University of Tokyo

Tokyo
Japan

Language of instruction

English
Japanese

   Limited places available. Unlikely to be available as a second or third preference.

Founded in 1877, the University of Tokyo is the oldest and largest national university in Japan. Over the course of its long and distinguished history, the university has produced some of the most outstanding scholars, scientists, and social and political leaders of Japan, including eight Nobel laureates, 15 prime ministers of Japan, and 5 astronauts.

UTokyo’s Hongo campus in central Tokyo is located near “Bunka No Mori” (translated as the forest of culture), an area housing many renowned monuments and Ueno Park – a famous cherry blossom-viewing site.

Semester dates

UQ SemesterHost SemesterDates
Semester 1Spring SemesterApril–late July / early August
Semester 2Autumn SemesterSeptember–January/February

View the UTokyo academic calendar.

Guides and additional information

UTokyo has online resources to help get more from your exchange:

Campuses

UTokyo has multiple campuses around Tokyo:

  • Hongo campus
  • Komaba campus
  • Kashiwa campus

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Extended Deadline: 28 Nov 2024 (for exchange in Sem 2, 2025)

Student testimonials

Full-time study load

14 tani / credits per semester at UTokyo is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
You are not permitted to study fewer than 14 tani at UTokyo (8 UQ units)

Host university requirements

GPA

  • You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.5 to study at UTokyo.
  • Postgraduate: To study in the Graduate School of Economics you will need a minimum GPA of 5.0 in Economics and Management courses.

Language
Students wishing to take courses taught in Japanese will require Japanese proficiency of level N1 or higher.

Study Options
You are admitted as either an undergraduate student (type U) or a postgraduate student (type G). Further details are outlined in the Additional Academic Information section below.

Other Requirements

  • Postgraduate:
    • The Graduate School of Economics requires postgraduate students to have full-time enrolment at UQ before starting an exchange. 
    • Please note the prerequisites for USTEP TypeG (postgraduate) program Applicants here
       
  • Undergraduate:  Undergraduate students must have completed 50% of their UQ program before commencing an Exchange at UTokyo. 
    • Eg. Students enrolled in a three-year (48 unit) program at UQ must have completed 24 units before commencing an exchange at UTokyo. 
    • Eg. Students enrolled in a four-year (64 unit) program at UQ must have completed 32 units before commencing an exchange at UTokyo. 
    • Eg. Students enrolled in a four-year program (64 unit) and the Diploma of Languages (16 unit) at UQ must have completed 40 units before commencing an exchange at UTokyo.   
       
  • Campuses:
    • UTokyo has two campuses; Hongo and Komaba, which are about one hour from each other. It is strongly recommended students only select courses from one campus. Further details are outlined in the Additional Academic Information section below.

Note: Host university eligibility criteria are at the discretion of the host and may change without notice.

Find courses

Search the UTokyo course catalogue for TypeU (undergraduate) program and course catalogue for TypeG (postgraduate) program.

Crosscheck the courses you found in the host course catalogue with the Credit Precedent Database to see if UQ credit has previously been granted. The database should be used as a general guide only. Few courses from each host will be in the database and many course precedents in the database may have expired. Note, the credit precedent database does not replace the host course catalogue. If a course is not listed in the CPD, you can still ask for it to be assessed on your study plan.

Study areas taught in English

Undergraduate
Agriculture
Business administration
Chemistry and biochemistry
Computer science
Economics
English literature
Environmental studies
German
International relations
Japanese
Law
Linguistics
Mathematics and statistics
Peace and conflict studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Sociology
Postgraduate
Aerospace engineering
Anthropology
Biological sciences
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical science
Chemical engineering
Chemistry and biochemistry
Civil engineering
Communication, digital media and PR
Computer engineering
Computer science
Development
Earth and Geographical Sciences
Economics
Electrical engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental studies
Geotechnical engineering
International relations
Law
Materials engineering
Mathematics and statistics
Mechanical engineering
Microbiology
Peace and conflict studies
Physics
Political science
Public policy
Water and Marine engineering

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Extended Deadline: 28 Nov 2024 (for exchange in Sem 2, 2025)

Accommodation

UTokyo provides a number of accommodation options, however, spaces in the university housing are very limited. The University does provide information and assistance to find private accommodation during your exchange.

Cost of living

Tokyo has the highest prices in Japan, a country that is known as one of the world's most expensive places to live. UTokyo provides a list of the average expenses for you to refer to when budgeting your living expenses.

Financial support

A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.  

Eligible students at UTokyo may apply for the JASSO Scholarship.

Insurance

Students approved to participate in a Semester-based Exchange are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.

For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).

If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.

Every international student who lives in Japan for over 3 months is required to enrol in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Extended Deadline: 28 Nov 2024 (for exchange in Sem 2, 2025)

Organise your visa

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.

UTokyo provides visa and immigration information for incoming exchange students. 

Contact the Consulate General of Japan for visa and immigration information. 

Travel risk levels

The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.

If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, experiences to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.

Find out the risk level and travel advice, and sign up to receive updates for your host country on the Smartraveller website.

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Extended Deadline: 28 Nov 2024 (for exchange in Sem 2, 2025)