1
2012 Application Guidelines
for Those Living Overseas Applying for Doctoral Programs
of University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering in second semester (August)
University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering will be admitting in August 2012 doctoral students who meet the following requirements.
1. Eligibility
Individuals living overseas who meet one or more of the application requirements (1) to (7) by June 2012 and wish to enter a doctoral program of this Graduate School in the second semester (August) of 2012:
Application Requirements
(1) Individuals who have received or are expected to receive a master’s degree by July 2012. (2) Individuals who have received or are expected to receive a professional degree (a degree
established by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that is conferred on those who complete a course at a professional graduate school defined in paragraph 1, Article 104 of the School Education Law) by July 2012.
(3) Individuals who have received or are expected to receive a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional degree in a foreign country by July 2012.
(4) Individuals who have taken a correspondence course in Japan offered by a foreign learning institution and have received or are expected to receive a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional degree by July 2012.
(5) Individuals who have attended an institution in Japan, specifically indicated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, that offers master’s programs within the framework of the public education system of a foreign country, have completed any of the said programs, and have received or are expected to receive a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional degree by July 2012.
(6) As specified by the Enforcement Regulation of the School Education Law, in Paragraph 4, Article 156, individuals who have completed a course of the United Nations University and have received or are expected to receive a degree equivalent to a master’s degree by July 2012.
(7) As specified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology:
(a) individuals who have graduated from university, have engaged in research at universities or research institutes for more than two years, and are recognized by this Graduate School as no less academically able than those with a master’s degree or professional degree, judging from the results of the said research; or
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than two years after completing sixteen years of education in a foreign country or after completing a sixteen-year course of study in the public education system of a foreign country by taking a correspondence course offered by a school of the said foreign country while living in Japan, and are recognized by this Graduate School as no less academically able than those with a master’s degree or professional degree, judging from the results of the said research. (c) For individuals who fall under the categories of paragraph (6), qualifications for application will be separately examined.
(8) Individuals who are recognized by this Graduate School as no less academically able than those with a master’s degree or professional degree as a result of individual screening of enrollment qualifications by this Graduate School, and are or will be 24 years old by July 2012. (a) Individuals who have completed (or are expected to complete) junior colleges, technical colleges, special vocational schools, various other schools, foreign universities in Japan, international schools, or other learning institutions, and are recognized by this Graduate School as no less academically able than those with a master’s degree or professional degree as a result of individual screening of academic abilities.
(b) For individuals who fall under the category of the preceding item (a), qualifications for application will be separately examined.
Note: Individuals who apply under Application Requirements (6) or (7) should report to their prospective advisor by October 31, 2011 as their qualifications for application must be examined before submission of the application documents.
2. Number of Applicants to be Accepted Doctoral Programs
Doctoral Program in Social Systems and Management small number
Doctoral Program in Risk Engineering small number
Doctoral Program in Computer Science small number
Doctoral Program in Intelligent Interaction Technologies small number Doctoral Program in Engineering Mechanics and Energy small number
3. Application Schedule
The schedule of the application process is as follows (Japan Standard Time): (1) Submission of application documents: December 1, 2011 – January 6, 2012 (2) Oral examination: January 23, 2012 – February 6, 2012 (see page 9) (3) Announcement of acceptance: February 16, 2012
3 4. Application Documents
Applicants should submit the following documents. The forms specified by University of Tsukuba can be downloaded from this website.
The examination fee should be paid before the application is submitted. There are no exceptions, regardless of reason. Any late payment of the examination fee will not be accepted. The examination fee will not be refunded after the application is submitted.
Documents Applicants required to submit Summary 1 Application Form (Form 1)
All applicants Fill out and submit the designated form.
*Be sure to attach your photograph and fill in your e-mail address.
2 Examination Admission Slip (Form 2)
All applicants Fill out and submit the designated form. *Be sure to attach your photograph.
3 Examination fee
(30,000 yen)
All applicants Pay before submitting the application. Payment can be by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS) or overseas remittance. For payment procedures, refer to the note (*) below.
4 Certificate of Graduation (or an attested document certifying that the applicant will graduate)
All applicants Submit your Certificate of Graduation (or an attested document certifying that you will graduate) issued by universities or other learning institutions that meet the application requirements of the doctoral programs of this Graduate School. If you graduated from a foreign graduate school, submit a document certifying that you have received a master’s degree.
(All documents must be in English or in Japanese.) 5 Official
transcripts
All applicants Submit the official transcripts issued by universities or other learning institutions that meet the application requirements of the doctoral programs of this Graduate School. If any credits have been transferred from another school, submit the official transcripts for before the transfer.
