Tokyo Metropolitan University's new tuition reduction/exemption system - New support for families raising children in Tokyo (effectively making tuition free)
Publication date: August 2024, 4
Last Updated Date: 2026/1/30
1. Purpose and Objectives
From 2024 (Reiwa XNUMX), in addition to the current tuition reduction/exemption system that provides educational opportunities to students who have difficulty paying tuition fees for financial reasons, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will We will implement new tuition fee support for families with children.
2 Support recipients
○Undergraduate students, master's program students, law school students, and midwifery major students at Tokyo Metropolitan University
*This applies not only to new students but also to current students.
*Doctoral course students will be eligible for support under the existing system from 2024 (Reiwa XNUMX) onwards.
*In order to receive support, you must apply for each semester. However, from the 2026 academic year (Reiwa 8), it will be possible to apply for both the first and second semesters at once.
3. Support image
If the student's livelihood supporter lives in Tokyo, the entire tuition fee will be waived. (No income limit)
*Even in cases where the person making a living living outside of Tokyo is not eligible for this system, the existing tuition fee reduction/exemption system provides educational opportunities to students who have difficulty paying tuition due to financial reasons. As before, tuition fees will be waived in full or half depending on income, regardless of residence.
*Estimated annual income is a rough estimate based on a model of a household of four people: parents (one of whom is a salaried employee), the applicant (age 18), and a junior high school student.Details will vary depending on the household situation, etc. Even if your family structure is different from the example, or if your annual income is below the standard annual income, such as if you have income from a business in addition to salary income, you will not necessarily be eligible for support, and the tax system will ultimately be affected. Determined by calculation in accordance with .
<Support image diagram>
4. Requirements for receiving support
4-1 Address requirements (new system only)
The student's financial supporter (in principle, parents) must have an address in Tokyo from December 12st of the year prior to the year in which the reduction or exemption is sought until the reference date (April 31st for the first semester, October XNUMXst for the second semester). (Checks and judgments are conducted each time an application is made.)
*Students do not need to live in Tokyo. (Excluding cases in which the student is the source of livelihood)
*If one of the livelihood earners is separated due to work location (single assignment, etc.) and resides outside of Tokyo, this will apply if it can be confirmed that the other livelihood earner meets the residency requirements. .
About the breadwinner (both this system and the existing system)
In principle, if a student has parents, both parents will be the "maintainer of the household." In the case of a single parent, that person will be the "maintainer of the household." In these cases, it does not matter whether the person lives with the student or not, or whether they have an income or not.
If there are no parents, the person who pays the student's tuition and living expenses (or the main person if there is more than one person) will be the "maintainer of household income." If there is no such person, or if the student is in need of social care (such as a resident of a child welfare facility), the student will be considered to be an independent earner, and the student himself will be the "maintainer of household income."
Please note that these are basic concepts, and in cases where a person was deemed to have an independent livelihood in past reduction/exemption examinations, specific judgments will be made on a case-by-case basis.
For students who were previously independent earners (mainly graduate students and students majoring in midwifery), the requirements have been changed as follows, so please meet all of the following requirements. Please make sure that you have one before applying.
A. The student is living separately from his/her parents (or the person who is paying for the student's tuition and living expenses if the student does not have parents).
A tax certificate regarding the individual's (or spouse's) income can be issued, or it can be confirmed that the individual has an income that exceeds the minimum taxable income through scholarships, etc.
Reference:Q&A regarding livelihood maintainers
4-2 Requirements regarding the period until admission to higher education (only for this program)
The period until entering higher education must be within a certain period of time.
(1) Undergraduate students
① Those who entered Tokyo Metropolitan University less than two years after the last day of the year following the year in which they first graduated from high school, etc.
*If you are graduating from high school or other institution for the first time in March 2026, you will be required to enroll in Tokyo Metropolitan University by the end of March 11.
