University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) 2025 in Japan for International Students (Funded)

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About University of Tokyo Research Internship Program

UTRIP is a summer research initiative by the Graduate School of Science (GSS) for international undergraduates pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. Participants receive hands-on research guidance from faculty in physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth and planetary science, and biological sciences.

Open to students in their second year or beyond at non-Japanese universities in natural sciences, UTRIP also offers cultural excursions and Japanese language courses, providing a valuable introduction to academic life at UTokyo.

UTRIP offers a summer research experience for students in natural sciences and related fields. Designed as a gateway to advanced degrees, UTRIP lets participants explore graduate life and test their aptitude for rigorous research. Students work closely with top researchers at UTokyo’s Graduate School of Science (GSS) and participate in lectures, field trips, and cultural events to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and science. The program concludes with students presenting their research and submitting a final report.

UTRIP Features

• Full-time research project commitment.
• Engage in cutting-edge natural science research.
• Read relevant research articles and join lab meetings with faculty.
• Financial support: GSS-UTRIP Scholarship (housing + stipend) except FUTI Award recipients.
• Visit historical or natural sites in Japan.
• Optional Japanese language course.
• Completion certificate awarded.

• School: University of Tokyo

Benefits of University of Tokyo Research Internship Program

UTRIP participants can receive financial support through two options:

1. GSS-UTRIP Scholarship: Covers travel and living expenses.
   • Asia/Eastern Russia/Oceania: ¥140,000
   • Europe/Western Russia/North America: ¥160,000
   • Latin America/Caribbean/Africa/Middle East: ¥170,000
   • Free housing for 43 nights.
2. FUTI Award: Up to $4,000 for students enrolled in U.S. universities, regardless of citizenship. FUTI applicants cannot receive the GSS-UTRIP Scholarship unless their FUTI application is denied.

Notes: 

• Participants must stay in designated facilities for the entire program.
• Early departure requires written approval from the host lab supervisor and the Academic Affairs Group.

University of Tokyo Research Internship Program Requirements

• Have completed at least one full year in a Bachelor's degree program at the time of application.
• Be enrolled in and, after participating in UTRIP, be expected to return to, a Bachelor's degree program (or a Bachelor's-equivalent year of an integrated Bachelor's-Master's degree program) at a university outside of Japan. (At selection, the priority for nomination is given to applicants currently in their third year of a four-year Bachelor's degree program and to applicants expected to be in their second year of a three-year Bachelor's degree program. Students in other years are also encouraged to apply.)
• Be enrolled in a natural science or related field.
• Be thinking of pursuing long-term career goals in a scientific area.
• Be planning to commit to the entire six consecutive weeks of the UTRIP program, June 25 to August 5, 2025,on a full-time basis.
• Be able to present coverage of a health insurance plan that is effective during the internship program before arriving in Japan.
• English proficiency: test scores of TOEFL or an equivalent English proficiency test (such as IELTS) are required if English is not your first language. Test scores that have already expired are accepted, as long as the applicant is still able to produce proof of the test scores upon request by the UTRIP office. Students who have received an English-medium education continuously for the past 8 years are exempted from submitting English proficiency test scores.

Requirements

Upon enrolling in the UTRIP program, students must agree to fulfill the following requirements:

• To devote their full efforts to conducting the UTRIP project
• To participate in the project for the full six-week period
• To attend all academic and social events scheduled over the course of the UTRIP program
• To submit a written research final report approved by the UTRIP supervisor within two weeks of finishing the UTRIP program
• To give an oral presentation on the scheduled day

Deadline

The application period is from 25 November 2024 to 17:00 on 7 January 2025, Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900).

The recommendation form must be completed online by the recommendation deadline of 17:00 on 14 January 2025, Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900).

Note that all application and recommendation materials must arrive through our online systems by the respective deadlines. No late submissions of applications or recommendation letters will be considered.

Selection Result

Selection notification will be announced on the UTRIP website in the beginning of April 2025. Selected students will be notified directly by email as well, between mid-to-late March.

Application Date and Process

All required documents (1.～5. below) are required to be submitted online. Please note that original official transcripts will be required for enrollment purposes if applicants are successfully selected for UTRIP. Please contact us if you have any technical difficulties.

1. Application information
   Prior to submitting your application, make sure to review the list of Hosting Labs & Project Topics / Faculty Members & Topicsto identify a hosting lab and project of your interest. The applicant selects up to two hosting labs and indicates the order of preference in the online application. 
   See project reports of the past programs, which demonstrate the depth and level of achievement made by former participants, in our archives under “Past UTRIP”.
2. Personal information
   You are required to state general information in your profile. As we rely mainly on email to communicate with all applicants, please include a current email address on your application and be sure to promptly respond to all correspondence. Please also note that the Corresponding Address will be used for important and time-sensitive matters, so you should enter an address where you can be sure to receive shipments throughout March to June, 2025.
3. Personal statement
   Address the following topics in 700 - 1000words in total:
   • Your reasons for selecting the particular research project(s) in the UTRIP program, and what you hope to gain from this experience
   • What makes you qualified for the particular research project(s), briefly highlighting your skills and experience when they are specifically required by the faculty member(s) of your choice, or when they appear to be helpful to conduct research in the laboratory(ies) that you have selected
   • Whether you are thinking of applying to the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo after you graduate from your current university, citing your reasons
4. Educational background and qualifications

   Resume / CV
   This should include in-depth descriptions of any work experience, responsibilities or projects relevant to the research topic on which you wish to work during the program. It should also list recent schools attended (high school, university, etc.) together with year/month of entrance and completion for each, and briefly explain courses you have taken or will take as well as prizes and awards relevant to the research topic, if you have any.

   Scanned copy of academic transcript 
   Submit a scanned copy of the official university transcript(s). A transcript must include:

   • Your name
   • University name
   • Year of admission
   • List of courses completed (Course titles, grades and credits should be included)
   • Legend (An official explanation of the grading system provided by the university; if this is not included in the official transcript, you may scan in together a separate official document to supplement your transcript.)
   When applying, please submit a scanned or electronic copy of your academic transcript. We will request an official academic record in its original copy (with an official stamp affixed and authorized signature) after your acceptance into the UTRIP program.

    

   GPA
   Applicants whose universities provide official GPA scores must write those scores.
   If your university does not provide an official GPA score, you are required to calculate your own GPA and then describe the calculation in the "Notes" section.

   English language qualifications
   Applicants who speak English as their first language OR those that have received an English-medium education continuously for the past 8 years are exempted from submitting the test scores.

   All other applicants must fill in their test scores of TOEFL or an equivalent English proficiency test (such as IELTS), and submit a scanned copy of the official test score certificate. Test scores that have already expired are accepted, as long as the applicant is still able to produce an original-copy proof of the test scores upon request by the UTRIP office.

Contact

All matters related to UTRIP application should be addressed to: 

Before asking questions, please first read through their Frequently Asked Questions page.

 

Application Deadline

07 January, 2025

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