Graduate School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Osaka University

For Admission in April and October 2024

Application Guide forDoctoral Courses,
Department of Advanced Pharmaco-science(course terms of three years)(Special Selection in February for International Applicants)

Cautions: This Application Guide is a translation from the original and shall not be
regarded as the official document. The English text is provided merely as areference. Please note that any official rules are based solely on theJapanese text.
 Before applying, consult the Professor of the course in which you wish to
major.

November 2023

1. Enrollment Limit
Department
Advanced Pharmaco-science

Number
A few students

The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers several courses forcomprehensive enhancement of pharmaceutical studies.
2. Type of Students Sought by the Graduate Schoolhttps://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/admissions/faculty/admission_policy
3. Admission Requirements【Admission in April】
Eligible applicants are those international students* who fulfill any one of thefollowing requirements.
* In principle, international students mean those with the status of residenceof “Students” under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,
including those expected to be granted such status of residence by April 2024.
(1)
(2)
(3)

(4)

(5)
(6)
(7)

An applicant who holds a master’s or professional degree or is expected tohold either by March 31, 2024.
An applicant who holds a degree equivalent to a master’s or a professional
degree awarded by a university in a foreign country or is expected to beawarded either by a university in a foreign country by March 31, 2024.
An applicant who has completed correspondence courses in Japan which
are administered by foreign schools and thus awarded either a master’s
degree or professional degree or is thus to be awarded either one of themby foreign schools by March 31, 2024.
An applicant who holds or is expected to hold by March 31, 2024 a degree
equivalent to a master’s or professional degree after completing the courseof an educational institution of a foreign country, which is designated by
the foreign country as having courses of a graduate school and which isseparately designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology of the Japanese Government.
An applicant who holds or is expected to hold by March 31, 2024 a degree
equivalent to a master’s degree after completing the United Nations
University education.
An applicant designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology of the Japanese Government (as per Notification
No. 118 of the Ministry of Education dated September 1, 1988)
An applicant who has completed the course of a foreign school, an
educational institution specified in paragraph (4) above or the United

(8)Nations University, and has satisfied the requirements equivalent to an
examination and screening as specified in section 2 of Article 16 of the
Graduate School Establishment Standard and is recognized as having
academic skills at least equivalent to a master’s degree.
An applicant who will be at least 24 years old by March 31, 2024 and who
is recognized as having academic skills at least equivalent to a master’s ora professional degree after the pre-application screening process
implemented by the Graduate School.

【Admission in October】
Eligible applicants are those international students* who fulfill any one of thefollowing requirements.
* In principle, international students mean those with the status of residenceof “Students” under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,
including those expected to be granted such status of residence by October 2024.
(1)
(2)
(3)

(4)

(5)
(6)
(7)

(8)

An applicant who holds a master’s or professional degree or is expected tohold either by September 30, 2024.
An applicant who holds a degree equivalent to a master’s or a professional
degree awarded by a university in a foreign country or is expected to beawarded either by a university in a foreign country by September 30, 2024.
An applicant who has completed correspondence courses in Japan which
are administered by foreign schools and thus awarded either a master’s
degree or professional degree or is thus to be awarded either one of themby foreign schools by September 30, 2024.
An applicant who holds or is expected to hold by September 30, 2024 a
degree equivalent to a master’s or professional degree after completing thecourse of an educational institution of a foreign country, which isdesignated by the foreign country as having courses of a graduate school
and which is separately designated by the Minister of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology of the Japanese Government.
An applicant who holds or is expected to hold by September 30, 2024 a
degree equivalent to a master’s degree after completing the United
Nations University education.
An applicant designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology of the Japanese Government (as per Notification
No. 118 of the Ministry of Education dated September 1, 1988)
An applicant who has completed the course of a foreign school, an
educational institution specified in paragraph (4) above or the United
Nations University, and has satisfied the requirements equivalent to an
examination and screening as specified in section 2 of Article 16 of the
Graduate School Establishment Standard and is recognized as having
academic skills at least equivalent to a master’s degree.
An applicant who will be at least 24 years old by September 30, 2024 andwho is recognized as having academic skills at least equivalent to amaster’s or a professional degree after the pre-application screening
process implemented by the Graduate School.
4. Pre-application Screening
In the case of applicants falling under categories (6) to (8) of the Admission
Requirements shown above, a pre-application screening is necessary. An
applicant may submit an application for admission after passing the preapplication screening.
All applications must be sent via recorded postal delivery (kani-kakitome),using an envelope of 33cm×24cm in size, and must reach the university by thedesignated date.
Write “Doctoral Course Special Selection in February for International
Applicants” in red ink on the outside of the envelope.
Acceptance period
Application
documents
Submit toNovember 29, 2023(Wed.) – December 1, 2023 (Fri.)
No. 1 to 9 shown in the list of application documents
Documents numbered 4 to 7 should be submitted only
if applicable.
Students Section
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Osaka University
1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

Application forms may be submitted to the Students Section by hand during
the following period, provided the applicant has a valid reason for doing so. Usean envelope of 33cm×24cm in size.
November 29, 2023 (Wed.) – December 1, 2023 (Fri.)

