機１October 2024 Admission
Application Guidelines for the Admission
to the Higher Agricultural Specialist Program for the Russian Federation Far Eastfor the Doctoral Degree at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University
The Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, offers a program, the HigherAgricultural Specialist Program for the Russian Federation Far East, which was selected as one of theInternational Priority Graduate Programs (PGP), Advanced Graduate Courses for International Students,
by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Therefore, theGraduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, accepts applications for October 2024
admission from those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in this program as follows.
1.

Outline of the Program
Niigata University makes great efforts in promoting education and research opportunities withEast Asia and the Russian Federation as the doorway from the Japanese seacoast to the world.
This program, based on a request from the Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East,provides a reorganized curriculum closely in line with requests obtained in field investigations in2013, and aims to foster advanced agricultural specialists urgently needed by the RussianFederation and to nurture Japanese researchers who possess international as well as localperspectives. Student participants in this program will be matriculated at the Graduate School of
Science and Technology, Niigata University, as full-time regular students and pursue a doctoral
degree by taking required courses and conducting research within three years, the standard periodrequired to complete the program.

2.

Number of Students to be Admitted
Number ofMajor
Students
Life and Food Sciences

3.

Several

Major

Number ofStudents

Environmental Science andTechnology

SeveralEligibility for Application
An eligible applicant is considered to be someone applying as an international student,
conforming to any of the conditions listed below.
(1) Those who have a Master’s degree or a professional degree (prescribed in Article 5-2 of theDegree Regulations (Ordinance of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture No. 9 of
1953) based on the provisions of the School Education Act, Article 104-1 (the same hereafter)),or those who expect to obtain such a degree by September, 2024.
(2) Those who have a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree or a professional degree in a country
other than Japan or those who expect to obtain such a degree by September, 2024. (Refer to[Note])(3) Those who, while in Japan, have completed a course of study by a distance learning programprovided by a school in a country other than Japan and have a degree equivalent to a Master’s
degree or a professional degree in that country, or those who expect to obtain such a degree bySeptember, 2024. (Refer to [Note])(4) Those who have a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree or a professional degree uponcompletion of a course of graduate study, in Japan, that is conducted at an educational
institution in a country other than Japan and recognized as being part of the educational systemof that country, and that is specifically designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, or those who expect to obtain such a degree by September, 2024.
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(5) Those who have a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree upon completion of a course of study
at the United Nations University (hereinafter referred to as the “United Nations University”)
founded based on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of December 11, 1972,
prescribed in Article 1-2 of the Act on Special Measures Incidental to Enforcement of theAgreement between the United Nations and Japan regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations University, or those who expect to obtain such a degree by September, 2024.
(6) Those who have graduated from university and have engaged in research for a minimum of twoyears at a university, research institute or other such institution, and who, on the basis of theoutcome (performance) of that research, are approved by the Graduate School of Science andTechnology (hereafter the Graduate School) as having academic ability equivalent to or greaterthan those with a Master’s degree. (Refer to [Note])(7) Those who, after completing 16 years of school education in a country other than Japan, or after
completing 16 years of school education by a distance learning program in Japan provided by aschool in a country other than Japan, have engaged in research at a university, research instituteor other such institution for a minimum of 2 years and who, on the basis of the outcome(performance) of that research, are approved by the Graduate School as having academic ability
equivalent to or greater than those with a Master’s degree. (Refer to [Note])(8) Those who, following the individual screening of their eligibility for application, are approvedby the Graduate School as having academic ability equivalent to or greater than those with aMaster’s degree or a professional degree and who will be 24 years old by September 30, 2024.
(Refer to [Note])[Note]
Those eligible to apply on the basis of (2), (3), (6), (7), (8) as outlined above should submit the“Application Documents” and the “Application Form for Eligibility Screening of Entrance
Examination” to the program director by Monday, December 25, 2023.
Eligibility screening results will be announced individually by the program director on or after
Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
4.

Submission of Application Documents and Any Inquires
For submitting application documents and any additional question or inquire about the program,should contact to the program director.
Program Director: Hideo HASEGAWA, Professor
Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University
TEL/FAX: +81-25-262-6690 Email: hsgw@agr.niigata-u.ac.jp
Postal Address: 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181, JAPAN
Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University
To: Hideo HASEGAWA, Professor

5.

