August Exam

Joint Master’s Degree Program in Sustainability and Environmental Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba
Application Guideline for Enrollment(Examination: August 2024, Admission: April 2025)
For applicants who wish to choose the faculty membersof the University of Tsukuba as their supervisor
With the aim to develop highly specialized professionals, who can be global leaders to solve
global issues related to sustainability and environment, the University of Tsukuba hasestablished the Joint Master’s Degree Program in Sustainability and Environmental Sciences(JMSES), in cooperation with the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology(MJIIT), Malaysia. Students of this program, together with those of the MJIIT, attend lecturesand receive research guidance for two semesters at each university. Graduates of this program
will receive a “Master of Sustainability and Environmental Sciences,” a degree jointly
awarded by the two universities. For more detail, please refer to our website(https://www.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/jmses/).
If you wish to enroll in this program, please read the application guideline below before applying.
Those who wish to choose the faculty members of the MJIIT as their supervisors cannot apply
through this guideline.
Key Dates
Application Period

Tue. July 9th, 2024 – Mon. July 22nd, 2024

Oral Examination

Thr. August 22nd, 2024

Announcement of Admission
Results
Entrance

Thr. September 12th, 2024
Tue. April 1st, 2025

1. Prospective Students
This program seeks students that, with a strong interest in issues to be solved in tropical Asiaand a background in natural science or social science and a cooperative spirit, are strongly
determined to innovate and contribute to the sustainable society by solving global issues withenvironmental scientific approaches.

1August Exam

2. Number of Students to be admitted
3 students (who choose the faculty members of the University of Tsukuba as theirsupervisors)
3. Eligibility for Application(A) No Eligibility Screening is required for the following individuals:


Individuals who have graduated or who will graduate from a Japanese four-year university
by March 2025

Individuals who have earned or will earn a bachelor’s degree in Japan by March 2025

Individuals who have graduated from a university outside Japan that implements 16 ormore years of school curriculum up to university graduation and earned a bachelor’s degreeby March 2025

Others to whom eligibility screening is not required(B) Eligibility Screening is required for the following individuals:



Individuals who have graduated from a junior college or high schoolIndividuals who have graduated from a vocational school or miscellaneous educational
institution



Individuals who have graduated from a university in a foreign country that implements lessthan 16 years of the school curriculum

OthersIndividuals who are expected to undergo the Eligibility Screening must contact in advance theAdmissions Staff for JMSES (“See “15. Contact Us”) and send the documents required forscreening by Wed. July 3rd, 2024. For details of eligibility for application and the documents
required for screening, refer to the relevant page of the university website.
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/study-tsukuba/study-graduate/grad-exam (‘Eligibility’ in pdf file)
4. Notices Before Applying
The minimum score of 61 for TOEFL iBT, 650 for TOEIC, or 6.0 for IELTS is required to meetthe eligibility for application, as this program conducts every lecture and research guidance inEnglish. Scores are valid only when dated after August 2022 onwards.
Note 1) If a person who has been awarded a degree (Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctoraldegree) through an English curriculum applies, he/she will be exempted from submitting anEnglish score. But his/her English proficiency will be examined at the time of an oral examination.
If you wish to be exempted from submitting an English score, documents certifying that you havebeen awarded a degree through an English curriculum (diploma or transcript, official letter fromthe university) and an application for exemption form submitting an English score need to be2

August Examsubmitted.
(Note 2) If you take the TOEFL-iBT Home Edition, you need to have 61 or more as well.
5. Application Requirement
Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application.

Must have the ability to communicate in order to complete the curriculum of this programprovided in English.

Be able to travel and enroll at the University of Tsukuba for a year and the Malaysia-Japan
International Institute of Technology for another year.

Must pay your own living and travel expenses to study at both the University of Tsukuba andthe MJIIT. (Scholarships available)

6. Examination Fee
JPY 30,000 (except for government-sponsored foreign students)
Payment Period:

From Tues. July 9th, 2024, until the end of the application period
Procedure:

Convenience Store Payment (for domestic applicants only): Payment can be made at
LAWSON, Seven-Eleven, Familymart, or MINISTOP.
To pay your fee at the convenience store, follow the instructions given on the website.
https://e-shiharai.net/
After the payment, detach the Receipt Portion (certificate of payment) from your ExaminationFee Statement given at the convenience store and attach it to the Application Form. Submit ittogether with other required documents. Administration fees need to be covered by theapplicant.
Credit Card Payment (for applicants living in a foreign country only): Visa, MasterCard,
JCB, and AMERICAN EXPRESS can be accepted.
You can make a payment by using your credit card on the website.
English: https://e-shiharai.net/english/index.html

3August Exam

After the payment, print out the completed application page of the payment and submit ittogether with other required documents. Administration fees need to be covered by theapplicant.
7. Documents to be submitted
All the documents must be written in English.
【Designated Form】
Documents

Who must submit

Remarks
Follow the instructions.
※Applicants from foreign countries need to request

Application Form

1(Form A)

your tentative academic supervisor to issue theAll

TExCO

referencenumber.

