October 2024 Admission
April 2025 Admission
Ochanomizu University Graduate School
Nara Women’s University Graduate School
Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering(Master’s Program/Doctoral Program)

Application Guide
Tokyo Venue(Ochanomizu University)
Exam Date
Announcement of Results

Exam Venue
Application Period
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 toThursday, July 18, 2024
Monday, December 16, 2024 to
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Friday, August 30, 2024

Monday, February 3, 2025

Monday, February 10, 2025

Ochanomizu University
2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo 112-8610
Tel: 03-5978-5697 (Admissions Office)
Email: nyushi@cc.ocha.ac.jp
Website: https://www.ao.ocha.ac.jp/

Nara Women’s University
Kitauoya Nishimachi, Nara City 630-8506
Tel: 0742-20-3023 (Entrance Examination Division)
Email: nyusika@jimu.nara-wu.ac.jp
Website: http://www.nara-wu.ac.jp/

1

Contents
I

Doctoral Program (October 2024 Admission/April 2025 Admission)
1. Admission Capacity
2. Application Qualifications
3. Application Period, Exam Date, Date of Announcement of Results, Etc.
4. Application Process
5. Screening Process, Etc.
6. Announcement of Successful Applicants
7. Application Documents, Exam Subjects, Etc.
8. Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering Doctoral Program Faculty Members

II Other Procedures, Etc.

[Prescribed Forms]<Doctoral Program>
Application Form [For August Exam/For February Exam]
Examination Fee Payment Confirmation, Picture Card, Exam Admission Ticket [For August Exam/For February
Exam]<Application Qualification Review>
Application Qualification Review Request Form (Doctoral Program)<Common Forms for Doctoral Program and Application Qualification Review>Research Plan
Examination Fee Payment Form (For Ochanomizu University)
Mailing Label
Return Envelope for Exam Admission Ticket2

Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering
Admission Policy, Completion Requirements, Etc.
<Admission Policy>[Doctoral Program]
The goal of this major is to develop individuals with the ability to flexibly perceive issues in human life who canconduct research that combines the perspectives of ordinary people rooted in everyday life with engineering methods
to create the safe, prosperous lifestyles and social environments of the future. In particular, this doctoral program
seeks to develop individuals capable of conducting independent research and becoming leaders in society.
To achieve that goal, students in this major investigate solutions and strategies by grasping life-related issues fromthe perspective of consumers and by learning engineering fields from the basics to practical applications. Throughthese processes, both students and teachers in this department develop educational research designed to advanceacademic development and the new field of human centered engineering.
In consideration of the above, the Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering doctoral program broadly
seeks individuals who meet the following conditions:
1 Students must have a strong interest in real-world issues related to people and living environments, and both thedesire and the ability to tackle these issues using a human-centric engineering perspective.
We naturally look for individuals with the fundamental abilities the research field demands, as well as a strong
motivation to become researchers or high-level engineers. We also prefer individuals who wish to develop higherlevel, specialized abilities while maintaining their footing as members of society.
2 Students must have academic ability equivalent to that of a master’s degree holder, as well as academic ability inthe various subjects of science and engineering, both of which are required to achieve the above.
3 Applicants must have high aspirations to contribute to society through the academic development of research
results.

<Completion Requirements>
To complete the doctoral program, a student must be enrolled in the program for at least three years, earn at least
twenty academic credits and, after receiving the necessary research supervision, pass the doctoral dissertation
review and final examination conducted by both universities in accordance with the goals of the program.
We have also established a system that allows students to complete the doctoral program early.

<Degree Offered>
Program

DegreeField of Specialization Attached to the Degree

Doctoral Program

Ph.D.

Human Centered Engineering, Engineering,
Science

About the Cooperative Graduate School○ Characteristics of the Cooperative Graduate School･You will receive a joint degree from Ochanomizu University and Nara Women’s University.
･You will receive research supervision from faculty members at both universities. A faculty member affiliated withthe university you are enrolled at will be assigned as your main supervisor, while one faculty member affiliated withthe other university will be assigned as your sub-supervisor. In addition, you will have at least one other subsupervisor. All of these faculty members will collaborate closely to provide you with the necessary researchsupervision.
･You may also receive research supervision during summer vacation, etc. at the university you are not enrolled in.