② For those who passed the high school graduate certification exam, those who have not passed 5 years from the first day of the year in which they obtained the qualification to take the certification test, and who have passed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Examination from the last day of the year following the year in which they passed Those who have entered the university for less than two years
③ For those who have been admitted to Tokyo Metropolitan University through the "Individual Entrance Eligibility Screening", those who have entered Tokyo Metropolitan University by the end of the year following the year in which they reached the age of 20.
(2) Master's program, professional degree program, major department
Those who have continued on to a master's course after graduating from a university, etc., and who are under 24 years of age at the end of the year before the year in which they entered the university.
*If you have been away for more than one year after graduating from the school you attended, you will not be eligible for support.
*If a student exceeds the age requirement due to studying abroad or taking a leave of absence for unavoidable reasons, they may be considered as an exception to the requirement and will be judged individually and specifically.
Reference material: Tokyo Metropolitan University Tuition Reduction and Exemption System Q&A
"6. Requirements regarding the period until admission to higher education (only for this program)"
4-3 Nationality and residence status requirements (both this system and existing systems)
Regarding nationality, etc., one of the following applies.
(1) Persons with Japanese nationality
(2) Persons residing in Japan as special permanent residents as stipulated in the Special Act on Immigration Control for Persons who have renounced their Japanese nationality based on the peace treaty with Japan (Act No. 71 of XNUMX)
(3) Persons residing in Japan with the residence status of permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, or spouse of a permanent resident, etc. as listed in Appended Table 26 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of XNUMX)
(4) A person residing in Japan with the long-term resident status listed in Appended Table XNUMX of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, and who is recognized by the head of the school as having the intention of becoming a permanent resident in the future.
(5) Persons residing in Japan with the residence status of Dependent in Table XNUMX of Appended Table XNUMX of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and who meet all the requirements specified by Japan Student Services Organization.
*This is the same as the nationality and residence status requirements under the country's new study support system.
4-4 Grade requirements (both this system and existing system)
Regarding grades, etc., do not fall under any of the following.
(1) Students who have repeated a grade (those who remain in the same grade)
(2) Those with poor grades (those who failed the annual completion assessment, etc.)
(3) Leave of absence from school
(4) Suspension from school
(5) Students who have previously enrolled in the same academic year as their current year for more than half a year, such as undergraduate students, re-enrolled students, or students who have changed affiliations
*Some requirements have changed from the first half of 2026.
(6) Tokyo Metropolitan University Miyako MIRAI Project Recipients
(7) Other persons for whom there is no reasonable reason for exemption or reduction
Five Application procedures for receiving support (both this system and existing systems)
・In order to receive support, those who apply and meet the various requirements are eligible.
・Details regarding application period, application procedures, etc. will be announced on the university bulletin board and website as soon as they are decided.
6 Other
・Even if you are not eligible for this system, the existing tuition fee reduction/exemption system provides educational opportunities to students who have difficulty paying tuition fees due to financial reasons, so tuition fees will continue to be paid according to income regardless of residence. The entire amount (approximate annual income of less than approximately 478 yen) or half (approximate annual income of approximately 478 yen or more but less than approximately 674 yen) will be exempted.
*Estimated annual income is based on a model of a household of four people: parents (one of whom is a salaried employee), the student (18 years old), and a junior high school student.Details vary depending on the household situation. Even if your family structure is different from the example, or if your annual income is below the standard annual income, such as if you have income from a business in addition to salary income, you will not necessarily be eligible for support, and the tax system will ultimately be affected. Determined by calculation in accordance with .
・In addition to tuition fee reduction/exemption, those eligible for the new national higher education study support system can receive grant-type scholarships. For details on the national system, please refer to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website below.
・For information on other support systems (tuition fee reductions, reductions and exemptions for disaster victims, etc.), please see the Tokyo Metropolitan University website.
7 Reference materials
〇Please click here for Q&A regarding this system.
Q&A regarding the system
8 Links
Please see the following website for information on national and Tokyo Metropolitan University support systems.
[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website: New higher education study support system (national system)]
Nine contact information
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, General Affairs Bureau, General Affairs Department, Planning and Accounting Division, 03-5388-2289
Tokyo Metropolitan University Corporation Management Planning Office 03-5990-5386
