Graduate Program in Global Governance and Sustainable Development (G2SD),
Tohoku University Graduate School of International Cultural Studies (GSICS)

Application for the 2-year Master’s Program
for the Academic Year of 2024
(Beginning in October 2024)
I. AimThe aim of this graduate program is to enhance students’ ability to advance global governance andsustainable development. Since the challenges associated with these tasks are complex and inter-linked,
what is needed to deal with them are the abilities to question conventional wisdom and to design innovative
analytical frameworks on the basis of inter-disciplinary knowledge. This program intends to develop suchabilities through a combination of critical reviews of theories, on the one hand, and problem-oriented
empirical studies, on the other.
II. Admission Policy
The Tohoku University Graduate School of International Cultural Studies provides students with theability to think and analyze in an international and interdisciplinary manner, advanced foreign language
skills, and a high level of specialized knowledge and clear awareness of issues in the following three areas:(1) diverse regional cultures of Japan and other areas seen from an international perspective, (2) global
issues concerning the environment, resources, and a sustainable society in which all humankind can coexist,
and (3) language underlying international society. Our educational goal is to train professionals, teachers,
and researchers who can play an active role on a global scale with their rich education, international
perspective, and high ideal of contributing to the stewardship and development of human civilization andculture. To achieve this goal, we seek students who have clear aspirations of becoming creative researchers
or professionals and are active in the international community, equipped with flexible thinking skills, broad
academic knowledge, and advanced language skills.
In admitting students, we have entrance examinations in the following categories: general selection,
special selection for international applicants applying from overseas, selection for those advancing to thedoctoral program from our MA program (only for the three-year doctoral program), entrance examination
for the Global Governance and Sustainable Development Program, and entrance examination for theInternational Graduate Program in Language Sciences. These are used to select applicants who have theadvanced abilities and qualities needed to conduct research in line with the educational ideals/goals
mentioned above.
The two-year Master’s program
In the category of general selection, applicants are evaluated based on (1) their scores in a written test toevaluate their knowledge about their specialized fields and (2) an interview and a review of their applicationmaterials, which are to assess their motivation, research plans, and foreign language skills needed forresearch, among other things. These are given roughly equal weight.
In the category of special selection for international applicants applying from overseas, applicants who
are recommended by their home universities are evaluated based on (1) a review of their applicationmaterials and (2) an interview. We assess their specialized knowledge, their ability to think logically andexpress their ideas in writing, and their motivation and research plans. These are given roughly equal weight.
In the entrance examination for the Global Governance and Sustainable Development Program,
applicants are evaluated based on (1) a review of their application materials and (2) an interview. We
examine whether they have the high-level English proficiency needed to study in the program where
English is the medium of instruction, the academic motivation and thinking ability to tackle today’s social
issues, and the ability to set a practical problem to solve. These are given roughly equal weight.
In the entrance examination for the International Graduate Program in Language Sciences, applicants areevaluated based on (1) a review of their application materials and (2) an interview. We examine whether
they have the high-level English proficiency needed to study in the program (as English is the medium of
instruction), and the specialized knowledge and ability to think interdisciplinarily required in the field of
language sciences. These are given roughly equal weight.
We expect students to possess basic knowledge in their areas of expertise, basic foreign language skills,
and skills in writing logically, before their enrollment.