○ Important Matters: Be sure to review the following items:[Enrollment]
The university you will be enrolled in after admission will be Ochanomizu University[Submission of Application Documents]
Please send your application documents to Ochanomizu University.
[Exam Venue]Your entrance examination will take place at the Tokyo venue (Ochanomizu University).

3

I Doctoral Program (October 2024 Admission/April 2025 Admission)
1. Admission Capacity
Number to be admitted

Major

Selection Category

Cooperative
Major in Human
CenteredEngineering

General Selection
Special Selection for Returning
Students
Special Selection forInternational Students

Ochanomizu University

2*There are two admission slots available for each university for the general selection, special selection
for returning students, and special selection for international students categories combined. The numberof admission slots for fall (October) admission will be limited to a few of the total slots available.

2. Application Qualifications*Read “March 2025” as “September 2024” for fall (October) admission (all selection
categories).
[Special Selection for International Students]
The applicant must be a woman who a) does not hold Japanese citizenship, b) either possesses, or isable to obtain a status of residence of college student according to the Immigration Control and Refugee
Recognition Act, and c) falls under any one of the following categories:(1) A person who has a master’s or professional degree (including a person who will obtain such a degree by March
2025).
(2) A person who has received (or will receive by March 2025) a degree equivalent to a master’s or a professional
degree in a foreign country.
(3) A person who has received (or will receive by March 2025) a master's degree while in Japan through a distanceeducation program at an overseas school.
(4) A person who has received (or will receive by March 2025) a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or aprofessional degree by completing, while in Japan, the graduate school program of a foreign country at an
educational facility positioned within the school education system of the country in question that has been
separately designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology by March 2025.
(5) A person who has completed coursework at United Nations University and received (or will receive by March
2025) a degree equivalent to a master’s degree.
(6) A person who, as a result of an individual review of her application qualifications conducted by the major, hasbeen recognized as having academic ability equivalent to or superior to the holder of a master’s degree orprofessional degree and has reached the age of twenty-four or will reach that age by the end of March 2025.
(7) A person who, after graduating from a university, or completing 16 years of school education in a foreign country
or 16 years of school education in the education system of a foreign country by taking classes as part ofcorrespondence education program conducted by a school or schools in the country in question while in Japan,
has engaged in research at a university, research institute or other institution for at least two years and has beenrecognized by the major as having academic ability equivalent or superior to a holder of a master’s degree.
This includes individuals who meet conditions a and b below:
a. A person who, at the time of their admission to the cooperative major and after graduation from a
university has at least two years of research experience at an educational institute, research institute,municipality, company, etc.
b. A person who has research achievements considered to equal or be superior in value to that of a master’s
thesis in the form of academic books, academic papers, technical report, utility models, patents, etc.
* Individuals who wish to apply via application qualifications (6) and (7) must first undergo a review of their
qualifications to apply to the cooperative major before applying. You must submit the documents and otheritems listed below to the Admissions Division of Ochanomizu University by the deadline. If the documents
are in a foreign language other than English, please attach a Japanese or English translation. You will be
notified of the results of the review before the beginning of the application period.
･Documents Required for Application Qualification Review(1) Application qualification review request form (please use the approved form)(2) Certificate of completion and academic transcripts for highest level of education attained (Be sure to send theoriginal document issued by the school in question)(3) Research plan (please use the approved form)(4) Return envelope (a JIS chou 3 envelope [235 mm × 120 mm] clearly marked with the return address for the resultsof the review and affixed with 720 yen in postage [110 yen for standard postage + 350 yen for simplified registeredmail fee + 260 yen for express postage, or the new postage rates in the event that the postage rates are revised])4

