- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Program Staff
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Tohoku and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 Tohoku page and the Tohoku website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.
Tohoku offers courses in English for engineering students in their junior year. The Junior Year Program in English (JYPE), allows students to take science, engineering, and agriculture courses at Tohoku University in English.
Typically, semesters are:
- Fall: early October to early February (Orientation will be held in late September)
- Spring: early April to mid-August (Orientation will be held in early April)
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Japan.
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Student Exchange Division | studyab@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
Tohoku University was established in Sendai in 1907 as Tohoku Imperial University and is the third oldest former Imperial University after Tokyo and Kyoto. It has a long history of open and progressive policies. It was the first Imperial University to admit women and foreign students, and also pioneered opening the university to the community by offering public lectures. In 1911, Tohoku was the first university in Japan to have foreign students graduates. and became Japan’s first university to admit female students in 1913. The “Spirit of Open Doors” remains alive at Tohoku today as it welcomes the current student body of 18,019 students including 2,028 international students from 98 countries and areas.
An important economic and cultural center in northern Japan, Sendai is home to many universities, government agencies, and corporate branch headquarters. With Tohoku University at its center, Sendai is regarded by many as an academic city.
Called the “City of Trees,” for its pleasant, tree-lined streets, Sendai is known as one of the most pleasant cities in Japan. It is bordered by mountains to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east; its northern location ensuring cool summers and moderately cold winters. Take the time to explore the many historic and scenic sites in Sendai and enjoy its unspoiled natural surroundings!
Tohoku will apply for a room at the dormitories, Tohoku University International House and University House Sanjo, on your behalf.
Please see the Global E 3 Tohoku site and the Tohoku housing information site for additional information on housing options.
Tohoku offers courses in English for engineering students in their junior year.The Junior Year Program in English (JYPE), allows students to take science, engineering, and agriculture courses at Tohoku University in English.
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad. We suggest you review courses available with your academic advisor prior to applying to the program.
Academic Departments:
Visit the University's website to learn more about specific course offerings on the JYPE program and check the Global E3 Tohoku website for more course information. The following disciplines are available:
- Science
- Engineering
- Agriculture
Minimum Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students
- For Tohoku University, students must be in their 3rd or 4th year of study (Junior or Senior) during their term abroad at Tohoku.
Of note:
- All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
- Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
- Courses taken at Tohoku will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
- Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
For information about the grading scale at Tohoku, please see the website.
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:
- the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
- PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
- PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!
Pitt students enroll at Tohoku for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). Tohoku’s calendar differs from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university.
SSOE Global Experiences and Engagement Office Team
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Schedule an appointment
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Note: Students applying to start the fall semester should plan to complete the Tohoku application and review the Global E3 website. This university has required an earlier deadline than other Global E3 universities.
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency. Japanese language proficiency is required to take courses in Japanese.
The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)