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IGPAS

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 for the three-year 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 2023

Applicants for IGPAS must satisfy ONE of the following conditions.
However, those who are applying with using condition (ii) or (iii) may be required to take a preliminary screening, depending on their situation, and so, 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, 2023.
( ii ) Those who (will) have been conferred a degree equivalent to a bachelor 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, 2023 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, 2023 and have been recognized by the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University through an individual qualification examination, to have a scholastic ability equivalent to 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, 2023.
( 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, 2023 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

The fees as of 2022 are shown in the table.
Students may apply for admission and/or tuition fee waivers, but the competition for the waivers are very high.
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. For visa applications, incoming students may need to have financial support or enough savings to bear expenses incurred during their stay in Japan.

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Financial Support

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

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

  • Advanced Graduate School Pioneering Research Support Project for PhD Students
    Tohoku University supports excellent doctoral students who have a strong desire to pursue research in interdisciplinary, international, or academic-industry collaborative fields. The monthly stipend is 180,000 yen per month (on average) and the annual research grant is 340,000 yen.
    https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/next_generation.html
  • Advanced Graduate School Doctoral Fellowship
    For those 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 will provide fellowships consisting of a stipend and research grant. The monthly stipend is 180,000 yen per month (on average) and the annual research grant is 340,000 yen.
    https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/fellowship.html
  • Global Hagi Scholarship
    It is a scholarship, which provides 600,000 yen per year to students who strongly wish to continue from a master's to a doctoral course. Students in the 2nd year of a master's course or in the 1st year of a doctoral course with exceptional academic ability and character are eligible to apply. The scholarship starts from the 2nd year of a master's course or the 1st year of the doctoral course and continues until the standard course term of for the doctoral curriculum.
    https://www2.he.tohoku.ac.jp/shogaku/files/ghagi.pdf
  • Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship
    This scholarship provides 48,000 yen per month for self-financed international students. Eligibilities vary depending on programs and usually, the graduate school examines eligibilities 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 regards to recruitment procedures, eligible fields of study and amounts. In many cases application will be made through Tohoku University after admission.

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