Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Statistical Science 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 of
conducting 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 ability
and logical thinking ability to actively promote research in the cutting-edge 20 research institutes
affiliated with SOKENDAI. In order to properly judge such abilities, various selections will bemade according to the respective fields of specialization

2. Statistical Science Program Outline
The Statistical Science program, which is based on the Institute of Statistical Mathematics

(ISM) serving as its underlying platform, intends to cultivate individuals who possess creative
research and educational skills and contribute to solving various important intricately-intertwined
issues through extraction of information and knowledge from the real world taking advantage of
their skills in modeling, prediction, inference, and collection of data, while conducting researchand education on their foundations, i.e., mathematics, computation, and applications.

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.
[Three-year doctoral program]Students must be enrolled in SOKENDAI for at least three 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.
[Five-year doctoral program]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[Qualifications for the three-year doctoral program]
Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions;1)

A master’s degree or a degree equivalent to a professional degree has been conferred or
is expected to be conferred in a foreign country by the month preceding enrollment;

2)

Hold or are expected to obtain a master’s degree or a professional degree by the month
preceding enrollment in Japan;

3)

Have been recognized by SOKENDAI as having academic ability equivalent to or superior
to those who have a master’s degree or a professional degree by the individual screeningof the Admission Qualifications of SOKENDAI, and have attained an age of 24 years by theend of the month preceding enrollment.

Notes:*The qualifications concern not the date of completion of the master’s course of study, but thedate of conferral of a master’s or equivalent professional degree.

*Applicants who intend to apply under Provision 3) above are required to undergo qualification
screening to confirm “having academic ability equivalent to those who have a master’s degree
or a professional degree” before the application can be submitted. If applicable, please contact
the Student Affairs Section via email in advance.
*Those who have completed or are expected to complete a master’s course before the time ofenrollment in the doctoral program, but are not expected to be granted a master’s orprofessional degree by that time must undergo extra screening procedures before theapplication.
*Other than the above qualifications 1) to 3), eligible applicants include those who otherwise
satisfy or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission to SOKENDAI. If you
have any questions regarding the qualifications for admission, please contact the Student
Affairs Section in advance.
[Qualifications for the five-year doctoral program]
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’s
degree by the month preceding enrollment by completing an educational course of three ormore years at a foreign university or 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.

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 an age of 22 years by the end of the month preceding enrollment.

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) –5), eligible applicants include those who otherwise satisfy
or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission to SOKENDAI. If you have any
questions regarding the qualifications for admission, please contact the Student Affairs Section inadvance.

5. Application Procedures[Application Period]

June 27 to July 3, 2024, 5:00 pm JST**The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period 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.
[Application Method]
The applicant must submit a complete set of application documents either by mail or email. For
details, please confirm following points 1) and 2). The application must reach SOKENDAI nolater than the application deadline of July 3, 2024 at 5:00 pm JST.
1)

Mail

The complete set of application documents must be submitted by registered express mail or asimilar service. If there are any problems with the submitted documents. SOKENDAI will contact
the applicant via email.
Mailing address;
Student Affairs Section, Division of Academic and Student Affairs
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Shonan Village, Hayama, Miura, Kanagawa 240-0193 JAPAN
Telephone number +81-46-858-1526
2)

Email

The complete set of application documents must be submitted via email. If the attach files
containing more than 10 megabytes, please send them separately and number each email
subject. Additionally, when sending files, please attach them to your email directly, without using
uploaders.
After receiving the applicant’s email, SOKENDAI will send the applicant a confirmation email. If
the applicant does not receive our email within a week of submitting the documents, pleasecontact us.
Email address: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp (Student Affairs Section, SOKENDAI)
Notes: If the applicant will be accepted for enrollment, the applicant must submit the original
official transcript and certification of graduation.

6. Selection Schedule and Method[Three-year doctoral program]
August 5, 2024 – August 9, 2024
Applicants are required to take an on-site interview examination on one day from August 5,
2024 to August 9, 2024.

The date of interview examination will be notified separately.

Travel expenses will not be covered.



If there are unavoidable circumstances that prevent you from attending the interview at thetest site, please contact the ISM General Affairs and Project Team (sokendai@list.ism.ac.jp).