4 6 R e s e a r c h
plan
All applicants After consulting your prospective supervisor, prepare and submit your research plan specifying your name, research theme, and the name of your prospective supervisor. If written in Japanese, the plan must be written horizontally on A4-size paper, with its longer side lengthwise, and be less than 2,000 characters. (Any format is acceptable.) If written in English, it must be less than 1,000 words, on A4-size paper.
7 Thesis Topic Card
(Form 3)
All applicants Fill out the Thesis Topic Card designated by this Graduate School and attach it to the covers of all theses or thesis-equivalent papers and to documents certifying your research capabilities that form part of the “Materials certifying research capabilities and academic achievements” (point 9) that you intend to submit. (Copies are acceptable.)
8 Thesis or thesis-equivalent paper All applicants Be sure to submit thesis as indicated under (A) or (B).
Submit your theses as indicated under (A) or (B). Attach the “Thesis Topic Card” (Form 3) to all theses and put them in an envelope, which should be prepared yourself according to the size of the theses to be submitted.
(A) Individuals who have completed a master’s program or equivalent, or have received a degree equivalent to a master’s degree
(1) Master's thesis (copy is acceptable).
(2) Individuals who graduated in the previous academic year or before may submit a new thesis (copy is acceptable) instead of (1).
(3) Individuals who were not obliged to write a master’s thesis should submit a paper equivalent to a master’s thesis.
(4) Individuals who apply under “Application Requirement (6)” (on page 1) should submit a graduate thesis. If they were not obliged to write one, they may submit a paper equivalent to a graduate thesis instead.
5 Individuals who
fall under the category stated above and are applying for the Doctoral Program in Intelligence Interaction Technologies or the Doctoral Program in Engineering Mechanics and Energy
4,000 characters of Japanese or 1,500 words of English, and should be written horizontally on A4-size paper, with its longer side lengthwise. Each page should be numbered at the bottom, and the upper left corner of the sheets should be stapled.
(5) Instead of the theses listed in (1) to (4) above, submit your Research Outline as follows:
It should be written horizontally on A4-size paper, with its longer side lengthwise. Each page should be numbered at the bottom, and the upper left corner of the sheets should be stapled.
(i) Write “Research Outline” in the upper section of page one and, under that, the name of the department and program you are applying for, your name, and a title that precisely reflects the contents of your research.
(ii) On pages 2 and 3, summarize the thesis or paper as indicated in (1) to (4) in approximately 4,000 characters of Japanese or 1,500 words of English.
(iii) On page 4 and the subsequent pages, list your research achievements in Japanese or English and briefly describe any other skills or traits relevant to this program. (B) Individuals who are expected to complete a master’s program or equivalent, or to receive a degree equivalent to a master’s degree
(1) Submit your Research Outline as follows:
It should be written horizontally on A4-size paper, with its longer side lengthwise. Each page should be numbered at the bottom, and the upper left corner of the sheets should be stapled.
6 Individuals who
fall under the category stated above and are applying for the Doctoral Program in Intelligence Interaction Technologies or the Doctoral Program in Engineering Mechanics and Energy
(2) In addition to the Research Outline mentioned in (1), list your research achievements and briefly describe any other skills or traits relevant to the program, on the last page of the Outline.
9 Materials certifying research capabilities and academic achievements Applicants for the Doctoral Program in Social Systems and Management
Materials indicating your research capabilities (published theses, essays, book reviews, reports, etc.) or your academic achievements (such as TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, GMAT, etc.) may be submitted.
The “Thesis Topic Card” (Form 3) should be attached to all materials indicating research capabilities. Materials indicating research capabilities and academic achievements should be enclosed in the same envelope as the theses or papers as indicated in “Thesis or Thesis-equivalent paper” (point 8) above. (Envelope should be prepared yourself according to the size of the theses to be submitted.)
10 Recommendation Letter
If applicable Submit a recommendation letter from your Master’s Program or Undergraduate School supervisor, if possible. Any format is acceptable. Use A4/Letter-size paper.
11 Letter of Approval for entrance examination
7 * Payment of Examination Fee
Make sure to pay the Examination Fee before submitting your application. Payment should be made by credit card or by overseas remittance. Payment procedures are as follows.
(A) Payment by credit card (Visa, Master Card, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS) (i) Visit the website e-shiharai.net and make payment.
Payment period: November 1, 2011 – December 20, 2011 e-shiharai.net
(ii) When the payment is completed, a receipt number will be displayed. Enter this receipt number in the column marked “International Bank Transfer Date or Credit Card Payment
the head of the department they belong to) in A4/Letter size. Any format is acceptable.
