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Japan, Tokyo
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1. Check availability and divisions. United School of Tokyo operates three divisions: Early Childhood (K1–K3), Elementary (G1–G5), and Middle School (G6–G8). The annual admissions process opens in October of the year prior to the next academic year, and space must be available for an applicant to be considered. Admissions priorities favor international families with no local educational alternatives, and Japanese families relocating back to Japan from an English-speaking educational setting; all applications are reviewed to determine fit.
2. Tours and interviews. Tours and interviews are scheduled within the admissions window to help families assess fit and to allow UST staff to learn about the applicant and family. For the 2025–2026 academic year, tours and interviews were held from October 20, 2025 to December 5, 2025.
3. Enrollment application deadline. The enrollment application deadline for the 2025–2026 cycle was January 9, 2026.
4. Screening and assessments. Screening and assessments take place from January 12, 2026 to March 30, 2026.
5. Acceptance announcements. Acceptance announcements are issued between March 9, 2026 and April 3, 2026.
6. Joining fees due date. Joining fees are due two weeks after the Acceptance Letter is issued. One-time joining fees total 825,000 JPY (Application 25,000; Registration 400,000; Development 400,000).
7. Fall term tuition due. Fall term tuition is due on April 25, 2026. Tuition can be paid by term or annually; all fees include sales tax, and one-time joining fees are non-refundable.
There is no published formal waitlist or pool system. Admissions operate on space availability; applicants may be considered when seats are open, and the school indicates that students may join at any time during the year if a place is available. Priority is given to international families without local educational alternatives, and to Japanese families relocating back to Japan from an English-speaking setting.
The United School of Tokyo offers a Scholarship Program that provides a reduction in tuition and joining fees for eligible families. Scholarships are available to students in Elementary and Middle School (Grades 1–8). In addition to regular admission requirements, applicants must demonstrate the need for international education, the family's inability to pay full tuition and/or joining fees, native English proficiency, and high academic potential. The number of scholarships is limited to five per year, and awards are for one academic year but may be renewed subject to satisfactory progress and reassessment of family means. Documents that may be requested include an annual tax certificate, an employment certificate, a housing rental agreement, and bank statements. Scholarships are valid for one academic year.
United School of Tokyo (UST) is an international school in Shibuya, founded in 2014 by parents and teachers, serving children ages 3 to 14 across Kindergarten (K1–K3), Elementary (G1–G5) and Middle School (G6–G8). Classroom instruction is conducted in English and the school references American Common Core standards for benchmarks. UST highlights small classes and notes 16 students per class and a total of ~220 students. Japanese is taught daily, with additional language options mentioned for older students. Beyond lessons, UST runs an extracurricular program with 30+ classes across sports, performing arts, visual arts, games/activities and STEAM. A distinctive feature described under school life is its Social Responsibility work, including projects like eco drives and a partnership-building effort with an elementary school in Cambodia.
