Tohoku University
東北大学
Former Imperial UniversitiesⓘSeven national universities that grew out of the imperial universities Japan founded before 1945. They are still grouped as Japan's leading research universities. Not an official ranking set by the government.Designated National UniversityⓘNational universities designated by the Minister of Education for world-class education and research (system started in 2017).University of International Research ExcellenceⓘUniversities the government recognized as aiming for the world's top level of research, with long-term support from a 10-trillion-yen university fund (recognized one by one since 2024).Top Global University (Type A · Top)ⓘOf the 37 universities MEXT has supported since 2014 to take more international students and expand English-taught classes and exchange, these 13 aim for the world's top 100.
47 days leftApply by 12/21 → exam on 2/26 · Special Selection (Comprehensive Selection), Admission for Privately Funded International Students
- Exam location
- Campus in Japan · some online ›
- Japanese requirement
- EJU Japanese 270+ ›
- First-year fees
- from ¥1,182,000 ›
Fees and conditions can change over time. Always check the school's guidelines before you apply.
Fees and conditions can change over time.
Homes near campus within 3 km · SALLAE building data
| Campus | Station | Homes | Lowest / month | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawauchi Campus | Subway Tozai Line, Kawauchi Station (directly connected to the campus), 1 min walk | 0 | — | — |
| Aobayama Campus | Subway Tozai Line, Aobayama Station (directly connected to the campus), 1 min walk | 0 | — | — |
| Seiryo Campus | Subway Namboku Line, Kita-Yobancho Station, 15 min walk | 0 | — | — |
About the school
A national university founded in 1907. It has 18,329 students, including 1,899 international students (undergraduate 198 · graduate 1,701). There are 2,701 faculty members, 454 of them from outside Japan. It has 3 campuses (Kawauchi, Aobayama, Seiryo); which one you attend depends on your department.
History · 5
- 1907
- Tohoku Imperial University is founded
- 1913
- Women are admitted to the College of Science (Japan's first female university students)
- 1947
- Renamed Tohoku University
- 1949
- Reorganized as the new-system Tohoku University following the education system reform
- 2017
- The Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agricultural Science move to the new Aobayama Campus
University Portraits · school history · Wikidata
Admission requirements and dates
Tohoku University admits international students through 3 routes.Pick your situation below to see only the routes that fit · Based on the guidelines for April 2027 entry
EJUThe exam Japanese universities use for international student admission · June and November · also held outside Japan = Examination for Japanese University Admission · JLPTJapanese-Language Proficiency Test · N1 is the highest, then N2 = Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
Apply with EJU scores
Official name: 私費外国人留学生入試
You apply with your EJU and TOEFL scores and take an interview (plus a math exam depending on the faculty) at the Kawauchi Campus in Sendai at the end of February. You can choose from all faculties.
Accepting applications now · until 12/21
- Apply 12/16~12/21opens in 42 days
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- Exam 2/26
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- Results 3/10
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- Enroll ~3/15
English-taught program · apply from Japan
Official name: ゲートウェイカレッジ入学者選抜Ⅰ期
A new bachelor's program taught in English. Round I, with April entry, is mainly for students from Japanese high school programs, and the exam is held at Tohoku University mainly in Japanese.
Applications for this year have closed — below are the remaining dates for those who applied
- Apply 10/13~10/16
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- Exam 1 11/73 days left
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- Exam 2 11/28
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- Results 12/4
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- Enroll ~12/17
Apply online · in English
Official name: ゲートウェイカレッジ入学者選抜Ⅱ期
October entry for international students from overseas. After the first stage by documents, you take the written exam and interview entirely in English and online.
Accepting applications now · until 1/14
- Apply 12/15~1/14opens in 41 days
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- Exam 1 2/21
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- Exam 2 2/22
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- Results 3/24
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- Enroll ~4/23
Good to know before applying
- Only EJU scores from the 2026 academic year (June or November sessions) are valid. You cannot apply unless you reach the score set by the faculty.
- You need a TOEFL iBT score of 72 or higher taken on or after March 1, 2025 (4.0 or higher for tests from January 2026). Only Test Date scores are accepted (not MyBest).
- Only people with the "Student" residence status or those expected to obtain it at enrollment. People with dual nationality including Japanese or with permanent residence cannot apply. Graduates of international schools or similar institutions are eligible only if their schools are accredited or otherwise recognized.
