The University of Tokyo (Todai) is the oldest and largest of Japan’s national universities, founded in 1877.[1] On 1 May 2024 it had 28,479 regular students, 4,350 of them international.[2] It is ranked 39th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest of any Japanese university.[3]
Tuition for the 2026 fiscal year is ¥642,960 a year for undergraduates and ¥535,800 for graduate students outside the School of Law, plus a one-time admission fee of ¥282,000.[4] Regular undergraduate degrees are taught in Japanese and need a high level of Japanese; the English-language options are the Global Science Course (transfer into year 3 of the Faculty of Science) and a range of graduate programmes.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | The University of Tokyo (東京大学), also called UTokyo or Todai |
| Location | Tokyo; main address 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654 (Hongo campus). Core campuses: Hongo, Komaba and Kashiwa[1] |
| Type | National university; the oldest and largest of Japan’s national universities[1] |
| Founded | 1877[1] |
| Regular students (1 May 2024) | 28,479, roughly half undergraduate and half graduate[2] |
| International students (1 May 2024) | 4,350 (15% of regular students), most of them in graduate programmes; 285 of 14,058 undergraduates are international[2] |
| Faculties and graduate schools | 10 faculties (undergraduate) and 15 graduate schools[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 39th (overall score 84.8), 1st in Japan[3] |
| Main language of teaching | Japanese for regular undergraduate degrees (high Japanese proficiency required); English for the Global Science Course and selected graduate programmes[5] |
| Tuition, fiscal year 2026 | ¥642,960 undergraduate · ¥535,800 graduate (excluding School of Law), per year[4] |
| Admission fee (one-time) | ¥282,000 (undergraduate, graduate and law students)[4] |
| Undergraduate examination fee | ¥4,000 (first stage) + ¥13,000 (second stage)[4] |
| Official website | u-tokyo.ac.jp |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo (東京大学, “Todai”) was founded in 1877 and is the oldest and largest of Japan’s national universities.[1] Teaching and research are spread over three core campuses: Hongo, Komaba and Kashiwa.[1] The main address is 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.[7]
Undergraduate education has 10 faculties. The first two years (the Junior Division) teach fundamental skills; students then enter their chosen faculty for the final two years (the Senior Division).[6] Graduate education is organised in 15 graduate schools.[6]
On 1 May 2024 the university had 28,479 regular students, divided roughly evenly between undergraduate and graduate programmes. International students numbered 4,350, or 15% of the total, and most were enrolled in graduate programmes.[2] Only 285 of the 14,058 undergraduates were international students, so the undergraduate body is overwhelmingly domestic.[2]
How is the University of Tokyo ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Tokyo is 39th in the world with an overall score of 84.8, the highest-placed Japanese university. Kyoto University follows at 64th, the University of Osaka at 95th and the Institute of Science Tokyo at 97th.[3] A second table of the same edition gives the same placing for the University of Tokyo.[8]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Tokyo?
The undergraduate level consists of the following faculties:[6]
- College of Arts and Sciences (Junior Division and Senior Division)
- Agriculture, Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Letters, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Science
The 15 graduate schools are Agricultural and Life Sciences; Arts and Sciences; Economics; Education; Engineering; Frontier Sciences; Humanities and Sociology; Information Science and Technology; Interdisciplinary Information Studies; Law and Politics; Mathematical Sciences; Medicine; Pharmaceutical Sciences; Public Policy (GraSPP); and Science.[6]
Programmes in English
- Global Science Course (GSC): an all-English undergraduate transfer programme. Students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at a university outside Japan enter year 3 of the Faculty of Science and receive a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tokyo. All GSC transfer students receive a monthly scholarship of ¥150,000 and accommodation with fully supported monthly rent.[9]
- UTokyo College of Design: a new faculty with a five-year combined bachelor’s and master’s programme, taught entirely in English, planned to start in September 2027. The university notes that it is still under development and that details may change.[5]
- Graduate programmes: the university offers graduate degrees in English in fields including law and politics, engineering, science, arts and sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and mathematical sciences. Some of them do not require Japanese; the admissions page marks for each field whether a special admission route for international students exists.[10]
How much does the University of Tokyo cost in fiscal year 2026?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Admission fee (one-time) | ¥282,000 |
| Undergraduate tuition, per year | ¥642,960 |
| Graduate tuition (excluding School of Law), per year | ¥535,800 |
| Undergraduate examination fee | ¥4,000 (first stage) + ¥13,000 (second stage) |
| Research students | Admission fee ¥84,600; tuition ¥28,900 per month or ¥346,800 per year |
The fee page names no academic year and shows no date; it links the tuition payment notices for April–September 2026 and October 2026–March 2027, so the table above is the fiscal year 2026 schedule.[4] The table does not list a separate rate for international students. Tuition is paid in two instalments, in May and November.[4]
The same table lists further categories (School of Law, professional degrees, and doctoral programmes in medicine and veterinary science, including a lower rate for those who enrolled in or before 2024). Check the official table for these.[4] Students on a Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship do not need to pay tuition and certain other fees.[4]
Tuition is only part of the cost. For rent and living costs in Tokyo, see our Study in Japan guide.
