🇯🇵 University of Tokyo — Tuition, Scholarships & Visa Pathway for International Students
QS 2027 #39 · ¥642,960 a year · Tokyo
Quick Facts
| Location | Tokyo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Global Ranking | #39 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026). |
| International Students | Over 4,000 international students out of 28,000+ total — strong draw in economics, computer science, chemistry/biotechnology and public policy |
| English Requirement | Undergraduate programmes largely require Japanese proficiency (JLPT N2+); the PEAK programme and various MEXT-designated Master's/Doctoral programmes are taught fully in English |
Tuition for International Students (2026-27)
¥642,960 per year (Annual undergraduate tuition for students entering from 2025 (raised from ¥535,800)). Source: The Japan Times: UTokyo raises tuition 20%, checked 30 October 2026. Budget roughly ¥1,400,000 a year for living costs (typical student estimate).
Real Scholarships — Not Just a List of Names
MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship
Japan's flagship government award — full tuition, a monthly stipend of ¥117,000-145,000, and round-trip airfare. Highly competitive (10-20 applicants per slot); apply via embassy recommendation or university recommendation.
Visa & Post-Study Work Pathway
University of Tokyo graduates can pursue the Job Seeking visa (up to 2 years, part of Designated Activities status) to find qualifying employment, with Japan's growing skilled-labour shortage making the broader immigration environment incrementally more welcoming. While studying, international students on a Ryugaku (student) visa can work up to 28 hours/week with permission (Shikakugai Katsudo), and Tokyo's minimum wage for 2026 is ¥1,163/hour — genuinely relevant for budgeting part-time income into your total cost picture, since Tokyo's minimum wage is meaningfully higher than most other Japanese prefectures.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is UTokyo good for international students?
University of Tokyo is ranked #39 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, 1st of the 2 universities in Japan covered on VisaCalc. International tuition is about ¥642,960 a year. After graduating: designated Activities status to job-hunt for up to 1 year after graduating. Whether it is a good fit depends on your program, budget and career plans; use the cost calculator and comparison charts on this page.
What tuition does UTokyo charge international students?
¥642,960 per year (Annual undergraduate tuition for students entering from 2025 (raised from ¥535,800)), checked 30 October 2026.
What IELTS score do I need for UTokyo?
Undergraduate programmes largely require Japanese proficiency (JLPT N2+); the PEAK programme and various MEXT-designated Master's/Doctoral programmes are taught fully in English
Can I work in Japan after graduating from UTokyo?
University of Tokyo graduates can pursue the Job Seeking visa (up to 2 years, part of Designated Activities status) to find qualifying employment, with Japan's growing skilled-labour shortage making the broader immigration environment incrementally more welcoming.
See the full Japan university landscape and visa pathway.
🇯🇵 Study in Japan Guide 🔗 Official UTokyo Website
Worked example: a full degree at University of Tokyo
An international student starting a 4-year bachelor's at the lowest fee shown, budgeting the official visa living-cost figure. Rates are converted at the 29 Oct 2026 reference rates; use the calculator above to change any assumption.
| Tuition | ¥642,960 a year (Annual undergraduate tuition for students entering from 2025 (raised from ¥535,800)) |
| Living costs | ¥1,400,000 a year (Mid-point of a ¥1.09–1.76 million/year Tokyo student budget) |
| Years | 4 (typical bachelor's length) |
| Total, fees flat | ¥8,171,840 ≈ ₹49.3 lakh ≈ $51,752 |
| Total if costs rise 4% a year | ¥8,675,356 ≈ ₹52.4 lakh |
The visa living-cost figure is a legal minimum, not a comfortable budget. Scholarships are not deducted.
Sources
- The Japan Times: UTokyo raises tuition 20%
- XuanXiao: QS World University Rankings 2027 (top 50)
- Study-Abroad.org: cost of studying in Japan 2026
- Exchange rates: open.er-api.com reference rates, 29 Oct 2026
How we checked this page
Fees for University of Tokyo come from the The Japan Times: UTokyo raises tuition 20%; the QS 2027 position from XuanXiao: QS World University Rankings 2027 (top 50); living costs from Study-Abroad.org: cost of studying in Japan 2026. Checked on 30 October 2026. Course-level fees vary, so confirm your exact program on the official University of Tokyo website before paying anything. VisaCalc is independent of University of Tokyo. Not admissions or immigration advice.