Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Genetics Program]
Application Guidelines October 2025 (SOKENDAI Recommendation)(Monbukagakusho: MEXT Scholarship Student)
1. General Prospectus
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI was founded as a national university
in Japan on October 1, 1988. The basic concept of SOKENDAI is to develop a new postgraduate
education system in Japan. Its key features are as follows:
1)

SOKENDAI offers both three-year and five-year doctoral programs.

2)

SOKENDAI consists of 20 programs under one institute operated by 20 Inter-University
Research Institutes and Independent Administrative Institutions (“parent institutions”).

3)

Research and education are carried out in close cooperation with the parent institutions.

4)

Broad and international visions are fostered by enhanced interchange between various
institutions and universities in Japan and abroad.

The parent institutions provide Japanese and foreign scientists with opportunities to conductadvanced joint research in various scientific branches. They are equipped with extensive
research facilities and function as centers for advanced studies. Presently, they are cooperating
to establish a world-class program for postgraduate education at SOKENDAI.
[Admission Policy]<What SOKENDAI expects of our grad students>
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, seeks students who have a strong
interest in research, who constantly hone their abundant intellect and sensitivity with the aim ofconducting research that will open up a new era, while taking a “bird's-eye view” of the entire
field of study, and who have the will and enthusiasm to be active on the international stage.
<Basic policy for the selection of our grad students>
In selecting students for admission, SOKENDAI places importance on basic academic abilityand logical thinking ability to actively promote research in the cutting-edge 20 research
institutes affiliated to SOKENDAI. In order to properly judge such abilities, various selections
will be made according to the respective fields of specialization.

2. Genetics Program Outline
The Genetics Program offers education and research opportunities in a variety of cutting-edge
disciplines with the goal of investigating biological phenomena based on genetic information.
Study and research fields include molecular, cellular, developmental, behavioral, population, andevolutionary genetics, as well as genome biology and bioinformatics. Students can takeadvantage of a wide range of databases and genetic resources hosted by the National Instituteof Genetics (NIG). To nurture independent researchers, the Genetics Program adopts aneducational philosophy by which the academic guidance of each individual student is carried out
by the entire faculty. For example, graduate students meet with their thesis committee twice ayear to receive advice from faculty members outside their host labs. Other features of theProgram include the Scientific Presentation/Writing Program and ample financial assistanceopportunities.

3. Doctoral Degree Requirements
A Doctor of Philosophy degree shall be conferred on students who have satisfied therequirements of their respective doctoral programs as prescribed below.
Students must be enrolled in SOKENDAI for at least five years, earn the necessary credits,
receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the examination for a doctoral thesis.
Students who are recognized as having achieved significant progress may be able to graduate
in a shorter time frame.

4. Qualifications for Application
Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions:1)

Have completed or are expected to complete a 16-year course of school education in aforeign country by the month preceding enrollment;

2)

Have graduated or are expected to graduate from a Japanese university as specified in
Article 83 of the School Education Law by the month preceding enrollment;

3)

Have been conferred or are expected to be conferred a degree equivalent to a bachelor’sdegree by the month preceding enrollment by completing an educational course of three ormore years in a foreign university or in a foreign educational institute;4)

Have completed a 15-year course of school education in a foreign country by the end of themonth preceding enrollment; (Note)

5)

Have been recognized as having academic ability equivalent to a university graduate or
higher by the individual screening of Admission Qualifications of SOKENDAI, and haveattained the age of 22 years by the end of the month preceding enrollment. (Note)

Notes:Applicants who intend to apply under Provisions 4) or 5) are required to undergo qualification
screening before the application can be submitted. If applicable, please contact the Student
Affairs Section via email in advance.
*Besides the above qualifications 1) to 5), eligible applicants include those who otherwise satisfy
or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission to SOKENDAI. If you haveany questions regarding the qualifications for admission, please contact the Student Affairs
Section in advance.

