Can international students still apply to UTokyo PEAK?

No future PEAK intake is planned. UTokyo states that admission ends with fall 2026 enrollment, and that final application period closed in December 2025. Future applicants should examine GSC transfer, Japanese undergraduate admission, graduate programs, USTEP exchange, or short programs if eligible.

Can I study at the University of Tokyo entirely in English?

Yes through specific routes, not every degree. GSC is an English science transfer program, and UTokyo lists many English graduate degrees. USTEP offers English and Japanese courses. Traditional undergraduate programs mainly require Japanese, and PEAK ends with the fall 2026 intake.

What is the Global Science Course at UTokyo?

GSC is an English undergraduate transfer route into the third year of the Faculty of Science for students who completed at least two university years outside Japan. The current page lists scholarship and rent support, but applicants must verify eligible fields, benefits, and requirements for their intake.

How much is University of Tokyo tuition in 2026?

The official page lists annual undergraduate tuition of JPY 642,960, master's and professional tuition excluding law of JPY 535,800, doctoral tuition of JPY 520,800, and a JPY 282,000 admission fee. Other categories differ, and earlier entrants can follow older rates.

Can any student apply for USTEP exchange?

No. USTEP accepts students only through partner universities and home institution nomination. Type U serves eligible undergraduates in the Senior Division, while Type G serves graduate students. Confirm partner status, year level, course access, language, housing, dates, and home credit before applying.

University of Tokyo Guide for International Students 2026

The University of Tokyo, commonly called UTokyo, offers several international routes, but they are not interchangeable. A traditional Japanese undergraduate degree, the closing PEAK program, Global Science Course transfer, USTEP exchange, an English graduate degree, and a short program all have different eligibility and outcomes.

The most important 2026 correction is simple: PEAK will not remain open as a continuing route. Its final admission is fall 2026, and that application cycle is closed.

Undergraduate routes

Traditional undergraduate programs in Japanese

Most traditional UTokyo undergraduate courses are taught in Japanese, and the university says a high level of Japanese proficiency is required at enrollment.

Applicants use the current traditional undergraduate admissions process, which can involve Japanese examinations and category-specific requirements. International status does not create a general English admissions track.

Best for: applicants with advanced academic Japanese who can follow the official faculty and admissions process.

PEAK

Programs in English at Komaba, or PEAK, offered two English undergraduate programs: International Program on Japan in East Asia and International Program on Environmental Sciences.

Admission ends with fall 2026 enrollment. Applications for that intake closed in December 2025, and successful applicants were notified in March 2026.

Articles should not encourage a future applicant to prepare a PEAK application. Current PEAK students continue their degrees, but new recruitment ends.

Global Science Course

The Global Science Course, or GSC, is an all-English undergraduate transfer program in the Faculty of Science. The official page says applicants must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at a university outside Japan and enter the third year.

The current page also states that GSC transfer students receive a monthly scholarship of JPY 150,000 and accommodation with fully supported monthly rent. Applicants must verify that these benefits and eligible fields remain in the guide for their intake.

GSC is not a first-year bachelor's application.

Exchange through USTEP

The University-wide Student Exchange Program, or USTEP, accepts students only from partner universities and only through home institution nomination.

USTEP has Type U for undergraduates and Type G for graduate students. Type U is designed for students entering UTokyo's Senior Division, and the official FAQ says first or second-year students in a four-year degree are not eligible.

Under the exchange agreement, USTEP students are exempt from UTokyo examination, admission, and tuition fees. Home university fees and other costs can still apply.

Course access, language, credit, housing, and dates must be confirmed in the current fact sheet. Your home institution decides whether UTokyo credit applies to your degree.

Graduate degrees

UTokyo has many master's and doctoral programs offered in English, including options across engineering, science, agriculture, economics, arts and sciences, frontier sciences, information studies, public policy, and other fields.

