Entrance Exam Q&A
Preparation of exam
Q1: Please provide information on the exemption criteria for applicants to the doctoral program who have completed or are expected to complete the master’s program at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo.
A1: “Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete the master’s program at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo”, are exempt from the English examination (submission of TOEFL score reports) and the written examination for Specialized Subject II when applying for the doctoral program. This exemption also applies to those who have completed the master’s program in the past. In this case, the submission of a graduation certificate and academic transcript is not required.”
Q2: Please provide information on cases where an eligible faculty member is retiring or reaching the end of their term.
A2: The list of faculty members and their respective fields of expertise, as stated in the Guide for Applicants to the Master’s/Doctoral Programs in the Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, for the 2026 Academic Year (Reiwa 8), represents the faculty members available for admission in the 2026 entrance examination. However, some faculty members may reach the end of their term or retire after enrollment. In such cases, applicants are advised to contact their prospective faculty members in advance to confirm the situation after enrollment.
Q3: Please provide information and conditions on the submission of recommendation letters.
A3: Currently, applicants are required to upload recommendation letters from two third-party individuals who can assess their abilities as electronic documents via the web application system. The recommenders do not necessarily have to be former academic advisors. However, relatives, prospective faculty advisors, and faculty members of the prospective laboratories are not considered third parties.
Q4：Does the Department of Architecture conduct entrance examinations under Application Schedule B?
A4：No, The entrance examination under Application Schedule B will not be conducted for the 2026 admissions.
Q5：Can I obtain past exam questions?
A5：Past entrance exam questions can be accessed on the department’s webpage(LINK).
Q6：Can individuals who are not applying this year also participate in the entrance examination briefing session?
A6：Anyone interested in applying for the entrance examination is welcome to participate in the briefing session. However, please note that the exam content and other details may change each year.
Application and document submission
Q1：I did design work during my master’s program, so I do not have a master’s thesis. In this case, what should I include in the required documents?
A1：As a substitute for a master’s thesis, you may submit any document that demonstrates your abilities. Please provide a document explaining the content of your master’s design work.
Q2：Does Specialized Subject II need to correspond to the field of the prospective laboratory?
A2：There are no specific subject requirements for Specialized Subject II. However, since the entrance examination aims to assess whether applicants can conduct research and studies effectively, it is recommended that the subject corresponds to the field of the prospective laboratory.
Q3：Please provide information on the document submission for the second examination of the doctoral program.
A3：For the second examination of the doctoral program entrance exam, applicants must submit:
– a summary of his/her master’s thesis (in Japanese or English) or a summary of the presentation, which is typically several pages long. If the thesis is written in a language other than Japanese or English, applicants must also submit their thesis summary written in Japanese or English of no more than 30 pages.
– a copy of their master thesis or equivalent substitute such as research paper
Submissions will be in PDF format and uploaded. Details on the submission process, including the submission destination, will be announced on the Department of Architecture’s website(LINK) before the exam. Please check the department’s website for updates.
Q4：If I am unable to submit my TOEFL score report by the submission deadline, can I still take the other exams?
A4：You may take the exam. However, failure to complete all required foreign language and specialized subject exams will result in disqualification.
Q5：Can I fill out the documents freely? Are there any points I should keep in mind?
A5：The document format should be A4. Please use a font size of 10pt or larger. When creating a PDF, ensure that the font is embedded so that it can be properly displayed on PC and Mac in Japan. If the text is unreadable, the document will be considered incomplete.
Q6：I am not familiar with the research themes of the prospective laboratory. How should I fill out the separate sheet?
A6：Please visit the following websites and learn the research:
Member introductions:https://arch.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/
Laboratory Contacts: https://arch.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/admission/laboratory-contacts/
Details of exam
Q1：Please provide details about the examination.
A1：Details about the examination will be posted on the department’s website(LINK). Important updates and notices will be provided regularly, so please check the website periodically. Additionally, as browser cache may prevent the latest information from being displayed, please refresh the page when visiting.
Q2：Please provide information on the items that can be brought to the exam.
A2：The list of permitted items for the exam will be posted on the department’s website before the exam. Please check it in advance.
Q3：Can I bring medication or other similar items to the exam?
A3：Medications must be brought in plain, unmarked packaging. Water for taking medication should be brought with the label removed. Please follow the proctor’s instructions on the exam day.
Q4：Is it possible to adjust the schedule if the entrance exam dates overlap with research conferences or other events?
A4：Schedule adjustments are not possible.
Q5：I would like to confirm the dates and locations where I need to be at the university for the entrance examination.
A5：Details regarding the schedule and the examination locations for each specialized subject will be posted on the department’s website. Please check the website regularly for updates.
Q6：I applied a second-choice option when applying, but if I wish to withdraw from the interview, what should I do?
A6：After completing the first-choice group interview, please inform the proctor at the second-choice group interview venue of your withdrawal.
Q7：Are there any items that are not allowed to be brought into the Specialized subject II Group 1?
A7：Items that may interfere with other designers’ work or cause contamination, such as drafting paper and surrounding areas, are not allowed. A list of permitted items will be provided on the website(LINK) before the examination.