5. Application Procedures[Application Deadline]

Noon on October 28, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)*The application must arrive no later than the application deadline above without failure.
[Contact the prospective supervisor]
Before applying, the applicant must contact the prospective supervisor and confirm whether
he/she can accept the applicant if the applicant passes the examination.
*Please note that faculty members who will retire within the standard period of study (5 yearsfrom the time of admission) cannot be appointed as supervisors.
Faculty list: https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/phd-program/faculty[Application Method]
The applicant must submit a complete set of application documents as an email attachment to
the Academic Services Division of the Genetics Program <info-soken@nig.ac.jp> by thedeadline.
Notes: If the applicant is accepted for enrollment, the applicant must submit the original officialtranscript and certification of graduation.

6. Selection Schedule and Method
October and November, 2024: Screening with application documents and online examination
Late January, 2025: Screening with online written examination and interview*Applicants will be separately informed of selection details after their documents have been
accepted.

7. Announcement of Result
Preliminary admission and scholarship announcements will be sent in April 2025.
Final announcements will be sent by July 2025.

8. Contact Details for Inquiries
Initial applications must be submitted to / Inquiries regarding selection processes must bedirected to:Academic Services Division, National Institute of Genetics (Genetics Program, SOKENDAI)
Email: info-soken@nig.ac.jp
Please see the Program’s website for detailed information:
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/phd-program/admissions-top/admissions
Other inquiries must be directed to:Student Affairs Section, Division of Academic and Student Affairs
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Email: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp

Application Guidelines for Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT)
Foreign Research Student Scholarship 2025 (SOKENDAI Recommendation)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers the following
Japanese government scholarship to foreign students who wish to study at SOKENDAI:

1. Qualifications and Conditions
1)

Applicants:

The scholarship is offered to new foreign students who have earned the equivalent level ofa graduate degree with outstanding academic performance. The applicant must have aminimum GPA 2.3 or higher and is expected to maintain the equivalent level during thescholarship period. In case the applicant’s GPA cannot be calculated by the Japanese
government formula, it is necessary to submit a letter of recommendation from the Dean orhigher of the attended school, which includes a statement that the applicant is ranked within
the top 30% in the school, or university.
2)

Nationality:

The applicant must hold the nationality of a country that is specified by MEXT. The applicant
who holds Japanese citizenship or a nationality of a country that is not specified by MEXT at
the time of application is not eligible.
To see the list of specified nationalities, please confirm the following webpage.
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/mextscholarship/university_recommendation/file/List_of_Specified_Nationalities.pdf
3)

Age:

The applicant must have been born on or after April 2, 1990.
4)

Academic Background:

The applicant must have completed a 16-year course of study in the educational institutionof a foreign country or is expected to complete such a course by September 30, 2025.
For the details, please see “4. Qualifications for Application” in the application guidelines.
5)

Study Area:

The study area must be in the same field as the applicant has studied or in a related one.
This field of study must be available at SOKENDAI.
6)

Language Ability:

The applicant must fulfill at least one of the requirements listed below:a)Holds an English proficiency test score equivalent to B2 or above on the CEFR
(Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

To see the CEFR Equivalency Chart, please confirm the following webpage.
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/genetics/file/CEFR_1.pdfb)

Has completed an educational program whose primary language of instruction isEnglish that satisfies the entrance requirements for the Five-year doctoral program at
SOKENDAI.

7)

Health:The applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan8)

Arrival in Japan:

The applicant must be able to arrive in Japan on the dates designated by SOKENDAI
between the middle of September and the beginning of October, 2025 (Applicants whocannot arrive in Japan within the designated period should decline acceptance. Those whoarrive in Japan before the designated date for personal reasons will NOT be provided
traveling expenses to Japan).
9)

Visa Requirement:

If selected, the applicant will be required to acquire a “Student (ryugaku)” visa in the homecountry prior to coming to Japan and enter Japan with “Student” status. Therefore, thesuccessful applicant who is already in Japan under a different residence status must change
his/her residence status to “Student” by the end of September, 2025 and re-enter Japan with“Student” status. (The applicant who comes to Japan with a visa or residence status otherthan “Student” will NOT qualify for the Japanese government scholarship. Additionally,please note that the applicant who changes his/her residence status to any status other than“Student” after entry into Japan will lose his/her status as a Japanese government
scholarship student.) Please be informed that there is a possibility that your application forthe original residence status may not be approved after the period of MEXT scholarshipstudent.
10) Others:
The applicant under the conditions stated below will NOT be considered a candidate.
a)

