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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Last modified on November 2, 2009
General
Q1. What’s the difference between the general graduate program and IGPAS?
Q2. Does IGPAS accept students in April?
Q3. Do I need to take a Japanese language test?
Q4. Do I need to submit a medial examination report?
Q5. Do I need to come to Japan for the entrance exam?
Q6. What will the entrance exam be like?
About Financial Supports
Q7. I’m applying for the doctoral program. Can I apply for the MEXT scholarship?
Q8. I’m applying for the master’s program. Can I apply for the SDC fellowship?
Q9. I’m applying for the MEXT scholarship/SDC fellowship. What if I’m not qualified for it?
Q10. Does the SDC fellowship cover travel expenses to Japan?
Q11. Are there any financial support program other than the MEXT scholarship and the SDC fellowship?
About a Prospective Supervisor
Q12. How can I find information about faculty members and their research?
Q13. I’ve contacted faculty members, but I have not gotten a response. What should I do?
Q14. I’ve contacted faculty members, but they said they could not be my supervisor.What should I do?
Q15. I may not be able to find a prospective supervisor by the application deadline.Can I send the application documents first and find a supervisor afterwards?
About Application Documents
Q16. I’m due to graduate by the 30th of September but my University will not issue a Certificate of expected graduation. What should I do?
Q17. Should the academic transcripts be original copies?
Q18. Do I need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores? What else will be accepted??
Q19. What of GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS scores will meet the requirement?
General
Q1. What’s the difference between the general graduate program and IGPAS?
The major differences are the language and the availability of financial support. Classes are offered mainly in Japanese in the general program but classes for IGPAS students are offered in English. However, IGPAS classes are opened to all students of the Graduate School of Science and vice versa. The MEXT scholarship and the SDC fellowship are exclusive to IGPAS. If you don’t need to apply for the aforementioned financial supports and are willing to take classes in Japanese, you may apply for the general program, for admission in April and October every year.
Does IGPAS accept students in April?
No. IGPAS admits new students only in October.
Q3. Do I need to take a Japanese language test?
No. Language proficiency in Japanese is not required to apply for IGPAS.
Q4. Do I need to submit a medical examination report?
No. Applicants are not required to submit the report, not even for the MEXT scholarship or the SDC fellowship.
Q5. Do I need to come to Japan for the entrance exam?
No. Members of the Committee for IGPAS will contact applicants via phone, fax, email, or IP video phone for screening based on the contact information provided on the application form.
Q6. What will the entrance examination be like?
The examination will be set independently by the committee members of each department, and it will be in the form of an examination and/or an interview. The Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS is not in charge of the screening process and cannot provide the detailed information on the examination.
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About Financial Support
Q7. I’m applying for the doctoral program. Can I apply for the MEXT scholarship?
No. The MEXT scholarship is offered only to applicants for the IGPAS master’s program. If you’d like to apply for the MEXT scholarship, you have to enroll in the master’s program. Please refer to 7.FINANCIAL SUPPORT of the IGPAS application booklet and check the other eligibility requirements.
Q8. I’m applying for the master’s program. Can I apply for the SDC fellowship?
No. The SDC fellowship is offered only to applicants for the IGPAS doctoral program. If you’d like to apply for the scholarship, you have to enroll in the doctoral program. Please refer to 7.FINANCIAL SUPPORT of the IGPAS application booklet and check the other eligibility requirements.
Q9. I’m applying for the MEXT scholarship/SDC fellowship. What if I’m not qualified for it?
Even if you are not qualified for the financial support programs, you may pass the entrance examination for admission. You’ll receive a letter of the result of your application in the notification period and you may then inform the Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS whether you intend to enter IGPAS as a privately-financed student.
Q10.Does the SDC fellowship cover travel expenses to Japan?
No. The SDC fellowship only grants a monthly stipend, compensation for the admission and tuition fees, and a research grant. Travel expenses to Japan must be paid by the students.
Q11. Are there any financial support program other than the MEXT scholarship and the SDC fellowship?
No. The Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS does not have or provide any information regarding financial support programs other than the MEXT scholarship and the SDC fellowship. It should be noted that scholarship availability for students is very limited and thus highly competitive in Japan, especially for international students who are not proficient in Japanese.
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About a Prospective Supervisor
Q12. How can I find information about faculty members and their research?
Search the following websites.
・Brochure of the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University
http://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/docs/world-wide/e_pamph2008.pdf
※Not all faculty members are listed in the brochure.
・Departments’ Websites
http://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/english/2nd/departments.html
※Click the name of departments in the chart.
・Academic Research Staff at Tohoku University
http://db.tohoku.ac.jp/whois/TunvTopE.html
※The website contains information on faculty members affiliated not only to the Graduate School of Science but also to all Schools of Tohoku University. Make sure to select “Graduate School of Science” in the “Affiliation” section when searching by keywords.
Q13. I’ve contacted the faculty members, but I have not gotten a response. What should I do?
Faculty members of the Graduate School of Science may not respond to emails from a stranger because of the amount of emails they receive every day. Try again using the points as shown in the Step 2 of HOW TO APPLY, or ask someone who has connections with them, such as your current supervisor, to contact them for you so that you’ll have a better chance of getting a reply. The Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS may contact the faculty member(s) of your choice in place of you to verify the receipt of your email, only if you have tried every means possible and still have not gotten a reply. Please note that the Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS cannot help getting the agreement to your application from the faculty member(s).
Q14. I’ve contacted faculty members, but they said they could not be my supervisor. What should I do?
Ask them to introduce someone else to you. If this does not work either, contact the Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS and ask who else you should consult. Please note that the Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS does not search a prospective supervisor for applicants.
Q15. I may not be able to find a prospective supervisor by the application deadline. Can I send the application documents first and find a supervisor afterwards?
Applications from those who have not obtained consent to study under their prospective supervisor will not be accepted. Please try your best to obtain consent of acceptance before you send the application to the Academic Affairs Section for IGPAS.
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About Application Documents
Q16. I’m due to graduate by the 30th of September and my University will not issue a Certificate of expected graduation. What should I do?
It does not have to be a Certificate of expected graduation. We need any official documentation to certify that you will graduate by September 30. If your expected graduation date or month is stated in an academic transcript, you don’t have to submit a Certificate of expected graduation. A letter from a responsible official of your university with your expected graduation date or month is also acceptable as a substitute of a Certificate of expected graduation.
Q17. Should the academic transcripts be original copies?
It must be original copies. If you cannot submit the original by the deadline, attach a note that briefly explains the reason and the expected date of submission.
Q18. Do I need to submit a TOEFL score? What else is acceptable as a proof of my proficiency in English?
It does not have to be a TOEFL score. TOEFL is just one of the examples. Please refer to 10.APPLICATION DOCUMENTS of the IGPAS application booklet to see other examples.
Q19. What score of GRE, TOEFL or IELTS will meet the requirement?
We don’t set a standard for the scores. They will serve as a part of our evaluation. Your English proficiency will not be judged solely by these scores but from all the application documents submitted.