Tohoku University was founded in 1907 as the third Imperial University of Japan, following the Tokyo Imperial University and Kyoto Imperial University. With the nationwide reform of the educational system in 1949, the University assumed its present name. In April 2004, all national universities in Japan became incorporated body and therefore legally independent of the national government. In 2007, the university marked the 100th anniversary of its foundation and now has developed into one of the most distinguished universities in the country.
The academic traditions of the university are "Research First" and "Practice-Oriented Research and Education". These policies have contributed to producing a large number of notable research achievements and outstanding scholars. Mr. Koichi Tanaka, a graduate of the School of Engineering, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002.
The University was quick to open its door to students from foreign countries and graduated two international students as early as 1911, one from India and the other from China. The enrollment of international students has steadily increased, and now the University is widely known as an institution providing extensive opportunities internationally.
The University is comprised of 10 undergraduate faculties, 16 graduate schools, 3 professional graduate schools, 5 research institutes, 13 research centers, and an University hospital. As of May 2009, there are about 5,000 faculty and staff members as well as approximately 18,000 students.
Academic Calendar
- The academic year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year. It is divided into two semesters:
- First Semester: April 1 - September 30
- Second Semester: October 1 - March 31
Table 1 Organization
