Non-Degree Students

<Overview>
The non-degree student system makes it possible for the Institute of Science Tokyo to meet the needs of different types of student, including mid-career professionals, by allowing them to acquire credit for taking regular university courses.

Must be acknowledged by Science Tokyo as having the ability to take the courses you want.

The Institute's academic year is composed of two terms: The spring semester begins in April, and the fall semester begins from the fourth or fifth week of September. Each term is divided into two quarters (amounting to a total of four quarters per academic year) and the majority of courses will be completed within a single quarter.

Courses available to non-degree students are limited to major courses selected and offered by each Department and graduate major, as decided by the faculty council of the School. The courses may change every year. Please refer to the Application Guide for Non-degree Students and List of Available Courses.

Liberal arts and basic science courses, or major courses in special graduate degree programs,will not be available. As an exception, those who have graduated from or previously with drawn from Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) may take liberal arts and basic science courses or major courses that are not normally offered to non-degree students if it is deemed necessary for the purpose of re-enrollment or acquiring qualifications.

The necessary procedures for those who wish to commence their studies from the spring semester (in 1Q or 2Q) and fall semester (in 3Q or 4Q) must be completed by early-February and early-August, respectively.
The documents required for application are as follows:

Application Guide for Non-degree Students
List of Available Courses in AY 2025

For information about course content, please go to the Institute of Science Tokyo home page, and search for information in the OCW section. Courses offered for the semester in question will be confirmed against the course schedule for the semester at the time of application. Please check information on the course you wish to take by reading the Last Academic Year Schedule, and make a provisional plan.

The decision for permission to enroll will be made, as a rule, by document review based on the application in item 4 above. Interview or other such screening in addition to document review may be required for some courses, depending on the experimental equipment used or other such considerations. We will inform you of the enrollment selection results by post and we will also send admission procedure documents.
If you complete the procedure by the due date specified by Science Tokyo, permission will be given to enroll as a non-degree student.

Science Tokyo course plans are subject to change with respect to schedule, location, and even the faculty member in charge. If you wish to withdraw your application for study as a result, please inform the coordinating office promptly.

For bachelor degree courses, academic credits will be approved based on the criteria outlined in the Rules Regarding Undergraduate Learning. For graduate level courses, academic credits will be approved based upon the criteria outlined in the Rules Regarding Graduate Learning. The issuance of academic credits will be based upon a comprehensive evaluation of the student's academic performance as well as the final exam held at each quarter end. A score of 60 out of 100 points on the final exam is required to pass. Academic transcripts can be obtained after the end of each spring semester (1Q and 2Q) and fall semester (3Q and 4Q), after undertaking necessary procedures.

The necessary expenses for the selection procedure are an application fee of 9,800 yen, an entrance fee of 28,200 yen, and a tuition fee of 14,800 yen per credit (for the 2025 academic year). Therefore, depending on the course taken, the minimum cost will be 52,800 yen. If, for example, two credits are granted per course, and five courses are taken, then the sum of the application fee of 9,800 yen, the entrance fee of 28,200 yen, and tuition of 148,000 yen (2 credits × 5 courses) will be a total of 186,000 yen. Please note that once the application fee, entrance fee, and tuition fee have been paid, they cannot be refunded.

In cases such as when your purpose of study is to obtain a teaching license, please take great care to confirm in advance whether the necessary number of credits will be granted, and apply on that basis.
The period of study will be one semester or one academic year (two semesters), depending on the period during which the course in question will be in session.

Inquiries on other matters you are uncertain about and requests for applications and other forms should be made directly to the counter of the office concerned.
To request that a copy of the Overview be sent to you by post, please send a self-addressed return envelope (A4 envelope with postage stamps of 180 yen affixed), together with a written note requesting the Overview for Non-Degree Students to the contact point below.

Application and other forms relating to non-degree students can be obtained here.