1III. Curriculum
All courses in the Graduate Program in Global Governance and Sustainable Development are conducted
in English. A minimum of 30 units of course work and completion of a Master’s thesis are required for a
Master’s degree.
IV. Degree
The degree offered is a “Master of International Cultural Studies” or “Master of Interdisciplinary Studies.”
Students will also be offered a certificate recognizing completion of the program.
V. Application
1. Positions Available
Around 5 for the academic year 2024
Note: Admission to the program takes place every April and October. The descriptions in thisdocument are applicable only to October 2024 admissions. For April 2025 admissions, pleaserefer to documents published in the future.
2. Application Requirements
Applicants for the 2-year Master’s program should meet one of the following criteria:(1) Those who have graduated, or will graduate from a university in Japan established by the School
Education Law of Japan (Law 26 of 1947, henceforth ‘the Law’) by September 2024.
(2) Those who have been granted, or will be granted a Bachelor’s degree by the National Institution
for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education by September 2024.
(3) Those who have completed, or will complete 16 years of school education in a foreign country by
September 2024.
(4) Those who have completed, or will complete 16 years of a foreign country’s school education by
September 2024 by finishing a course conducted by an educational institution of that country via
distance learning while residing in Japan.
(5) Those who have completed, or will complete a university program of a foreign educational facility
in Japan by September 2024, which (i) has been approved by the educational system of thatcountry to operate the university program (graduates must be recognized as equivalent to thosecompleting 16 years of school education in that country) and (ii) is designated separately by the
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (henceforth ‘the
Minister’).
(6) Those who have been conferred, or will be conferred by September 2024, a degree equivalent toa bachelor’s degree upon completion of a curriculum that has a course term of 3 years or longer
at a university or other school in a foreign country (limited to schools whose overall educationaland research activities have been evaluated by the relevant country’s government or agovernment-approved individual, or are designated separately by the Minister as having met thisrequirement). This includes cases in which the student completed the curriculum by taking
subjects conducted by the said school via distance learning while residing in Japan and cases inwhich the student has completed a curriculum at an educational facility that is positioned withinthat country’s educational system as per the previous item.
(7) Those who have graduated or will graduate by September 2024 from a specialized course of a
specialized training college designated separately by the Minister (limited to courses satisfying
the standards designated by the Minister including the condition that the course duration be 4
years or longer). The date of the completion of the course must be on or after the date ofdesignation by the Minister.
(8) Those who have been designated by the Minister (refer to Notification No. 5 of 1953 from the
Ministry of Education).
(9) Those who have been admitted to a graduate school of another university according to Paragraph
2 of Article 102 of the Law and are judged by the GSICS to have attained a sufficient standard ofachievement to study in the GSICS.
(10)Those whose academic abilities are judged by the GSICS, based on GSICS’s individual
qualification examination, to be equal to or greater than those of a university graduate, and whoare 22 years of age or older at the end of September 2024.
Note 1: Applicants who wish to apply under qualification (6) must contact the GSICS Office ofAcademic Affairs by February 26, 2024.

2

Note 2: Applicants that fall under qualification (9) or (10) must undergo a pre-qualification
examination and are required to submit the designated documents for this purpose to the
GSICS Office of Academic Affairs by February 26, 2024 in order.
Note 3: GSICS does not accept applications made in accordance with Article 102, item (2) of the
School Education Act, or Article 11, item (9) of Tohoku University’s General Rules
concerning Graduate Schools.
Please contact the GSICS Office of Academic Affairs for inquiries regarding application
qualifications. See page 7 for contact information.
3. Application Procedures(1) Outline of the Online Application
Applications are accepted only through the online application system, The Admissions Office(hereinafter referred to as TAO).
Please upload all of your application documents listed in (2) onto TAO during the application period
specified in (3). Your application will only be accepted if you complete the application procedures
through TAO during the application period. Please make sure that your application is complete bychecking all the necessary documents are uploaded and that all the necessary information is filled. A
pop-up window will ask you to confirm again. Check the box and click the "Yes" button. By clicking
the “Yes" button you can complete the process.

If we have any questions about your application, our admissions staff will contact you via TAO.
Please follow their instructions.
TAO: https://admissions-office.net/en/portal(2) Application Documentsa) Application for Admission: Please download the form from the GSICS website and write inEnglish.
b) Photograph: The photo must be taken within 3 months prior to the date on which you submit yourapplication. It must not be edited or altered in any way.
c) Certificate of Graduation (or Expected Graduation): A certificate written in either English or
Japanese. If the original certificate is in a language other than English or Japanese, attach theoriginal as well.
d) Academic Transcript: A transcript must be issued in either English or Japanese from theuniversity where your undergraduate degree was or will be conferred, and it must bear theuniversity’s official seal. If the original transcript is in a language other than English or Japanese,
attach the original as well.
e) Research Plan: Describe your research plan in English in 2,000 words or less.
f) Both the (A) Full Text and (B) Abstract of either your Undergraduate Thesis or Research
Paper Equivalent to an Undergraduate Thesis: The abstract shall be written in English in 2,000
words or less.
f-1) In case you have not yet completed your Undergraduate Thesis, you are requested tosubmit the Statement of an Undergraduate Thesis Plan written in English. Its word
count must be 2,000 words, and a summary of each chapter must be included.
f-2) In case your Undergraduate Thesis is not written in English: You need to submit thefollowing two items: your Undergraduate Thesis in the original language and a3

