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IGPAS

IGPAS Application Booklet 2024
Application Period: November 1-November 30, 2023

►►►Application

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Introduction

The International Graduate Program for Advanced Science (IGPAS) was initiated in October 2004 as one of the first International Priority Graduate Programs supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology (MEXT). The lecture courses are taught in English, and the students are not required to learn the Japanese language, although they are encouraged to learn it in their daily lives.

Program Details

IGPAS is a five-year graduate program combining a two-year master's program and a three-year doctoral program. Admission only for the master's program, or admission only for the doctoral program, is also available. Each student is affiliated with one of six departments: Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Geophysics, Chemistry, and Earth Science. Each department determines its own curriculum and course requirements, and the availability of classes varies depending on the semester and/or departments. Students may consult their supervisor about their research plan each semester before registration.

Eligibility for IGPAS 2024

Applicants for IGPAS must satisfy ONE of the following conditions.
However, those who are applying with conditions (ii) or (iii) may be required to take a preliminary screening, depending on their situation. Therefore, they should contact the IGPAS Admissions Office before the application.


Master's Program

( i ) Those who (will) have graduated from a university[1] by September 30, 2024.
( ii ) Those who (will) have been conferred a degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree upon completion of a three-year program at a university, or those who (will) have completed 15 years of school education by September 30, 2024, and have been recognized by the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University as having obtained the necessary credits with excellent grades.
(iii) Those who will reach 22 years of age by September 30, 2024, and have been recognized by the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University through an individual qualification examination, to have a scholastic ability equivalent or superior to those who have graduated from a university.


Doctoral Program

( i ) Those who (will) have earned a master's degree by September 30, 2024.
( ii ) Those who (will) have engaged in research activities for at least two years at an educational or research institution after their graduation from a university[1] and have been recognized by the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University on the basis of their research performance to have a scholastic ability equivalent or superior to those who have earned a master's degree.
(iii) Those who will reach 24 years of age by September 30, 2024 and have been recognized by the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University through an individual qualification examination to have a scholastic ability equivalent or superior to those who have earned a master's degree.


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Fees and Expenses

Tohoku University's application, admission, and tuition fees are shown in the table (as of AY 2023). Students who find it difficult to pay the admission fee and/or tuition fee for economic reasons may be granted a waiver on application and screening. Overall living expenses in Sendai, including apartment rent, utilities, food, transportation, and so forth, may range from 80,000 to 150,000 JPY per month depending on conditions.

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Financial Support

MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship for IGPAS 2023, 2024, and 2025 Admission
Master's Program: 7 students for 2 years

The MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship opportunities are available to the master's program IGPAS applicants for 2023, 2024, and 2025 admission, who successfully pass the entrance examination with excellent performance.


【MEXT Scholarship Conditions for IGPAS 2024】
1. Scholarship Benefits
(1) Monthly stipend for master's program students: 146,000 JPY/month (including the Sendai regional allowance of 2,000 JPY.)

(2) Flight Tickets
① For coming to Japan for admission
② For returning to the home country after completing the stipulated period of the master's program

(3) Exemption from the application (examination), admission (entrance), and tuition fees
① Application fee: 30,000 JPY
② Admission fee: 282,000 JPY
③ Tuition fee: 267,900 JPY per semester

2. Scholarship Period
・For two years: from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026
・The scholarship period cannot be extended.

For more details on the MEXT scholarship conditions assigned for IGPAS, please click here.


After admission, you may apply for some of the following financial support programs and scholarships.

Graduate Degree Programs

Tohoku University has launched leading graduate degree programs called "International Joint Graduate Programs" and "Academia-Industry Collaborating Graduate Programs". By using Tohoku University's research strengths, the programs gather university-wide knowledge to overcome the boundaries between disciplines and form strong cooperative educational ties with leading overseas universities as well as collaborative education between private companies/organizations and research/international institutions.

■ The students in the programs will have a chance to receive financial support when they meet the criteria of each program.
■ The programs you may apply for vary depending on your major. To join programs, you must pass the screening process conducted by each program. Please contact your prospective supervisor if you are interested in applying for the programs.

Scholarships, etc.

  • Tohoku University Doctoral Fellowship
    For doctoral program students who are motivated to pursue research and who will become important leaders in the creation of science, technology, and innovation in Japan in the future, Tohoku University provides fellowships consisting of a stipend and research grant. The monthly stipend is 180,000 JPY per month (on average) and the annual research grant is 340,000 JPY.
    https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/fellowship.html
  • Global Hagi Scholarship
    It is a scholarship, which provides 600,000 JPY per year to students who strongly wish to continue from a master's to a doctoral program. Students in the 2nd year of a master's program or in the 1st year of a doctoral program with exceptional academic ability and character are eligible to apply. The scholarship starts from the 2nd year of a master's program or the 1st year of the doctoral program and continues until the standard program term of the doctoral curriculum.
    2023_global_hagi.pdf
  • Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship
    This scholarship provides 48,000 JPY per month for self-financed international students. Eligibilities vary depending on programs and usually, the graduate school examines the eligibility of the students and then directly contacts applicable students.
    https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/scholarships/shoureihi/index.html
  • Scholarship for international students offered by private foundations and organizations
    Some private foundations and other organizations in Japan offer scholarships for international students. These scholarships vary with regard to recruitment procedures, eligible fields of study, and amounts. In many cases, applications will be made through Tohoku University after admission.

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