Graduate International Research Students (kenkyusei), Graduate School of Science

6 months as standard, renewable in 6-month steps up to a maximum total of 2 years English open

Entry requirements

All routes Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship applicants Self-Supported Students - April 2027 entry Self-Supported Students - October 2027 entry

Eligibility

Foreign citizenship
"One who holds foreign citizenship and who meets one of the following three qualifications listed below." Japanese nationals are therefore outside this route; the School runs a separate, Japanese-lang
One of three academic qualifications
The applicant must meet at least one of the three qualifications listed in section 1 of the admission information (16 years of education abroad; a bachelor's-equivalent degree from an assessed foreign
A consenting prospective supervisor
Although not listed under 'Qualifications', prior written consent from a prospective supervising professor at the Graduate School of Science is in practice a precondition of applying at all, and the e
Security export control screening
"The University of Tokyo has established the 'The University of Tokyo Security Export Control Regulations' in accordance with Japan's 'Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act', and rigorously screens p
MEXT applicants only: Embassy preliminary selection
"Those who apply as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship - hereinafter referred to as MEXT Applicants - for 2027 must meet one of the conditions 1.-3. listed above and in addition must al
Age limit
The Graduate School of Science publishes no age limit for Graduate International Research Students. (MEXT Embassy Recommendation applicants are separately bound by MEXT's own age rules, which are set
Minimum GPA or class of degree
No minimum GPA, grade average or class of degree is published. Transcripts are required but no threshold is stated.

Accepted tests and qualifications

Test / QualificationRequirementNotes
GRE No GRE or other standardised aptitude test is required or mentioned for Graduate International Research Students. (GRE does feature in the Graduate School of Science's Master's/Doctoral admissions for · Guidance
Entrance examination No written or oral entrance examination is published for this status. Selection is a review of the uploaded application documents by the Graduate School of Science. · Guidance
Japanese-language test (JLPT etc.) No Japanese-language qualification is required or mentioned. · Guidance
Qualification 1 - 16 years of education abroad "One who has completed, or is expected to complete 16 years of education abroad before enrolling the University of Tokyo as a Graduate International Research Student."
Qualification 2 - bachelor's-equivalent degree "One who has been conferred a degree equivalent to that of a bachelor's degree or is expected to be conferred one before enrolling the University of Tokyo as a Graduate International Research Student
Qualification 3 - individual academic approval "One who has been approved by the Graduate School of Science of the University of Tokyo as being academically equivalent or superior to a college graduate." No published procedure, deadline or evidenc
Applicants still finishing their current degree Permitted. "If you are expected to complete your current degree program after the application period, you must submit an official statement of expected graduation/completion issued by your university. · Guidance
Required subject background No specific undergraduate discipline is required by the admission information. Subject fit is determined informally by the prospective supervisor, who must agree to supervise the applicant's proposed · Guidance

English proficiency

TOEFL - optional, not required There is no compulsory English-language test for this status. The only mention of English proficiency evidence is conditional: "If you fill in your TOEFL score in the application form, please include
Minimum English score No minimum TOEFL, IELTS or other English score is published for Graduate International Research Students. This differs sharply from the Graduate School of Science's degree admissions, where TOEFL is r
IELTS IELTS is not mentioned anywhere in the 2027 Graduate International Research Student admission information.
English-test exemptions Not applicable: because no English test is required, no exemption scheme is published.

Required documents

  • Interview Required

    No interview stage is published for Graduate International Research Students. Selection is a documentary review. Individual prospective supervisors may nevertheless hold informal conversations or onli

  • Portfolio Required

    No portfolio is required.

  • Personal statement or essay beyond the Study Plan Required

    No separate personal statement or motivation essay is required; the Study Plan is the only written statement listed.

  • Recommendation letters Required

    Exactly one is listed: "Recommendation letter written and signed by your current supervisor or individual who is familiar with your academic or scientific work." It may be submitted directly by the re

Other

Application for Admission as a Graduate International Research Student
Item 1 of 10. Uploaded "in Excel format as it is" - it is the only document not merged into the combined PDF. The form contains a field for a TOEFL score. Formatted form supplied by the School.
Confirmation of degree, or certificate of (expected) graduation/completion
"Confirmation of degree or certificate of (expected*) graduation/completion issued by the university(ies) or college(s) attended (must state the name of the degree)." Applicants finishing after the ap
Transcript of academic record
"Transcript of academic record issued by each of the university(ies) or college(s) attended." One from every institution attended, not only the most recent.
Recommendation letter
"Recommendation letter written and signed by your current supervisor or individual who is familiar with your academic or scientific work. (Your recommender can directly submit the recommendation lette
Study Plan (Form provided)
Item 5 of 10, on a form supplied by the School. This is the research-plan document for this route. See requirements.researchPlan.
Proof of prior consultation with the potential supervising professor
"Proof of your prior consultation with the potential supervising professor at the Graduate School of Science, such as a copy of correspondence emails." The most route-defining document: without docume
Statement of balance of your bank account
"Statement of balance of your bank account (only required for Self-Supported Students)." No minimum balance figure is published.
Financial Plan Questionnaire (Form provided)
"Financial Plan Questionnaire (Form provided, only required for Self-Supported Students)."
Certificate of preliminary selection issued by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General
"Certificate of preliminary selection issued by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General (only required for MEXT applicants for 2027)."
Payment confirmation of Examination Fee
"Submit a screen capture of the 'Result' page if using the e-shiharai online payment option." Payment is possible only within the application window, and the applicant must select "Graduate School of
Japanese or English translation of any document in another language
"You need to attach a Japanese or English translation issued by the university if the document is not written in either of these languages." The translation must be issued by the university, not by th
TOEFL Test Taker Score Report (conditional)
"If you fill in your TOEFL score in the application form, please include a copy of Test Taker Score Report in your application." Required only if a TOEFL score is declared.
Submission format rules
Item 1 in Excel; items 2-10 "in a single scanned PDF file". "The file name must include the applicant's first and last names in alphabet (not Chinese character)." Example given: JaneSMITH_ApplicationD
Non-return of documents
"All submitted documents and your Application Fee are non-returnable."
Passport copy
No passport copy or photograph is listed among the ten required application documents. (Passport and residence documents are handled separately at the Certificate of Eligibility / visa stage.)
Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship applicants
Must have passed the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General preliminary selection and must submit the certificate of preliminary selection (document 9). Must apply within July 1 - 17:00 JST August 10,
Self-Supported Students, April 2027 entry
Must additionally submit a statement of bank account balance and the Financial Plan Questionnaire. Must apply within October 23 - 17:00 JST November 13, 2026, and upload to the route-specific URL labe
Self-Supported Students, October 2027 entry
Same additional financial documents as the April self-supported route. Must apply within April 20 - 17:00 JST May 7, 2027, and upload to the route-specific URL labelled "2027.10 Self-supported". Liabl
Programme sources (39)