First-Year Undergraduate Education

The beginning is most important. The first year of the bachelor's program is extremely important for helping students grow and become successful in society and the world.
The goal of first year education at Tokyo Tech is for students to cultivate a spirit of learning and creating.

Students acquire basic academic ability and expertise that are fundamental to becoming globally successful in the science and technology fields.

Aside from humanities, social science, and English, students are also required to take courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life sciences in the first year.

Additionally, students study specialized courses to better prepare themselves for their undergraduate major in the second year.

In terms of content and level of learning, students gain the fundamental science and engineering knowledge required of Tokyo Tech students.

To meet the needs of students, these required courses are also offered in English.

English and the liberal arts are necessary for success in science and engineering fields. People in this field now fly around the world for work. Even while at university, students are required to read English texts, take courses taught in English, and deliver presentations at international conferences.

In short, English is a necessary tool. Also, having cultural background knowledge and knowledge outside of your expertise will enable you to communicate with other members of the global community in more depth.

Liberal arts, on the other hand, provide students with a valuable insight into what society demands and how their knowledge will be utilized.

How do we make use of the knowledge we acquire? At Tokyo Tech, students develop their knowledge through group work, discussions, and presentations. Through these active learning methods, students work with their peers to utilize their acquired knowledge, deepen their understanding, and foster their creativity.

Be sure to actively participate, examine, think, speak up, and work with your hands.

Laboratory courses are the true appeal of science and engineering universities.

At Tokyo Tech, what is learned in class is immediately verified with experiments. You can learn for the first time the fun of working with your hands, discover why something is not working well, and feel the joy of getting exactly the result you predicted. You will also discover the importance of teamwork during experiments.

Conduct stimulating experiments that kindle your creativity.

At Tokyo Tech, the hopes and expectations of new students are further expanded.

We provide courses that expose students to the depth and wonder of science and technology, as well as provide motivation to pursue study in a specialized field within science and engineering. For example, the Frontiers of Science and Technology Course lets you hear directly from leading Tokyo Tech researchers, Nobel Prize-level scientists, and industry experts with a creative edge, and experience lectures that feature creative discussions and live experiments.

These courses are held in the Tokyo Tech Lecture Theatre, established in 2015, which is designed like a roman theater with a stage at the lowest tier where lecturers give talks and perform experiments.

Asking why you should learn science and technology and how you can utilize that knowledge is the first step to self-discovery.

The Tokyo Tech Visionary Project is the first of the Key Courses in liberal arts. This course encourages self-discovery and aims to motivate students to set individual goals so they can envision their own path throughout liberal arts studies at the undergraduate level.
The course alternates between lectures by energetic, influential lecturers, and work in groups of around 25.

Group work with students from different fields encourages new realizations through independent thinking, discovering problems, listening to the opinions of others, and communicating ideas. Enhance your communication and presentation skills, be independent, and cultivate the spirit of learning.