Education

Procedures for Traveling Abroad

Going Abroad (Study Abroad, etc.)

Students who will go abroad for whatever reason must obtain permission from their advisor first and submit a Notification of Overseas Trip/Temporary Return to Home Country to Student Affairs Team before departure.

Students who will go abroad for two months or more to study or do research must obtain permission from their advisor and the head of their department first and submit the necessary form(s) to the Student Affairs Team at least one month before the scheduled date of departure.

(1) To study and/or do research abroad during a leave of absence

  • First of all, follow all the procedures required for a leave of absence (see previous section).
  • Only when the reason to take a leave of absence is to study at a foreign educational/research institution, students may request to have that coursework evaluated for up to a maximum of fifteen (15) units of a master course and a doctoral course. All procedures are handled by the Student Affairs Team.

(2) To study at foreign universities, etc. while still enrolled at The University of Tokyo

  • Students who study abroad under the student exchange programs managed by the University of Tokyo or the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences are not allowed to take a leave of absence while they study abroad. Instead, students are required to submit a Request for Approval to Study Abroad to the Student Affairs Team, after obtaining an approval stamp of their respective supervisor and the their respective department head.
  • The approved period of study abroad is generally limited to a maximum of one (1) year and will be counted as part of the limit on degree completion and length of enrollment.
  • Students who take courses in their field of study at a foreign university, etc. may request to have that coursework evaluated for up to a maximum of fifteen (15) units of a master course and a doctoral course. All procedures are handled by the Student Affairs Team.
  • Students must pay tuition even while attending a foreign university.

(3) To do research abroad while still enrolled at The University of Tokyo

  • Students are required to submit an Application for Going Abroad to the Student Affairs Team an after obtaining the approval stamp of your advisor. In addition, you must also submit a Research Plan and a Schedule of Research. (If it is difficult to get the approval stamp directly, please attach a copy of the e-mail that shows the consent of your supervisor and the head of your department.)
  • The total of each period of being abroad is generally limited to half of the time limit of degree completion; that is, one year for master students and eighteen months for doctoral students. The period overseas will be counted as part of the limit on degree completion and length of enrollment.
  • Students must pay tuition even while attending a foreign university.

* In all of the cases described above, students must inform the Student Affairs Team of their address overseas before departing. Japanese students must file a notice of residence (zairyuu todoke) at the local Japanese embassy or consulate after arriving at their overseas destination.

* The OSSMA (Overseas Student Safety Management Assistance) Service
For students who are travelling overseas for study purposes while affiliated with the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) , UTokyo introduces the OSSMA (Overseas Student Safety Management Assistance) Service operated by Emergency Assistance Japan Co. Ltd. It is recommended that you apply for OSSMA at least one month before you travel.

Important:
* You have to pay your own individual member fee in principle.
* The OSSMA service is a support service to manage the safety of students while overseas which requires advance payment of membership fees, and is not an insurance service. Please be aware that medical costs such as hospital fees, examination fees and counseling fees etc. are the responsibility of each member. Therefore, travel insurance must be obtained along with this service.
* Applicants for OSSMA are required to register the travel insurance details, expected date of return etc. through the members-only website.