UTokyo Global Unit Courses: Internship Experience Program

   

• News 2026.01.26 : " 3. Instructor Messages / Syllabi " has been updated.

Features of UTokyo GUC Internship Experience Program

• Program Theme : Linking Academic Learning with Real-World Experiences to Address Global Challenges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• This new program offers learning and internship opportunities both on the University of Tokyo campus and in Okinawa. (The internship will last for three days and will be unpaid. )
• The Internship Experience Program is conducted prior to Term 1 of the Global Unit Courses (GUC) on the Hongo campus. Participants may enroll in both programs.

Key Dates

Program Period	Early to mid-June

 

Program Locations

Program Locations	1st week : UTokyo Hongo Campus 2nd week : Various locations in Okinawa

The UTokyo Global Unit Courses (GUC) Internship Experience Program is a selective, short-term summer program organized by the Center for Global Education at the University of Tokyo.
Offered for the first time, this program combines rigorous academic coursework taught by UTokyo faculty with a hands-on internship experience directly connected to the SDGs. The program offers an unparalleled opportunity to study, work, and network in Japan.
 

A Two-Week Immersive Experience

The 2026 Okinawa course delivers an extraordinary two-week academic and professional journey:

• Week 1: Coursework at UTokyo’s historic Hongo Campus in Tokyo
• Week 2: A field-based internship experience in Okinawa, one of Japan’s most dynamic regions

At Hongo Campus, students will examine Okinawa from multiple perspectives—history, culture, politics, sustainability, and regional development—through lectures and discussions led by UTokyo faculty.
In Okinawa, students will participate in internship experience arranged through the Okinawa Keizai Doyukai (Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives), the region’s leading business federation.
 

Learn Where Global Challenges Converge

Known for its stunning natural environment and unique cultural heritage, Okinawa also sits at the intersection of geopolitics, scientific innovation, and societal transformation. This program allows students to engage directly with these global issues while gaining practical experience in a real-world setting.
 

Language Support for Success

Students with beginner-level Japanese proficiency are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Survival Japanese Course, a five-day intensive program designed specifically for GUC participants. The course equips students with essential phrases and vocabulary for daily life and workplace communication during the program.
 

Academic Excellence & Personalized Learning

• All courses are taught by current and former UTokyo faculty
• Instruction is conducted entirely in English
• Small cohort size (approximately 10 students) ensures close interaction with faculty and peers
• Admission is highly selective, maintaining UTokyo’s rigorous academic standards

UTokyo students will also join the program, with selected students serving as teaching assistants to support participants both on campus and in Okinawa.
 

Certification & Credit

Upon successful completion, students will receive a Global Unit Certificate that includes a grade and the number of Global Units earned. These units may be transferable for academic credit, subject to the policies of the student’s home institution.
The certificate will indicate the name of the business federation where the internship experience was undertaken, as well as the total number of hours completed.

1) GUC Internship Experience Program 2026 Schedule

*Details for Internship Experience Program 2026 will be posted in January 2026.
 

Information Available	Early January
Application Period	Early February – Mid March
Screening Results Announcement	Mid April
Payment Deadline	Mid April - Late April
Program Period	Monday, June 1 – Thursday, June 11   1st week : UTokyo Hongo Campus  *The Japanese course will be delivered online.   2nd week : Okinawa
Issuance of Global Unit Certificates	Late September

 

2) Course Offering

Course Code	Campus	Course Title	Instructor	Number of sessions (1session=90min)	Global Units
GUC26SI101C	Hongo Okinawa	Sustainability and Tourism: Internship Experience in Okinawa	Prof. Takako HIKOTANI	15	2.0 (in-person)
GUC26S611JIL	Hongo (online)	Survival Japanese	Japanese Language Education Division, GlobE	5	0.5 (online)

*Survival Japanese Online attendance is available from the classroom at UTokyo Hongo Campus.
Note:
Participation in the Survival Japanese course is optional; however, participants with no Japanese background are strongly encouraged to attend the Japanese course to ensure successful participation in the program. This course will be offered for an additional fee.
If you have prior learning experience, please check your proficiency level on our website: https://www.todai-ic-nihongo.com/center/LevelCheck/nihongo.html
Participants whose Japanese proficiency exceeds the beginner level are exempt from this course and may enroll exclusively in the Internship Experience program, which includes classes conducted at the Hongo campus.
Engaging exclusively in the Internship Experience Program in Okinawa without attending the Hongo campus classes is not permitted under the program requirements.

Sustainability and Tourism: Internship Experience in Okinawa NEW COURSE OFFERING: Okinawa 2026 If you are looking for a program that combines academic learning with real-world experience, the UTokyo GUC Internship Experience Program is a perfect choice. Situated at the crossroads of geopolitics, scientific research and societal transformation, Okinawa offers an exceptional setting for applied learning beyond the classroom. In just two weeks, you will study with UTokyo faculty, explore Okinawa’s history, culture, and sustainability challenges, visit the world’s leading research institution, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, and gain hands-on internship experience connected to the SDGs. This program offers a unique opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and globally.   Syllabus
	Professor Takako HIKOTANI
Survival Japanese This course is a shared elective offered exclusively to participants enrolled in either the Internship Experience Program or the Field Study Program.   Syllabus	Japanese Language Education Division, GlobE

Thank you for your interest in our program. Information about UTokyo GUC Internship Experience Program2026 will be available in January 2026. We encourage you to revisit the page around that time for updated information! Important Notice 1. Owing to the high volume of inquiries, the GUC Internship Experience Progarm Office prioritizes responses to questions not addressed on this webpage. If you do not receive a reply, it means that the information relevant to your inquiry is already available here. We encourage you to review this page carefully. 2. To ensure fairness, the GUC Internship Experience Program Office provides all information exclusively through this website. We do not offer individual letters, confirmations, or personalized guidance regarding course selection or application materials. This policy applies to all prospective and current applicants.