Tohoku University

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Tohoku University

東北大学
Motto	研究第一主義 (research first principle) 門戸開放 (open-door policy) 実学尊重 (respect for practical studies)
Type	Public (National)
Established	June 22, 1907
Academic affiliations	APRU, AEARU, HeKKSaGOn, T.I.M.E., RENKEI
Endowment	US$1.3 billion (JP¥120,138 billion)
President	Hideo Ohno
Administrative staff	5,756
Undergraduates	11,094
Postgraduates	7,704
Other students	1,346 (international students)
Location	Sendai, Miyagi , Japan
Campus	Urban, 250 ha (620 acres)
Colors	Purple
Sporting affiliations	TCAA, SEN6 [ja]
Website	www.tohoku.ac.jp/english

Tohoku University (東北大学, Tōhoku daigaku) is a public research university in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is colloquially referred to as Tohokudai (東北大, Tōhokudai) or Tonpei (トンペイ, Tonpei).

Established in 1907 as the third of the Imperial Universities, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, it initially focused on science and medicine, later expanding to include humanities studies as well.

In 2016, Tohoku University had 10 faculties, 16 graduate schools and 6 research institutes, with a total enrollment of 17,885 students.^[1] The university's three core values are "Research First (研究第一主義)," "Open-Doors (門戸開放)," and "Practice-Oriented Research and Education (実学尊重)."

The Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings, focusing more on teaching and engagement than its world university rankings, placed Tohoku University 1st in Japan in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.^[2][3][4] In its 2024 world university rankings, it is ranked 130th globally, making it the third highest ranked university in Japan, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.^[5]