･Application Qualification Review Request Submission Period
Exam
Month
AugustFebruary

Submission Period
Thursday, June 27, 2024 to Friday, June 28, 2024; must arrive by 5:00 p.m. (Requests will
only be accepted by mail.)
However, requests postmarked by a domestic mail carrier on Thursday, June 27, 2024 that
arrive after the above period will be accepted.
Thursday, November 21, 2024 to Friday, November 22, 2024; must arrive by 5:00 p.m.
(Requests will only be accepted by mail.)
However, requests postmarked by a domestic mail carrier on Thursday, November 21, 2024
that arrive after the above period will be accepted.

3. Application Period, Exam Date, Date of Announcement of Results, Etc.
Individuals who wish to be admitted in the fall (October) must take the exam conducted in August.
Applications must arrive at the Ochanomizu University Admissions Division during the application period.
Note: Applications will only be accepted by registered express mail.However, requests postmarked by a domestic
mail carrier on the day before the final day of the application period (Wednesday, July 19 for the August exam andTuesday, December 19 for the February exam) that arrive after the application period will be accepted.
Exam Venue

Exam
Month

Tokyo Venue(Ochanomizu University)
Application Period

AugustExam Date
Announcement ofResults
Application Period

February

Exam Date
Announcement ofResults

Tuesday, July 16 to Thursday, July 18[must arrive by 5:00 p.m.]
Thursday, August 22
Wednesday, August 30
Monday, December 16 to Wednesday, December 18[must arrive by 5:00 p.m.]
Monday, February 3
Monday, February 10

4. Application Process
You must place your application form and other required documents in a JIS kaku 2 envelope marked“Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering Application Documents” in red ink and send themby registered mail. Please note that we only accept applications by mail; applications brought to theuniversity will NOT be accepted.
(1) The application form is described in “7. Application Documents, Exam Subjects, Etc.”(2) Where to Send Application Forms, Etc.
[Ochanomizu University applicants] Ochanomizu University Admissions Division
2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo 112-8610(3) Ochanomizu University will send out your exam admission ticket about two weeks after the application period
together with your exam guide.
[Notes Regarding Application]･ Before applying, please check with your desired supervisor regarding the research you plan to conduct after
admission.
･ Application forms, etc. with errors, omissions, missing documents, etc. will not be accepted, so please checkyour application form and other documents before applying.
･ Once application forms, etc. have been accepted they cannot be added to, changed or returned.
･ Admission may be revoked even after admission if an applicant has made false statements on the application
form etc or has submitted false documents.
･ Examination fees will not be returned for any reason except in the following cases:(1) The applicant paid the examination fee but did not apply, or his/her application was not accepted.
(2) The applicant mistakenly paid the examination fee twice.
Examination fees are only refunded based on requests from applicants. In the event that (1) or (2) apply,
contact the Ochanomizu University Admissions Division. (The fee will not be refunded if you do not take theexam after you apply.)5

･ To receive an examination fee refund for one of the reasons listed above, you will need to follow the proceduresprescribed by Ochanomizu University. Please also note that the refund process requires a significant amount oftime.
･ Individuals who are employed at companies, etc. should request permission to apply if required to do so by theinternal regulations, etc. of their employer.
･ Personal information such as names, grades, education history and so on acquired by the university may be
used after admission within the boundaries necessary to provide students with learning guidance and support
with student life.
･ Individuals who wish to receive special considerations during the admission exam or while attending theuniversity due to illness, injury, disability or similar circumstances must consult with the university beforehand.
As such, please send your request to the Admissions Division of the university before the qualification review
request period. Should an accident or some other unforeseen circumstance occur after you apply that results inyou requiring similar special considerations, please notify the Admissions Division of the university about yoursituation immediately.
･ Beginning with the incoming April 2020 class—and in keeping with the school’s mission of being a place where
all women motivated to learn can realize their dream—Ochanomizu University accepts people who wish to study
at a women’s university based on their gender identity. If your gender identity differs from the record on yourfamily register or passport, we can provide advance information and guidance regarding the use of an alias,
locker rooms and other aspects to support you after the school begins. Please contact the Admissions Divisionat least one month ahead of the application periods. Additionally, we ask these applicants to submit our
Notification Form as well as a copy of their Alien Registration Card or passport. Although your eligibility to apply
will be verified, this process will not put you at any disadvantage in terms of the admission decision.

