Type U (For Undergraduates)
How to Apply
- Get to know USTEP Life
- Learn the basic information of USTEP
Financial Information / Scholarship Information: 3. Financial Information
- Apply at your home university to be nominated for USTEP
We accept applications only from those who have already been nominated by their home university.
- Make sure that you meet the eligibility for USTEP: 1. Qualifications
Please carefully read the eligibility requirements and make sure that you meet all of them.
We do not accept applications that do not meet all the eligibility criteria.
- Apply for USTEP: 7. Nomination / Application Procedure
We will send application instructions to each student via email.
1. Qualifications
Exchange Students' Status
Students participating in the Type U program will be affiliated with the Center for Global Education of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. This means that Type U students will follow the academic procedures and schedule at the Center for Global Education, regardless of their majors. Their status will be “Special Auditors” who are eligible to register for university courses for credit.Eligibility
Only students* satisfying all of the following requirements may apply:- Students who will be enrolled full-time at a Partner University during their entire period of study at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. (See the list of partner universities)
- Students who are nominated by their home university.
- Students who will return to their home university after completing their study at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
- First- and second-year undergraduate students are not accepted for USTEP. For students enrolled in three-year undergraduate programs, they must have finished at least 1.5 years of the program at the time of their arrival at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
- Students who demonstrate excellent academic performance.
- Students who have a clear intention to study at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
- Students who possess official proof of their required language proficiency or meet the condition for exemption from providing proof.
*Type U is primarily designed for admitting undergraduate students. However, it is possible for graduate students who intend to take only undergraduate-level courses at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app to apply.
Language Requirement
The Type U program requires exchange students to meet the language requirements in English and/or Japanese, depending on the courses they wish to take.
Students who wish to take courses offered in English |
*TOEFL iBT “MyBest scores” is not accepted.¡¡ *TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores are valid only if dated within two years of the USTEP application deadline. Or
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Students who wish to take courses offered in Japanese |
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2. Courses and Academic Calendar
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar for AY 2024 will be available around March 2024.
Period of Study
1 | April to September [1 semester (S1S2)] |
2 | April to March [2 semesters (S1S2 A1A2 (W))] |
3 | October to March [1 semester (A1A2 (W))] |
4 | October to August [2 semesters (A1A2 (W) S1S2)] |
Note: The exact end date of the study period depends on which classes students will choose to take.
Course Information
Courses offered in the Type U program can be found in thePlease refer to the following requirements to meet when you consider your course registration.
- Type U students can only take classes listed on the above course catalogue. Please note that there is limited availability for graduate-level classes that Type U students can access and register for.
- Type U students are required to register for a minimum of six classes per week, equating to at least 10 hours of class time. This is a requirement under Japanese visa law.
- Some academic fields may only have a limited number of courses. The course listing should be reviewed carefully to assess whether it meets the students’ needs and expectations.
- Available courses change every year and the courses currently on the website may not be offered in the following year. The list of courses open to USTEP students for AY 2024 (April-March) will be available in late March of 2024.
Course Restrictions
- Type U students are not eligible to take graduate courses offered by Graduate Schools. However, they may take the graduate level courses for undergraduate students listed on the Type U course catalogue. These courses refer to subjects offered at the graduate level by the Faculty/College that ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app undergraduate students are affiliated with. They differ from regular graduate courses offered by each Graduate School for graduate students.
- The following course restriction will apply to students enrolling from the spring of 2025 onwards. (This does not apply to students who will be continuously enrolled from Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025.)
USTEP Type U students are allowed to take up to two credit-bearing Japanese language classes per week. *
Students who request to take three credit-bearing Japanese language courses per week must get special permission by including a document filled out by their home university in the online application process. This application will be reviewed by ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app before permission can be granted.
* Please note that a course offered twice a week counts as two classes. There are no restrictions on non-credit-bearing Japanese language programs offered by . Some non-credit- bearing courses are offered by Faculty of Engineering.
Note:
- Credit transfer: Students should consult their home universities for procedures. ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app has asked partner universities to refer to the following credit system at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app and decide how to transfer credits earned at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. In principle, courses worth 2 credits consist of 13 weeks of 105-minute classes. The length of each class period may vary depending on the College/Faculty. There may be some courses offered by Faculties that are 90 minutes long. If it is a 90 minute-long class, supplemental learning will be offered for the rest of the 15 minutes. (e.g., discussion led by TA after classes)
- Laboratory work / Internship: Type U students are not allowed to participate in practical work (e.g. laboratory work, design studio work etc.)
- Language of Instruction: If you meet the English language requirements, you can enroll in classes conducted in English. If you meet the Japanese language requirements, you can enroll in classes conducted in Japanese. If you meet both language requirements, you can enroll in classes conducted in either language.
- Classes at the Faculty of Law: Students interested in taking seminars offered in “Japanese” or “Japanese and English” at the Faculty of Law are allowed to apply for only one seminar course per semester. Further information will be provided to those who have been successfully accepted to study at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. There is no such restriction for the number of seminar courses students can apply for and take, if the seminars are noted as being instructed in “English.”
