FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. I would like to become a degree-seeking student at the graduate school. What procedures do I have to follow in order to apply?

A. Please refer to the homepage of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,「 "information on admissions"」

Q. Is it possible to receive the application forms and application guideline booklet at the Komaba campus? Are there any fees which have to be paid in order to receive a copy of the above?

A. You can pick up a copy of the application forms (and guidelines) for free, at the counter of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (i.e. office window number 5, which is located at the 1st floor of the Administration Block of Komaba campus.) However, the documents will only be distributed during the specified period of time. (The collection time is from 9:00 to 16:30, Mondays to Fridays during the school term. Please note that office hours will be changed to 9:00-12:00, 13:30-16:30 during the school holidays. It is also possible to make a request for the applications forms to be sent to your home address. Please click on the linkon the homepage of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,for more details.

Q. Is it possible to take the entrance exams of both the Masters Course and the Doctoral Course at the same sitting?

A. Yes, it is.

Q. Is it possible to take the entrance exams of more than one course offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the same sitting?

A. In previous years, all the other Arts courses offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences have had their entrance exams scheduled on the same day as that of the Department of Advanced Social and International Sciences. Therefore, it is not feasible to take the entrance exams of more than one Arts course at the same sitting. Detailed information on the entrance exams of the other Arts courses offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can also be found in the administration guidelines booklet.

Q. I would like to know how competitive the application to the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies is, for instance in terms of the percentage of applicants who actually passed the screening.

A. The number of applicants differs substantially from year to year, so it is not possible to provide a numerical answer to the above question. Also, our department does not have a numerical target for the rate of successful applications.

Q. I am a member of the working society who has been actively involved in international cooperation, after dropping out of university a couple of years ago. If possible, I would like to sit for the entrance exams as a "member of society who has been recognized as possessing educational attainments of an equal standard to that of a university graduate". How can I apply to have my educational attainments and working achievements evaluated, so that I can apply for the entrance exams under the above-mentioned status?

A. For details on applying to the Masters Course, please see "information related to course applications" (in Japanese), point number 4 on page 2.

Q. Do I have to apply separately in order to attend the explanatory session on the entrance examinations? Are there any forms which have to be submitted regarding the above?

A. There is no need to make prior reservation in order to attend the explanatory session. The exact date, time and venue of the explanatory session will be announced on our homepage,once they have been finalized.

Q. Is it possible to contact or arrange to meet up directly with the professors at the graduate school before sitting for the entrance exams, in order to find out how compatible my field of interest and the field of specialization of the professors are?

A. The professors of our department do not meet up with applicants on a one-to-one basis, regarding their individual preferences or prerequisites for potential students. Details on the field of specialization of each professor can be found on our homepage, under about the faculty.

Q. Is it possible to submit my research proposal in a language other than Japanese?

A. Japanese as a medium of language is an indispensable prerequisite for attaining a degree at our department. Please write and submit your research proposal in Japanese.

Q. I would like to find out more on what it means to be a "research student" at the Graduate School.

A. Research students (including students of Japanese nationality), are students who conduct their individual research on a specific theme, under an academic advisor. Please click herefor more details.

Q. It seems that there are quite a number of categories of "qualifications for applying". What does each of these qualifications entail specifically?

A. In general ,there are 3 categories of "qualifications for applying". They are as follows: (1) general applicant; (2) specially selected applicant who is a member of the working society; and (3) applicant of a foreign nationality. A "specially selected applicant who is a member of the working society" is someone with formal working experience, and who would like to enroll in our graduate school as a degree-seeking student. (Please refer to the column on the "special screening for members of the working society" below for more details). On the other hand, an "applicant of a foreign nationality" is an applicant who has received his or her formal educational training abroad. During the first round of screening, an applicant who falls into this category will be tested for his or her proficiency in a foreign language, differently from that of Japanese students. (Please refer to the column on "applicant of a foreign nationality" below, for more details). All applicants other than those who fall into the 2 above-mentioned categories are "general applicants". Please take note too, of the fact that applicants who passed the first stage of screening will be required to submit several reports on specific themes such as their research proposal. The reports which are to be submitted differ according to the category of "qualifications for applying", which the applicant falls into. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you submit your reports based on the requirements of the particular category which you belong to.

Q. Is it possible to submit a paper other than my Honors thesis, as part of the requirements for the second round of screening (i.e. the oral examination)?

