STEP 1: Explore and Plan
Begin your journey by thoroughly reviewing the program details to ensure USTEP aligns with your academic goals.
Student Status (Special Auditor or Special Research Student): See 1. Qualifications
Course Catalogue and Academic Calendar: See 2. Courses and Academic Calendar
Financial Information and Scholarship: See 3. Financial Information
Housing and Insurance: See 4. Additional Information
STEP 2: Prepare
Carefully review the eligibility criteria to ensure you meet all requirements before applying. Note that the specific requirements differ depending on the Graduate School.
Eligibility Requirements: See 1. Qualifications
STEP 3: Apply
To apply for USTEP, you must first be nominated by your home university. Once nominated, you will receive detailed application instructions, including a link to the online application form. All required documents must be submitted by the specified deadline.
How to Apply: See 7. Nomination/Application Procedure
STEP 4: After You Apply
Screening results are announced in early May for Autumn Admission and early December for Spring Admission. Successful applicants will receive an official Certificate of Admission (CoA) from UTokyo. UTokyo will also assist with the visa application process, including applying for the issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). In addition, accepted students will receive guidance on the housing application process, including options for University accommodations.
STEP 5: Pre-Arrival Preparation and Enrollment
Prior to arriving in Japan, accepted students will be provided with guidance and assistance related to the orientation schedule, housing arrangements, course registration, academic procedures, and other essential preparations before departure.
Only graduate students satisfying all of the following requirements may apply:
Each Graduate School may have different application requirements.
For detailed information, please make sure to refer to the Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants.
Note: Some Graduate Schools may require pre-approval from a prospective supervisor. If a supervisor’s pre-approval is required, failure to obtain pre-approval will result in rejection of the application.
Before contacting a faculty member, please refer to How to get supervisor’s pre-approval
For details on each Graduate School, please refer to its website.
Type G applicants need to select their exchange student status (Special Auditor or Special Research Student) at the Graduate School to which they are applying.
For detailed requirements and conditions for each status in each Graduate School, please refer to Prerequisites for USTEP Type G Applicants.
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar for AY 2026 will be available around March 2026.
Note: The actual period of study / research (including examination period) varies depending on each Graduate School.
Courses available at each Graduate School can be found in the following course catalogue:
The University of Tokyo Online Course Catalogue
*Available courses change every year and the courses currently on the webpage may not be offered in the subsequent year.
Please follow the following instructions when you register for courses:
Exchange students who will conduct research under the supervision of a research adviser may use the faculty search system at the following website: Faculty Search
Locating an adviser in the search results does not guarantee that the adviser will be able to supervise the students' research.
Pursuant to the memorandum on student exchange, exchange students are exempt from paying examination fees, admission fees and tuition fees to UTokyo.
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
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.
Scholarships may be available depending on the year. However, please note that any scholarship USTEP may offer is intended as a supplemental resource and not as an essential means to support your stay. They cannot be used to meet the financial requirements outlined above when applying for a Japanese visa.
FUTI (for students enrolled at U.S. partner institutions): application details will be provided through your home university.
Sato Yo International Scholarship Foundation (SISF)* (for students of Asian University for Women, O.P. Jindal Global University, Gadjah Mada University, University of Indonesia, University of Malaya, University of the Philippines, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Chulalongkorn University): application details will be provided through your home university. *available only for those students who enroll in the Autumn Semester and study for a year.
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship: Not Available
Students with scholarships from other foundations must check beforehand if their scholarship allows receiving other scholarships.
Replies to inquiries concerning these scholarships will only be sent to those who have been accepted to study at UTokyo.
The coursework at the University of Tokyo is rigorous. The University of Tokyo 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 must obtain a work permit before they begin their employment.
• 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 "Gakkensai" and the optional "Inbound futai-gakuso."
"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 UTokyo enrolls all its students and pays premiums. "Futai Gakuso" is an option that can be added to the "Gakkensai" for a cost (8,060 JPY for six months). It complements the scope of insurance liability in your life such as compensation responsibility. It is particularly recommended for those who plan to ride bicycles in Japan to obtain "Futai Gakuso," as bicycle-related accidents are common.
IMAS is the “Inbound Medical Assistance Service” for international students at UTokyo. 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.
Please see below for further information:
IMAS: Inbound Medical Assistance Service for International Students at UTokyo
We have received many inquiries that have already been answered in the FAQs. We kindly ask students to thoroughly read the FAQs first to obtain basic information.
Please be aware that it may take some time for us to respond to your inquiry due to the high volume of emails.
You can contact the International Education Promotion Group using the form linked below.
Please include the following information in your message:
[Home university]
[Current year (Type U or G)]
[Planned period of exchange at UTokyo]
[Major]
[(For Type G) Graduate School you would like to enroll in]
Important Notes:
*In leap years, the deadline for application of Autumn Admission changes to February 29.
*The application deadline for the Yale Fox International Fellowship Program is April 15.
Note: The actual period of study (including examination periods) may vary depending on the Graduate School. Please refer to the Academic Calendar.
All the required application documents must be submitted through the Online Application System, TAO.
Before you prepare your application documents, please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria outlined in 1. Qualifications.
*Please note that if the Graduate School requires pre-approval of a supervisor, failure to obtain pre-approval will result in rejection of the application.
All applications must be submitted through the designated online application system, The Admissions Office (hereinafter TAO). After USTEP receives a nomination from the applicant's home university, a link to the USTEP Type G application form will be sent to the nominated student.
While awaiting the nomination by your home university, you may create your TAO account at: The Admissions Office
*Please note that the account name must match the name as shown on the applicant’s passport.