It

may

takea

considerable amount of time to issue the number.
Please contact your tentative academic supervisor
well in advance.

Curriculum Vitae

2(Form B)

All

Follow the instructions.

All applicants
3

Employment Recordswho have an(Form C)

employment

Follow the instructions.

history4Research Plan(Form D)

Summarize your research plan in English with yourAllmember you have contacted.
Follow the instructions. The photo must be taken

Reference Card
5Photo Card

All(Form E)

67

name, research title, and the name of a faculty

within 3 months with no hats or other headadornments, we will not accept if thoserequirements are not met.

Receipt Portion

Applicants who

After the payment, detach the Receipt Portion(Certificate of Payment)

made a(certificate of payment) from the Examination Feeof Examination Feeconvenience

Statement given at the convenience store and attach

Statement

store payment

it to the Application Form.

Copy of “Application

Applicants living

After the payment, print out the “Application

Completed” Page ofin a foreign

Completed” page, and submit it with other required

Examination Fee

country who

documents.
4August Exam

Payment by Credit Card

made a credit
card payment

Name and Address Sheet

8(Form F)

Application Checklist

9(Form G)

10

Envelope CoverFollow the instructions. We will use it to send outAll

an acceptance letter to successful applicants.

AllFollow the instructions.

AllAttach to the envelope you are submitting by mailSubmit

Application
11for

Certificate of English
Proficiency Waiveracertification(Bachelor's,Master's,Doctoral) with documents that can prove that you
have been awarded a degree in the English

If applicablecurriculum. Certificates shall be diplomas ortranscripts, official letter from a university where(Form H)applicants have completed the course, etc.
Please refer to << here >>.
(1) Persons who fall under Category 1) or Category
If
Self-Declaration
12on

applicable2) (including Japanese nationals)(Applicants from(2) Persons from foreign universities, companies,foreign countries

government agencies, etc. (including JapaneseSpecific Categories

andJapanese nationals) 3(Form 5)

applicants

who (3) International Students

lives in foreign* If fall under the above categories, please downloadcountries)

the form from the above link, fill the form, and submit
it. If you do not fall under any of the above categories,submission is not required.

【The original copies need to be prepared by applicants】
Documents

Who must submit

Remarks
Submit a graduation certificate (expected) withcompletion date issued by a university or anothereducational institution that meets the application

1

Graduation Certificate(Expected)

Allrequirements for the master’s programs of thisGraduate School. Even if you have already earned amaster’s or doctoral degree, you need to submit a
degree certificate issued by a university where you
have earned a bachelor’s degree.
5August ExamThose whograduated from auniversity or
2

Degree Certificate

another
educational
institution outsideJapanIf you graduated from a university or anothereducational institution outside Japan, submit a
degree certificate with completion date for yourbachelor’s. All documents must be in English or inJapanese. Even if you have already earned a master’sor doctoral degree, you need to submit a degree
certificate issued by a university where you haveearned a bachelor’s degree.
Submit an academic transcript (with CGPA) issued
by a university or another educational institution thatmeets the application requirements for the master’s
programs of this Graduate School. If any credits

3Academic Transcript(with CGPA)

All

were transferred from another school, submit anacademic transcript from that school. Even if you
have already earned a master’s or doctoral degree,
you need to submit a degree certificate issued by auniversity where you have earned a bachelor’sdegree.
Make sure to submit the original TOEIC official
certificate (with photo), TOEFL test taker copy score

An original copy of thesheet (with photo), or IELTS Academic Module

TOEIC Official Scoretranscript (with photo) taken within 2 years from theCertificate, TOEFL

test date. Copies will not be accepted. Neither

Examinee (Test Taker)

TOEIC Institutional Program (IP) Score Report nor

Score Report (that ofTOEFL Institutional Test Score Record will be

TOEFL iBT ® Home
4

Edition is acceptable aswell), or IELTS
Academic Module Test
Report FormScores are valid only
when dated after August2022 onwards

accepted.
If applicable* Please refer to << here >> for how to submit thescore sheet for the TOEFL iBT® Home Edition andTOEFL iBT test and TOEIC Digital Official Score
Certificate.
* If you would like to submit IELTS Academic
Module transcript, please inform us before yourapplication (15. Contact Us).

6

August Exam

Applicants who currently work for a government
agency, school, or company (except part-timeworkers) must submit a letter of approval for taking
the entrance examination issued by their supervisor
Letter of Approval for
5

Entrance Examination

or a declaration written by the applicants themselves.
If applicable(Format of your Choice)(Form of your choice) Applicants who plan to leave
their company to enroll in the graduate school may
instead submit a document written by the applicants
themselves (affixed with their seal). In this case, theapplicants must submit a certificate of resignation at
the time of the enrollment procedure.

Certificate of
6

Government-sponsored

If applicable,

If you are enrolled in another university at the time

Foreign Student

foreign applicantsof application, submit the certificate of government-(Format of your Choice)onlysponsored foreign student issued by the university.