How do you apply to the University of Tokyo?
The route depends on the level and the programme.
- Regular undergraduate programmes (in Japanese): these require a high level of Japanese proficiency.[5] Entry rules differ by faculty; follow the admissions guide of the faculty you target.
- Global Science Course: apply for transfer into year 3 of the Faculty of Science after at least two years of undergraduate study outside Japan; the admissions details are on the programme’s own pages.[9]
- Graduate programmes: you can enrol as a regular student or as an international research student. Degree programmes in Japanese need a high level of Japanese; programmes in English are listed with their admission routes.[10]
- Exchange and short-term study: the university runs exchange programmes (USTEP) and special short-term programmes.[5]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the timetable of your programme before you start.
Which language level do you need?
For the regular undergraduate programmes taught in Japanese, the university requires a high level of Japanese proficiency.[5] The Global Science Course is taught entirely in English.[9] At graduate level, programmes taught in English exist, and some of them do not require Japanese.[10]
The pages we read do not set one test or one minimum score for the whole university; the requirements (for example the Examination for Japanese University Admission, JLPT or an English test) are set by each faculty or programme. Ask your programme before you book a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at the University of Tokyo?
For the 2026 fiscal year it is ¥642,960 a year for undergraduates and ¥535,800 a year for graduate students outside the School of Law. A one-time admission fee of ¥282,000 is added.[4]
Do international students pay more than Japanese students?
Can I study at the University of Tokyo in English?
Yes, in limited ways. The Global Science Course is an all-English transfer programme into year 3 of the Faculty of Science, and a new English-language College of Design is planned for September 2027.[5] Several graduate fields offer degrees in English.[10] Regular undergraduate programmes are taught in Japanese.[5]
What happened to the PEAK programme?
The university states that final admissions to Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK) ended with Fall 2026 enrolment.[5]
How is the University of Tokyo ranked?
It is 39th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest-placed Japanese university.[3]
More about studying in Japan
- Japan: best universities
- Study in Japan: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Japan
- Chiba University
- Hiroshima University
- Hokkaido University
- Institute of Science Tokyo
- Kanazawa University
- Keio University
- Kobe University
- Kyoto University
- Kyushu University
- Nagoya University
- Okayama University
- Ritsumeikan University
- Sophia University
- Tohoku University
- The University of Osaka
- University of Tsukuba
- Waseda University
- Yokohama National University
Sources
[1] University of Tokyo: UTokyo by the Numbers (page dated 5 Nov 2026)
[2] University of Tokyo: Enrollment (figures as of 1 May 2024; page without a date)
[3] Hiroshima University: QS World University Rankings 2027, Japanese universities (page dated 30 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[4] University of Tokyo: Admission Fee and Tuition (page without a date; links payment notices for 2026)
[5] Welcome to UTokyo: Admissions (page without a date; mentions Fall 2026 and September 2027)
[6] Welcome to UTokyo: Education (faculties and graduate schools) (page without a date)
[7] Wikipedia: University of Tokyo (address; page without edition date)
[8] Makeover Arena: Top 100 universities, QS World University Rankings 2027 (third-party table of the QS 2027 edition; page dated 30 Sep 2026)
[9] University of Tokyo: Undergraduate Programs in English (GSC) (page without a date)
[10] Welcome to UTokyo: Graduate Admissions (degree programs offered in English) (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.