Military personnel and military civilian employees registered on the active list;b)

Is not able to arrive in Japan on the appointed dates;c)

Has received the MEXT scholarship within the past three years (However, thisrestriction does not apply to those who have been enrolled as scholarship students ina Japanese language and culture program or as a scholarship student in the JapanKorea Joint Undergraduate Course for Science and Engineering);d)Has applies for another MEXT scholarship;e)

Has enrolled in a Japanese university with “Student (ryugaku)” status at the time of
the application and has enrolled/will be enrolled in a Japanese university as a

privately-financed foreign student between the time of application and the beginningof the scholarship payment;f)

Has already won a scholarship from another institution (including the government of
their home country) other than MEXT.

2. Terms of ScholarshipIf the grantee directly enrolls in the five-year doctoral program after coming to Japan, thescholarship will be payable for two years (the first two years of the standard program term)(starting in October 2025 and finishing in September 2027). For the grantee to extend his/herscholarship until the end of the standard program term (until September 2030), he/she should
apply for an extension of the scholarship that must be approved by MEXT. Please note that
depending on his/her academic achievement and the budget condition of MEXT, his/her
application will not necessarily be approved.

3. Scholarship Benefits1)

Scholarship amount:

The scholarship amount for 2025 has not been fixed yet.
For reference, the scholarship amount for 2024 is as follows.
Enrolled Doctoral Program

Amount of Stipend per Month

1 and 2-year student of 5-year doctoral program

144,000 yen

3 to 5-year student of 5-year doctoral program

145,000 yen

The amount for 2025 may change depending on the budget conditions.
The scholarship will NOT be paid to the grantee who takes a leave of absence from theuniversity or does not attend classes for an extended period of time.
2)

Transportation to Japan:

According to his/her itinerary and route as designated by MEXT, the grantee will be provided
with an economy-class air ticket from the international airport nearest to his/her homeaddress to Narita/Haneda airport or the international airport in Japan nearest to the campus
of SOKENDAI where the grantee is placed. Other expenses, such as inland transportationfrom his/her place of residence to the international airport, airport tax, and any special taxes
on overseas travel, will NOT be provided. (The address stated in the application is considered
as “home address of the grantee”.)*No air tickets will be issued to a grantee for a route from any country other than the countryof his/her nationality.

3)Transportation from Japan:

For a grantee who returns to his/her home country by a specified date after the scholarshiphas ended, MEXT will pay for an economy class air ticket from Narita/Haneda airport or theinternational airport in Japan nearest to the campus of SOKENDAI where the grantee isplaced to the international airport nearest to his/her home address.
*The grantee should purchase air travel insurance at his/her own expense.
*The airports for departure and return should be in the country of the grantee’s nationality.
4)

Education fee:

The fees for the admission and tuition at SOKENDAI will be paid by MEXT.

4. Recommendation and Selection
1)

Scholarship Recommendation:

After screening at SOKENDAI, the President of SOKENDAI recommends applicants who
have shown academic excellence to MEXT.
2)Scholarship Selection:

Candidates are screened and selected by a selection committee from a pool of applicants
recommended by the presidents of all universities in Japan. Based on the results of thescreening and selection by the committee, MEXT selects grantees and their scholarshipterms.
3)

Documents to be submitted:a)Application Formb)

Field of study and Research Planc)

Photograph or digital image sized 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm taken within the past six months(Full-faced photograph. When photographed, the applicant must not wear a hat or cap
hiding a part of his/her face or head. The applicant must write his/her name andnationality on the back of the photograph.)d)

Proof of nationality (preferably a copy of the applicant’s passport)e)

Certified academic records (originals or certified copies)

The applicant must submit certified academic records (issued by the university) for eachacademic year of all universities attended.
Applicants must submit Official Transcripts for all academic years from undergraduate
school. Applicants with master’s or doctoral degrees must submit Official Transcripts
from graduate schools.

f)

Diploma or degree certificate (originals or certified copies)

The applicants must submit a diploma or degree certificate from all the universities attended(or a document certifying that the applicants will graduate from the university by September2025).
Applicants must submit the Certificate of Graduation from their undergraduate school.
Applicants who graduated from graduate schools must submit the Certificates ofGraduation from graduate schools.

