Do you know that Tokyo University isn’t actually the #1 university in Japan? The number one spot goes to Tohoku University.
But whenever people talk about higher education in Japan, everyone still treats the University of Tokyo as the peak of academia. Even among Japanese people, rankings barely matter. Most of them probably don’t even know Tohoku is ranked first. The prestige that Tokyo University carries here is honestly on a different level.
And when it comes to English-taught programs, the two universities offer very different options.
🏫 University of Tokyo Undergraduate ✨ PEAK (will be discontinued next year) ✨ Global Science Course (transfer program) ✨ Design Program (new UG + PG program)
Postgraduate ✨ Engineering International Programs ✨ Science International Programs ✨ Public Policy International Program ✨ Agriculture and Life Sciences Programs ✨ Frontier Sciences International Programs ✨ Interdisciplinary Information Studies Programs
🏫 Tohoku University Undergraduate 🌿 FGL (Science + Engineering) 🌿 IMAC U (Mechanical + Aerospace) 🌿 AMC (Chemistry) 🌿 AMB (Biology)
Postgraduate 🌿 International Graduate Programs in Engineering 🌿 Environmental Studies International Program 🌿 Biomedical Engineering International Program 🌿 Agriculture International Program 🌿 Information Sciences International Program 🌿 Life Sciences International Program
When you choose a university, does the ranking matter to you? Or do you look more at the program, the research facilities, the faculty and the overall vibe?
For me, even during my bachelor’s, I picked a less “prestigious” university over Tokyo University because I genuinely liked the program more.
*The ranking is based off Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 ranking.
Sai Loves Japan
Do you know that Tokyo University isn’t actually the #1 university in Japan? The number one spot goes to Tohoku University.
But whenever people talk about higher education in Japan, everyone still treats the University of Tokyo as the peak of academia. Even among Japanese people, rankings barely matter. Most of them probably don’t even know Tohoku is ranked first. The prestige that Tokyo University carries here is honestly on a different level.
And when it comes to English-taught programs, the two universities offer very different options.
🏫 University of Tokyo
Undergraduate
✨ PEAK (will be discontinued next year)
✨ Global Science Course (transfer program)
✨ Design Program (new UG + PG program)
Postgraduate
✨ Engineering International Programs
✨ Science International Programs
✨ Public Policy International Program
✨ Agriculture and Life Sciences Programs
✨ Frontier Sciences International Programs
✨ Interdisciplinary Information Studies Programs
🏫 Tohoku University
Undergraduate
🌿 FGL (Science + Engineering)
🌿 IMAC U (Mechanical + Aerospace)
🌿 AMC (Chemistry)
🌿 AMB (Biology)
Postgraduate
🌿 International Graduate Programs in Engineering
🌿 Environmental Studies International Program
🌿 Biomedical Engineering International Program
🌿 Agriculture International Program
🌿 Information Sciences International Program
🌿 Life Sciences International Program
When you choose a university, does the ranking matter to you? Or do you look more at the program, the research facilities, the faculty and the overall vibe?
For me, even during my bachelor’s, I picked a less “prestigious” university over Tokyo University because I genuinely liked the program more.
*The ranking is based off Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 ranking.
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