A. Specific details on the reports which are to be submitted have been furnished on「"reports to be submitted by all applicants who successfully passed the first round of screening (i.e. the written examinations)"」(in Japanese). Please look up the details on your own.

Q. I am currently enrolled as a Masters student at another university, and would like to apply to the Doctoral course offered by the Department of Advanced International and Social Studies. My university does not require that I write or submit a Masters thesis. Therefore, I would like to know if it is possible that I submit an academic paper other than a Masters thesis, upon applying.

A. It is a requirement for application that you submit your Masters thesis, or a paper that is at least equivalent in terms of technical standard, to that of a Masters thesis.

Q. What is the format of the paper (in terms of language, writing style, word count etc.) which is to be submitted as part of the requirements for the 2nd round of screening?

A. Details have been furnished on the link「"reports to be submitted by all applicants who passed the first round of screening (i.e. the written exams)"」(in Japanese), so please read up on the details on your own.

Q. I am of a non-Japanese nationality, but I received my formal education in Japan. Do I have to submit my application for the Masters course as an "applicant of a foreign nationality"?

A. Applicants who received part of, or all of their formal education in Japan will not be regarded as "applicants of a foreign nationality". However, this is with the exception of foreign nationals whose time spent in Japan was very short. To make sure that you apply under the appropriate category, please make an enquiry to the office of the Graduate School of Arts　and Sciences（E-mail: daigakuin **at** adm.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp）, as soon as possible (and prior to your application for the course).

Q. Is Japanese language the only foreign language that an "applicant of a foreign nationality" will be tested for, during the written examinations for entering the Masters course?

A. All "applicants of a foreign nationality" will have to sit for 2 foreign language exams, as part of the written examinations for the Masters course. The 2 exams are English language I and Japanese, respectively.

Q. What kind of foreign language proficiency tests will an "applicant of a foreign nationality" have to sit for, in the course of applying to enter the Doctoral (PHD) course?

A. There are no formal tests that take place within a specifically designated period of time. However, if proficiency in a particular foreign language is deemed to be necessary for conducting research, it is possible that the candidate's proficiency in that particular language be verified during the oral examinations.

Q.I am a Japanese national, but I received my formal education abroad. Should I apply as a "candidate of a foreign nationality"?

A. Please direct your query directly to the office of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences （E-mail: daigakuin **at** adm.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp).

Q. Please tell me more about what it means to be a "foreign research student".

A. A "foreign research student" is a student who holds a foreign nationality, and who conducts research on a specific theme under the supervision of an academic advisor at our graduate school. The period of research is usually 6 months. However, if deemed necessary for the purpose of his / her research, the student may request to extend the period of study at our graduate school on a half-yearly basis. The maximum period of time that a "foreign research student" can be enrolled at our school is 2 years. Please see here, for details on how to apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a "foreign research student".

Q. I would like to know how to apply to be accepted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a "foreign research student".

A. Please refer to the guidelines on applying to be a "foreign research student".

Q. When is the deadline for applying to be a "foreign research student"?

A. If you would like to be admitted in April, then you will have to submit your application by the end of September of the previous year. If on the other hand, you would like to be admitted in October, then you will have to submit your application by the end of February.

Q. How will the selection process for "foreign research student" applicants be like?

A. Whether or not an applicant can be admitted as a "foreign research student" is not based on the judgment of an individual professor, but is the result of screening conducted on the basis of standard procedures that have been specified by the department. Therefore, it is not possible for an applicant to make arrangements to be accepted in advance, based on informal discussions with an academic supervisor at the graduate school.

Q. I passed the selection process for the Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) scholarship, via embassy recommendation. How can I obtain a letter of acceptance from the University of Tokyo?

A. Since 2006, only candidates who passed the first round of screening by the Japanese embassy in each of their respective countries will be eligible to apply for a letter of acceptance from the Japanese university of their choice. Please see here, for the specific details on the types of documents which you will have to prepare, and the venue to which you should submit your application to.

Q. What are the required criteria for someone to qualify as an applicant who is a member of the working society?

A. In order for someone to be eligible to apply as a "specially selected applicant who is a member of the working society", he / she has to be either currently employed at a company, educational institution, or bureaucratic institution; or posses formal previous working experience. Preferably speaking, there should be a close and direct connection between the contents of his or her work, and that of his or her research, after having been admitted as a graduate student to our department.

Q. Is it absolutely necessary that I be currently employed, in order for me to be eligible to apply (as a member of the working society)?

A. No. As long as you posses some form of formal working experience (even if in the past), you are eligible to apply under this category.

