Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Basic Biology Program]
Doctoral Program 2025
Special Admissions for Applicants Residing Abroad(Privately Financed International Students)

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 cooperate toestablish 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 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. Basic Biology Program Outline
In the Basic Biology program, students will investigate the commonality and diversity thatcharacterize living organisms, the universal mechanisms and the structure that maintain them,and the mechanisms of change that produce diversity. This program aims to train researchers
who can discover more fundamental and important problems in biological sciences, and challengethemselves to solve these by cultivating the advanced research skills and rich academic
knowledge necessary to conduct independent research activities as a researcher in this field.

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 timeframe.
[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 timeframe.

4. Doctoral Programs and Number of Students Accepted
Doctoral Programs

Number of Students Accepted
April 2025

October 2025

Three-year doctoral program

A few students

A few students

Five-year doctoral program

A few students

A few students

5. Qualifications for Application[Qualifications for the three-year doctoral program]
Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions:
1)

Master’s degree or a degree equivalent to a Professional degree has been conferred or is
expected to be conferred by the month preceding enrollment;

2)

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 do not concern the date of completion of the master’s course of study, but
the date of conferral of a master’s or equivalent professional degree.
*Applicants who intend to apply under the above provision 2) are required to have a 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.
Additionally, those who have completed or are expected to complete a master’s course before
the enrollment 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 applying. If
applicable, please contact the Student Affairs Section via email before the application period.
*Besides the above qualifications (Qualifications 1) and 2)), eligible applicants include those whootherwise satisfy or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission toSOKENDAI. If you have any questions regarding the qualifications for admission, pleasecontact 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 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.

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 StudentAffairs Section via email before the application period.
*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 haveany questions regarding the qualifications for admission, please contact the Student Affairs
Section in advance.

6. Required Conditions and Notes
Applicants are expected to satisfy each of the following conditions.
1)

Are foreign nationals currently residing overseas.

2)

Arrival in Japan: Are able to arrive in Japan in time for the semester that begins in April 2025
or October 2025.

3)

Health: Are physically and mentally healthy enough to complete graduate studies at auniversity in Japan.

4)

Language Ability: Have a good command of English or Japanese.

5)

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 the Foreign
Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. Please consult the Student Affairs Section of SOKENDAI
for further details.

7. Application Procedure[Application Period]First round
April 2025 admission

From Thursday, October 10 toWednesday, November 6, 2024*

October 2025 admission

From Thursday, October 10 to
Wednesday, November 6, 2024*

Second round

From Friday, April 4 to Friday,
May 2, 2025**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 the following points 1) and 2). The application must reach SOKENDAI nolater than the application deadline.
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)

EmailThe complete set of application documents must be submitted via email. If the attached files
contain 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. Ifthe 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 is accepted for enrollment, the applicant must submit the original officialtranscript and certification of graduation.

8. Application Documents
Please read “Application checklist” on our website.
1)

Application Form (Attached)

Please attach a photograph (sized 4.5 cm×3.5 cm taken within the past six months, upper
body, full-faced with no hat) on the Application Form. Your signature is required on theApplication Form.

2)

Examination fee: 30,000 yen

For payment details, please refer to “Instructions on how to make a payment” on our website.
3)

Official Transcripts
Applicants applying for the three-year doctoral program must submit the Official
Transcripts of each academic year from both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants applying for the five-year doctoral program must submit the Official
Transcripts of each academic year from their undergraduate school.

4)

Certificate of Graduation or Expected Graduation (originals or certified copies)
Applicants applying for the three-year doctoral program must submit Certificates ofGraduation for both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants applying for the five-year doctoral program must submit a Certificate ofGraduation for undergraduate school.

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

5)

Certified copy of degree diploma
Applicants who have already graduated from a university must submit certified copies ofdegree diplomas, as follows:Applicants applying for the three-year doctoral program must submit certified copiesof their bachelor’s and master’s degree diplomas.