Japanese Language Education
* Please be aware that there are course restrictions for the Japanese language learning classes. For further details, please refer to the "Course Restrictions" section provided above.Type U students accepted to the student exchange program are eligible to register for these courses. Further information about the courses are available on the following websites:
(Hongo Campus)
(Komaba Campus)
Type U students also have the opportunity to take non-credit Japanese language programs. The Japanese Language Education Division, part of the Center for Global Education, offers a variety of Japanese language courses catering to different levels and learning durations. For the convenience of students and researchers on various campuses, all classes are conducted online.
For additional details, visit this page:
Global Liberal Arts (GLA) Courses
The Center for Global Education, to which Type U students are affiliated, offers Global Liberal Arts (GLA) Courses. All classes are conducted in English and focus on themes related to SDGs such as gender, diversity, health, poverty, GX (Green Transformation), in an interactive small-group format.To view specific courses, please refer to the Course Catalogue for Type U students by selecting “Center for Global Education” from the dropdown menu. When enrolling in GLA Courses, ensure that you meet the aforementioned requirements.
For additional details, visit this page:
3. Financial Information
Pursuant to the memorandum on student exchange, exchange students are exempt from paying examination fees, admission fees and tuition fees to ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
The minimum required funds for the exchange
In accordance with Japanese visa requirements, applicants will be asked to submit a bank statement demonstrating a balance of 120,000 JPY per month for each month of enrollment at the University of Tokyo, as follows.One semester (six months): 720,000 JPY
Full Year: 1,440,000 JPY
Scholarships
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide scholarships to USTEP students.Please be well prepared to secure at least monthly funds of 120,000 JPY when you apply.
Shortly after the announcement of the result, you will be asked to submit the bank balance showing that you have 120,000 JPY per month.
For those students who may encounter financial difficulties, we strongly recommend that students apply for scholarships in their home university or their home country. When participating in an exchange program, it is common to receive scholarships from your home university or country of residence.
Part-time Jobs
The coursework at the University of Tokyo is rigorous. ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app strongly advises its exchange students NOT to seek off-campus part-time work during the academic terms. Students who wish to gain work experience while studying in Japan should not apply to USTEP. Any students who wish to work during the break(s) must obtain a work permit before they begin their employment.4. Additional Information
University Housing
Exchange students may apply for University Housing arranged by ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. However, due to the limited number of facilities available, housing cannot be guaranteed. The International Education Promotion Group at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app will contact the students with further details about applying for housing once their application to study at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app has been approved.
Exchange students can also apply for privately managed residences of Kyoritsu Maintenance Co., Ltd.
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- managed by Kyoritsu Maintenance Co., Ltd.
Further information about university housing is available at the following website:
Insurance
• It is the exchange students’ own responsibility to be insured for the entire period of their stay in Japan.• National Health Insurance Program
USTEP students must join the National Health Insurance (NHI) Program regardless of the kind of insurance they may already have. This is a strict legal requirement in Japan. Once they arrive in Japan, they must complete the required procedures at their local city/ward office.
• Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research "" and the optional "".
"Gakkensai" provides necessary support in the case of accident or injury suffered in the course of activities related to research or education. Exchange students do not need to apply for this insurance as ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app enrolls all its students and pays premiums. "Futai Gakuso" is an option that can be added to the "Gakkensai" for a cost (JPY 8,060 for six months). It complements a scope of insurance liability in your life such as compensation responsibility. We particularly recommend those who will be riding bicycles in Japan to obtain "Futai Gakuso," as bicycle-related accidents are common.
Inbound Medical Assistance Service (IMAS)
IMAS is the “Inbound Medical Assistance Service” for international students at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. This is NOT insurance. USTEP students who already have taken out insurance are eligible to sign up for this service.You can receive the services listed below.
- Telephone Consultation available 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Referral to an appropriate hospital.
- Interpretation service provided over the phone while in the hospital or during transfer to the hospital.
- Contacting the University if necessary
- Arrangement of transportation to a medical facility or for transfer to another medical facility in Japan or in one's home country.
- Contact to and assistance for family in one's home country, etc.
Please see below for further information:
IMAS: Inbound Medical Assistance Service for International Students at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app
5. FAQs
Application
Eligibility- Q1. My university is not listed on the USTEP site as a partner university. Can I still apply?
- A1. No. ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app accepts exchange students from partner universities with which the University has a Memorandum of Understanding concerning university-wide student exchange. Applications to USTEP will be accepted only through the partner universities’ offices responsible for student exchange. However, your university may have College/Faculty-level exchange agreement(s) with ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. Please consult your home institution first.
- Q2. I would like to participate in the Type U during my first (or second) year in a 4-year bachelor's program. Am I eligible?
