Tohoku University was founded in 1907 as Japan’s third imperial university and was one of the first in the country to admit women. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 102nd in the world and fifth in Japan. It’s based in Sendai, the largest city in northeastern Japan, and it’s known for materials science, engineering, physics and medicine. It was the first university chosen for Japan’s University for International Research Excellence programme, which brings it major government research funding.
In 2027, Tohoku is launching Gateway College, a new undergraduate programme taught mainly in English, with an October intake for international students. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Tohoku University’s own guidance and official Japanese government information.
1. Understand Gateway College
Gateway College gives you a broad, interdisciplinary education first and lets you choose your major later, from your third year, across Tohoku’s faculties. With a few exceptions, all classes are taught in English. Health Sciences and Pharmacy aren’t available, and moving into Medicine or Dentistry is generally not possible. The October 2027 intake is for international students and has 90 places: 73 in the STEM track and 17 in the Humanities and Social Sciences track. You can apply to only one track, and for either the April or the October intake, not both.
2. Pick your track carefully
Choose the track that fits your school subjects. If you apply for Humanities and Social Sciences, Tohoku expects Japanese at CEFR B1 level or higher, because you may need to study and research in Japanese, so the STEM track is the more realistic choice if you don’t speak Japanese yet. Tohoku’s regular degrees are taught in Japanese and have a separate exam for international students, which needs EJU scores and a TOEFL iBT score of at least 79.
3. Apply between 15 December 2026 and 14 January 2027
For October 2027 entry, you apply online through the TAO system from 15 December 2026 to 14 January 2027 and pay the ¥17,000 examination fee by credit card through Flywire. If you don’t pass the first stage, ¥13,000 is refunded. First-stage results come on 5 February 2027, the online written exam and interview take place on 21 and 22 February, and results are announced on 24 March 2027. Tohoku University: Gateway College admissions.
4. Send scores from one recognised test or qualification
Tohoku recommends an SAT score of 1,400 or higher, an ACT composite of 31 or higher (superscores aren’t accepted for either), an EJU score of 300 or higher taken in English, AP grades of 4 or higher in each required subject, an IB Diploma score of 36 out of 42 plus 2 points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, or three A grades at A Level. For the STEM track, you need mathematics and science, for example AP Calculus plus Physics, Chemistry or Biology, or the Maths and Science sections of the ACT. All your scores must come from one system: you can’t combine, say, A Levels and the SAT. Predicted grades are accepted only for the IB and A Levels, and final results are due by 31 August 2027.
5. Meet the English requirement
You need IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, Duolingo 110, a Cambridge English score of 169 or EIKEN 2,400 or higher. If you’re eligible for an exemption, you can instead send a certificate of English-medium instruction on Tohoku’s own form. Certificates in your school’s own format, and English grades from the IB, A Levels or CBSE, aren’t accepted as proof. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Write a sharp statement of purpose
You type a statement of purpose of up to 400 words, in English, directly into the application system. Use it to explain why you want Gateway College’s interdisciplinary approach, which areas you might want to major in and what you’ve been passionate about so far. With only 400 words, every sentence should count. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas.
7. Prepare for the written exam and interview
If you pass the document screening, you’ll take an online written exam and an online interview, both entirely in English. For the STEM track, the exam tests mathematical thinking, a basic understanding of the natural sciences and logical reasoning; for Humanities and Social Sciences, it tests logical reasoning and mathematical thinking. The interview looks at your communication skills, creativity and enthusiasm for studying at Gateway College. You must also take part in a connectivity test beforehand, or you’ll be disqualified.
8. Understand the fees, scholarships and housing
International students on a student visa entering Gateway College in 2027 will pay tuition of ¥900,000 a year, much more than the ¥535,800 paid by students who don’t need a visa, plus an admission fee of ¥282,000. To balance this, Tohoku’s new International Excellence Scholarship will cover full or half tuition for about the top third of admitted international students, based on their second-stage results or grades, and JASSO’s Honors Scholarship pays ¥48,000 a month for up to six months. First-year students live in a university dormitory for about ¥36,000 a month, and from your second year you’ll rent privately, typically for ¥30,000 to ¥60,000 a month in Sendai. Tohoku University: International Excellence Scholarship.
9. Get your Certificate of Eligibility and student visa
Once you’ve accepted your place and paid your admission fee, Tohoku University applies to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) on your behalf, using documents you provide, including proof that you or a sponsor can pay for your studies and living costs. When your CoE is issued, which can be done electronically, you take it with your passport to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country to get a student visa. You’ll be given your residence card when you arrive at a major airport, and you must register your address at your local city office and join Japan’s National Health Insurance within 14 days of moving in. If you need to extend your stay later, note that the fees went up on 1 October 2026 and now depend on the period you’re given: for example, ¥33,000 at an immigration office (¥27,000 online) for a one-year extension, instead of a flat ¥6,000. Immigration Services Agency of Japan: residence fees from 1 October 2026.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
A student visa doesn’t allow you to work on its own. You first need “permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted”, which you can request at the airport when you arrive or later at an immigration office. It lets you work up to 28 hours a week, and up to eight hours a day during the university’s long vacations, but never in bars, nightclubs or other adult entertainment businesses. Most Japanese companies recruit graduates a year or more before they start, so begin your job search early, and remember that Japanese language skills make a big difference. If you haven’t found a job by graduation, you can apply, with a recommendation from Tohoku University, for a “Designated Activities” status for job hunting, which gives you six months and can be renewed once, for up to a year in total. When you get a job offer, you’ll switch to a work status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. University of Osaka: work permit for part-time jobs.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Tohoku?
Tohoku’s 16 graduate schools admit students directly, and many offer master’s and doctoral programmes taught in English, with their own dates and requirements. You’ll usually need to contact a potential supervisor before you apply. The International Excellence Scholarship also supports top international master’s students from 2027, and doctoral students can get support through Tohoku’s LEAP programme. The Japanese government’s MEXT Scholarship, through the Japanese embassy in your country or a university recommendation, is another option. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Gateway College is new and its first international intake is small, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, the University of Osaka and the Institute of Science Tokyo. Our guide to studying in Japan explains how the Japanese system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Tohoku University’s official Gateway College admissions page, its Application Guide for Gateway College 2027 Fall Enrollment and leaflet, its undergraduate admission and scholarship pages, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Gateway College’s website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Tohoku University.