Applicants applying for the five-year doctoral program must submit a certified copy of
their bachelor’s degree diploma.

6)

Recommendation letter from a person who knows the applicant’s research/academicactivities well (e.g., the applicant’s academic supervisor at the university in which theapplicant is currently enrolled or the university that the applicant previously attended).
addressed to the President of SOKENDAI. (Original, free format)

7)Your past research work and activities (if applicable)

8)

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

9)

Field of Study and Research Plan (Attached)

10) Photocopy of the applicant’s passport pages showing the applicant’s name, date of birth,nationality, gender, photograph, and passport number.
Notes:
The application documents must be prepared in Japanese or English. If the documents areprepared in languages other than Japanese or English, an official English translation must

be included.
The application documents mentioned above must be prepared using word processing
software. Print all the required documents on A4 size paper (if possible).

Your admission may be rescinded at any time, even after enrollment, if the application
documents are found to be invalid or contain false information.

9. Selection Schedule and Method[Schedule]First round
April 2025 admission

Thursday, December 5, 2024

October 2025 admission

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Second roundThursday, June 12, 2025

[Method]
1. Three-year doctoral program
Document review and an interview will be conducted.
(a) Document review: Review will be conducted regarding the contents of the application,
including academic transcripts and associated materials.
(b) Interview: The interview will be conducted through the Internet remotely by Zoom meeting,and the applicants will participate from their home or in some other appropriate place. Theinterview will take about 30 minutes. The first 15 minutes will be spent exploring theapplicant’s previous research and future research aspirations. During the interview, theapplicants will be allowed to use Whiteboard on Zoom, or a handwritten document presubmitted as an electronic file by the previous day of the exam. The remaining 15 minutes
will be used for a question-and-answer session covering the content of the applicant’spresentation and submitted documents.
2. Five-year doctoral program
Document review, written examination, and an interview will be conducted.
(a) Document review: Review will be conducted regarding the contents of the application,
including academic transcripts and associated materials.
(b) Written examination: The applicants will take the written exam (a short essay) at theirhome or in some other appropriate place. A question sheet (an electronic file; passwordprotected) will be emailed to applicants on the previous day of the exam. On the following
day, applicants will receive the password to open the question sheet and start the written
exam. The written exam will take an hour. At the end of the exam, the answer sheet(s) should

be converted to an electronic file and submitted via email.
(c) Interview: The interview will be conducted through the Internet remotely by Zoom meeting,and the applicants will participate from their home or in some other appropriate place. Theinterview will take about 30 minutes. The first 15 minutes will be spent exploring theapplicant’s previous research and future research aspirations. During the interview, theapplicants will be allowed to use Whiteboard on Zoom, or a handwritten document presubmitted as an electronic file by the previous day of the exam. The remaining 15 minutes
will be used for a question-and-answer session covering the content of the applicant’spresentation and submitted documents.
* Questions regarding this section may be addressed to:
Graduate Student Affairs Section
International Relations & Research Cooperation Division
National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS)
Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
E-mail: r7139@orion.ac.jp
Web site: http://www.nibb.ac.jp/en/univ/

10. Announcement of Result
First round: The result will be mailed to all applicants in January 2025 by email
Second round: The result will be mailed to all applicants in July 2025 by email

11. Admission Procedures(1) The period of admission procedures is scheduled as follows:
The middle of March 2025 for the enrollment of April 2025
Late September 2025 for the enrollment of October 2025Successful applicants must complete the admission procedures during the prescribed period.
Further details will be provided separately to successful applicants.
(2) Fees required for admission are as follows:
Entrance Fee: JPY 282,000
Tuition Fee for six months: JPY 267,900*If entrance or tuition fees are revised at the time of or during enrollment, the revised fees
shall be applied from the date of the revision.

12. Student Visa

Each candidate who is selected as a privately financed student must apply for a visa in personat the nearest Japanese consulate to enter Japan after receiving the Certificate of Eligibility
which is mailed from SOKENDAI.

13. 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