🏅 QS World Rank #39
The University of Tokyo — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Japan’s top-ranked global institution — QS World Rankings 2027 #39
The University of Tokyo is Japan’s leading national university, founded in 1877. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 39th in the world and the highest-ranked Japanese university. This guide covers programmes, admission, the 2025 tuition increase, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
University of Tokyo Overview
The University of Tokyo was founded in 1877 and is Japan’s oldest national university. It has produced Prime Ministers, Nobel laureates and many leaders in government, business and science.
Its main campuses are in Hongo, Komaba and Kashiwa. Most undergraduates begin at Komaba in the general education stage before choosing a specialism.
University of Tokyo Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
The University of Tokyo is 39th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. It is the highest-ranked university in Japan in that edition, ahead of Kyoto University (64th).
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Tokyo is known for:
- Engineering and technology
- Natural sciences — physics, chemistry and mathematics
- Law and political science
- Medicine and life sciences
- Economics and the social sciences
- Programs in English — undergraduate English-taught options such as PEAK at Komaba
See the official website for the full list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International applicants can enter through Japanese-taught or English-taught routes. Confirm all details on the university’s admissions pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Routes | Degree programmes taught in Japanese, plus English-taught undergraduate programmes such as PEAK. Check each route’s eligibility. |
| Language | Japanese-taught routes need strong Japanese. English-taught routes need an accepted English test. |
| Assessment | Entry typically involves the university’s own selection process, and some routes use national or standardised tests |
| Deadlines | Set by the university for each route and intake. Confirm on the official page. |
| Documents | Transcripts, identification, language evidence and route-specific documents |
Official source: University of Tokyo — Prospective students.
University of Tokyo Acceptance Rate
The University of Tokyo does not publish one acceptance rate for international applicants. Entry is highly competitive and varies by route.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose a route (Japanese-taught or English-taught) and read its requirements
- Check the application window for your intake
- Book the language test you need (Japanese or English)
- Prepare transcripts, identification and route-specific documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the conditions for the Japanese student visa
- Plan funding for tuition and Tokyo living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on the official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
The University of Tokyo raised undergraduate tuition for students entering from fiscal year 2025 (April 2025):
- Annual tuition (from 2025 entry): about ¥642,960, the upper limit allowed for national universities, an increase of about ¥100,000
- Earlier students: those already enrolled were not subject to the change
- Other fees: an entrance fee and other costs apply. Check the official fee page.
The old ¥535,800 figure on this page applied before the 2025 increase. Tokyo living costs are also high, so budget for rent, food and transport as well.
Source: Jiji Press report on the University of Tokyo tuition decision (2024). Confirm the current fee on the university’s official page.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- MEXT (Japanese government) scholarships: for international students, including at undergraduate and graduate level. Eligibility and deadlines are set each year, so check whether Pakistan is included in the current round.
- University scholarships and fee waivers: the university offers support for international students. Check the current list.
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: awards are competitive
University of Tokyo for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Entry: check whether your qualification is accepted for your chosen route
- Language: prepare Japanese for Japanese-taught routes, or an accepted English test for English-taught ones. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Scholarships: check MEXT and university awards early
- Visa: a Japanese student visa is required
- Budget: plan for tuition plus Tokyo living costs
Campus & Student Life
- The main Hongo campus is in central Tokyo, with Komaba and Kashiwa campuses elsewhere in the Tokyo area
- Tokyo is a very large city with extensive public transport
- Student housing is available but limited, and many students rent privately
- Clubs and societies cover culture, sport and academic interests
Research & Career Opportunities
- Tokyo is research-intensive, with notable work in physics, engineering and the life sciences
- Tokyo is a major hub for Japanese industry, finance, technology and government
- The university has long supplied graduates to the civil service and large Japanese companies
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Yukio Hatoyama, a former Prime Minister of Japan, studied engineering at the University of Tokyo
- Yasunari Kawabata, Nobel laureate in Literature (1968), studied at Tokyo Imperial University
- Kenzaburo Oe, Nobel laureate in Literature (1994), studied French literature at the University of Tokyo
- Masatoshi Koshiba, Nobel laureate in Physics (2002), studied physics at the University of Tokyo
Contact & Location
The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
Official website: u-tokyo.ac.jp
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Tokyo is ranked 39th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026. It is the highest-ranked Japanese university in that edition.
From April 2025, undergraduate tuition for new students is about ¥642,960 a year, up about ¥100,000 from the previous level. Other fees and living costs apply.
It is best known for engineering, natural sciences, law and medicine.
Yes, through English-taught undergraduate programmes such as PEAK and some graduate programmes. Many other programmes are taught in Japanese.
For Japanese-taught programmes, yes. English-taught programmes need an accepted English test instead.
Yes. International students can apply for MEXT scholarships and university support. They are competitive and not guaranteed.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the international route and should check qualification, language and visa requirements.
It does not publish one acceptance rate for international applicants. Entry is highly competitive.
Yes. International students need a Japanese student visa. Requirements change, so check the official guidance.
Check the University of Tokyo’s official admissions and fee pages. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare University of Tokyo With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, University of Tokyo’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.