
EDUCATION
The distinctive feature of the department of civil engineering of the University of Tokyo is to provide a highly flexible framework to nurture a variety of human resources who can contribute the broad field of social infrastructure. Students can take courses and conduct research according to their individual interests and visions for the future.
ABOUT US

ABOUT US
The goal of the International Graduate Program is to educate, through the 2-year master course and 3-year doctoral course, its graduating students to become future international leaders. At the Department of Civil Engineering, we are well aware of the academic and professional skills that are essential for success in the world today. In our program, we create an environment which stimulates students to fully realize their individual potentials. Experimentation, exploration and involvement in key projects in various academic and industrial contexts offer students crucial experiences and skills needed for developing the competencies necessary for their future international careers. Our program delivers graduate courses and research supervision in English. International students, including those without any Japanese capability, can study advanced-level civil engineering, develop their skills, and pursue state-of-the-art research.

EDUCATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Since launching the International Engineering Program in 1982, the department has been providing a high-level educational environment for a wide variety of fields including the design of infrastructure technology, planning, disaster mitigation, and environmental management. We promote this program in order to produce highly-skilled and knowledgeable individuals who are capable of managing and leading international infrastructure development projects throughout the world. Based on this proven 35-year track record and know-how in recruiting outstanding students and supporting an alumni network, the objective of the educational program is to establish a unique community of top-level civil engineers. This aim is achieved through encouraging close collaboration between Japanese and international students and preparing graduating students to become future global leaders in the international field of infrastructure technology. The program combines knowledge of high technology and cutting-edge science with elements of the humanities and a synthesis of these promotes the ability for policy making and project management. Thus, students acquire not only academic knowledge and research skills but also intercultural awareness and skills which play an important role in an international environment. We strive to enable students to become policy makers, project managers and researchers who can contribute fully to society. In order to achieve this objective, we create an environment which stimulates students to fully realize their individual potential.
KEY FEATURES OF THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAM
- All classes are provided in English
- Lectures and research supervision are all given in English. In our department there are, in total, 40 lectures provided in English in the fields of infrastructure management, regional planning, transportation engineering and planning, environmental engineering, coastal engineering, hydraulic and water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, concrete engineering, structural engineering, disaster mitigation engineering, spatial information science, and international projects. Students can also take courses offered in English by other related departments. In total, there are over 100 courses to choose from.
- Immediate enrollment in a degree program
- You will be enrolled as a full-time graduate student immediately after arrival in Japan, and can earn a higher degree within two years for Master’ s and three years for Doctoral degrees.
- Vast international alumni network
- More than 900 international students have completed our graduate program since 1982. We have founded a web-based Civil Engineering Alumni Network (CEAN), to encourage communication between our alumni all over the world.
- Full scholarship support
- Scholarships for approximately 30 students are provided every year mainly by the Japanese Government, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Ueda Memorial Foundation.
- Opportunity to study in one of the top departments in the world
- OurOur department is ranked in the top category in the QS World University Ranking by Subject (Civil & Structural Engineering).
OVERVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAM AND ITS HISTORY
The goal of the International Graduate Program is to prepare its students to take on roles as future international leaders. At the Department of Civil Engineering, we are well aware of academic and professional skills that are essential for success in the current global situation. In our program, we create an environment which stimulates students to fully realize their individual potentials. Experimentation, exploration and involvement in key projects in various academic and industrial contexts equip students with the crucial experience and skills needed for developing the competencies necessary for their future international careers. The International Graduate Program at the Department of Civil Engineering was initiated in 1982. Since then, more than 900 international students have obtained their master/PhD degrees. The program delivers graduate courses and research supervision in English. Even international students without any Japanese capability can study advanced-level civil engineering, develop their skills, and pursue state-of-the-art research. Our human networks, consisting of both current and future well-recognized professionals, are one of the valuable assets all students will undoubtedly benefit from.
Meanwhile, the following supporting organizations and activities have been implemented as well:
Statistics on the International Graduate Program
Number of international graduate students (as of April, 2015) |
|
Master course | 60 (32 % of total number of master course students: 188) |
PhD course | 65 (73 % of total number of PhD course students: 89) |
Home countries of international students (from 1982 to date) |
70 countries in total (see the distribution map below) |

LECTURES
PROGRAMS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
JAPANESE LANGUAGE CLASSES(JLC)

Japanese Language Classes (JLC) provide beginner’s courses, run by professional instructors, adopting
the following four-step learning proficiency.
the following four-step learning proficiency.
- Step 1:
- Can introduce in short simple terms your hometown to a person you had just met in Japan
- Step 2:
- Can talk to a university professor in short simple terms about your recent news, daily life,
experience and opinion - Step 3:
- Can ask questions politely about how to get to the destination, how to ride the train, and
understand a few simple answers to inquire for a lost thing. - Step 4:
- Can read and write basic Chinese characters (kanji) and understand everyday signs and notices in
public places and workplaces.
The classes for steps 1 and 2 are offered for about ten hours per week and total of 150 hours in the first
semester, and those for steps 3 and 4 are offered for about six hours per week and total of 90 hours in the
second semester. They also include special activities such as tea ceremony, visit to nearby historical
places and Japanese Speech Party, and special lectures delivered by the faculty members focusing on the
links between Japanese language and the specialties in the field of civil engineering.
semester, and those for steps 3 and 4 are offered for about six hours per week and total of 90 hours in the
second semester. They also include special activities such as tea ceremony, visit to nearby historical
places and Japanese Speech Party, and special lectures delivered by the faculty members focusing on the
links between Japanese language and the specialties in the field of civil engineering.