Applicants who have not yet graduated from a university must submit an attested
document certifying that the applicants will graduate before entering the doctoralprogram.

g)

Proof of the applicant’s academic level, such as the academic ranking in his/her
previous university (e.g., GPA, ABC grading, and ranking of academic achievement)h)A recommendation letter from the applicant’s home institution, addressed to thePresident of SOKENDAI (original)

A recommendation letter must be issued by the Dean or equivalent (or higher) of theapplicant’s current university or the most recent university the applicant attended if
he/she is not enrolled in any university. SOKENDAI cannot accept a recommendation
letter from the department head or the applicant’s academic supervisor.

Please attach a document indicating the position of the person who wrote therecommendation letter.

i)

Abstracts of thesis
If the applicant has no theses or publications, please submit a summary of his/hercurrent research project.

j)Certificate of English proficiency
The applicant must submit a certificate of English in either one, as shown below.
i.

Official score report, such as TOEFL iBT and IELTS, proving that applicants have
English proficiency equivalent to the Common European Framework ofReference for Languages (CEFR) B2 level or above. Please note that theapplicant must have undergone one of these tests after January 20, 2023.

ii.

A document certifying that the applicant has completed his/her bachelor’s
course in English as the main language[How to submit score record]i.

TOEFL iBT

Please submit the original official score report by one of the following methods.
Applicants submit the original official score report by mail with application
documents.

Applicants submit a copy of the official score report with application documents

and make arrangements for the ETS to send the original official score report
directly to SOKENDAI.
The Institution Code and Institution Name are as follows.
Institution Code: 7564
Institution Name: SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)
The score must be submitted to us by the application deadline. Please note that it willtake six weeks or more to receive the score since applicants ask ETS to send it.
ii.

IELTS

Please submit a copy of the official score report with application documents.
If applicants cannot submit any of the above scores by the application deadline, pleasecontact the Student Affairs Section of SOKENDAI.
k)

Proof of the applicant’s specific knowledge and capability in his/her field, such as acommendation for research achievement (optional)

5. Additional considerations
1)

The documents mentioned above must be prepared in Japanese or English. If thedocuments are prepared in languages other than Japanese or English, an official
English translation must be included.

2)

The documents above must be prepared using word-processing software. Print all
required documents on A4 size paper. (if possible)

3)

Admission may be withdrawn at any time even after enrollment if the application
documents are found to be invalid or contain false information.

6. Notes
1)

The recipients of the MEXT scholarship may have his/her scholarship revoked in thefollowing cases:

If the recipient wrongly receives the scholarship under the following

circumstances, he/she may be required to return the scholarship for that period.
a)When the recipient has made false statements on the application;b)

When the recipient violates his/her contractual agreement with MEXT;c)

When the recipient has been the subject of disciplinary action at SOKENDAI;d)When it becomes definitive that the recipient will not be able to graduate (or completethe program) within the standard program terms because of poor academic
achievement or suspension;

e)When the recipient changes his/her “Student” visa status to some other status ofresidence;f)

When the recipient receives other scholarships (excluding grants for specific researchprojects);g)

When the recipient proceeds to higher courses without approval for the extension of
the scholarship by MEXT;h)

When the recipient withdraws from SOKENDAI or transfers to a different graduateschool.

2)

If the recipient takes a leave of absence from SOKENDAI or does not attend classes foran extended period of time, he/she will NOT receive scholarship payments during theperiod.

3)Security Export Control: Depending on the specifics of the education and research
instructions they wish to receive upon entering the doctoral program, applicants may besubject to regulations on the export/transfer of controlled technologies based on theForeign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. Please consult the Student Affairs Sectionfor further details.