The University of Tokyo is inviting applications for the 2027 University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP), a six-week summer research opportunity for international undergraduate students interested in natural sciences and related disciplines.
Organised by the university’s Graduate School of Science, UTRIP allows selected students to work closely with leading researchers, participate in laboratory projects and experience research-centred academic life at one of Japan’s leading universities.
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Get Your Copy →The 2027 programme will take place from 23 June to 3 August 2027. Participants will receive free accommodation and financial support through the Graduate School of Science UTRIP Scholarship. For students whose universities are located in Africa, the published one-time allowance is ¥170,000, intended to help with round-trip airfare and daily expenses in Japan.
Summary
- Programme: University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) 2027
- Host institution: University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Programme dates: 23 June–3 August 2027
- Duration: Six weeks
- Study level: Undergraduate
- Eligible fields: Natural sciences and related disciplines
- Financial support: GSS-UTRIP Scholarship
- Accommodation: Free accommodation for the programme period
- Allowance for participants studying in Africa: ¥170,000
- Application opening: 12 November 2026
- Application deadline: 25 December 2026
- Selection notification: Mid-to-late March 2027; results announced on the website in early April 2027
About the University of Tokyo UTRIP
The University of Tokyo Research Internship Program is an intensive summer research programme established by the Graduate School of Science to attract talented undergraduate students from universities outside Japan.
The programme is designed for students who are considering long-term careers in science and may wish to pursue postgraduate research, including Master’s or PhD studies.
Participants work with faculty members and researchers in the Graduate School of Science. Research opportunities cover five main academic departments:
- Physics
- Astronomy
- Chemistry
- Earth and Planetary Science
- Biological Sciences
Students participate in research projects, read scientific publications related to their chosen topics and attend laboratory meetings with their faculty advisors.
The programme also includes cross-disciplinary scientific lectures, an optional introductory Japanese language course, cultural activities and a field trip to a historical or natural site in Japan.
At the end of the internship, participants must deliver an oral research presentation and submit a written report on their research project. Successful participants receive a certificate from the School of Science.
Scholarship Benefits
UTRIP participants receive financial assistance through the Graduate School of Science UTRIP Scholarship (GSS-UTRIP Scholarship). The university also offers a separate FUTI Award for eligible students enrolled at universities in the United States.
The main benefits of the GSS-UTRIP Scholarship include:
1. Free Accommodation
The University of Tokyo provides free housing for the entire programme period. All participants must stay at accommodation facilities designated by the university.
2. One-Time Financial Allowance
The university provides a one-time allowance based on the location of the participant’s university:
- Asia, Eastern Russia, Oceania and Pacific regions: ¥140,000
- Europe, Western Russia and North America: ¥160,000
- Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East: ¥170,000
For applicants studying at universities in Nigeria and other African countries, the applicable published allowance is ¥170,000.
3. Travel and Daily Expense Support
The one-time allowance is intended to support round-trip airfare to Japan and daily expenses, including local transportation. It is paid after the participant arrives at the University of Tokyo.
4. Research and Academic Benefits
Participants gain access to research laboratories, academic supervision, scientific lectures, laboratory meetings and opportunities to work with researchers in their chosen fields.
Important funding clarification: UTRIP should not be advertised as covering every expense. The university states that participants must pay any costs not covered by their scholarship, including possible airfare shortfalls, daily expenses and insurance. The allowance is financial support, not a guaranteed full reimbursement of all travel and living costs.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants for UTRIP 2027 must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have completed at least one full year of a Bachelor’s degree programme at the time of application.
- Be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at a university outside Japan.
- Be expected to return to the Bachelor’s programme after completing UTRIP.
- Be studying natural sciences or a related field.
- Have long-term career interests in a scientific area.
- Be available to participate in the entire six-week programme on a full-time basis.
- Provide proof of health insurance valid throughout the internship before arriving in Japan.
The university gives priority during selection to students currently in the third year of a four-year Bachelor’s programme and students expected to be in the second year of a three-year Bachelor’s programme. Students in other years are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide TOEFL or an equivalent English proficiency test, such as IELTS. However, students who have received continuous English-medium education for the past eight years are exempt from submitting test scores. Previously expired test results may be accepted if applicants can provide proof when requested.
Master’s and doctoral students are not eligible.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Review the available research projects
Visit the official Hosting Labs and Project Topics page. Identify the research areas that match your academic background and interests. Applicants may select up to two laboratories in order of preference.
Step 2: Prepare your personal statement
Write a statement of 700–1,000 words addressing:
- Why you selected your preferred research projects and what you hope to gain.
- Your qualifications, relevant skills and experience.
- Whether you intend to apply to the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Science after graduation, and why.
Step 3: Prepare your CV and academic transcript
Your CV should describe relevant academic work, projects, responsibilities, experience, education and awards. Submit an official university transcript showing your name, university, admission year, courses, grades and credits, together with an explanation of the grading system.
Step 4: Provide English-language evidence
Submit your TOEFL or equivalent English test result if required. Applicants who qualify for the English-medium education exemption should follow the university’s instructions.
Step 5: Arrange one academic recommendation
Ask a professor familiar with your academic performance and natural science background to provide a recommendation. The university will send your recommender an online submission link after you apply. The recommendation must be submitted through that online system, not by ordinary email.
Step 6: Complete the online application
Submit all required information and documents through the official UTRIP application system. The system has no save function, so prepare your materials before starting.
Ensure that both your application and your professor’s recommendation are submitted before the deadline.
Important Deadline
Applications for UTRIP 2027 opened on 12 November 2026 and close on 25 December 2026 at 17:00 Japan Standard Time (GMT+9).
The online recommendation form has the same deadline. Late applications and recommendation letters will not be accepted.
Selected applicants are expected to receive direct email notifications between mid-to-late March 2027, while the selection announcement will appear on the UTRIP website in early April 2027.
Official Application Link
Official Application Information and Guidelines
Official Financial Support Details
Hosting Laboratories and Research Projects
Final Note from AK Travels LTD
The University of Tokyo UTRIP 2027 is a valuable research opportunity for undergraduate students in natural sciences and related disciplines who want to gain practical research experience in Japan.
Applicants studying at Nigerian and other African universities should note the ¥170,000 regional allowance and the provision of free accommodation. However, they should budget carefully because the university does not guarantee that the scholarship will cover every travel, living and insurance expense.
Interested candidates should review the available research projects, prepare their academic documents and arrange their recommendation well before the 25 December 2026 deadline.
For more verified international scholarships, internships and research opportunities, visit http://www.aktravelsltd.com.
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