Tohoku University
WISE Program for Sustainability
in the Dynamic Earth202４ April Term
Student Application Guidelines

Application period

Friday, December 22, 2023
to Friday, January 12, 2024

Oral exam period

Middle to late February 2024

Announcement of results Thursday, March 14, 2024

December 2023

1About the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth
The WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth is an integrated Master’s and Doctoral
Degree Program that intends to explain the mechanisms by which disasters occur and improve techniques
for predicting them in the context of various earth science phenomena of the dynamic earth, as well as todevelop “knowledge professionals” who understand people and society and are equipped with thepractical skills to deal preemptively with a variety of risks. In order to create a society that is safe andsustainable not just regarding disaster readiness, but also in a wide range of other fields, this program will
cultivate expert talent capable of supporting specialists in those fields to pioneer cutting-edge knowledge,
understanding people, and giving the fruits of our research back to society. It aspires to produce talent
with diverse skills, such as the ability to see the big picture, communication skills, practical skills, social
justice, intercultural adaptability, inquisitiveness, and leadership, through integrated arts and scienceeducation across seven graduate schools and collaborative education between privatecompanies/organizations and research/international institutions. By doing so, this program aims tocontribute to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and other national initiatives across theglobe.
Two program tracks are available. Students of the doctoral course in the general selection (BasicResearch Truck) can be applied for this program.
1. Basic Research Track: Designed for graduate students who have a Bachelor’s degree and wantto acquire supplementary skills for their degree programs
1. Practical Research Track: Designed for those admitted through the Special Selection for
Mature Applicants

As the program aims for a seamless fusion of expertise and real-world needs, students on both tracks
will acquire broad perspectives by participating in the Integrated Science Lab (I-Lab), which is hands-on
problem-solving training, and in industry-government-academia seminars. This program will cultivate“snow crystal-type” talent with the practical skills to tackle a variety of challenges, built on a foundationof leading expertise in graduate research.

Acquisition of the superior expertise to see the big picture of the Earthand visualize its future + 6 other diverse skills (Snow crystal-type talent)
LeadershipSocial Justice

Superior expertiseInternationality

Communication
AbilityInquiry Skill

Bird’s eye view2

1. The number to be admitted
1st-year Master’s course: approx. 15 students
2nd-year Master’s course: approx. 9 students
1st-year Doctoral course: a few students (Basic Research Track & Practical Research Track)(The academic years above are as of April 2024.)(Master course of the School of Medicine are included in the “Master’s course” above. 1st and 2nd-year Doctoral
courses of the School of Medicine are included as the 1st-year Doctoral course, the same applies hereafter)
2. Eligibility for application
To be eligible to apply for this program, a candidate must sufficiently understand its intent, be interested in
obtaining a doctoral degree, have a strong recommendation from his/her intended supervisor or the head ofhis/her intended graduate school and major, and be one of the following:a. Entering the first year of a 2-year Master’s course in one of the graduate schools and majors, as indicatedin Table 1 in April 2024. (This includes those who entered the first year of a 2-year Master’s course in
October 2023 and are already enrolled)b. Entering the first year of a 2-year Master’s course in April 2023 and enrolled in the second year of a 2-year
Master’s course in one of the graduate schools and majors, as indicated in Table 1 in April 2024.
(This includes those who entered the second year of a 2-year Master’s course in fall 2022 and are alreadyenrolled)c. Progressing to or entering the first year of a 3-year Doctoral course in one of the graduate schools andmajors, as indicated in Table 1 in April 2024.
*Those whose graduate entrance exam results will not be announced until after this program’s application
deadline are still eligible to apply. However, a failing result will result in a loss of eligibility.
Table 1. Graduate Schools and Majors in the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth
Graduate SchoolMajorScience

Earth Science
Geophysics

Engineering

Quantum Science and Energy Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Architecture and Building Science
Management of Science and Technology