A Return Envelope
7(with postage stamps of414 yen attached)

Prepare a standard size envelope with the applicant’sAll

zip code, address, and name written and postage
stamps of 414 yen attached. This will be used to send
your reference card.

Note: In the case that your current name is different from that on the documents you submit (for example,
because of marriage), submit with the proof (e.g., copy of marriage license).
If the student wishes to register under his/her maiden name, he/she can apply for the use of his/her maiden
name during the enrolment procedure.
*Results from the entrance examination, as well as personal information obtained by the University ofTsukuba from the applicants’ documents, will be used for affairs concerning admission and screening, or
may be used to improve the way of admission and university education keeping each identity confidential.

8. Application Procedure
Prepare all the application documents specified in the list of “9. Application Checklist”, andmail by registered express to the address below. Attach the Envelope Cover to an envelope ofthe application documents you are submitting.
Applications must be submitted during the application submission period below.
Submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Paid examination fees are nonrefundable.
7August Exam

Application submission period:
Tue. July 9th, 2024 – Mon. July 22nd, 2024

Where to submit (Mailing address):
Office of Joint Master’s Degree Program in Sustainability and Environmental Sciences,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
Natural Science Building B201

A reference card and guidelines for admission will be sent out by mail on or after Fri. July 26th,
2024 to the applicants whose application documents have been accepted. If the Reference carddoes not arrive by Fri. August 2nd, 2024, contact the Office of JMSES.
9. Screening Criteria
Applicants are selected through a comprehensive assessment of their submitted documents
and the oral examination results.
Screening Method and Criteria
Application DocumentScreening(100 points)

Oral Examination
Individual Interview

Joint Interview(100 points)(100 points)

15 minutes

15 minutes

Aptitudes Screening Based on Interview by the University Joint interview by faculties ofthe Application Documentsof Tsukuba in English about the University of Tsukuba andthe area of specialization, MJIIT in English about the areaof of specialization, understanding

understanding

environmental problems, and of environmental problems, andyour career path, based on your career path, based on youryour research plan.

research plan.

10. Testing Location
OnlineIndividual Interview and Joint Interview: Thr. August 22nd, 2024
For details of the date and online-meeting link, refer to the “Information and Hints forExaminees” that will be sent after the application.
8August Exam

11. Applicants Who Need AssistanceIf you need any assistance because of disability, contact the Admissions Staff for the Joint
Master’s Degree Program in Sustainability and Environmental Sciences by Wed. July 3rd, 2024.

12. Internet environment required should the entrance examination be held online
At the moment, the examination will be held online. The following preparations will berequired on the part of the examinee;
1) Bright and quiet private room environment2) Network environment where you can send and receive videos
3) Computer with camera and microphone (Speakers will be used for audio output. Wearable
types such as earphones and headphones are prohibited)
4) Smartphone (with camera) * 4) This is for an unexpected emergency measure in the eventof network trouble.
If you have any questions regarding the examination environment or if you would like to test
the network connection in advance, just in case, please contact “15. Contact Us”.
13. Examination Result Announcement
Thr. September 12th, 2024
The examinee’s numbers of the successful applicants will be posted on the website(https://www.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/jmses/admission). Acceptance letters will be sent out tosuccessful applicants on the same day by registered mail as well. We will not respond to any
inquiries regarding the result of the examination.
Note: If you are not at home on the day of delivery, an “absentee delivery notice” will be left inyour post box. Please make sure you receive it within a week, for example by requesting redelivery from the post office.
14. Enrollment ProcedureEnrollment Procedure Guidelines (which include documents to be submitted before entrance) will
be sent to successful applicants on November 2024. Follow the direction in the guidelines.
Fees required for the enrollment
Admission fee: JPY 282,000Annual Tuition Total: JPY 535,800
The first semester (April-September 2025): JPY267,900
9August Exam

The second semester (October 2025-March 2026): JPY267,900* If admission fee and annual tuition change at or after admission, the new fees are applied
immediately.
* Government-sponsored foreign students are exempted from paying the admission fee.
The students of this program will travel to the University of Tsukuba and Malaysia-Japan
International Institute of Technology each semester to study. Students who have entered theUniversity of Tsukuba through this examination will not be required to pay tuition and entrance
fees to the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology.

Other notes
Individuals who possess a nationality other than Japanese must follow the Immigration Control
and Refugee Recognition Act, and be qualified for resident status to enter the graduate school
before proceeding with the enrollment procedure. Individuals who wish to enroll in the university
as a foreign exchange student must be qualified for a “Student” resident status.
15. Contact Us

Admission Office
Joint Master’s Degree Program in Sustainability and Environmental Sciences,
Graduate School of Science and Technology,
University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
Natural Science Building B201

Phone: +81-(0)29-853-7488
E-mail: jmses@outlook.jp, jmses_office@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
Hours: 9 am - 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm - 4 pm on Monday through Friday10