[Five-year doctoral program]
August 5, 2024 – August 9, 2024
Applicants take on-site examination.

A written examination will be scheduled on one day from August 5, 2024 to August 9, 2024.

An interview examination will be scheduled on one day from August 5, 2024 to August 9,2024



An interview examination will be notified separately.

Travel expenses will not be covered.



The written examination is conducted on mathematics and English (TOEFL-ITP).



Applicants can submit TOEFL-iBT official score reports at the time of application instead oftaking the TOEFL-ITP examination on-site.



If there are unavoidable circumstances that prevent you from attending the interview at thetest site, please contact the ISM General Affairs and Project Team (sokendai@list.ism.ac.jp).

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
Student Affairs Section, Division of Academic and Student Affairs
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
E-mail: 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.
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:

For the five-year doctoral program, the applicant must have completed a 16-year course of
study in educational institutions in a foreign country or is expected to complete such acourse by September 30, 2025.
The applicant for the three-year doctoral program must have been granted or be expected
to be granted a master’s degree or a professional degree 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/cms_upload/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 orThree-year doctoral program at SOKENDAI

In fields that require Japanese language ability (Japanese linguistics, Japanese literature,
Japanese history and Japanese law), the applicant must fulfill at least one of therequirements listed below:a)Passed the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) with a score of N2 or higherb)

Has completed an educational program whose primary language of instruction isJapanese,satisfying the entrance requirements for the Five-year doctoral program orThree-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 mid-September and the beginning of October 2025 (applicants who cannot arrivein Japan within the designated period should decline acceptance. Those who arrive inJapan before the designated date for personal reasons will NOT be provided travelingexpenses 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 mustchange 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 other than “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 yourapplication for the original residence status may not be approved after the period of MEXT
scholarship student.
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
in a Japanese language and culture program or as a scholarship student in theJapan-Korea 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 Scholarship1)

Three-year doctoral program

If the grantee directly enrolls in the three-year doctoral program after coming to Japan, thescholarship will be payable for three years (standard program term) (starting in October
2025 and finishing in September 2028.)
2)

Five-year doctoral program

If 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/her scholarship 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 Benefits
1)

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

147,000yen

3 to 5-year student of 5-year doctoral program,1 to 3-year student of 3-year doctoral program

148,000yen

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.
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/herhome address to Narita/Haneda airport, or the international airport in Japan nearest to thecampus of SOKENDAI where the grantee is placed. Other expenses, such as inlandtransportation from his/her place of residence to the international airport, airport tax, andany special taxes on overseas travel, will NOT be provided. (The address stated in theapplication 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
country of 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 MEXT
applicants who have shown academic excellence.
2)

Scholarship Selection:

Candidates are screened and selected bya 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)a)Documents to be submitted:
Application Form (Attached)b)

Field of study and Research Plan (Attached)c)

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 orcap 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 applying for the three-year doctoral program must submit Official
Transcripts for all academic years from both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants applying for the five-year doctoral program must submit Official Transcripts
for all academic years from undergraduate school. Applicants who have master’s ordoctoral degrees must submit Official Transcripts from graduate schoolsf)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
September 2025).
Applicants applying for the three-year doctoral program must submit the Certificate of
Graduation both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants applying for the five-year doctoral program must submit the Certificate of
Graduation from their undergraduate school. Applicants who graduated from graduate
schools must submit the Certificates of Graduation 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 doctoral
program.

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 the
President 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. We cannot accept a recommendation letterfrom department head or academic supervisors.

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 1, 2023

ii.

Applicants for the five-year doctoral program: a document certifying that theapplicant has completed his/her bachelor’s course in English as the main
languageiii.

Applicants for the three-year doctoral program: a document certifying that theapplicant has completed his/hermaster’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 arrangement 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 period. Please note that it willtake for 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 period, 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 the
documents 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 (orcomplete the 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 specificresearch projects);g)

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

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

2)

If the recipient takes a leave of absence from SOKENDAI or does not attend classes
for an extended period, 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
be subject to regulations on the export/transfer of controlled technologies based on theForeign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. Please consult the Student Affairs Section

for further details.