5. Screening Process, Etc.
Admissions selections will be conducted in a comprehensive manner based on application forms and an oral exam.
Examinees are allowed the use of an LCD projector during the oral exam. If you wish to use an LCD projector,
please circle the appropriate item in the relevant field on your application form.
Exam venue (for details, please check the exam guide sent with your exam admission ticket)[Tokyo venue] Ochanomizu University
Location: 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo 112-8610

6. Announcement of Successful Applicants
The examination results will be provided at noon or 5:00 p.m. on the date set for the announcement.
We will post the examinee numbers of successful applicants on the bulletin board on campus, and send acceptanceletters to successful applicants. We also plan to post the examinee numbers of successful applicants on the examvenue website.
Ochanomizu University (Tokyo venue) https://www.ao.ocha.ac.jp/
Note: We will not respond to any inquiries by phone, etc. about exam results.

6

7. Application Documents, Exam Subjects, Etc.
･Application Documents

1

2

3

4

*Read April 2025 as October 2024 and March 2025 as September 2024 for fall (October) admission.
Applicants Who Have
Completed (or Are
Expected to Complete) an
Ochanomizu University
Application
Notes
Master’s Program Between
Documents
April 2024 and March 2025
Expected
ProgramCompletion
Completed
Application○○
Use the approved form.
Form[Ochanomizu University]
Use the approved form.
･ You may pay the examination fee (¥30,000) by banktransfer or at a convenience store.
[Paying by Bank Transfer]
Pay the fee using the prescribed transfer form of a financial
institute other than Japan Post Bank (you are also
responsible for paying the transfer fee). Make sure yourname/the name of the applicant is listed as the name of theoriginator on the transfer form. Tear off the payment slip (forsubmission to the university) (納入済票[大学提出用]) fromthe transfer request form, paste it onto the prescribed field on
Confirmation
the confirmation of payment of examination fee form (useof Payment of
the approved form) and submit it.
Examination
Fee,
Exam [Paying at a Convenience Store]○○
Admission
You can pay your examination fee at the following
Ticket, Picture
convenience stores: Seven-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart.
Card
Pay the fee after referring to p.11 “Ochanomizu University
How to Pay Examination Fees at Convenience Stores” for
information on the specific procedures and points of caution
regarding convenience store payments (you are responsible
for paying the transfer fee). Receive the “proof of payment”
portion of the payment request form from the convenience
store, paste it onto the prescribed field on the confirmationof payment of examination fee form (use the approvedform) and submit it.
･Paste photographs (height 4 cm x width 3 cm) taken within
three months of when you apply onto the designated fields ofthe exam admission ticket and the picture card.
If you have completed or expect to complete an Ochanomizu
University master’s program between April 2024 and March
2025, you are not required to pay an examination fee.
If you have completed (or expect to complete) the(Examination
××
Ochanomizu University / Nara Women’s University
Fee)
Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering master’s
program between April 2024 and March 2025, you do nothave to pay an examination fee.
Address Card
(Provide a contact
Use the approved form. (Cut off and submit the relevant○○
address inportion from the sheet.)

All
Other
Applic
ants

○

○

○

○

Japan.)

5

Certificate of(Expected)
Completion ofMaster’s
Program, Etc.

6

Academic
Transcripts

7

Master’s
Thesis, Etc.

･Your current/previous university, etc. must issue this(Original only; copies will not be accepted)･If you submitted an application qualification review (see p.4),
you do not need to submit this item.
･Originals transcripts issued by your current/previous
university, etc.
(Original only; copies will not be accepted)･If you submitted an application qualification review (see p.4),
you do not need to submit this item.
Submit three copies of your master’s thesis. If you are unable
to submit a master’s thesis, submit three copies of a research
paper or other research achievements instead.

