Sustainability Science, Technology, and Policy (SUSTEP) Program
Application and Admission Guidelines
2024 Fall Semester Enrollment
Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Degree Program in Life and Earth Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology

Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment

1.

Enrollment quota
Limited2.

Program outline
This program accepts both Japanese and international students, who are expected to engage inpractical research, policymaking or project implementation for sustainable development, and arehighly motivated to learn advanced and practice-oriented expert knowledge. Although this is a twoyear program, early completion is available. All courses and instructions are provided in English.

3.

Admission requirements
Those applicants with the following qualification are eligible to apply for the SUSTEP examination(for more details, see https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/admission/graduate-overview/shikaku/pdf/t1-1.pdf):(1) Those who graduated from a university in Japan or those who are expected to do so by
September 2024.
(2) Those in a foreign country who completed 16 years of formal school education (from elementaryschool admission to university graduation) or those who are expected to do so by September
2024.
(3) The following individual must pass a qualification review by the graduate school of thisUniversity by the end of March 2024 prior to the application submission. Necessary documents
for this review must be in compliance with University policies:(https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/admission/graduate-overview/shikaku/pdf/t2-7.pdf）

4.

Application documents(1) Application Form (Year, month, and day are to be indicated): Use the prescribed form. Before
application, obtain a reference number from a prospective supervisor or degree program
representative after signing a form for “Self-Declaration on Specific Categories” (Form 5).
(https://coi-sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/export_control/specific-categories/)(2) Curriculum Vitae (Year, month, and day are to be indicated): Use the prescribed form.
(Information provided here must match the contents of documents provided under [6], [7], and[8].)(3) Work Experience: If you have work experience, use the prescribed form.
(4) “Admission and Photograph Tickets for the Examination”: Use the prescribed form.
Attach your photograph to the designated area (Size H4.0cm×W3.0cm; showing your full face,faced straight, upper half of the body, without hat; taken within three months of application).
Non-compliant pictures are not acceptable.
(5) Entrance Examination Fee (30,000 JPY): If you pay at a convenience store, attach the receipt for
the examination fee to the Application Form (1). We will not accept payment by cash, revenue
stamp, or cheque. Please refer to Section 5 (Page 3) below about the method and period ofpayment.
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Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment(6) (Expected) Graduation Certificate of Bachelor’s Degree (Year, month, and day are to beindicated): This document must validate your graduation from batcher's program issued from theuniversity. Even though you already have master's degree or doctoral degree, please submit acertificate issued by the university, which you have earned a bachelor's degree. A photocopy is
not accepted.
(7) Degree Certificate (Year, month, and day are to be indicated): If you graduated from a university
or another educational institution outside Japan, please submit the original or notarized copy of acertificate of your bachelor's degree. All documents must be in English or Japanese. Even if you
have already earned a master’s or doctoral degree, you need to submit a degree certificate issued
by a university from which you earned a bachelor’s degree. A photocopy is not accepted.
(8) Academic Transcript (certified copy): Provide a certified copy of academic transcript ofBachelor’s program issued by a university. If the applicant has credits transferred from otheruniversities, please attach the authorized academic transcripts for these credits as well. A
photocopy is not accepted.
(9) Research Plan: Use the prescribed form. Before submitting any application forms, an applicant
must contact a prospective supervisor and discuss their research plan.
(10) Approval Letter [if applicants are presently employed]: Please submit one approval letter fromapplicant’s employer or a letter of resignation signed by the applicant if he or she is working forgovernment organizations, schools, companies, or other organization. In the latter case, thedocument proving resignation or applicant's letter with signature can suffice.
(11) An Official Score Certificate of English Proficiency Test (original copy with photo attached):
A valid official score is TOEFL Examinee Score Record, TOEIC Official Score Certificate,
IELTS Academic Module Test Report, or its equivalent (confirmation is needed), taken after June
2022. This certificate must be enclosed in the application package to be sent to the Environmental
Science Program Office.
* An applicant whose mother tongue is English or a person who completed undergraduate orgraduate degree in a country, which uses English as an official language may be exempted fromthis requirement by submitting a “Certificate of English Proficiency Waiver Request (12)”.
(12) Certificate of English Proficiency Waiver Request [If applicable]: Prescribed form.
(13) Certificate of Government-sponsored (Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship)
Foreign Student [if applicable: free format]: If you are enrolled in another Japanese university at
the time of application, submit the certificate of government-sponsored (Japanese Government
Monbukagakusho Scholarship) foreign student issued by the university.
(14) Name and Address Sheet: Prescribed form(15) Application Checklist: Prescribed form(16) Envelope Cover: Prescribed form2

Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment[Note]
An applicant who will receive a JDS scholarship may omit the following documents: (3), (7), (8),(9), (10) and (11). However, (6) cannot be exempted.

