Tohoku University
#109
QS Rank
~10%
Intl. students
$3,500
Tuition/yr
17,975
Enrollment
12.6:1
Student:Faculty
About Tohoku University
Tohoku University is a national research university in Sendai, Japan, ranked #109 globally (QS 2026) and first among Japanese universities by THE domestic rankings.
Tohoku University is a Japanese national university founded in 1907 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, making it one of Japan's oldest imperial universities. It enrolls approximately 17,975 students across undergraduate and graduate programs and is classified as a designated national university by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). In December 2024, it became the first institution approved under Japan's 'Universities for International Research Excellence' initiative.
The university is internationally recognized for its strength in materials science, engineering, physics, and medicine. Its Department of Materials Science and Materials Processing ranks among the top three in the world by research citations, and the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) draws researchers globally in functional and structural materials. Tohoku offers a wide range of English-taught graduate programs, and many faculties accept international students through MEXT-sponsored degree tracks.
The main campus is located in Sendai, a city of about one million people on Japan's Tohoku coast, approximately 90 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen. Sendai offers a lower cost of living than Tokyo or Osaka while providing full urban amenities. The campus itself is spread across several sites, with the Katahira and Aobayama campuses hosting the core research institutes and graduate schools.
World University Rankings
For Nepali students
- Nepali students can apply for the MEXT Government Scholarship through the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu, which covers tuition, admission fees, and provides a monthly stipend of approximately ¥143,000–¥145,000, making Tohoku's strong graduate programs in engineering and science accessible at near-zero cost. From 2027, Tohoku is also launching a new merit-based scholarship covering full or half tuition for approximately the top one-third of newly admitted international students, expanding options beyond MEXT.
- Annual tuition is 535,800 JPY (approximately USD 3,500) and applies equally to domestic and international students, significantly lower than comparable-ranked universities in the US, UK, or Australia, which makes self-funded study more viable for Nepali families. Sendai's cost of living is also lower than Tokyo or Osaka.
- Tohoku's particular strength in engineering, materials science, and natural sciences aligns well with the academic backgrounds of many Nepali students, who disproportionately pursue STEM fields. The university's English-medium graduate courses and its status as a designated international research university increase the likelihood of English-language instruction and an internationally oriented research environment.
- Japan's post-graduation work pathways, including the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa and the Designated Activities visa for job-hunting graduates, allow international students to remain in Japan for up to one year after graduation to seek employment, with pathways to long-term work visas in high-demand STEM fields.
Programs(4)
MS in Computer Science
Computer Science & ITMS in Engineering
EngineeringMS in Materials Science
Arts & Social SciencesBS in Engineering
EngineeringData last verified from official sources · Disclaimer
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.
Does my profile match Tohoku University?
Enter your GPA and IELTS score for an instant admission likelihood check.
Uses published minimum requirements. Final decisions are always at the university's discretion. Use our GPA converter to get your score on the 4.0 scale.
Guides for studying in Japan
View allSimilar universities in Japan
Nagoya University
Nagoya · public
Nagoya Institute of Technology
Nagoya, Aichi · public
Waseda University
Tokyo · private
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Beppu · private
Want us to verify Tohoku University’s current requirements?
Our counselors can confirm the latest deadlines, tuition, and requirements directly with the admissions office — free, no signup required.