University of Tokyo Acceptance Rate

Documents required

The University of Tokyo conducts two procedures for admitting students. The General Screening Test is for those candidates who qualified from high schools in Japan. However, international candidates who graduated from high schools in other countries must apply for the Special Screening Tests. 

Nonetheless, applicants must submit a few documents according to the University of Tokyo admission criteria. This applies to those opting for an online application also. Candidates are advised to prepare the documents beforehand to avoid any hassle later. Here is the list of documents required: 

• Acceptance permission provided by the hosting faculty supervisor 
• English proficiency score (TOEFL/ IELTS) 
• Statement of purpose explaining the reason for choosing UTokyo and the type of research candidates wish to pursue 
• A consent letter from the Head of Department and supervisor of the undergraduate applicants 
• Scores obtained from any standardized test conducted in the applicant’s residential country 
• Scores in EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission with Japanese as a foreign language) 
• Grades or other records of scores from relevant educational organizations from where the candidate completed their graduation 

Once the candidates qualify for the first screening, they must undergo a second screening test. This comprises a written test (essay writing) followed by an interview. The procedure is generally completed by March, and admission is granted by April. 

Tests required/Average scores

There are no specified scores as part of University of Tokyo admissions requirements. This can come across as unclear for applicants who wish to know how to get admission to the University of Tokyo.

However, getting in touch with the respective institute can clarify these requirements, such as IELTS score, SAT score. Etc. 

Also, the University has stopped asking for GMAT scores since 2017. So, applicants do not need one to apply to the Department of TMI (Technology, Management, and Innovation. 

Popular courses

With a robust faculty and high standards for education, the University of Tokyo caters to students of various disciplines. Therefore, it is no surprise that the institution offers multiple foundation, intermediary, integrated, and thematic courses. 

Among these, a few popular ones are: 

• Computer science
• Arts & humanities: Languages, Literature & Linguistics
• Engineering & technology: General Engineering
• Physical sciences: Physics & Astronomy
• Education
• Business & economics: Business & Management
• Law
• Psychology

UTokyo also provides four top-rated Global Summer Programs (GSP) by the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). 

Besides these, the University also conducts Global Unit Courses (GUC) virtually for students worldwide. The courses have been developed with cutting-edge content and are taught by the highly professional faculty of UTokyo. These courses have also gained a lot of popularity and include: 

• Law in Transnational East Asia 
• Media in Japan and the World 
• Writings About Japan
• Early Language Acquisition 
• AI and Social Justice 
• Introduction 2022 Program 
• Introduction by TA
• Virtual Campus Tour 

How the University evaluates applicants

As discussed earlier, the University of Tokyo admissions requirements differ from other universities. Although academic excellence is a benchmark for getting accepted by the University, it is not the most important. 

Besides generic qualifications, the institution also asks for some specific requirements from candidates. UTokyo expects to admit students who do not only focus on cramming up for examinations. Instead, it encourages having a broad spectrum of knowledge applicable even outside the class and interlinked to various topics. 

Along with this, the organization also prioritizes its own entrance tests. Also, fluency in Japanese will be helpful, especially for undergraduate candidates. 

Tips for applying to University

Although the University of Tokyo acceptance rate is moderate, the competition for getting admission is steep. So, some preparation beforehand is necessary if the candidate wishes for their application to stand out. 

Here are some ways to ensure that: 

• Candidates must study well and possibly obtain good scores in their high school examinations. 
• It is essential also to develop a holistic approach to knowledge rather than just mugging up information.
• Applicants must ensure the authenticity of the submitted documents, as their primary screening will be based upon this. 
• It is also important to emphasize the essential factors in the statement of purpose in an easy-to-read manner. 
• It pays well to proofread the application once before submitting it, although this is optional. 

Application deadlines

• Application submission for Masters and Doctoral programs summer examination: 9th June 2022
• Application submission for Masters and Doctoral programs winter examination: 22nd November 2022
• Entrance examination briefing; 21st May 2022
• Application for Undergraduate program: Late December