Application Period
Tuesday, January 16 -Wednesday, January 17, 2024 by 16:00 (Japan Standard Time)(Application documents must arrive within this period)

6.

Application Procedures(1) Application Methods
Applicants should submit the following documents to the program director.
2(2) Application Documents
Documents and Forms
Instructions
a. 2024 Application Form・Use the attached form (Print double-sided)for Japanese Government
・Affix a photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm), showing the applicant’s upper(MEXT) Scholarshipbody, full face view with no hat, and facing the camera directly, to(RESEARCH STUDENTS)
the designated area. (Photo data acceptable)
・Be sure to accurately enter the year and month of the entrance andgraduation dates in the designated areas.
b. Field of Study and・Use the attached form. (Print double-sided)
Research Planc. Letter of・Submit a letter of recommendation, from someone in a higher
Recommendation
position than a director of a research institute at the applicant’suniversity, addressed to the President of Niigata University.
・No specific format required.
* Ref e. below: in cases where the academic transcript conversion tablecannot be converted to the specified format, the letter ofrecommendation should show that “results at graduate school orresearch department are within the top 30 per cent.”d. Copies of International
・Submit copies of applicant’s international passport pages (the pages
Passport Pages
of applicant’s photograph, name, and nationality).
e. Academic Transcript(s)・Submit the original academic transcript, with certifying seal orsignature from the appropriate authority, issued by the most recent
graduate school attended.
・Those who are expected to complete the graduate program and still
enrolled in the program must submit the most updated transcript.
・In cases where the grading system is based on letters, such as A, B,
C, etc., submit the grade conversion table, converting from letter
grading to the point system (100 points maximum). Please also
submit a certificate describing the passing grade point.
* Where the conversion table cannot be converted to the following
format, the Letter of Recommendation (referred in c. above) isrequired.
Classification

Academic Transcript

4-step grading

Excellent

Good

Acceptable

Fail4-step grading

ABCF

4-step grading

100-80points79-70
points69-60
points59 points
or less5-step grading

SABC

F

5-step grading

ABCDF

5-step grading

100-90points89-80
points79-70
points69-60
points59 points
or less

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3

2

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f. Certificate of (Expected)
Completion

・Submit the original Certificate of (Expected) Completion, withcertifying seal or signature, or diploma issued by the most recent
graduate school attended.
g. Documents Certifying
・Please submit a document certifying the applicant’s academic
Academic Excellence atexcellence at the most recent graduate school attended. For example,the Last Institution
GPA, ABC classification, or student ranking (out of total number ofAttendedstudents)
h. Abstract of Thesis
・Submit the abstract of the master's thesis.
・No specific format required.
・In case the applicant cannot submit the master's thesis, provide a
document certifying the reason, such as that there is no thesis-related
course available in the curriculum.
i. Certificate of Health・Use the attached form.
j. Documents Certifying
・Submit documents certifying that one of the following conditions isLanguage Abilities
met.
a. Score of B2 or above in English in CEFR or score in proficiency
test such as TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS.
b. Documents certifying that applicant has completed an
educational curriculum meeting the entrance requirements for adoctoral degree at a Japanese graduate school and in which themain language was English.
c. In cases where there are no documents showing applicant's
language ability, please submit documents such as any awards
received at international conferences or publications inacademic journals proving that applicant has appropriate
language ability as indicated under a. above.
k. Examination Fee・Payment is not required at the moment of submitting an application.
However, in case you are not selected as a Japanese government(MEXT) scholarship students, please pay an examination fee of30,000 Japanese yen.
l. Photographs
・Submit two extra photographs taken within three months prior toapplication. They should measure 4.5cm long by 3.5cm wide,showing the applicant’s upper body, full face view with no hat, andfacing the camera directly.
※Application documents must be completed in English and printed double-sided in A4 size, byusing document creator software, if possible.
※Attach English or Japanese translation if the original certificates are in a language other thanEnglish.
※Submitted application documents will not be returned for any reason.
7. Method of Admission Selection
Admission selection shall be made upon the evaluation of application documents and interview.
(Note) Interviews will be conducted either face to face or by interactive vocal or visualcommunication via Internet.

