University of Tokyo Acceptance Rate

The university of Tokyo acceptance rate for undergraduate programs works out to roughly 30% to 36% overall. That alone tells you it's not a casual apply. The undergrad route, especially Japanese-taught degrees through the national entrance exams, is genuinely tough to crack. Graduate admissions breathe easier though, sitting around 52% on average. PhD applicants specifically see acceptance closer to 72%.

Here's the thing though. If you've been researching University of Tokyo as an international student hoping to apply through PEAK, the English-taught undergraduate track, there's a major update you need to know. PEAK stopped taking new applications after its September 2026 intake. That was the final batch.

So this article walks through where the numbers actually stand across UG and PG programs. What's realistically still open to international applicants with PEAK gone. And how to plan your application around all of this instead of chasing outdated info.

Explore the benefits of Studying in Japan for Indian Students

University of Tokyo Acceptance Rate: UG vs PG Programs

The university of Tokyo acceptance rate looks completely different depending on whether you're looking at undergrad or postgrad, since Todai runs on two very different admission logics. UG seats are limited and the entrance exams are brutal, so the rate stays tighter. PG admissions, especially PhD, lean more on research fit and professor buy-in, so more applicants get through.

Here's how the numbers break down across levels:

Note: One number worth knowing if you're eyeing the sciences: the Natural Sciences II stream, one of the most competitive UG tracks, runs at around 23%. That's noticeably tighter than the general UG average.

Program-Wise Acceptance Rates at University of Tokyo

Not every faculty shapes the university of Tokyo acceptance rate the same way, since some are simply harder to crack than others at Todai. Engineering, medicine and economics pull in the strongest applicant pools globally, so naturally, they're toughest to get into. Humanities and interdisciplinary programs tend to have a bit more breathing room.

Most Competitive Faculties

These three departments are consistently the hardest to get into because global demand for them is massive.

• Faculty of Engineering - Heavy emphasis on math and physics scores, plus how well your background fits ongoing research
• Faculty of Medicine - Extremely limited seats paired with detailed, multi-stage screening
• Faculty of Economics - High demand from both domestic and international applicants with strong quant backgrounds

Moderately Competitive Faculties

If your profile leans toward these areas, you're working with relatively better odds, especially as an international applicant.

• Humanities and Sociology
• Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Education
• Interdisciplinary Information Studies
• Environmental Studies

Suggested Read: Education System in Japan

Acceptance Rate for International Students at University of Tokyo

If you're specifically researching the university of Tokyo acceptance rate for international students, this is the section that's changed the most, so read it carefully. 

The PEAK Program Has Been Discontinued

Anyone tracking the university of Tokyo PEAK acceptance rate should know upfront that PEAK, short for Programs in English at Komaba, was University of Tokyo's only fully English-taught undergraduate route. For years, it was the go-to option for international students who wanted Todai without clearing Japanese-language entrance exams. Here's what made it work, and why it's gone now.

• No Japanese requirement to apply - Unlike most UG tracks, PEAK didn't need Japanese proficiency to get in
• SAT or ACT scores accepted - Made it accessible for students coming from US-style or international curricula
• Discontinued after September 2026 - University of Tokyo confirmed this was PEAK's final recruitment cycle, with applications having closed back in December 2025
• No new intake coming - Students already admitted will continue through to graduation, but there's nothing to apply to going forward
• Historical acceptance rate - PEAK typically took in around 8-15% of applicants in its last few cycles, a number that's now purely reference, not something to plan a 2027 or 2028 application around

What International Applicants Can Actually Apply To Now

With PEAK gone, most international undergrad applicants will need to go through Japanese-taught programs, which means clearing the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admissions) alongside strong Japanese proficiency. Acceptance for this route tends to run around 10-20% for non-Japanese applicants, depending on the faculty.

Graduate admissions are unaffected by the PEAK change since Master's and PhD programs were never part of it. Those routes stay open at their usual rates:

If your goal was always graduate study at Todai, honestly, nothing here changes for you. This mostly affects students who were specifically counting on an English-medium undergrad option.

University of Tokyo Admission Requirements for UG and PG Programs

Requirements tie directly into the university of Tokyo international acceptance rate, since what you submit and how well you meet the bar looks pretty different depending on level, so it helps to separate them out clearly. 

• Undergraduate applicants need a strong high school academic record, EJU scores where applicable, and proof of English or Japanese proficiency depending on the track. Essays and recommendation letters may be needed too.
• Graduate applicants need a recognised bachelor's degree, a competitive GPA, and test scores like GRE or GMAT depending on the program. A solid research proposal and faculty consent matter a lot more here than at the UG level.

Minimum Score Expectations & Language Requirements

University of Tokyo doesn't publish official cutoffs, but based on typical accepted profiles, here's roughly where successful applicants land.

Application Timelines for University of Tokyo

Timelines matter just as much as the acceptance rate of Tokyo University itself, and since PEAK's deadline structure no longer applies, here's what things actually look like for the pathways still open. 

• Undergraduate (Japanese-taught track) - Runs on a longer runway than most students expect. University of Tokyo typically publishes UG application info around nine months ahead of the intake, with applications opening roughly four months before enrollment. This varies by faculty, so check your target department's page directly
• Graduate admissions - Timelines vary even more here since they depend on faculty availability and, often, direct professor approval before you formally apply
• Rolling vs fixed windows - Some departments run rolling admissions, others stick to fixed windows tied to April or October intake

The safest approach here is simple: pick your faculty first, then check that specific department's admission page for exact dates. Don't rely on a single university-wide deadline, it doesn't really exist the way most people assume.

Why Is University of Tokyo So Hard to Get Into?

A few things stack together to keep the acceptance rate of Tokyo University this competitive. 

• High competition for a limited number of seats across nearly every major faculty
• Rigorous entrance exams, EJU for UG applicants and strong research fit expectations for PG applicants
• A strong global reputation that keeps pulling in top applicants year after year
• High academic bar across math, sciences, humanities and research output alike
• Fewer English-taught undergraduate options now that PEAK has wound down, which narrows the field for international UG applicants specifically

How to Strengthen Your Application

Improving your odds against the university of Tokyo international student acceptance rate now means building toward the EJU route, since with PEAK gone, assuming an English-only path will exist isn't realistic anymore. Here's what actually moves the needle.

• Build a strong, consistent academic record. Grades across your last two years of high school (or bachelor's, for PG applicants) matter more than any single standout score.
• Prepare early for EJU, TOEFL, IELTS, or GRE/GMAT. Whichever tests apply to your track, give yourself real runway. These aren't exams you cram for in six weeks.
• Get genuine research experience if you're applying to PG programs. Projects, internships, even a small published paper can meaningfully strengthen a graduate application, especially for PhD tracks where professor buy-in matters.
• Write a statement of purpose that's actually about you. Generic SOPs get skimmed. Be specific about why this faculty, why this research area, and what you want out of it.
• Apply early and track faculty-specific deadlines closely. Since timelines vary by department now more than ever, missing a department-specific window is a real risk if you're only tracking one generic date.

Conclusion

The University of Tokyo acceptance rate still reflects a genuinely selective, research-heavy institution, but the picture for international undergrad applicants has shifted now that PEAK is winding down. If your plan was built around that English-taught pathway, it's worth rebuilding your strategy around the EJU route or shifting focus toward graduate admissions instead, where nothing has changed.

Either way, the fundamentals stay the same: strong grades, early test prep, and a genuinely well-thought-out application go a long way here.

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