University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) 2024

What is UTRIP?

UTRIP stands for the “University of Tokyo Research Internship Program.” This program was launched by the Graduate School of Science (GSS) of the University of Tokyo (one of the world’s leading research-education universities) as part of its campaign begun in June 2010 for promoting the internationalization of the GSS by inviting talented young students from abroad. UTRIP is an intensive summer research program targeted at undergraduates who have a keen interest in pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the future. During the program, the participants receive intensive instruction and guidance on conducting research from renowned faculty members belonging to the GSS’s five departments of physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth & planetary science, and biological sciences.

The program is open to students who are currently enrolled in the second or a later year at an accredited college or university outside of Japan, and who are majoring in a natural science or related field. The program also includes an excursion outside of Tokyo as well as a short course on the Japanese language and culture.

UTRIP is a gateway to pursuing an advance degree and experiencing academic life at UTokyo. Take this opportunity to get a head-start for challenging the rigors of graduate study in the natural sciences.

Overview

The University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP) is a summer internship program for students majoring in natural science and other relevant fields. The program will provide students with an opportunity to gain the experience of “real graduate-school life” or “research-centered life.” UTRIP is a gateway to pursuing an advanced degree and experiencing academic life at UTokyo. The program will be a good trial for students to test their aptitude for rigorous graduate study in the natural sciences. Participating students will closely work with leading researchers of the Graduate School of Science (GSS) at UTokyo. In addition to an opportunity for an outstanding scientific research work experience, the program includes off-campus activities such as a field-trip to a historical or natural site in Japan, and social and cultural events to promote a better understanding of Japanese culture and build a good relationship with current students at UTokyo. Lectures on cross-disciplinary scientific areas are also part of the program.

At the conclusion of the program, students are required to make an oral presentation and submit a report on the research project.

Features of UTRIP

• A research project program with full-time commitment.
• Participants will have an opportunity to get involved in research at the frontier of natural science.
• As part of the program, students will read published research articles pertaining to their projects, and participate in laboratory meetings with their faculty advisors.
• Financial support: All participants except for those receiving the FUTI Award will receive the GSS-UTRIP Scholarship, which includes free housing and a stipend.
• Students will visit a historical or natural site of interest in Japan.
• Specially-arranged Japanese language course will be available.
• Participants who successfully complete the program will be awarded a certificate from the school.

Eligibility & Requirements

Applicants for UTRIP must:

• Have completed at least one full year in a Bachelor’s degree program at the time of application.
• Be enrolled in and, after the UTRIP program ends, be expected to return to, at least another semester, quarter, or another equivalent academic term, in a Bachelor’s degree program (or a Bachelor’s-equivalent year of an integrated Bachelor’s-Master’s degree program) at a university outside of Japan.
  ＊At selection, the priority for nomination is given to applicants expected to be in their third year of a four-year Bachelor’s degree program and to applicants expected to be in their second year of a three-year Bachelor’s degree program. Second-year students in four-year Bachelor’s degree programs are also encouraged to apply.
• Be enrolled in a natural science or related field.
• Be thinking of pursuing long-term career goals in a scientific area.
• Be able to commit to the entire six consecutive weeks of the UTRIP program (June 26 to August 6, 2024*) on a full-time basis.
• Be able to present coverage of a health insurance plan that is effective during the internship program before arriving in Japan.
• English proficiency: test scores of TOEFL or an equivalent English proficiency test (such as IELTS) are required if English is not your first language. Test scores that have already expired are accepted, as long as the applicant is still able to produce proof of the test scores upon request by the UTRIP office. Students who have received an English-medium education continuously for the past 8 years are exempted from submitting English proficiency test scores.

*Note: Due to the infection status of COVID-19, this program may be changed to online when it is difficult to conduct in person.

Requirements:

Upon enrolling in the UTRIP program, students must agree to fulfill the following requirements:

• To devote their full efforts to conducting the UTRIP project
• To participate in the project for the full six-week period
• To attend all academic and social events scheduled over the course of the UTRIP program
• To submit a written research final report approved by the UTRIP supervisor within two weeks of finishing the UTRIP program
• To give an oral presentation on the scheduled day
• To complete all required procedures by the designated deadlines.

Program schedule

Program Period of UTRIP 2024: 26 June 2024 – 6 August 2024.

Application Deadline

The application period is from 27 November 2023 to 17:00 on 9 January 2024, Japan Standard Time (GMT+0900).

Presentation & Report

At the end of the program, you are required to present your research and submit a brief report.

• Duration time of presentation: 10-minute presentation, followed by 5 to 10 minutes of questions.
• Research report:
  • How many pages?
    — Around 5 pages in A4 size
  • What should I write?
    — The research work that you have done, and the conclusions and results you have obtained.
  • By when should I submit it?
    — Within two weeks after completing the program.

Research reports written by previous year’s UTRIP participants are available under “Research Projects” in the past UTRIP summaries.

Japanese Language Course

An intensive Japanese language course will be provided during the program.
This is an introductory course specially designed to UTRIP participants. The target of this course is to enable students to have a basic knowledge of Japanese for better communication with Japanese peers at the lab and smooth life in Japan. The content includes curriculum that will be directly helpful and useful in daily life situations. The course is intensively given for a super short term (about five classes).

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More Details in the Official Link