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8. Interview Date
The interview will be held on one day from Monday, January 22 to Friday, February 2, 2024
(EXCEPT weekends)
Individual interview date and time will be informed from the program director.
9. Announcement of Admission Decision
10:00 (Japan Standard Time) on Friday, March 8, 2024
The list of successful applicants’ Examinee Numbers shall be posted at the main entrance hall of
the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University. Successful applicants will also
be informed of the admission decision by mail.
The list shall also be posted on the Graduate School of Science and Technology website at 12:00(Japan Standard Time) of the day of announcement. (https://www.gs.niigata-u.ac.jp/)
No telephone inquiries regarding the admission decision will be answered.
10. Scholarship for Accepted Students
Students who are accepted to the program and meet the eligibility requirements to apply for theJapanese Government Scholarship Program may be recommended as MEXT student nominees.
When they are granted the scholarship, they will receive the following support;(1) Monthly stipend: JPY 145,000(2) Period of Scholarship: For the period of the standard number of years required to complete thedoctoral program (from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2027)(3) Travel Expenses (Round trip):Students will receive in-bound travel expenses when entering Niigata University and out-boundtravel expenses if they return to their home countries within the period of scholarship. The
travel expenses cover air fares from the international airport closest to their residence to theinternational airport closest to the university in Japan.
(4) Fees Necessary for Entering Niigata University:
Student participants are exempted from the entrance fee and tuition for the period of the standard
number of years required for completion.
(5) Other: If the student participants’ stay at Niigata University exceeds the standard number ofyears required for completion, if they are expelled or transferred, or in any way violate the oathmade to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, even after
matriculation, the scholarship stipends will not be provided.
11. Eligibility Requirements to Apply for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
Program(1) Nationality: Applicants must have the nationality of the CIS countries at the time of application.
(2) Age: Applicants must have been born on or after April 2, 1989.
(3) Academic Background: Those who have been granted a Master’s Degree or are expected toobtain such a degree by September, 2024; those who graduated from a university and have beenengaged in research for a minimum of two years at a university or research institute and who areconsidered, by the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, to haveacademic ability, considering their research achievement, equivalent to the level required for a
Master’s Degree; or those who, following the individual screening of their eligibility forapplication, are approved as having academic ability equivalent to or greater than those with aMaster’s Degree and who will be 24 years old by September 30, 2024.
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(4) Major Field of Study: Those who studied one of the following fields at a university are eligible
to apply: Management of Food and Resources; Plant Resource Production; Animal Resource
Production; High Level Use of Plant Functions; Enhancement of Microorganism Functions;
Elucidation of Food Functions; Sustainable Agricultural Produce; Conservation and Use ofForest Resources; Local Management Engineering; Agricultural Engineering; Fluctuation ofWater Circulation; Atmospheric Environment(5) Academic Grades: Those who have had a GPA of 2.30 or higher, based on the calculation
formula specified by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), in the past years and are also expected to maintain a GPA of 2.30 or higher for theperiod during which they receive their scholarship stipend.
※Niigata University will calculate the students’ GPA upon receipt of the application documents.
(6) Recommendation: Those who are recommended officially by the president or dean of theGraduate School of a university in the CIS countries with which Niigata University has
concluded an agreement for cooperation or where there are some close collaborations withNiigata University.
(7) Other: Any applicant who falls into any of the following categories is NOT eligible to apply forthe scholarship.
a. Those currently in the military service.
b. Those who are unable to arrive in Japan by the date specified by Niigata University.
c. Those who apply for this scholarship from another university and who have been granted anyother international student scholarship from the Japanese government (MEXT) or the Japan
Student Services Organization (JASSO).
d. Those who expect to obtain a scholarship from an organization (including a governmentalorganization in their own country) other than the Japanese government (MEXT).
e. Those who do not meet the expected eligibility requirements or conditions by the specified
date.
f. Those who have dual nationality at the time of application and cannot prove that they haverenounced their Japanese nationality by the time they arrive in Japan.
g. Those who in the past were international Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship students
and who do not thereafter have a study and research career of a minimum of three years by
thetime of scholarship take-up.
h. Those who from the time of application hope to undertake fieldwork or an internship in acountry other than Japan.
i. Those who failed the entrance examination for the doctoral degree program at this research
department.
12. Admission Procedure
The following is general information about the university admission procedure. Details will be
notified to successful applicants.
(1) Admission Procedure Period
Mid-September, 2024 (tentative)

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