Statement of an Undergraduate Thesis in English (2,000 words, including a summaryof each chapter). If you have not yet completed your Undergraduate Thesis, all you needto submit is a Statement of an Undergraduate Thesis in English.
f-3) If your undergraduate program does not require an Undergraduate Thesis, please see the
FAQ section on our website.
g) Formal Certificate of TOEFL® Test Score (iBT or ITP) or TOEIC® Test Score (Listening &Reading Test or Listening & Reading IP Test) or IELTS™ Band Score (academic): Forapplicants for whom English is a foreign language.
Applicants who attended middle/high schools for four years or longer where the primarylanguage of teaching is English in one of the countries specified below may present a document
to that effect from the school's principal or guidance counsellor, in place of the test scores
described above. Applicable countries: Australia, Canada, the Caribbean Islands (Not all
Caribbean Islands are eligible. Please inquire in advance.), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, theUK, and the US. In case you completed an undergraduate university program in these countries,
please inquire in advance. Please download the form from the GSICS website.
h) Two Letters of Reference: The letters shall be written in either English or Japanese. One of theletters shall be written by one of your academic advisors at the university where your undergraduate
degree was or will be conferred. Applicants must use TAO to send a request for a letter of reference
to their referees. An email will be sent to your referee from the email address no-reply@admissionsoffice.net, requesting a letter of reference. Applicants are recommended to ask their referees inadvance to submit a letter of reference according to the instructions given in the email from TAO.
i) Statement of Financial Position: For foreign applicants living abroad at the time of application;
examples: a tax return, bank certificate, or a personal financial statement showing a sufficientfinancial base for study abroad.
j) Certificate of Residence: For applicants who are foreign residents of Japan at the time of
application and who have lived in Japan for more than 90 days: The certificate is to be issued by
the head of the local municipality, must contain your resident status, and must have been issued
within 3 months prior to the date on which you submit your application.
k) Certificate of Government-sponsored Foreign Student Status: For foreign applicants who are
studying in another Japanese university as a foreign student sponsored by the Japanese Government.
l) Application Fee ¥30,000:
1) Applicants residing in Japan are to pay the application fee via ATM or online bank transfer.
The account information is as follows:
Bank: MUFG bank (Bank code: 0005)
Branch: Wakatake branch (Branch code: 809)
Account type: Savings account (普通)Account number: 2259370
Account holder’s name: 国立大学法人東北大学 (Kana: ﾀﾞｲ)ﾄｳﾎｸﾀﾞｲｶﾞｸ)* Please make sure to enter “KM” and your name in the payer's column.
e.g., KM ******* ******* (Your name in Katakana)
Family nameFirst name* Please pay the bank transfer fee yourself.
* Foreign remittances cannot be made to this bank account.
* If you have paid the application fee but decide not to apply for any reason, please contact
the GSICS Office of Academic Affairs by April 12, 2024.
* Please submit a copy of the receipt, ATM receipt or a screenshot of online banking thatshows your bank account, the amount you paid, the date of transfer and the payer name.
2) Applicants residing abroad are to pay the application fee online via credit card, using theonline payment system “e-shiharai.net”.
URL: https://e-shiharai.net/ecard/
When you make a payment in the system, please proceed as follows:4* You are to pay the transfer/handling fees in addition to the application fee.
* The application fee is nonrefundable once the application has been accepted. However,if the application is not accepted, or the application fee is accidentally paid twice, it will
be refunded to the payer’s credit account via the credit card company three months after
the application deadline. Please contact the GSICS Office of Academic Affairs by April
12, 2024. At that time, transfer/handling fee will be charged in addition to the application
fee. Refunds cannot be made if the payer cancels the credit card, or uses a prepaid card
not attached to an account.
*Please submit an image of the “Results” screen on the e-shiharai.net page.
3) Applicants sponsored by the Japanese Government are exempted from paying the application
fee.
m) A Letter of Approval: If you have a full-time job at the time of application, you must submit aletter of approval for your application and enrollment in GSICS issued by a supervisor or manager
at your place of employment.
Note 1: Incomplete applications will not be accepted. After we accept your application, no corrections
are permitted. The application fee is non-refundable.
Note 2: Applicants who have completed or will complete one of the Global 30 Future Global
Leadership programs at Tohoku University or other universities in Japan do not need tosubmit document g).
Note 3: We do not accept an IELTS™ Band Score (academic) older than two years at the time of
application. We accept a TOEFL® (iBT or ITP) or TOEIC® test score (Listening &Reading Test or Listening & Reading IP Test) older than two years at the time of
application. Applicants are strongly recommended to submit their most recent scores. We

only accept TOEFL iBT® scores from a single test date, not MyBest™ scores. We accept
TOEFL iBT® Home Edition, but we do not accept IELTS Indicator.
Note 4: After admission, students will be assigned to one of four GSICS departments (the Departmentof Asian and African Studies, the Department of International Politics and Economy, theDepartment of International Environment and Resources Policy, or the Department ofMulticulturalism) based upon their choice on the application form and will be granted use ofthat department’s facilities. In principle, applicants are expected to choose the department thatis overseen by their prospective supervisor.
(3) Application Period
All application documents must be uploaded onto TAO between February 26, 2024, and April 12,2024. If any of them is found to contain fraudulent information, the application will be automaticallyrejected. In the case that applicants make a false statement in their application documents, they may
have their admission revoked even after admission.
Note 1: Prior to submitting an application, applicants are strongly recommended to contact and consult
their prospective supervisors about their research plans after admission.
Note 2: Applicants must submit the original copies of their transcripts and certificate of graduation, etc.
upon admission. Failure can result in the withdrawal of their admission.

