Tohoku University (Sendai)

We recommend going in Spring, since that semester aligns better with the UCU academic year. Do note that you will have to arrange for housing yourself between the UCU Fall semester and the start of the semester at Tohoku.

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2 students per semester

Fall Semester: Beginning of October – Beginning of February
Spring Semester: Beginning of April – Beginning of August

Although the general language of instruction at Tohoku is Japanese, a select number of courses are available in English.

Tohoku University offers a wide range of courses, with a focus on Science. Find out more about the faculties here. This tool helps finding courses. An overview of the (limited) course offer in English can be found here.

A full workload at Tohoku is 20 credits per semester, which translates to 30 ECTS. 1 Tohoku credit – 1.5 ECTS.

The Tohoku grading system is as follows:

AA: 90-100
A:80-89
B:70-79
C:60-69
D: 59 or below (Fail).

This roughly corresponds to the UCU letter grade system – a precise conversion will follow soon.

Exchange students at Tohoku get priority to live in the university dormitories. The University House is mixed between Japanese and international students and the International House is exclusively for international students. University housing is cheaper than private accommodations. Find out more on university housing and private accommodations here. 

Tohoku estimates that the monthly cost of living for exchange students is  ¥80,000 (€610) a month. Keep in mind that the return trip to Japan plus possible visa/insurance costs will be added to these expenses as well. See here for the breakdown. 

An orientation week will be organised for new students every semester.

Tohoku University is located in Sendai on Japan’s northeastern coast. The city has about a million inhabitants and is known for its many trees and parks. It has modern as well as historical sights. The climate is warmer than in the Netherlands. Japan experiences frequent earthquakes. 

Tohoku University has almost 18,000 students, some 10% of which are international. There are 4 campuses divided along academic lines. The university has extensive dining and sports facilities. There is also a bus which shuttles students around the different campuses. The Student Friendship Association hosts dozens of sports and cultural clubs. 

Tohoku University is a new destination, and therefore we have not received feedback from our students yet. Be the first UCU student to explore Tohoku!