In September 2027, the University of Tokyo is scheduled to establish the UTokyo College of Design. The new five-year integrated bachelor's and master's program has been attracting attention even before its opening. We spoke with Professor Pennington Miles, the prospective dean.
Learn the methods and knowledge needed to solve social problems through design.
UTokyo College of Design aims to cultivate a different type of student than traditional University of Tokyo graduates. This new program aims to nurture students who will actively engage in solving social issues in collaboration with diverse professionals and make a global impact. The social issues that will be the focus here may vary depending on each student's awareness of issues, interests, and concerns, such as climate change, social justice, and education.
The term "design" here does not refer to design in the narrow sense, such as product design. Rather, it refers to the process of understanding a problem, transforming that understanding into ideas for solutions, and then translating those ideas into concrete actions that have an impact on real society. We consider it an academic and practical field with its own unique theories and methodologies. UTokyo College of Design is a program that teaches design methodologies from the basics, acquires more advanced techniques and skills, and deeply explores the broad academic knowledge of the University of Tokyo. Through team and individual design projects, it cultivates leaders who possess the ability to generate new concepts and realize them.
A five-year integrated curriculum for bachelor's and master's degrees; diverse and flexible educational programs.
UTokyo College of Design offers a five-year integrated curriculum that combines bachelor's and master's programs. While four years for bachelor's degrees and two years for master's degrees are standard in Japan, educational programs vary widely in Europe and America. UTokyo College of Design provides a different route from traditional bachelor's and master's programs in Japan. Rather than simply shortening the period of study, the program builds upon foundational learning, interdisciplinary learning, project-based learning, practical experience in society, and individual projects over five years. This integrated design makes a five-year program possible, allowing students to deepen their interests while progressing to advanced learning equivalent to a master's degree.
The first three years of the curriculum are dedicated to acquiring fundamental design skills and specialized knowledge across diverse academic disciplines. In the first year, students learn the basics of design, along with important concepts from various academic fields within the university and how those fields perceive global and social issues. In the second and third years, students deepen their learning in fields related to their interests and work on various design projects concerning social issues. In this way, students not only begin to understand their areas of interest but also improve their design skills. Our aim is for students to broaden their knowledge and deepen their design capabilities by being exposed to a variety of academic fields during these three years.
Among all the subjects, the first year will be particularly interesting for students. All subjects are compulsory, and there are no electives. The curriculum is composed of two subject groups. One is "Interdisciplinary Foundations (IF)." IF covers a wide range of academic fields that can be studied at the University of Tokyo, such as law and political science, humanities and social sciences, engineering, agriculture, and medicine, regardless of whether the student is humanities or sciences major. It is offered with the cooperation of all faculties at the University of Tokyo, but it is not a course to learn foundational knowledge for specialized education. It is uniquely designed with the aim of helping students understand important concepts in each academic field, the overall picture of the field, and its connection to society. This group of subjects is designed to allow students to deepen their learning and broaden their perspectives on academic fields and specific topics that interest them, through studying these wide-ranging fields. Classes are held in the morning.
Another group of courses is the "8 Track Design Series," held in the afternoons. This is a group of courses that systematically and comprehensively teaches fundamental design methods, methodologies, and ethical thinking, providing highly practical design skills. Various methods are used in design depending on the purpose. Through eight workshops, students acquire the fundamental thinking and literacy necessary for studying at UTokyo College of Design. By participating in all workshops, students will acquire the foundation for practically tackling assignments from their second year onward.
Building upon the foundations learned in their first year, students in their second and third years proactively build their learning according to their individual interests. Interdisciplinary Perspectives (IP) is a place where students who have grasped the overall picture of contemporary academic fields in IF can then be exposed to specific and diverse academic perspectives. There are approximately 100 courses in total across five areas: "Environment & Sustainability," "Technology Frontiers & AI," "Governance & Markets," "Healthcare & Well-being," and "Culture & Society." From these, students choose topics that form the core of the social design they envision and deepen their own learning.
At the same time, opportunities for practical learning will also increase. Change Maker Design Projects (CMP) is a group of project-based courses that deepen understanding of the complex and multi-layered challenges facing society and explore the nature and possibilities of design for problem-solving and the creation of new value. Utilizing the skills and methods cultivated in the 8 Track Design Series and the academic knowledge gained from IF and IP, students will tackle problems without predetermined answers and develop learning experiences that lead to the discovery of new possibilities through trial and error.
In my fourth year, I completed a long-term internship to learn in the real world, such as at companies and NPOs.