9:30 – 11:30,
13:00 – 15:00

The result of the pre-application screening will be sent to each applicant by
postal mail on January 19, 2024 (Fri.). If it does not reach you, please contact
the Students Section to make it to the application acceptance period.
● Documents required for pre-application screening
No.
1
2
3
4

Document
Application Qualification
Assessment Form 1
Application Qualification
Assessment Form 2
Research Achievement
List
Certificate of Graduation /Completion(Undergraduate)

Description
Use the designated form.
Use the designated form.
Use the designated form
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from.
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are notrequired to submit the certificate.

5

6
7

8
9

Academic Transcript(Undergraduate)

Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from, or
its equivalent.
Must be put in a tightly sealed envelope unless antifalsification paper isused.
Certificate of Graduation / Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from.
Completion
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are not(Master’s course)
required to submit the certificate.
Academic Transcript
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from, or(Master’s course)
its equivalent.
Must be put in a tightly sealed envelope unless antifalsification paper isused.
Statement of Purpose
Write in about 1,500 characters on an A4-sized sheet (in any format).
If you fall under category (7) of the above Admission Requirements, you should submit the following
documents in addition to the above:
Document stating to the effect shown below as an example, prepared (signed) by the president of theuniversity you last attended or any other person in an equivalent position, and a reference document
Example:XXX University hereby confirms that Mr. YYY has passed [examination/screening] and accordingly is
considered to have academic skills at least equivalent to a master’s degree. A reference document for the[examination/screening] is attached.
Examples of reference documents:(1) Criteria for passing the examination/screening(2) Document that shows how the criteria for passing the examination/screening compare with therequirements for earning a master’s degree at the last attended university(3) Document showing how students who passed the examination/screening and students whotransferred from another university to the last attended university after earning a master’s degree
are treated in the doctoral degree program at the last attended university

Note: Certificates, documents and references written in a language other thanJapanese or English must be accompanied by a Japanese or English
translation.

5. List of Application Documents※Before applying, consult the Professor of the course in which you wish to
major.
● Documents that must be attached and submitted with the application form
1
2

Application for Admission
Examination Venue
Request Form

Use the designated form.
Submit this form only if you wish to enroll in the collaborative course
offered by Osaka University, the National Institute of Health Sciences andthe National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (inthe areas of primate research and medicinal plant resources).

3

Examination Admission
Card and Photo
Identification Card
Examination Fee (¥30,000)

Use the designated form.

4

5
6
7

8
9

Receipt of Application Fee
Payment
Certificate of Graduation /Completion(Undergraduate)
Academic Transcript(Undergraduate)

Certificate of (Expected)
Graduation / Completion(Master’s course)
Academic Transcript(Master’s course)

Place of payment: Any bank (Do not use an ATM to send the payment.)
You cannot pay the examination fee at Japan Post Bank.
Method of payment: Use a money transfer slip designated by the Graduate
School.
All bank charges incurred shall be borne by the applicant.
* Those who apply for the doctoral course of this Graduate School
immediately after completing the master’s course are exempt fromexamination fee payment.
* Japanese Government Scholarship Students should make an inquiry to
the Students Section about the examination fee.
* Osaka University exempts applicants affected by large-scale disasters
from examination fees to reduce their financial burden and ensure access to
education. For details, please visit the following website.
https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/admissions/information
After paying the ¥30,000 examination fee by bank transfer, attach thepayment slip to the designated form.
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from.
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are notrequired to submit the certificate.
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from, or
its equivalent.
Must be put in a tightly sealed envelope unless antifalsification paper is
used.
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are notrequired to submit the certificate.
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from.
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are notrequired to submit the certificate.
Must be issued by the last university, etc. the applicant graduated from, or
its equivalent.
Must be put in a tightly sealed envelope unless antifalsification paper is
used.
Applicants who are expected to graduate from this Graduate School are notrequired to submit the certificate.