(2) Individuals who currently work for a government agency, school, or company (except for part-time workers) should submit a letter of approval allowing them to take the entrance examination, issued by their superior (in A4/Letter size). Any format is acceptable. (Those who intend to resign before entering this Graduate School or who have difficulty in submitting a letter of approval may, instead of a letter of approval, submit a personally signed statement in which they explain their inability to submit the letter. Those who intend to resign before entering this Graduate School should submit a “Resignation Certification” in the course of the enrollment procedures.)
12 Questionnaire for foreign Applicants (Form 5) All foreign applicants
Fill out the form.
13 Official sponsorship certification for Japanese Government Scholarship for International Students
8 Date” on the Information Input Screen.
(iii) Print out the page confirming the results of the payment procedure and submit it with the application documents.
(B) Overseas remittances
(i) Before submitting the application documents, send the Examination Fee of 30,000 yen via bank wire transfer to the following bank account used for receiving overseas remittances. (ii) The sender must pay all transfer fees. In addition, Japanese banks will charge a foreign
exchange handling fee (2,500 yen). If the transfer is made through another bank, that bank will also charge a fee. All these fees must be paid by the sender, so please inform the bank from which you send the Examination Fee of your intention to pay all the transfer fees. (iii) Make sure to obtain a Certification of Remittance and attach it to Form 4.
5. Application Method
Applicants should prepare and send all the application documents to the following address by international mail or international courier service before the application deadline stated below. In addition, applicants should transmit the application documents (in PDF form) by e-mail. (i) Address: Registrar of the Graduate Schools, Graduate School of Systems and Information
Engineering, University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, JAPAN E-mail address for transmitting application documents:
(ii) Application period: documents must arrive between December 1, 2011 and January 6, 2012 (Japan standard time).
*No application documents submitted after the deadline will be accepted.
Note: If you wish to apply, you must contact a faculty member under whom you wish to take academic instruction after entrance (a prospective advisor) in advance.
6. Screening
Candidates for admission will be determined on the basis of comprehensive assessment of the submitted application documents and the results of the academic achievement examination (oral examination).
*Oral examinations will be conducted remotely via Polycom or Skype. Bank name: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Branch name: HEAD OFFICE Type of account: Ordinary account Account number: 7862425
Account name: University of Tsukuba GAKUNOUKINGUCHI Currency: JPY
9 7. Academic Achievement Examination, Schedule, etc.
(1) The examination will be conducted between January 23, 2012 and February 6, 2012. (2) It will be an oral examination.
(3) Applicants will each be asked about their research plan and basic knowledge of their research field.
8. Examination Sites
In principle, oral examinations will be conducted at one of the overseas offices of University of Tsukuba or at the facilities of universities with which University of Tsukuba has an international exchange agreement.
Please follow the instructions of your prospective supervisor, who will determine the date and place of the oral examination.
9. Announcement of Acceptance February 16, 2012
An acceptance letter will be sent to successful applicants.
10. Enrollment Procedures
(1) Successful applicants will be sent the Enrollment Procedure Guidelines (which contains documents to be submitted before entrance) in mid-June 2012. The instructions in the Guidelines should then be followed.
(2) Expenses
(i) Entrance Fee: 282,000 yen (non-refundable)
(ii) Tuition Fee: 89,300 yen for the first period (August and September)
Note 1: The tuition fee of the 2012 school year (August 2012 – March 2013) is 357,200 yen, and that of subsequent years will be 535,800 yen (per year).
Note 2: If fees are revised before entrance or while enrolled in this Graduate School, the revised tuition fee will be applied at the time of the revision.
(3) International applicants should acquire a Status of Residence suitable for entrance to a graduate school, in accordance with the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951), before beginning enrollment procedures.
Those who wish to enter this Graduate School as an international student must acquire Status of Residence as a “College Student”.
11. Other
(1) Make sure that all necessary application documents are completed and submitted, as incomplete documents may not be accepted.
10 application has been submitted.
(3) Documents will not be returned once submitted.
(4) Your admission may be cancelled if it is discovered after the announcement of acceptance that your application information is false or that there is any false statement(s) in your application documents.
(5) The results of the entrance examination as well as personal information obtained by University of Tsukuba from the application documents will be used only for affairs concerning admission and screening, and as part of materials to be used for screening of students for tuition exemption or scholarships of the Japan Student Services Organization offered to individuals who have completed the enrollment procedures.
12. Contact
Chair of each Department of Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering
Department of Social Systems and Management: [email protected]
Department of Risk Engineering: [email protected]
Department of Computer Science: [email protected]