7

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

Please use the approved form. Submit three copies of an
approximately 1,200-character (Japanese) or 600-word
8○○○(English) summary that clearly states the name of yourdesired research theme.
Clearly state the address you wish your exam admission ticket
Returnto be sent to on the prescribed envelope and affix 460 yen in
Envelope
9 (Provide a contact postage (110 yen for standard postage + 350 yen for simplified○○○
address inregistered mail fee; if postage rates are revised, please use
Japan.)
the new postage rates).
[Additional Documents International Students Must Submit]
Foreign applicants living in Japan must submit a certificate ofresidence issued by the municipality in which they reside(originals only; copies will not be accepted). Information listed
Certificate ofon the certificate such as nationality/region of origin, the type10 Residence,○○○and expiration date of the individual’s visa, etc. must not be
Etc.
omitted or abbreviated. All other foreign applicants should
submit a copy of their passport (the portion that indicatesnationality).
(Note) If the documents submitted with your application form are in a foreign language other than English, pleaseattach a Japanese or English translation.
ResearchPlan･ Exam Subjects, Etc.
Exam
Exam Time
Subject
Oral Exam

1:30 p.m. -Points100

Exam Content
The oral exam will be about 30-40 minutes long and include a discussion ofprevious research, including your master’s thesis, your plans for doctoral
dissertation research after admission, a general discussion, etc.

8. Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering Doctoral Program Faculty
Members
Affiliation

Faculty Member in Charge*1

Polymer and Fiber Materials, Polymer Structures and Properties,
Nanomaterial Chemistry, Analytical ChemistryProf. KUROSU Hiromichi
Associate Prof.
OHSEDO Yutaka
Associate Prof.
YAMAMOTO Kentaro
Prof. MIKATA Yuji

Polymeric Materials, Gels, Organic Functional Materials
Inorganic Solid Materials, Electrochemical Device Materials

Assistant Prof. SHOJI Sunao

Nara Women’s
University

Prof. SAIWAKI Naoki
Prof. YOSHIDA Tetsuya
Associate Prof
SATO Katsunari
Lecturer ANZAI Emi
Prof. SHIBASAKI Manabu
Prof. NAKATA Hiroki
Lecturer OHTAKA Chiaki
Prof. FUJITA MeijiProf. KUBO Hiroko

Ochanomizu
University

Prof. NAGATA Naoyuki
Prof. OHTA YujiProf.
KONDO Megumi
Associate Prof.
TRIPETTE Julien
Lecturer
TSUCHIDA shuhei
Associate Prof.

Research Field

GSC
GSC
GSC
GSC

Functional Metal Complex, Bioorganic Chemistry, Green Chemistry
Organic Dye, Photofunctional Molecules,
Supramolecular ChemistryLife-Related Human Informatics, Wearable Computing
Machine Learning, Data Mining, Data Analysis
Haptic Information Transmission, Virtual Reality, Five-Sense
Interfaces
Human informatics, Welfare Engineering, Medical Information,
Wearable Device
Physiology, Kinematics, Bioengineering
Cognitive Neuroscience, Health Engineering
Biomechanics, Human Medical Engineering
History of Cities and Architecture, Conservation and Restoration,
Architectural Art
Ergonomics, Architectural Environmental Engineering, Sleep
Environments, Gerontology
Architectural Design, Urban and Architectural Design
Biomedical Engineering, Welfare Engineering, Health Engineering
Physical Anthropology, Quaternary Research, Somatometry,
History of Living Environments
Behavioral l Assessment, Bionics, Health and Exercise Science
Information Engineering, Human Computer Interaction, Computer
Engineering
Biopolymer, Hydrogel

8

AKIMOTO Aya
Prof.
MOTOOKA Nobuhisa
Prof.
NAGASAWA Natsuko
Associate Prof.
KAWAI Hidenori
Associate Prof.
FUJIYAMA Mamiko

