September 30, 2026

UTokyo TOEFL Requirements 2026: Scores (1–6 and 0–120)

UTokyo has no single university-wide TOEFL minimum. Current official examples range from 80 to 90, approximately 4.0 to 4.5.

Verified requirement

University-wide minimum: none stated. The University of Tokyo sets English requirements by faculty, graduate school, exchange route, or English-taught program.
Global Science Course undergraduate example: 80 overall, approximately 4.0 on the revised scale. MyBest scores are not accepted, and the result must be less than two years old.
Precision Engineering international graduate example: 80 overall, approximately 4.0. The Home Edition is accepted, while MyBest scores are not accepted.
USTEP Type U exchange example: 90 overall, approximately 4.5. UTokyo states that this route continues to apply the 0–120 requirement to tests taken from January 21, 2026.
College of Design example: an expected score greater than 80 before January 21, 2026 or greater than 4 afterward. The program states that these are expected scores rather than automatic cutoffs.
Section minimums: no common university-wide section floors were stated on the official pages reviewed. Applicants must check the exact program.

Last verified July 18, 2026. Always confirm on the official admissions page.

How the requirement works on the two score scales

Program example	0–120 scale	1–6 scale
Global Science Course	80	About 4.0, approximate
Precision Engineering IME	80	About 4.0, approximate
USTEP Type U exchange	90	About 4.5, approximate; old-scale rule retained
College of Design expected level	>80, not a cutoff	>4, official expected level

UTokyo does not use one TOEFL number for every applicant. The correct requirement depends on the academic route. Two current English-taught examples use 80, while the Type U exchange route uses 90. The College of Design publishes an expected level rather than a fixed admissions cutoff.

During the 2026–2028 transition, score reports carry both scales, so older 0–120 requirements remain usable. The free TOEFL score converter can help compare practice results. Every 1–6 figure above is approximate unless the program itself publishes that revised-scale number.

How competitive is UTokyo really?

A published TOEFL score establishes English readiness for a particular route. It does not predict admission. Academic record, prerequisites, research fit, written materials, interviews, and available places remain separate parts of selection.

A score of 80, or about 4.0, is used by the Global Science Course and the Precision Engineering international graduate program. It is not a university-wide minimum. The Type U exchange route requires 90, which is ten points higher and falls near the approximate 4.5 band.

Applicants should also distinguish a minimum from an expected score. The College of Design describes greater than 80 or greater than 4 as an expected level and states that the figure is not an automatic cutoff. That wording should not be converted into a guarantee of admission or rejection.

Moving from an 80-level profile to a stable 90-level profile usually requires several weeks of focused sectional work. The useful question is not only how many total points are missing, but which section repeatedly causes the score to remain below the program target.

How to prepare for an 80 or 90 at UTokyo

Use Target, Gap, Route. Target means identifying the exact UTokyo faculty, graduate school, exchange route, or English-taught course before setting a score goal. Record whether the page states 80, 90, an expected level, or no numeric minimum.

Gap means completing a timed diagnostic and recording all four sections. A student targeting 90 who scores 84 should identify whether the six-point difference is concentrated in one skill or spread across the test.

Route weekly practice to the weakest section first. If Speaking causes most of the gap, use timed planning and complete recorded responses. If Reading is the constraint, separate comprehension errors from pacing errors before choosing the next exercise.

Start with the free Essentials Edition of the Aidoss Academy Target Score Diagnostic Workbook to measure the section gap. Then use the Complete Digital Edition or the 90-Day Self-Study Planner to turn that result into a weekly route.

Keep one full mock in the cycle so section gains are tested under complete timing. A stronger isolated exercise result matters only when it transfers to the full test.

Track each diagnostic in one record with the date, total, four section scores, and main error category. Change the route only when the newest evidence shows that another section has become the largest gap.

Build the testing calendar backward from the program deadline. Leave time to receive the score, verify whether MyBest or the Home Edition is accepted for that route, and arrange official reporting.

FAQ

What TOEFL score does the University of Tokyo require?

There is no single university-wide score. Current official examples include 80 for the Global Science Course and Precision Engineering, and 90 for USTEP Type U exchange.

Is UTokyo’s new-scale requirement 4.0 or 4.5?

It depends on the program. An old-scale 80 is about 4.0 and 90 is about 4.5 for planning, while the College of Design separately publishes an expected score greater than 4.

Does UTokyo accept MyBest or the Home Edition?

The answer varies by route. The Global Science Course and Precision Engineering pages reject MyBest, while Precision Engineering and USTEP Type U accept the Home Edition.