Prospective Students
Prospective Students
For the management of health and control of infectious diseases at Tokyo Institute of Technology, newly admitted international students, regardless of whether they are regular students or non-regular students,are required to submit a health certificate*. In addition, while enrolled at Tokyo Tech, they are required to undergo an annual medical checkup.
Note that all expenses for the health certificate shall be borne by the students.
International students (including those from other domestic universities, technical colleges, and Japanese language schools) who have passed the entrance exam and whose registered enrollment period will be three months or longer
*Does not apply to currently enrolled international students who both stayed in Japan during the previous semester and submitted a health certificate.
Before the designated date of entrance to Tokyo Tech (or within the three-month period before their planned date of arrival in Japan, if their arrival will be later than the date of entrance)
Example:
The deadline is March 31 if the date of enrollment is April 1.
The deadline is September 29 if the date of enrollment is September 30.
Download the form from the link below and have a physician from a medical institution in your home country complete it in either English or Japanese within the three-month period before the designated date of entrance to Tokyo Tech (or within the three-month period before your planned date of arrival in Japan, if your arrival will be later than the date of entrance).
Part I: Tuberculosis (TB) Screening
Must be submitted by international students falling under 1. or 2. below. They must undergo an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test and have a physician complete the form.
1. Individuals who were born in or stayed long term (more than 6 months) in countries or territories that have a high incidence of active TB.
2. Individuals who have had close contact with persons known or suspected to have active TB.
Part II: Certificate of Vaccinations
Must be submitted by all international students. They must have a physician complete the form.
Important:
Individuals from countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis (see link below) are urged to have the IGRA done three months prior to arrival in Japan.
countries or territories that have a high incidence of active TB
If you do not have a record of BCG vaccination or there is no medical institution in your country that performs the IGRA, it is possible to substitute this with the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST).
All international students must submit proof of vaccination or history of illness for VPDs. Those without a record of either will be required to be vaccinated.We do not have a specific recommendation for vaccine brands. Please consult with and follow directions of your physician.
1. Triple vaccine or individual shots for measles, mumps, and rubella
Requiring two doses. If there is no history of thea second dose, documentation of a positive immune titer result must be submitted. Those whose titer results show a low immunity level must receive thea second dose.
2. Varicella (Chicken pox) vaccine
Requiring two doses. If there is no history of thea second dose, documentation of a positive immune titer result must be submitted. Those whose titer results show a low immunity level must receive thea second dose.
3. Tetanus vaccine
Requiring one dose that was given on or after January 1, 2012. Those who are/were unable to receive a single antigen tetanus toxoid vaccine must receive the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) vaccine.
Note: Bacterium that causes tetanus, Clostridium tetani, is present everywhere in the environment such as in the soil and dust, and the disease occurs in many parts of the world including Japan. Tetanus is fatal in about 10% to 20% in typical cases.
Submit the health certificate from this system.
Have all the documents ready before entering any information into the system. If for some reason it cannot be submitted online, please send the completed form to the contact address below by post so that it arrives at the Health Support Center before your arrival in Japan.
The collected personal information will be managed in compliance with all the laws and regulations regarding personal information for all the Tokyo Tech students, and will not be used for any purposes other than those indicated in the Policy on Protecting the Privacy of Students, Faculty, and Staff at the Health Support Center
Is there a designated medical institution for the health certificate?
No. It is acceptable as long as it is completed in either English or Japanese by a physician.
The health certificate, including the name and address of the medical institution, must be completed either in Japanese or English.
Does the health certificate have to be stamped with a seal of the medical institution?
The health certificate should either be signed by the physician or stamped by the medical institution.
I have been vaccinated/infected in early childhood. What should I do if I don’t have records?
If you do not have proof of immunization, do either A or B below.
A. Take an antibody test. If the antibody titer is below the acceptable level, get vaccinated.
B. Get vaccinated for MMR, varicella, and tetanus.
For MMR and varicella, a vaccine should be done twice. If only once, submit a record of positive immune titer.
Vaccination for tetanus if taken before age 11 requires revaccination. If you have not received vaccination in the past 10 years, a booster is required.
I cannot get the required vaccination in my country.
Get vaccinated upon arrival in Japan. Enter “to be vaccinated upon arrival in Japan” in the Part II form, and upload the form online. Upon vaccination after your arrival, notify the Health Support Center thereof.
Vaccination for tetanus is not available in my country.
Get vaccinated with Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis vaccines (Tdap or DTP), which provide you with protection from Pertussis (whooping cough).
No. In this case, your health certificates will be accepted. However, you must get the medical checkup administered by Tokyo Tech upon enrollment.
In place of the IGRA test (blood test) for Part I, can I use the PPD test (tuberculin test) results?
The IGRA test is highly recommended as the PPD test is prone to false-positive and false-negative results. Only under the condition that there is no local medical institution providing an IGRA test and you have never had a BCG(vaccination for TB)in the past, you may use PPD test result.
The COVID-19 situation may impede my departure to Japan. When should I undergo a health examination?
It depends on the type of test involved. Schedule your TB screening test of Part I after you have fixed your travel plans. As for Part II, proceed with the vaccination so that the process is completed in time for your travels.
I’ve finished all the vaccine shots. Do I still need to undergo an immune titer test for Part II?
Only if you have not received a second dose for MMR and for varicella. Submit (upload) documentation of the positive immune titer result.
Only if you did not submit it when you were enrolled.
No. Have your physician complete the Part II form based on your vaccination record. In the event you are unable to submit it for any reason, you may use a copy of the vaccination record if it is written in English.
Can I submit a chest x-ray in place of an IGRA test?
No. However, an exception may be made if the IGRA test is not available in your country.
Does Tokyo Tech have specific recommendations for vaccine brands?
No. Consult your physician and do as advised.
Can I be exempt from submitting the health certificate?
No, it’s mandatory. If you cannot get the required vaccinations in your country, get vaccinated in Japan and submit a completed Part II form. If this is not followed, your academic supervisor will be notified.
Does Tokyo Tech make arrangements for me to receive vaccine shots in Japan?
No. You need to do it by yourself.
Is there financial assistance for vaccine shots in Japan?
No. You are responsible for expenses pertaining to the vaccination. Note also that Japanese health insurance does not cover vaccinations.
No. We understand that tests are expensive. However, we ask for your cooperation in implementing measures to help control infection.
If IGRA testing is applicable to you, please undergo a test (costing about 10,000 yen in Japan) and submit a completed Part I form.
A. In most cases, Japanese medical institutions do not accept proof of vaccination written in a language other than Japanese or English to make a health certificate. If you get the first dose of the vaccine in another country, bring the proof of vaccination written in English. With that proof, you can obtain the certificate of vaccination (Part II) in Japan.
A. Students who enrolled before April 2022 and are coming to Japan for the first time, are strongly recommended to submit the health certificate.
Contact
Ookayama Health Support Center
Tokyo Institute of Technology
HE-1,2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku
Tokyo 152-8550 Japan
Tel
+81-3-5734-2065
healthcertificate@jim.titech.ac.jp
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