Graduate admission is controlled by the relevant Graduate School. Applicants can face school-specific examinations, supervisor contact, research proposals, interviews, language evidence, and deadlines.

Use the official English graduate program list to identify a route, then read the Graduate School's current application guide. A central list is not an application.

International research students

International research student status is a nondegree category for specialized research in a Graduate School. UTokyo states that it does not award a degree or qualification when the research term ends.

Clarify supervision, duration, fees, laboratory access, visa documents, and whether later degree admission requires a separate examination. Do not describe research student status as automatic entry into a master's or doctorate.

Short and summer programs

UTokyo lists short, nondegree programs in English, including global unit courses, field study, and research internships. Eligibility differs. Some programs are limited to partner universities, particular disciplines, or academic levels.

Check credit, transcript, teaching mode, housing, scholarship, supervision, visa, and program-specific deadlines.

Campuses

Komaba

Komaba hosts the College of Arts and Sciences and early undergraduate education. PEAK is based there. Students should calculate housing and commuting for the campus used by their program.

Hongo

Hongo is the historic central campus and hosts many senior undergraduate, graduate, research, administrative, and medical activities.

Kashiwa

Kashiwa, in Chiba Prefecture, hosts graduate schools and research facilities, including frontier and interdisciplinary work. It is not central Tokyo. Housing and commute planning must match the campus.

UTokyo has other sites and facilities. Confirm the building, not just the university name.

Tuition and fees

UTokyo's current official fee page lists:

undergraduate annual tuition of JPY 642,960
master's and professional annual tuition, excluding the School of Law, of JPY 535,800
doctoral annual tuition of JPY 520,800
a one-time admission fee of JPY 282,000 for these degree categories

Different fees apply to the School of Law, research students, and auditors. Students who enrolled under earlier rules can have different tuition.

Verify the live fee page for your intake. Add examination fees, housing, insurance, food, transport, books, visa documents, flights, and emergencies.

Scholarships and fee exemptions

Funding can include MEXT, JASSO, the University of Tokyo Fellowship, program-specific awards, and external scholarships.

The UTokyo Fellowship supports selected self-funded international graduate students and is applied for through the affiliated or prospective Graduate School. The 2026 official page lists a monthly research grant, but eligibility and special donor awards can be nationality specific.

Admission and tuition fee exemptions are competitive. UTokyo explicitly tells applicants to prepare to pay because approval is not guaranteed and the budget is limited.

Read our Japan scholarship guide.

Housing

UTokyo manages international lodges and halls near different campuses, including Komaba and Kashiwa options. Housing uses application windows and is not a general guarantee.

The 2026 autumn housing application required students to contact their affiliated faculty or department. Check eligibility, residence period, room, fees, commute, furnishings, and move-in dates.

Private Tokyo housing can require deposits, agency fees, guarantor services, insurance, furniture, and significant setup cash. Use our Tokyo cost guide.

Student visa

Most long-term international students use a Certificate of Eligibility obtained in Japan before applying for a student visa through the responsible Japanese diplomatic mission.

The COE supports the application but does not guarantee a visa. After arrival, eligible residents receive a residence card through the applicable process and register their address with the municipality.

Read the Japan student visa guide.

How to apply correctly

1. Choose the route

Decide between Japanese undergraduate, GSC transfer, partner exchange, graduate degree, research student, or short program. PEAK is no longer a future option.

2. Use the exact school guide

Record intake, eligibility, tests, documents, deadlines, fees, supervisor requirements, and language.

3. Confirm campus and funding

Match housing and budget to Komaba, Hongo, Kashiwa, or another site. Treat scholarships and exemptions as unconfirmed until awarded.

4. Prepare immigration documents

Follow the UTokyo office and responsible embassy process. Avoid nonrefundable travel before approval.

Official sources

Compare other institutions in the Japan universities guide, read the complete Japan study guide, or contact us.

University of Tokyo Guide: Everything You Need to Know