Faculty of
Science Division II

To everyone reading this, what comes to mind when you think of “Division II” ? Just like its regular daytime counterpart, the Faculty of Science Division II offers courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry that range from basic level to cutting edge. The only difference is that the classes are primarily at night. Classes run from 16:10 to after 21:00 on weekdays and are also held on Saturdays. A regular and diligent student can graduate in four years.

The history of the Tokyo University of Science begins in 1881 with the founding of the Tokyo Butsurigaku Koshujo (Tokyo Academy of Physics), which itself offered nighttime courses in physics. The Faculty of Science Division II carries on this tradition. Meanwhile, our modern world demands learning that is not restricted by time. Thus, the Faculty of Science Division II is said to be adapted for learning in the current age, combining both the old and the new into a single faculty.

That is why there is such great variety among the students enrolled in it. As you would expect, a large number of students are high school graduates who directly went on to the university after their graduation or who were unable to get into the university on their first try but could pass the entrance examination afterward. There are also public servants and corporate professionals, company presidents, doctors and retirees interested in studying physics as a new pursuit in life. Out of this mix of older and younger students, a rich and varied pattern of human interaction emerges. The younger students gain not only knowledge but also wisdom from the older students, while the older students receive energy and inspiration from the younger, creating a unique contextual experience within which each can pursue their studies.

Most courses are taught by full-time Division II instructors who are working on the leading edge in their fields. The instructors draw on their experience to provide careful and meticulous instruction. They also oversee graduate studies which explore the cutting edge in research. And the graduates thus incubated in Division II go on to find great success as manufacturing engineers, middle and senior high school teachers, university instructors, public servants and researchers.