- A2. No. The Type U students will be registered in the Senior Division of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, which is for the 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students. Thus in a four-year degree program, students must have completed 2 years of study at their home institutions before coming to ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app. For students enrolled in three-year undergraduate programs, they must have finished at least 1.5 years of the program at the time of their arrival at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app.
Language and other requirements
- Q3. I am a Type U (undergraduate) applicant. What is the language requirement?
- A3. The Type U program requires exchange students to be proficient in English and/or Japanese, depending on the courses they wish to take.
Students who wish to take courses offered in English:
Unless they attend a university or have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is English, students must submit an official certificate of a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90, IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or Cambridge English Qualifications "C1 Advanced". TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator/Online/One Skill Retake are accepted. TOEFL iBT “MyBest scores” is not accepted. TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores are valid only if dated within two years of the USTEP application deadline.
Students who wish to take courses offered in Japanese:
Unless they have graduated from a high school where the medium of instruction is in Japanese, students must submit an official certificate of JLPT Level N1. - Q4. I have JLPT N1 and would like to take courses offered in Japanese. Is the course restriction indicated in 2. Courses and Academic Calendar applied to such student too?
- A4. No. This restriction applies when students are learning Japanese as a language in class. It does not apply to classes where the language of instruction is Japanese, and students learn something using Japanese.
- Q5. I want to see the list of next year’s courses. When will it be available?
- A5. Our online course catalogue is updated in March.
- Q6. The language of instruction for the course I wish to take at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app is "Japanese/English". What does that mean?
- A6. The language of instruction in "Japanese/English" indicates that the course is taught in both languages. Therefore, proficiency in both languages is required.
- Q7. I want to receive course selection advice.
- A7. You will receive such advice once you are admitted to USTEP, and you can modify your course list before registration.
- Q8. I want to take courses other than those in my major.
- A8. You can take any courses listed in our course catalogue regardless of your major as long as you satisfy the prerequisites. ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app offers a variety of courses, but some academic fields may only have a limited number of courses. Please check the course catalogue carefully and understand what kind of courses you may take during your stay at the University of Tokyo.
Credits
- Q9. What is the ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app credit conversion grid to ECTS?
- A9. We do not set any conversion scale for ECTS. Students should consult their home universities for procedures. For more details, please refer to 2. Courses and Academic Calendar.
Financial support
Scholarships
- Q10. Are there scholarships available for USTEP students? How do I apply?
- A10. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide scholarships to most USTEP students. For further information, refer to "Scholarships" in 3. Financial Information.
Student life
Housing
- Q11. Is university housing guaranteed?
- A11. No. Exchange students may apply for university housing. However, because of the limited number of facilities, housing cannot be guaranteed. The International Education Promotion Group at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app will contact students with details about housing applications after their admission is granted. For further information, please visit our .
Other
- Q12. Does ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app offer any short-term, non-degree programs held in English?
- A12. Every year, there are some short-term, non-degree programs offered in English for a limited number of students (subject to change). See: /en/prospective-students/special_programs.html
A new short-term program for summer called GUC (Global Unit Courses) started in summer 2021.
6. Inquiries
You can contact the International Education Promotion Group using the form linked below.
Be sure to include the following information in your message:
[Home university]
[Current year (Type U or G)]
[Planned period of exchange at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app]
[Major]
International Education Promotion Group Contact Form
Related Links: Overview Type G (For Graduate students)
7. Nomination / Application Procedures
Application Procedures
- Apply at your home university
- Once we receive nominations from your home university during the application period, you will receive application instructions including the link to access an online application form.
- Make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria for USTEP: See eligibility noted in “1. Qualifications.”
Important Notes:
1) Nominees who fail to meet all the eligibility criteria will NOT be accepted.
2) Nominees must remain registered at their home university for the duration of their academic stay at the University of Tokyo. Students who are not registered at a partner institution will not be accepted.
Schedule
Autumn Admission | Spring Admission | |
Nomination open | early January | early August |
Nomination deadline | February 14 | September 16 |
Application deadline | February 28/29* | September 30 |
Result announcement | By early May | By early December |
Courses start (Note) | Early October | Early April |
Courses end (Note) | Late January to Early February (A1A2), Late July to Early August (S1S2) |
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Transcripts available from | April for A1A2 and October for S1S2 |
Note: The actual period of study (including examination periods) will vary depending on which classes you will register for.
Online Application System
All applications must be submitted through the designated online application system, The Admissions Office (hereinafter TAO). After USTEP receives nomination by your home universities, we will send you the link to USTEP Type U application.While you await your nomination by your home university, you can create an account at https://admissions-office.net/en/applicant/sign_up.
* Please note that the account name should match the name on your passport.
Application Documents
All the required application documents must be submitted through TAO.Before you prepare your application documents, please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria outlined in “1. Qualifications”.
- Application Form
- Passport Data which is valid through the end of the student's exchange period.
- Proof(s) of Language Proficiency
- One Letter of Reference (must be submitted by your exchange coordinator)
Please note that we can address inquiries related to application documents only from nominated students.