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Q&A

The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding the selection of higher education.
If you have any questions not listed here, please feel free to contact us using the Contact Form.

Q&A about Choosing our Department

I am busy with club activities and part-time jobs, can I keep up?
Balancing lectures and extra-curricular activities is certainly a challenge, but it is doable. The fact that many of our seniors and alumni are very active in club activities is a proof of this.
Are there any lectures or exercises to actually make things?
Yes, there are. In addition to classroom lectures, we also focus on practical exercises through manufacturing. In the winter semester of the second year, students take advantage of the extensive experimental environment at the Hongo campus every Friday to experience the whole picture of mechanical engineering through practical exercises. In the summer semester of the third year, students learn about design and machining through exercises, and then design and build an engine called a Stirling engine. In the Creative Design Exercise in the winter semester of the third year, students learn how to come up with ideas for mechatronics machines that are "fun" to build and present their ideas. Students can feel the joy and sense of accomplishment of creating something from scratch. Please refer to each page for more information about the exercises in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
What are the four dynamics?
The four dynamics are thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, material mechanics, and mechanical mechanics. These dynamics are indispensable in the design of mechanical structures and are the foundation of mechanical engineering, which has been built up over a long history. For example, tTaking a car as an example, combustion of the engine is related to thermal and fluid engineering, and strength and vibration of the car body are related to material mechanics and mechanical mechanics, which are always necessary in design. Acquiring these foundations is the first step for a mechanical engineer.
What is the difference between the Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering, the Department of Precision Engineering, and the Department of Aerospace Engineering?
Historically, all of the departments were created by branching out from mechanical engineering with the background of specializing in a particular product. For example, the Department of Aeronautical Engineering specializes in aircraft, the Department of Naval Engineering and Nuclear Engineering (part of Systems Creation) specializes in shipbuilding and nuclear power plants, and the Department of Precision Engineering specializes in precision instruments. Therefore, it is natural that these departments and the Department of Mechanical Engineering have much in common. The most significant difference and characteristic of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is that lectures, experiments, and exercises are constructed so that students can acquire a broad range of knowledge and creativity to meet changing social needs. The Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering shares the same undergraduate education system with the Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering. The difference is that the laboratories to which students are assigned are different. However, there is an exchange system, so there are cases where students are assigned to the Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering.
Can I also learn about software and AI?
In the Software First course, students acquire basic programming skills and learn how to process information and control devices through exercises. In addition, the Robot Intelligence lecture in the third year A semester is a course where students can learn so-called "machine learning" from the basics to implementation. Although the Department of Mechanical Engineering does not have a laboratory that studies machine learning itself, research using cutting-edge information engineering is being conducted in various fields of machinery, such as the search for new materials, speeding up fluid analysis, and shape optimization using machine learning.
Does Mechanical A also offer medical/biotech research and education?
Medical engineering, which covers the manufacture of medical devices, has long been practiced in mechanical engineering. In the field of biotechnology, the development of microscopic manipulation techniques and the development of extreme measurement techniques to pick and carry individual cells and DNA molecules without damaging them are also of great importance, and the need for personnel with a background in mechanical engineering is increasing. By learning the fundamentals of the four dynamics of mechanical systems, system control, and design / production, students are expected to acquire a unique perspective that differs from those in biology, chemistry, and medicine / pharmacy, and to be active in the medical and biotechnological fields.

Q&A about the Student Life

Are there any departmental events?
The department as a whole holds a kick-off party in April when students advance to the third year. In addition, hiking, summer camps, ski camps, company tours, and other events are held in each laboratory.
Can I take courses from other departments, graduate schools, or graduate schools? If so, will I receive credit for them?
It is possible to take courses and earn credits in other departments, other graduate schools, and certain domestic and international graduate schools after fulfilling the requirements of the major.
Looking at the research, it seems to me that not much of it is mechanical in nature?
All research conducted in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is related to "mechanical-like" things (things that move). For example, flow control, vibration control, nanostructure design, friction control, earthquake-resistant structure design, sensor development, reduction of vehicle running resistance, engine noise evaluation, etc., all research is conducted with the end product (mechanical object) in mind. There are also many joint research projects with companies, which are introduced on our website for your reference.
How was I assigned to a laboratory at the Institute of Industrial Science?
Most graduate students are assigned to a laboratory located on the Hongo campus. Upon entering graduate school, students may choose a laboratory at the Institute of Industrial Science (Komaba II Campus) to conduct their research.

Q&A about the Employment After Graduation

What exactly do you mean when you say, "Mastering mechanical engineering can be flexible in other fields"?
The mechanical engineering curriculum covers a wide range of academic and technological fields that support the foundations of modern society and economy. Therefore, researchers and engineers who have mastered mechanical engineering have an extremely wide range of opportunities to be active in industry, and this is what is described as "flexible in other fields". In fact, the fields of activity of mechanical engineering graduates have expanded greatly from heavy industry and manufacturing industries to the IT industry.
Can you tell me about departmental recommendations for employment?
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is the most important department in the College of Engineering in terms of recommendations, with over 50% of students who find employment using recommendations. Recommendation letters are based on a gentleman's agreement between the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a company, whereby the Department guarantees that "the student will complete his/her studies in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, graduate next spring as planned, and be employed by the company," and the company guarantees that "the student will be given priority in employment. Therefore, only one letter of recommendation is sent out per student, and if a student submits a letter of recommendation to a company, the interview process is simplified. For more statistical data on students who have been recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering for employment (including Mechanical, Mechanical and Information Engineering, and Graduate Schools), please visit our Employment page.
Do you have any connections with alumni?
The University of Tokyo Machinery Alumni Association supports students' job hunting activities by holding the "Machinery Technology Seminar," where students learn about career paths through interaction between alumni and current students. Every year, alumni of Todai Machinery from about 40 companies participate in this two-day event in March, giving company information and sharing their experiences. This is a well-known event attended by most of the mechanical engineering students (about 200 in total).