10

TOEIC / TOEFL® Score
Certificate

Submit both the original and a copy of the TOEFL-iBT® Test Taker Score(“TOEFL-iBT® Score”) Report or TOEIC Listening & Reading Official
Score (“TOEIC Score”) Certificate. Tests taken within two years prior to thelast day of the application period are valid.(In principle, the TOEFL-iBT®
Score Report or TOEIC Score Certificate should have your face photo on it.)
The original will be returned to you when the examination admission card
is sent.
Starting from August 2019, MyBestTM scores are shown in the TOEFLiBT® Score Report, but you cannot use the MyBestTM scores for theentrance examination. Only the Test Date scores are acceptable.
If you receive your TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score after the application
deadline and thus cannot meet the deadline, delayed submission of thescore is permitted provided the score reaches the Students Section not later
than February 7 (Wed.), 2024. In this case, please send a document (in any
format) specifying your name and indicating that you will submit your
TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score by February 7 (Wed.), 2024, together withthe application documents.
Both the original and a copy of your TOEFL-iBT® Score Report or TOEIC
Score Certificate should be sent via recorded postal delivery (kan’ikakitome) to reach the Students Section by February 7 (Wed.), 2024. The
original will be returned to you later.
Delayed arrival of your TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score at the Students
Section is acceptable only if the envelope is postmarked on or before
February 5 (Mon.), 2024 by a post office in Japan.
Please write “Additional Document for the Graduate School Entrance
Examination” on the front surface of the envelope in red.
Submission of a TOEFL-iBT® Score Report or TOEIC Score Certificate is
not required if you are: a native English speaker. For native English
speakers, please inquire about eligible countries before applying.
*Even after submitting your TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score together withother application documents, you are allowed to replace the score with ahigher score, if any, provided that the replaced score arrives at theStudents Section by February 7 (Wed.), 2024. Replacement is allowed only
for the score, and not for other application documents. When sending a
replaced score, please make sure to meet the above deadline .

11
12

ResumeSummary of master’s
thesis, summary of
research progress

13

Research proposal

14
15

Dispatch slip
Copy of Residence
Certificate(Juminhyo-no-Utsushi)

16

An envelope (for sending
the examination admission
card)
Certificate of17

Monbukagakusho

Scholarship Student

Use the designated form.
If you have a master’s degree, submit a summary of the master’s thesis(written in about 4,000 characters on an A4-sized sheet). If you don’t have amaster’s degree, submit a summary of research progress (written in about
4,000 characters on an A4-sized sheet).
Summarize the research theme you wish to pursue in the doctoral degree
program in about 400 characters on an A4-sized sheet.
Use the designated form.
(Required only if the applicant lives in Japan)
Document issued by the local government office which indicates your statusof residence and period of stay
* Not required for family members
The envelope must be 23.5cm×12cm in size. Make sure to indicate the nameand address of the applicant on the front, and affix a ¥444 stamp.
Write the address in Japan clearly on the envelope.
For Japanese Government Scholarship Students only except for applicants
currently studying at Osaka University

Note: Certificates, documents and references written in a language other thanJapanese or English must be accompanied by a Japanese or English
translation.
6. Application Procedure
All application documents must be sent via recorded postal delivery (kanikakitome), using an envelope of 33cm×24cm in size. All application forms mustreach the Students Section by the designated date.
Write “Doctoral Course Special Selection for International Applicants” in red
ink on the outside of the envelope.
the application
acceptance period

Application
documents
Submit to

January 22, 2024(Mon.) – January 25, 2024 (Thu.)
By mail:
Send application documents via recorded postal delivery(kani-kakitome) to the address shown below. Application
documents received by Osaka University after thedeadline will be accepted only if the envelope ispostmarked on or before January 23 (Tue.), 2024 by apost office in Japan.
No. 1 – 17 shown in the list of application documents
Students Section
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Osaka University
1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

Application forms may be submitted to the Students Section by hand during
the following period, provided the applicant has a valid reason for doing so. Usean envelope of 33cm×24cm in size.
January 22, 2024 (Mon.) – January 25, 2024 (Thu.)

9:30 – 11:30,
13:00 – 15:00

7. Selection Method
Date
February
20,2024(Tue.)*1

Subjects

Note

Presentation ofresearch
outline and oral
examination

Details of the date and time as well as theexamination room will be informed to eachapplicant when an examination admission
card is sent.

