University of Tokyo Acceptance Rate

Established in 1877 in Japan, the University of Tokyo began its journey as the country’s first National University. Also known as UTokyo, the educational institute has established itself as a leading research university that caters to various academic disciplines.

One would expect the acceptance rate of such an esteemed university to be low. But over the years, the organization has strived to increase the University of Tokyo acceptance rate by introducing the PEAK program. The organization was initially set up as Tokyo Daigaku and comprised four departments: Science, Literature, Medicine, and Law. Later, it also incorporated three other institutions: Shoheiko, Yogakusho, and Shutosho. 

The University has four primary campuses: 

• Hongo 
• Komaba
• Kashiwa
• Shirokane or Shirokanedai/ Nakano

The University was initially transferred to the Hongo campus in 1876, its present-day location. The Kashiwa campus was established in 1998, and in 2001, the Institute of Industrial Science was relocated to the Komaba location. 

But the University never failed to reinvent itself to stay relevant in modern times. In 2021, with the introduction of UTokyo Compass, the University established a specific set of goals and actions. It is called “Into a Sea of Diversity: Creating the Future through Dialogue” and aims to guide the organization’s future endeavors. 

The University of Tokyo also modified its D&I statement to establish the value of diversity in its talent pool. So, this is an excellent place for international students to harness their skills and explore new opportunities that will boost their careers. 

University rankings

The University of Tokyo is a public research university that consistently retains its rank among various educational facilities worldwide. The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world ranking placed it at number 23 in the World Universities list 2023. According to US News, it is the 77th best global University and Times Higher Education places it at number 35 overall. The US News also ranks the institution at number 1 in Japan and number 7 among all universities in Asia. 

The University of Tokyo acceptance rate (General)

The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, caters to 28,171 regular students in various graduate and undergraduate programs. Among these. About 13% are international students, enrolled mainly in graduate programs.  The University of Tokyo acceptance rate is approximately 35%.

Furthermore, the student-faculty ratio is pretty good for the ten faculties and four campuses of the University. For instance, the College of Arts and Sciences: Junior Division faculty has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 approx. 

Overall, there are 5,964 faculties for the entire University, catering to 14,033 undergraduates and 13,326 graduates. Among these, 4,282 are international students. 

This, in itself, is a mark of the high standard of education upheld in this institution. After all, not many organizations in the world have a student-faculty ratio below 20:1. 

Undergraduate acceptance rate

Candidates wondering how to get admission in the University of Tokyo should know that it is not easy. In 2021, the University received 9,356 applications for its UG courses, among which only 3,071 (32.82%) made the cut. As a top-notch house of education, it has a strict filtration process to find suitable candidates. 

Postgraduate acceptance range

The strict University of Tokyo acceptance rate applies to the Graduate programs also. UTokyo received 8,126 applications in the PG courses in 2021 and accepted 3,323 applications for the same (40.89%). In addition to this, the University offers some non-degree programs to short-term students worldwide. 

Admission eligibility criteria

Regarding eligibility, the University of Tokyo admissions requirements are pretty unique. The organization mentions explicitly in its policy that the primary criteria for accepting a candidate’s application are their eagerness to “acquire wider outlooks.”

That being said, the educational facility also emphasizes academic abilities. Therefore, non-Japanese candidates need to acquire academic qualifications equivalent to the qualified applicants of regular programs at the Graduate school. 

The University of Tokyo also conducts a basic entrance examination to test the existing knowledge and skills of the applicants. The exam is based upon three fundamental policies: 

• Someone with a high-school degree can solve the questions of the entrance examination 
• Students need to prepare well for liberal arts education after being enrolled 
• The University prioritizes knowledge application over knowledge hoarding 

So, one of the basic University of Tokyo admission criteria is to prepare for the primary and secondary school years as well as possible. 

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