GSFS - Global Research and Innovation Short (GSFS-GRIS)

Global Research and Innovation Short Program is a short-term program designed for students enrolled in undergraduate programs at foreign universities to experience cutting-edge research while affiliated with the laboratories in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS). GSFS is located on the Kashiwa Campus and consists of eleven departments and one educational program, with approximately 180 faculty members and around 1,500 students, of which about 40% are international students.

This program is designed for undergraduate students who:

  • Are seeking insights into the research opportunities available at GSFS.
  • Wish to receive advice from professors in GSFS about their own research.
  • Seek research guidance from professors before undertaking the entrance examination for GSFS.

The following is the information for those wish to study at GSFS in the academic year of 2025, which is from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. The information for those who plan to study in the academic year of 2026 will be available in December 2025.

1. Eligibility

  • Participants must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at an overseas college or university throughout the program period.
  • Participants should be individuals considering admission to GSFS.
  • Participants are required to select a GSFS faculty member with whom they seek supervision during the program and must obtain approval from the chosen faculty member before submitting their application.

2. Program Period

It extends from a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days, between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.

  • Each participant can decide his/her program period through discussion with his/her respective GSFS supervisor.
  • No extension is permitted.
  • Multiple applications within the above period from the same applicant will not be accepted.
  • Participation beyond March 31, 2026 is not permitted.

3. Participation Fee

JPY 200,000

  • An invoice will be issued after an official Certificate of Acceptance is provided by GSFS. Please make the payment based on the invoice.
  • Only those whose payment is confirmed by the deadline designated on the invoice will be granted participation in the Program.
  • Airfare, accommodation expenses, insurance, and any other personal expenses are the responsibility of the participant. There is no financial support to be provided by GSFS.

4. Application Procedure

  1. Contact a GSFS faculty member with whom you wish to receive supervision in order to discuss a possibility of your participation in the Program and obtain unofficial approval for your application. You should then continue to determine the duration of your participation with that faculty advisor. For details about the fields of study of research laboratories at GSFS, please visit the GSFS official website: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/

    If you receive no response after a couple of your contact, please take it as No. Not all GSFS faculty members are available to accept undergraduate students through this Program. Some laboratories may already be full of students and have no room to accept new students regardless of length of stay.

  2. After receiving unofficial approval from the GSFS faculty members you have been in contact with, you can proceed to filing an application. Prepare the following six application documents and submit them to the GSFS International Liaison Office (GSFS/ILO). Download the required forms from the provided links. Note that the "Statement from the GSFS Faculty" should be completed by the GSFS faculty, your potential academic advisor. Ensure that the "Statement from the GSFS Faculty " is submitted directly to the ILO by the advisor.

Required application materials

A. GSFS Application Form

Please download the form from here.

B. Cover Letter

Include reasons for choosing your preferred research laboratory and briefly describe your past projects or experiences in 500-800 words.

C. Research Plan

Please summarize why you chose the laboratory of your choice and include an explanation of any projects you have been involved in, within 2-3 pages on A4 or letter-sized sheets.

D. Academic Transcript

Submit your academic records covering from the first year of your undergraduate studies up to the semester before your application. Documents in either Japanese or English are acceptable.

E. Certificate of Enrollment

This certificate validates your status as a registered student at your university. There is no specific format for this. The applicant's name, university name, department, and date of enrollment are required.

F. Two of Recommendation Letters from Instructors at Your Current University

The recommendation letters should be written by persons who can assess your current academic abilities well. Download the form of Recommendation Letter from here. We also accept a free format recommendation letter.

Your recommenders can send recommendation letters directly to ILO via email.

  • To: ilo.secretariat@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp (＊Please note that @ is displayed as an image to prevent SPAM.)
  • E-mail title: GSFS GRIS for NAME OF APPLICANT.

Any letter submitted directly to ILO will not be shared with applicants.

G. Statement from the GSFS Faculty

Request your potential GSFS advisor to write a statement. You can download the form here. Please ask your advisor to send it directly to ILO via e-mail.

5. How to Submit Your Application Documents

Please upload the above six documents (A-F) mentioned above by accessing the following URL:
https://forms.gle/NQb3ksNvLpKhAtXe6

If your recommenders send letters directly to us, please upload the five (A-E) documents.

6. Application Deadline and Notification of Results

The application period begins six months prior to and ends three months prior to the desired program commencement, in consultation with the selected faculty advisor.

For instance, if you plan to start the program on "Day (m) of Month (n)," the application period will be from "Month (n-6), 1st" to "Month (n-3), 1st."
Please refer to detailed application deadlines in this document.

Once a month, ILO will review applications that have been submitted by the first day of the month. Results will be communicated via email from ILO to the applicants in about one month.

7. Status of Participants

The status of participants in the Program, which is to be given by the University of Tokyo, will be "Program Participant."

  • Program Participants cannot register for any classes at GSFS to earn credits.
  • Given that Program Participants cannot register for classes, no academic transcript will be issued.
  • A Certificate of Completion will be provided upon completion of the Program.

8. Other Information

1) Security Export Control

The University of Tokyo has established the "University of Tokyo Security Export Control" based on the "Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act" of Japan (Foreign Exchange Act), imposing stringent regulations on technology and goods related to incoming students. Consequently, if your intended research activities upon arrival in Japan involve matters regulated by the Foreign Exchange Act, there might be instances where your participation cannot be granted, even if the GSFS faculty member has consented, or limitations may be imposed on your research activities after your arrival. Please take this into consideration beforehand.

2) Insurance

Participants in the Program must secure medical (travel) insurance that covers the entire duration from departure to their return. It's essential to obtain such insurance before departing for Japan. Once you have secured the insurance, please submit a copy of the insurance certificate to ILO.

3) Accommodation

Accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the participants.
Depending on the program's start date, it may be possible to apply for university accommodation. If this option is available, ILO will contact you.

4) Visas

For those requiring a visa to enter Japan, ILO will provide the necessary documentation for applying for a short-term stay visa.

5) Implementation Methods

This Program will be conducted in-person, and there will be no option available for online participation.

6) GSFS Newsletters

7) Extension of Program Duration

The program duration cannot be extended, and participants enrolled in this Program are not eligible to join any other short-term programs offered by the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences within the same academic year.

The Japanese academic year starts on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year.

9. Contact Information

International Liaison Office
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
The University of Tokyo

EMAIL: ilo.secretariat@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp (＊Please note that @ is displayed as an image to prevent SPAM.)