54. Screening
Applicants are screened on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation of the application documents(including their academic transcript and research plan), English proficiency, and an interview conducted
via an online video conferencing system in May or June 2024. The interview will be conducted in English
or Japanese depending on the applicant’s preference, although some or all questions may be asked in
English. Applicants are required to make an oral presentation on their previous research achievements,
such as their Undergraduate Thesis, and their future research plans, and they may also be asked somequestions regarding their basic knowledge of their research topics in the interview. Applicants will be
notified of the details of the interview such as the time and date after we have received your application
documents.
5. Announcement of Acceptance and Enrollment(a) Screening results will be posted on the GSICS website at 5:00 pm JST on June 12, 2024.
(http://www.intcul.tohoku.ac.jp/english/admission/successful_applicants.html)(b) Documents needed for enrollment will be sent to successful applicants. All enrollment procedures
are to be completed by mid-September, 2024.
(c) Successful applicants are requested to pay the following fees at the time of registration:① Admission Fee: ¥282,000② Tuition Fee: ¥ 267,900 (half of the annual tuition fee of ¥535,800)
Note 1: If the tuition fee is revised during your period of study, you will be charged the revised
tuition fee as of the date of the revision.
Note 2: Information on exemption of admission or tuition fees is included in document (b).
③ Insurance and other expenses: There is a \2,430 fee for Gakkensai and Gakkenbai insurance. Thereis also a \23,340 fee for foreign student insurance. In addition, there is a \6,000 fee for joining the
Tohoku University Alumni Association (\4,000 for those who completed their undergraduate
studies at Tohoku University). Further details will be provided in the admission documents. All
fees are current as of October 1, 2023 and indicate the total fee for two years.
6. Long-term Course Program
We offer a Long-term Course Program for students who have difficulty completing the course in thenormal 2 years due to concurrent employment, family duties, caregiving duties, or the like. Although the
Master’s Program normally lasts 2 years, it can be extended to 4 years. Those who wish to extend theirperiod of study from 2 years to 4 years may apply to enroll as Long-term Course Students. Please notethat the maximum period of residency for the Master’s Program is 4 years. Those who wish to enroll in
the Long-term Course Program must follow the instructions in the notification of acceptance, which will
be delivered by mail after the announcement of acceptance and submit the prescribed documents when
following other admissions procedures.
Coursework for students who are deemed eligible for the Long-term Course Program is set inaccordance with the curriculum and schedule for regular students.
The annual tuition fee for long-term course students is calculated as follows: the total amount of tuition
fees for the standard term of study (2 years) is divided by the entire length of the extended term of study(4 years). For details, please contact the GSICS Office of Academic Affairs.
7. Handling of Personal Information(1) Personal information held by Tohoku University is handled in strict compliance with the "Act on
the Protection of Personal Information (Act No. 57 of 2003)", the "Personal Information Protection
Regulations of Tohoku University" and any other relevant regulations.
(2) Personal information such as examination results used for the selection of applicants will be used
for the following purposes: (a) selection of applicants, (b) admission procedures, (c) pre-enrollment
support, (d) follow-up surveys, (e) post-enrollment support (scholarships, tuition exemption, healthcare, etc.), (f) academic guidance, (g) tuition collection, (h) surveys and research (for improving
the entrance exam and analyzing application trends). For applicants who are admitted to theuniversity, personal information from before and after the entrance examination may be analyzed
together.
(3) Work related to entrance examinations and educational affairs may be performed by contractors
entrusted by the University. In the event that all or part of the personal information of applicants isprovided to the contractor, necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the information ishandled appropriately in accordance with the "Personal Information Protection Regulations of6

Tohoku University" and any other relevant regulations.
8. Educational Data Usage
Data, including personal information, that Tohoku University collects through its education/learning
activities and stores on its information systems (hereafter, Educational Data) is analyzed with the latest
analytical and A.I. technology and is considered vital to our implementation of evidence-based education.
Educational Data will be used effectively and appropriately in compliance with our "Statement on
Educational Data Usage," "Policy on Educational Data Usage," and "Tohoku University's 8 Principlesof Educational Data Acquisition."
After being admitted to the university, students' personal information, such as their entrance exam
scores etc., is merged with the university's Educational Data.
URL：https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/studentinfo/education/08/education0801/
9. Other Information(1) Disclosure of the examination results is available at the request of applicants during the fiscal yearof the examination.
(2) Appropriate support shall be provided for physically handicapped applicants. Please contact the
GSICS Office of Academic Affairs at your earliest convenience to let us know how we can helpyou.
10. Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
Office of Academic Affairs
Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University
E-mail: int-kkdk@grp.tohoku.ac.jp7