 1:10, professors know you by name, help tailor research paths, and open doors to internships at Sony, JAXA, or startup incubators in nearby Shibuya.
Transdisciplinary mindset
GSEP sits in the School of Environment & Society, encouraging collaboration across material science, data, policy, and design—ideal for tackling sustainability, AI, or smart‑city challenges.
Curriculum & Academic Support
Years 1–2: Broad scientific foundations
Your first four semesters cover calculus, physics, chemistry, programming, communication, and “Engineering Literacy” studios where mixed‑year teams design prototypes—recent projects include low‑cost river turbidity sensors for rural Indonesia.
Year 3: Specialization plus early lab entry
Choose tracks such as Energy & Chemicals, Information & AI, or Materials & Devices. Unlike most Japanese programs, GSEP students enter research labs a full year earlier, letting you publish or present internationally before graduation (curriculum outline).
Year 4: Global capstone & exchange
Fourth‑year students complete a thesis co‑advised by two professors (technical & interdisciplinary) and may spend a semester abroad at partners such as UC Berkeley or TU Delft via Tokyo Tech’s 70+ exchange agreements.
Admissions & Scholarships
Application timeline
For the April 2026 intake, online applications run August 4 – September 2 2025, followed by a remote math & physics test and interview in November. Results are released in January; enrollment confirmation is due mid‑February (official FAQ).
Costs & funding
Item | Amount (JPY) |
---|---|
Enrollment fee (one‑time) | ¥282,000 |
Annual tuition | ¥642,960 |
Outstanding International Undergraduate Scholarship | Full or Half Tuition |
Tokyo Tech may waive the enrollment fee for top applicants and offers tuition scholarships renewable with a GPA ≥ 2.3/3.0 (scholarship details). Many GSEP students also win MEXT Honors (¥48,000 / month) or JASSO flight grants.
Campus Life & Housing
Guaranteed dormitory for Year 1
International freshmen receive a single room in dorms like Senzokuike House—rent about ¥55,000/month including utilities—just 15 minutes from Ookayama Campus (housing overview).
Clubs, counseling & daily costs
Choose from 200+ clubs—Aerial Robotics, Tea Ceremony, esports—and access the Student Guidance Room for English counseling on academics, careers, or visa issues. Cooking in dorm kitchens keeps food to ~¥30,000/month; a student commuter pass to central Tokyo is ≈¥2,000/month.
Career Prospects & Global Network
Employment highlights
Recent graduates joined Sony (optical hardware), Hitachi Energy (smart‑grid R&D), and Boston Consulting Group (technology strategy). Tokyo Tech’s Career Services arranges 1,200+ on‑campus recruiting visits each year.
Pathways to graduate school
Over 60 % of GSEP alumni pursue master’s degrees at MIT, ETH Zürich, the University of Tokyo, and Tokyo Tech’s own English‑taught Global Science and Engineering Track.
Join the 200,000‑strong alumni family
Alumni chapters host mentoring dinners, internship referrals, and startup pitch nights worldwide—from Silicon Valley to Singapore—ensuring you have a network wherever innovation is happening.