PhD in Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a three-year doctoral program at Institute of Science Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan, taught in English with admission each October. The university, known as Science Tokyo, was established on October 1, 2024, through the merger of Tokyo Institute of Technology, founded in 1881, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, founded in 1928, under a mission of advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society. Mechanical engineering as a doctoral field of study spans areas such as thermodynamics, robotics, materials behavior, manufacturing systems, and mechanical design, depending on the research group a student joins. Doctoral candidates typically design and carry out original research under the supervision of a faculty member, often combining theoretical modeling with experimental or simulation-based work, and complete a dissertation that contributes new findings to the field. This kind of specialized research training usually follows a master's degree and is intended for students ready to work independently on a defined research question. Graduates from mechanical engineering doctoral programs pursue research careers in manufacturing, robotics, and automotive companies, as well as positions in national research institutes and university faculties. Being based in Tokyo gives doctoral candidates access to companies and research groups working across mechanical systems and robotics. Because the program is delivered in English, international students can pursue the three-year doctorate without first needing Japanese language proficiency, joining a university formed from the 2024 merger of two established Japanese institutions.