- Documents must arrive by noon on December 21 (express or registered mail). Incomplete applications are not accepted, and withdrawals, changes or additional submissions after applying are not allowed.
- In faculties with an academic exam and interview, missing either one disqualifies you. The admission fee is not refunded for any reason.
東北大学 令和9年度（2027年度）ゲートウェイカレッジ入学者選抜Ⅰ期 学生募集要項 · 東北大学 令和9年度（2027年度）特別選抜（総合型選抜）入学試験学生募集要項 私費外国人留学生入試 · checked 2026-11-02
Fees
- First-year fees
- ¥1,182,000
- Tuition on a student visa
- ¥900,000 a year · others ¥535,800
- Application fee
- ¥17,000
Tuition for international students is ¥900,000 per year (planned amount; ¥535,800 for Japanese students and others). Admission fee ¥282,000.
Places and fees by department 14
| Department | Places | Applied/Passed | First-year fees (¥) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Arts and Letters | |||
| Department of Humanities and Social Sciences | A few students | 10 / 3 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Education | |||
| Department of Education Science | A few students | 7 / 2 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Law | |||
| Department of Law | A few students | 14 / 1 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Economics | |||
| Department of Economics and Department of Business Administration | A few students | 18 / 3 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Science | |||
| Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology (by field) | A few students | 22 / 1 | 1,182,000 |
| School of Medicine | |||
| Department of Medicine | 3 students in total across the International Baccalaureate, returnee and privately funded international student exams | 3 / 0 | 1,182,000 |
| Department of Health Sciences, Nursing major | A few students | 0 / 0 | 1,182,000 |
| Department of Health Sciences, Radiological Technology major | A few students | 1 / 0 | 1,182,000 |
| Department of Health Sciences, Laboratory Technology major | A few students | 0 / 0 | 1,182,000 |
| School of Dentistry | |||
| Department of Dentistry | A few students | 5 / 1 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences | |||
| Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacy | A few students | 5 / 0 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Engineering | |||
| Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering / Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering / Chemistry and Bioengineering / Materials Science and Engineering / Architecture and Social Environment | A few students | 34 / 6 | 1,182,000 |
| Faculty of Agriculture | |||
| Department of Bioproduction Science and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry | A few students | 8 / 1 | 1,182,000 |
| Gateway College | |||
| Gateway College (humanities and sciences) | 178 | 1,182,000 | |
Places are the total across all international student admissions. Applied/passed figures are for the 2026 academic year. Fees are for 2027 entry.
For 2027 entry · from the school's guidelines
Documents to prepare
Application form and photo, certificate of (expected) graduation and transcript, EJU score report, TOEFL iBT score, copy of passport, certificate of residence (only for those living in Japan), transfer receipt for the application screening fee, etc.
Graduate outcomes
- Graduates (2025 academic year)
- 2,372 · Undergraduate graduates only (graduate school completers excluded). Those who found jobs include the self-employed and employees on permanent contracts. Clinical residents are not counted as having found jobs.
- Full-time employment
- 637 · 27%
- Went on to graduate school etc.
- 1,388 · 59%
No employment results for international students alone could be found in official materials.
University Portraits · figures for all students (not international students only)
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Scholarships
- New from the 2027 academic year: international students in roughly the top third, selected by entrance exam results or academic record, receive a scholarship equal to full or half of tuition.
- Deferment of the admission fee and tuition / monthly installment payment systems are available (international students are not eligible for tuition exemption for financial reasons).
Student life support
University House and the International House are available for international students. Apply after the announcement of results and by March 23.
Getting there
- Kawauchi Campus
- Subway Tozai Line, Kawauchi Station (directly connected to the campus), 1 min walk · First and second years of all faculties, Letters, Education, Law, Economics, Gateway College (exam venue)
宮城県仙台市青葉区川内41 - Aobayama Campus
- Subway Tozai Line, Aobayama Station (directly connected to the campus), 1 min walk · Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture (mainly third and fourth years)
宮城県仙台市青葉区荒巻字青葉6-6 - Seiryo Campus
- Subway Namboku Line, Kita-Yobancho Station, 15 min walk · Medicine, Dentistry (mainly second to sixth years)
宮城県仙台市青葉区星陵町2-1
SALLAE compiled this from the school's admission guidelines and official sources (such as University Portraits). Dates and amounts can change, so always check the school's guidelines before you apply.
Photo: 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons