IGPAS
About IGPAS
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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 2026
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, 2026.
( 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, 2026, 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, 2026, 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, 2026.
( 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, 2026 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.
Fees and Expenses
Tohoku University's application, admission, and tuition fees are shown in the table (as of AY 2024). 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.
Financial Support
MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship
For October 2026 applicants, several MEXT scholarship slots may be available for both master's and doctoral program students. Scholarship availability will be announced as early as late October or by late November at the latest. Updates will be posted on this website once the program receives official notification from MEXT.
■ Support Period
・ Master's Students: for two years (from October 2026 to September 2028)
・ Doctoral Students: for three years (from October 2026 to September 2029)
■ Benefits
・ Monthly Stipend: 146,000 JPY/month (including the Sendai regional allowance of 2,000 JPY)
・ Flight tickets for coming to Japan for admission and for returning to the home country after completing the master's program
・ Exemption from application, admission, and tuition fees
■ Eligibility
・ Those who were born on/after April 2, 1991
・ Those who meet the application requirements designated by the MEXT.
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.
