The Institute of Science Tokyo will introduce a new academic path that allows students to graduate early from science and engineering programs and transfer into its school of medicine.
The “medical-engineering collaborative talent development course” will begin with those enrolled for the 2026 academic year, with an initial intake of 10 students.
The university was created in October 2024 through the merger of two national universities: the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
The new initiative marks the start of a cross-disciplinary training track that incorporates “grade-skipping” accelerated advancement at one of Japan’s top-tier universities.
Students selected from six schools in science and engineering disciplines can complete their undergraduate studies in three years and transfer as second years into the school of medicine.
Candidates who are deemed to be on track for early graduation will be chosen based on academic performance, interviews and other factors.
Qualified students can earn two degrees, one in science or engineering and the other in medicine, in eight years at the earliest.
Since the merger, the Institute of Science Tokyo has aimed to cultivate talent capable of creating “new value” through “medical-engineering collaboration.”
It has introduced cross-disciplinary education initiatives and established the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, which is envisioned as a hub for medical innovation.
The education ministry announced last month that it will designate the Institute of Science Tokyo as a “university for international research excellence,” making it eligible for up to 25 years of support from the government’s 10-trillion-yen ($68.8 billion) endowment fund.
Tohoku University was the first to earn this designation in 2024.
AloJapan.com