Q. Is it necessary for me to submit formal documents issued by my employer / work place, in the event that I am admitted to your graduate school?

A. If you wish to continue being employed during the course of your study at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, then you will be required to submit a formal document that indicates your intention to be focused on your studies as long as you are a student of our school. This document will have to be endorsed by a person of authority at your workplace (such as your boss, or the person to whom you report directly to).

Q. Is it possible for me to continue working while I pursue my degree, after I have been admitted as a graduate student?

A. Currently, there are graduate students at our school who are formally employed. However, since the answer to your question differs on a case-by-case basis, it is not possible for us to provide a definite answer without first looking into your situation.

Q. Will special time-table arrangements -such as night or weekend classes- be made for graduate students who are at the same time working members of the society?

A. Not particularly.

Q. I would like to know more about the areas of specialization of the professors at the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies.

A. Please refer to faculty information, which is available on the department's homepage.

Q. Do I have to decide on my academic supervisor prior to gaining admission?

A. No. You may choose your academic supervisor after having been admitted to our graduate school.

Q. How do I select my academic supervisor?

A. Students at our department are given the freedom of choice with regards to their academic supervisors. After having been accepted to our graduate school, students are encouraged to meet up with one or more professors, and to choose the professor whose field of specialization most closely matches his or her area of interest. Please click here for more information on the professors at the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies, and their respective fields of specialization.

Q. Is it possible to have an associate professor as my academic supervisor?

A. Yes, it is.

Q. I am currently enrolled as a graduate student at another tertiary institution, but would like to withdraw from my university in order to gain acceptance at the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies. Can I transfer the credits which I have accumulated at my current university, after having gained admission to your department?

A. No, we do not allow for the transfer of credits from other universities.

Q. Can I view the time-table of the classes offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences?

A. Yes, a copy of the time-table is available at the homepage of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Q. How many days per week will I be required to attend formal lessons?

A. There is no specific rule regarding the number of days in a week that you will have to come to school, so long as you manage to accumulate the sufficient amount of credits required for you to obtain your degree.

Q. How many credits are required for me to graduate?

A. The minimum amount of credits required for graduation are 30 credits within the course of 2 years for the Masters course, and 20 credits within the course of 3 years, for PHD students. Of course, it is possible for you to obtain more credits than are required for graduation.

Q. I am aware that the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies offers lectures according to the following 4 themes: "lectures in International Relations"; "lectures in International Cooperation"; "lectures in public policy"; and "lectures in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences". I am wondering if it is necessary for me to select 1 out of the 4 themes to specialize in. Also, could you tell me if the contents of the entrance exams differs according to the theme of my interest / specialization?

A. There is no need for you to select a specific theme in which to specialize in. The entrance exams differ, only with regards to whether you are applying to the Department of International Relations or the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.

Q. Can I view the themes of the masters theses submitted by previous batches of students?

A. Titles of all masters theses previously submitted to our department can be viewed at the department's homepage. In addition, you may also read the contents of the theses, by making a prior application to the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies' library, which is located at the 5th floor of building number 2 of Komaba campus.

Q. What level of proficiency in the Japanese language is required of me?

A. Although there are a few classes that are conducted in English at the Department of Advanced Social and International Studies, almost all of the compulsory classes are held only in Japanese. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary that you attain a level of proficiency in Japanese which would enable you to participate in class discussions, and to understand the readings assigned by your lecturers.

Q. Are there language classes for foreign students designed to help them practice using the Japanese language?

A. The University of Tokyo's Japanese language education center does offer a variety of Japanese language courses to foreign students. All foreign students who are officially enrolled at the University of Tokyo may apply to sit for these classes. Please refer to the Japanese language education center's homepage, for more details on this.

Q. Is it necessary for foreign research students to be proficient in the Japanese language?

A. Yes, it is.

Q. I have a scholarship from the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho Shogakukin), and must obtain a letter of acceptance. How do I proceed?

A. To obtain a letter of acceptance from the University of Tokyo, please visit here.

Q. Is it possible to write a thesis in English?

A. Yes, and some students do so.

Q. What courses, if any, are offered in English?

A. It varies from one year to another. Please refer to the course schedule, and contact our faculty after matriculation.

Q. Is English alone sufficient for obtaining master’s and Ph.D. degrees?

A. No, because most of our required courses are offered in Japanese only.

Q. How can I find out the expertise of your faculty?

A. Please refer to this page.