Applicants are selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of thefollowing:- Non-native English speakers: Results of presentation of research outline
and oral examination (70 points); English score (TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC
Score is converted to a 20-point scale); and application documents (10points)For the conversion of TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score, please see “13.
English Score” below.
- Native English speakers: Results of presentation of research outline andoral examination (70 points) and application documents (30 points)*2 You may choose the examination venue between Tokyo and Osaka(Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Osaka University) if
applying for the collaborative course offered by Osaka University, theNational Institute of Health Sciences and the National Institutes ofBiomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (in the areas of primate
research and medicinal plant resources). Other applicants should take theexamination at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Osaka
University.
8. Announcement of Examination Results
Successful applicants will be listed on the website (https://www.phs.osakau.ac.jp) at 2:00 pm on March 7, 2024 (Thu.). Successful applicants will also
individually receive an acceptance letter. Telephone or e-mail inquiries are notaccepted.
9. Enrollment Procedures
Successful applicants will be notified of details about the enrollment
procedures.

10. Necessary Fees for Enrollment
Admission fee: ¥282,000
Tuition fee: ¥535,800 (annual tuition)
The tuition fee is withdrawn from the account in two equal installments(¥267,900 each).
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

The above fees are valid as of April 2023 and are subject to change. The
fees for the 2024 academic year will be confirmed before the admission
procedure starts.
In the case of a change in tuition fee during a school term, the revised
tuition fee will be applicable as of the date when it becomes effective.
Those who apply for the doctoral course of this Graduate School
immediately after completing the master’s course are exempt from theadmission fee payment.
Those admitted as a Japanese Government Scholarship Student at thetime of entering the Graduate School are exempt from the admission fee
and tuition fee payments.

11. Osaka University offers tuition waiver system
Osaka University offers tuition waiver system (Tuition Waiver System for
Honor International Students) for privately-funded international students
who are recognized as excellent in the graduate school entrance
examinations in order to further strengthen research capabilities andpromote the acceptance of international students.
This entrance examination is subject to the Tuition Waiver System for
Honor International Students. The successful applicants for thisprogram/course are eligible for the Tuition Waiver System.
12. Handling of Personal Information(1) The names, addresses and other personal information obtained fromapplicants are used for entrance examination purposes such as theselection of students (handling of applications and selection examinations)and admission procedures only.
For successful applicants, personal information might be used forproviding information about educational programs which can beregistered after entering Osaka University.
For those admitted to Osaka University, personal information is also used
for student administration purposes (school register control and coursetaking instructions), student support (health management), and tuitionfee collection.
(2) Entrance examination results and other data are used for tabulation andanalysis of the examination results and research and study on appropriate
applicant selection methods.

13. English Score
In the Doctoral Course Special Selection for International Applicants, your
TOEFL-iBT® or TOEIC Score will be converted to a 20-point scale as shown in
the following table.
Score conversion table
TOEIC
900

-

875

-

850

TOEFL-iBT®

English
score

101

-

20

899

98

-

100

19

-

874

95

-

97

18

825

-

849

92

-

94

17

800

-

824

89

-

91

16

775

-

799

86

-

88

15

750

-

774

83

-

85

14

725

-

749

80

-

82

13

700

-

724

77

-

79

12

675

-

699

74

-

76

11

650

-

674

71

-

73

10

625

-

649

68

-

70

9

600

-

624

65

-

67

8

575

-

599

62

-

64

7

550

-

574

59

-

61

6

525

-

549

56

-

58

5

500

-

524

53

-

55

4

475

-

499

50

-

52

3

450

-

474

47

-

49

2

401

-

449

41

-

46

1

-

400

-

40

0

14. Cautions(1) An applicant requiring special assistance for taking an entrance
examination or studying after admission should inform the Students
Section to this effect before applying.
(2) Examination fees are not refunded except in the following cases:a) an applicant is found not to be qualified for the examination after
submitting the application documents,b) application documents arrive after the close of the acceptance period andhence are rejected,c) application documents are incomplete, or contain errors and omissions
and hence are rejected,d) examination fees are paid but the applicant does not submit theapplication documents within the acceptance period,e) examination fees are paid twice erroneously.
In the case of d) and e) above, the applicant should make a claim for arefund of the examination fees to the University. For the detailed
procedures, contact the Students Section.
(3) After they are submitted, application documents may not be corrected inany manner.
(4) If false information is found in an application for admission, application
qualification assessment form, or any of the application documents, theenrollment may be cancelled even if the applicant has been accepted forenrollment.
(5) Cars and motorcycles are not permitted on the campus.
(6) Some collaborative courses established under special projects, etc. areoffered for a limited period of time only. After the period is over, students
enrolled in such a course will continue to be given research guidance atthe laboratory of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
responsible for operating the course.
(7) The Impact on the conduct of admissions and responses to shortage
situations will be posted on the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences website as needed. Please be sure to check the website.
November 2023
Please direct your inquiries to:Students Section
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Osaka University
1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
E-mail: yakugaku-kyoumu@office.osaka-u.ac.jp