In case your current name is different from that on the documents you submit due to marriage andother reasons, submit the proof (e.g., copy of marriage license) to show you are the same person.

Any question about an Official Score Certificate of English Proficiency Test will be inquired tothe organization that issues the score.

The applicant must be responsible for checking all necessary documents before submission. If
there is a missing document, the application is not valid.

5.

All documents submitted will not be returned in principle. The application fee is non-refundable.
Payment of examination fee
30,000 JPY[Note] Applicants who will receive Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship are exempted from thepayment of the examination fee.
①

Payment period
April 8th (Monday)-May 6th (Monday), 2024②

How to Paya) Convenience store [within Japan]
When applicants use a convenience store for payment (limited to the following stores: LAWSON,Seven-Eleven, Family Mart), prior online registration is needed via PC, cell phone orconvenience store information terminal for the payment. Please be aware that the terminal will
differ at each store.
› Prescribed form is not necessary.
› Payment procedure is explained in the attached manual at the end (only available inJapanese).
› Applicants pay a service fee for the transaction. Please note that examination fees will not berefunded under any circumstances.
› After completing the payment procedure, please paste a receipt at the designated area of the“Application Form.”b) Credit card
Applicants can pay the examination fee online through the E-Payment Site with a credit card.
›

Proceed with the on-line payment by accessing the website.

›

https://e-shiharai.net/english/?schoolcode=OPU5100850000000›

The following credit cards are acceptable: VISA, Master, JCB or AMEX›

After completing the payment procedure, please paste a hard copy of the receipt page on thebottom of the “Application Form” and enclose it with other application documents. Please
note that examination fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
3Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment

6.

Application procedures
The applicant should check his/her necessary application documents on the application checklist.
Place all documents in an envelope, attach the prescribed envelope cover and submit it directly (inperson), or by express registered mail service. Submit the documents to the following address:
Office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology,
University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan•

After the complete application documents have been accepted, a receipt of application/admission
ticket voucher and guidelines for admission will be sent by email to the address written on theapplication form. Please make sure your email address is written clearly and correctly on theapplication form as this address will be used for official correspondence.

7.

Examination content and selection process(1) Applicants will be carefully screened both on their application documents and the results of anoral examination in English and English proficiency test score.
(2) The oral examination is done in approximately 15 minutes by an individual interview about theapplicant’s research plan and related matters.
(3) Applicants who reside overseas can take an oral examination via Zoom. If you choose to takeexamination on Zoom, the examination committee will contact your selected email address andprovide necessary information.

8.

Date and place of examination(1) June 6th (Thursday)-7th (Friday), 2024
(2) Location
University of Tsukuba，1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572 Japan[Note] Detailed information on the examination room and meeting time will be confirmed byemail from the office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences.

9.

Notification of the results
June 28th (Friday), 2024. The results will be sent to successful candidates by post on the same day.

10. Entrance procedures(1) Only successful applicants will be notified by mail about the admission procedures and othernecessary documents to be submitted.
If the applicant is currently employed (except part-time works), she/he must submit either adirective letter for study, warrant of leave, or acceptance letter to enter school issued by theappropriate authority along with the other necessary documents.
(2)
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Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment(3) Expenses that must be paid on enrollment① Admission Fee: 282,000 JPY② Tuition Fee:
267,900 JPY (from October 2024 to March 2025) (paid with admission fee)
267,900 JPY (from April 2025 to September 2025) (paid in the 2025 academic year)
Total/year: 535,800 JPY[Note] If the fee is revised, the new one will be adapted accordingly.
(4) It is necessary for international students to have proper study visa status when they enter thisProgram on October 1st, 2024. You may have the visa that allows you to work in Japan before
admission. However, once you are admitted to the program, you must switch to a “Student” visa.
11. Other information(1) Incomplete application documents will not be accepted nor considered.
(2) It is not permitted to change your graduate school or program after submitting the application
documents.
(3) The application fee is non-refundable.
(4) Application documents will not be returned.
(5) The University of Tsukuba does not provide accommodation for examinees.
(6) The University of Tsukuba will not reply to any inquiries regarding examination results.
(7) For further inquiries regarding admission, please contact the Master’s Program in Environmental
Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology.
12. Contact
Office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology,
University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan
admission@envr.tsukuba.ac.jp

5Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba

2024 Fall Semester Enrollment

IMPORTANT DATES FOR EXAMINATION AND ENROLLMENT，OCTOBER 2024
(Fall Semester)
 Application period:

April 8th (Monday)-May 6th (Monday), 2024
(9:00 am–12:00pm, 1:30 pm–5:00 pm during weekdays)

 Examination:

June 6th (Thursday)-7th (Friday), 2024

 Result Notification:

June 28th (Friday), 2024

 Admission Procedure:

Admission documents will be sent out in the end ofJune 2024.

 Admission date:

October 1st (Tuesday), 2024

 Entrance ceremony:

Late September 2024

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