GSC

Prof. OTAKI Masahiro

GSC

GSC
GSC
GSC

Architectural Design, Architectural Planning, Ergonomics,
Environmental
Psychology,
Architectural
Environmental
Engineering, Urban and Architectural Design, Engineering Design

GSC
Water Environmental Engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Water Demand and Supply Prediction

Sanitary*1. Contact the university’s representative faculty member for information about receiving supervision from the faculty
members in charge (as main supervisors).
Ochanomizu University: Professor KONDO Megumi , kondo.megumi@ocha.ac.jp*2. The Ochanomizu University graduate school establishs a Global Students Course that allows students admitted in
April 2020 and beyond to take the admissions exam, attend lectures, receive thesis/dissertation supervision and earn adegree all in English. See the above list for information about faculty members in charge of the Global Students Course.
(Look for the “GSC” to the right of their name.) If you wish to apply for this course, be sure to contact your desired faculty
supervisor ahead of time.
Please note that you must submit a TOEFL score report and an IELTS test report form when applying. Test scores arevalid for up to two years before the date you take our admission examination.

9

Ⅲ Other Procedures, Etc.
<Special Measures Regarding Educational Methods>
If the situation and the educational environment of the major that accepted the student permits, individuals
recognized as having a special educational need because their situation before or after admission does not allow
them to devote themselves to their studies can take classes and/or receive research supervision at night or duringother particular times of day or periods (summer vacation, etc.).
Individuals who wish to take advantage of such special measures should contact the Ochanomizu University
Admissions Division before they apply.

< Long-Term Study System >Some students have less time for research and learning activities than the typical student for reasons such as
employment, childcare, long-term care, disabilities or other circumstances, making it difficult for them to complete
the program in the standard length of time. We have implemented a long-term study system that allows thesestudents to study in a systematic manner over a period longer than the standard length of their course.
Students approved for the long-term study system must pay the full tuition for the standard length of their program
over the length of the approved long-term study period.
Please note that the details of the system depend on which university you will be enrolled at after admission.
[Ochanomizu University]
Individuals who wish to take advantage of the long-term study system must submit their application documents
during the admission procedure period. For more details or to ask questions, please contact the Ochanomizu
University Academic Affairs Division (Tel: 03-5978-5821･5822, E-mail: daigakuin@cc.ocha.ac.jp).

<Admission Procedures>･ Sending Admission Procedure-Related Documents (for Ochanomizu University)
You will receive information about admission procedures from the university along with your letter of acceptance.
You will receive documents related to admission procedures from Ochanomizu University around early September(subject to change) for October admission or around mid-February (subject to change) for April admission.
You will also conduct admission procedures at Ochanomizu University.
･ Required Payments(1) Admission fee: ¥282,000 (amount subject to change)
If you have completed (or expect to complete) an Ochanomizu University master’s program between April
2024 and March 2025, you do not have to pay an admission fee.
If you have completed (or expect to complete) the Ochanomizu University/Nara Women’s University
Cooperative Major in Human Centered Engineering master’s program between April 2024 and March 2025, you
do not have to pay an admission fee.
Note: Read April 2024 as October 2023 and March 2025 as September 2024 for fall (October) admission.
(2) First semester tuition: ¥267,900 (¥535,800 per year; amount subject to change)
Notes: 1. Any revision to tuition before admission or during enrollment shall take effect immediately.
2. There will be some other relatively minor costs upon admission besides the admission fee andtuition listed above, such as the premium for Disaster and Accident Insurance for Students(GAKKENSAI).
3. Your admission fee will not be returned if you decline admission for any reason after completingthe admission procedures. No exceptions.

<Inquiries>
Ochanomizu University Admissions Division
2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo 112-8610
Tel: 03-5978-5697(Inquiries are accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except on weekends and holidays.)
Email: nyushi@cc.ocha.ac.jp10