Information
Sciences

Applied Information Sciences
Human-Social Information Sciences

EnvironmentalStudies

Frontier Science for Advanced Environment

Medicine

Medical Sciences

Arts and Letters

Japanese Studies
Global Humanities
Integrated Human Sciences

Economics andManagement

Economics and Management3

Be mindful of the following when applying:
1.This program is an integrated educational program that includes a 2-year Master’s course (after this“Master’s course”) with a 3-year doctoral course (after this “Doctoral course”). Those who do not wish
to advance to a Doctoral course cannot apply for this program.
2.Those entering the Doctoral course of the School of Medicine without entering a Master’s course will only
be eligible if they can complete this 5-year program within the standard period of study of the Doctoralcourse (4 years)
Applying to multiple programs:
It is possible to apply to other degree programs in conjunction with this one. If an applicant intends to doso, the applicant should understand each program thoroughly and discuss his/her plans with his/her intended
host faculty/advisor. Then, on the application, the order of preference should be written (this will not affectyour exam results). However, this program cannot be taken simultaneously with other degree programs, so if
the applicant passes the exam for this program as well as others and wishes to enroll in this program, theapplicant must withdraw from the other(s).
3. Application procedure
In-person drop-off hours:
Friday, December 22, 2023, to Friday, January 12, 2024,
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (excluding lunch break, noon p.m. 1:00 p.m.)
Drop-off Location:
Office for the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth
Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University(2nd floor, Graduate School of Science Building, Tohoku University)
6-3 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPANIf sending by mail or campus mail:
Applications must be received by January 12, 2024.
Please write “WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth application inside” on the envelope in
red and send it by mail or campus mail.
Address:
Office for the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth
Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University(Campus mail: 青-A5)(Regular mail: 6-3 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPAN)
If sending by email:
Applications must be received by January 12, 2024
Please follow the instructions and send the documents to the email address below:
WISE program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth,Tohoku University: syde-office@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
4. Application documents
Please gather the following documents and submit them within the application period.
a. Application Form (Form A) *Please paste a portrait pictureb. Statement of Purpose (Form B)
c. Letter of Recommendation by intended host faculty (enclosed in an envelope and tightly sealed) (FormC)d. Academic Transcripts from the last university (or graduate school) that you graduated from.
Please download Forms A–C (MS Word files) from the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earthwebsite: https://www.syde.tohoku.ac.jp/• An English proficiency test score (TOEFL®, TOEIC®, IELTS™) or another document that certifies yourEnglish proficiency could be submitted. It may be referred to in evaluating the application but will not becounted against you. Also, neither will non-submission count against you.
• An applicant who does not yet have an intended supervisor could get a letter of recommendation from thehead of their graduate school/major.

4• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Application materials will not be returned.
• TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL ITP, and TOEIC are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service(ETS).
Email application:
1.Application form (Form A): Fill out the form and print it to a PDF file.
*Photo: please insert a photo into the form.
2.Statement of Purpose (Form B): Fill out the form and print it to a PDF file
3.Letter of Recommendation (Form C): Please ask your academic advisor (as of April 2024) to fill out andprint it to a PDF file and send the file to the email address below.
※The Form C sent from an applicant cannot be accepted.
※The Form C without a seal or sign of an academic advisor can be accepted.
4.University academic Transcript: Scan it to create a data file.
5.Copy of English proficiency test score: Scan it to create a data file.
Please send the documents above (1.,2.,4) (5. is optional)
5. Selection process
Applicants will be chosen based on their applications and an oral exam. Details about the oral exam will besent to applicants separately by email.
Oral exam period: Middle to late February 2024
6. Announcement of results
Announcement of results: Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified individually.
7. Orientation and beginning of classes
Orientation and beginning of classes: Early April 2024, on the Aobayama North Campus.
* Successful applicants will be notified of further details.
8. Financial support
We will provide financial support to the excellent students who are chosen for the basic research track inthis program. The amount of support is decided each academic year. If you are receiving public scholarships
or other financial support, please discuss it with us.
9. Requirements for completion
In addition to the requirements of the graduate school in which you are enrolled, fulfilling this program’s
requirements is required for completion. A Qualifying Examination (QE) encompassing academic
performance, credits earned, and English proficiency will be carried out during a specified period. Failing theexam will disqualify you from the program, so please make sure you fully understand the intent and objectivesof this program before applying.
Please see the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth website for details about thecurriculum: https://www.syde.tohoku.ac.jp/
10. Othera. As a rule, students selected for this program must apply for the Japan Society for the Promotion ofScience Special Research Fellowship for the Doctoral Course (DC).
e. Photographs, videos, names, and majors of students selected for this program may be published inbrochures, on the website, and other promotional materials of this program and Tohoku University forpromotional purposes.

5December 2023
Office for the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic EarthGraduate School of Science, Tohoku University(2nd floor, Graduate School of Science Building, Tohoku University)
6-3 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPAN
Telephone: (+81)-22-795-5591
E-mail：syde-office@grp.tohoku.ac.jp

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