In their fourth year, all students participate in long-term internships of at least six months, and up to a year if necessary, at companies or international organizations both domestically and internationally. Currently, many Japanese companies and international organizations have already agreed to accept students, but in the future, we hope to expand this to a wider range of companies and organizations, including those overseas. We want our students to experience the world outside of university and how the real world functions.
Then, in the second half of their fourth year, students work on team-based design projects. They must form their own teams. The first thing students design is the team itself. And it's not just about creating a team; they must create a diverse and wonderful team with members who have different skills. Next, they choose a theme, or topic, that will be the challenge of the project. After that, each team takes the lead in working on the design project.
In their fifth year, students work on individual design projects. They choose their own themes and complete the projects over the course of a year. They must receive opinions and advice from various people and decide on their own path. Naturally, they will encounter moments of uncertainty. That's precisely why it's essential for them to hone their independence skills.
We expect our students to be not only excellent designers, but also to possess broad academic thinking skills. Overall, it will be a very demanding program with a great deal to learn. Furthermore, we envision establishing an organization focused on doctoral-level research in the future. Our ultimate goal is to make UTokyo College of Design a truly powerful new faculty, standing alongside the traditional faculties of the University of Tokyo such as the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Law, and playing a central role in the university.
[Sanshiro Pond] The Hongo campus, where you will spend five years, has a pond with abundant nature that you wouldn't expect to find in the middle of the city. It also appears in Natsume Soseki's novel "Sanshiro".
Creative space "Studio": Interaction fostered by an open environment
At UTokyo College of Design, the "Studio" is the core of year-round learning. This "Studio" is an extremely important learning space. The "Studio" is not just a place for students to work. The reason for creating this environment is to foster communication and learning between faculty and students. In other words, the "Studio" is a space like an open learning environment. Traditionally, it was common for students to visit faculty members' offices to receive guidance, but UTokyo College of Design is different. Faculty members come to the "Studio" and provide learning support while communicating with students. It also becomes a place where various ideas and activities mix, such as interaction and discussion with students from other grades and external experts. Everything is shared in the space of the "Studio". This is a place for important discussion, a creative space, a space for generating ideas, and a space for sharing opinions and ideas with each other.
The entrance examination has two routes, A and B. We hope to admit passionate students.
We have planned two routes for the admissions process: Route A and Route B. You cannot apply to both Route A and Route B; you must choose one or the other.
Route A requires applicants to take the designated subjects in the Common University Entrance Examination. Required documents and materials include high school transcripts, essays, video assignments, and English proficiency test scores, but all documents and materials prepared by the applicant must be in English. Applicants who pass the first stage of selection will proceed to an in-person selection process that includes an individual interview. The interview will be conducted in English, although some Japanese may be used.
Route B requires the submission of scores from at least one of the unified examinations or qualifications designated by the University of Tokyo, such as the International Baccalaureate, International A-Levels, SAT, or ACT. Other required documents and materials include high school transcripts, essays/video assignments, and English proficiency test scores. Applicants who pass the first stage of selection will undergo an online individual interview in English.
Broadly speaking, the difference between Route A and Route B lies in the design of the admissions process, separating students who have received a Japanese high school education from those who have not. Japanese high school students who have obtained an International Baccalaureate or International A-Level qualification can apply through Route B. To foster a diverse learning community and welcome students from various backgrounds, both Route A and Route B utilize a comprehensive evaluation process including application documents, materials, and interviews. Please check the website for the latest information regarding admissions.
Since enrollment begins in September, it will be easy for students who have graduated from high schools in Europe or North America to connect. This also benefits Japanese students. For Japanese students, jumping into a creative program conducted in English can be quite challenging. Therefore, during the gap term before enrollment in September, we will provide support to boost students' confidence and improve their communication skills. This will be optional, and we will offer online opportunities to cultivate communication skills themselves, rather than simply teaching English. This will help students improve their communication skills and confidence, enabling them to transition to university learning without anxiety.
Our motto is "See the World Through Design. Then Change It." Our goal is to cultivate leaders who can create meaningful and just change, address social challenges, and make a global impact. UTokyo College of Design offers a diverse range of learning opportunities that go beyond deep knowledge in specific academic disciplines and fields, enabling students to apply that knowledge to change the world. We strongly encourage students who are passionate about positively changing the world, or who are just beginning to develop that passion, to enroll with us.
The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
Professor Pennington Miles (Prospective Dean of the College of Design)
