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IGPAS

About IGPAS

[Short Video]
Unlocking Opportunities: A Journey Through Tohoku University's Graduate Program in Science - IGPAS 1

[Note] The current tuition fee and financial support information differ from the content presented in this video.

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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 2027

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 have completed (or will complete) 16 years of education by September 30, 2027.
( ii ) Those who have been (or will be) conferred a degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree upon completion of a three-year program at a university, or those who have completed (will complete) 15 years of school education by September 30, 2027, 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, 2027, 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 have earned (or will earn) a master's degree by September 30, 2027.
( ii ) Those who have engaged (will engage) in research activities for at least two years at an educational or research institution after their graduation from a university 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, 2027, 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.

Applicants Requiring Accommodations
Applicants who require accommodations for the entrance examination or their studies due to a medical condition, disability, or other circumstances should contact the IGPAS Admissions Office before submitting their application documents. Please note that requests made shortly before the examination may not be accommodated.
Requesting accommodations will not affect the admission decision.

Fees and Expenses

Tohoku University's application, admission, and tuition fees are shown in the table (as of AY 2027). 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

■ Availability for October 2027 admission
 ・ Master's program: 6 slots
 ・ Doctoral program: 2 slots

■ Support Period
 ・ Master's Students: for two years (from October 2027 to September 2029)
 ・ Doctoral Students: for three years (from October 2027 to September 2030)

■ Benefits
 (1) Monthly stipend
Master's Students: 146,000 JPY, Doctoral Students: 147,000 JPY
(both including the Sendai regional allowance of 2,000 JPY)

 (2) Flight tickets for coming to Japan for admission and for returning to the home country after completing the program

 (3) Exemption from application, admission, and tuition fees

■ Eligibility
 ・ Those who were born on/after April 2, 1992
 ・ Those who meet the application requirements designated by the MEXT.


Scholarships, etc.

  • TU-AGS LEAP Program
    In April 2026, Tohoku University started a new support package for doctoral students, naming it the LEAP Program (Leadership and Excellence Advancement Professionals Program).
    - By applying, doctoral students will receive 106,000 JPY per month. There is also a chance to receive travel funding, though it is competitive.
    - We expect the application details for the October intake to be available in late summer 2026.
    Reference:
    1. Application Guidelines for Spring 2026 (for your tentative reference):
    2. FAQ
    [Note] The AGS-RISE program and other past support programs for doctoral students have been integrated into the new TU-AGS LEAP Program.
  • Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship
    Tohoku University will establish a new scholarship program, the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship, beginning with students enrolling in the 2027 academic year. The scholarship program will provide focused financial support to outstanding international students enrolled in master's programs. Recipients will be selected based on entrance examination results or academic performance after enrollment, together with other relevant criteria. The University expects to support approximately the top one-third of eligible students.

  • 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.
    https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/brochures/
    https://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/direct/english/news/scholarship/

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

Post-Admission Programs
(Some programs allow applications at the time of admission.)

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.



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