Hiroshima City University
Graduate School of International Studies
October 2024 Admission

Application Guidelines
Doctoral Program
Recommendation-Based Exam for Institutions
with International Academic Exchange Agreement

Designated Application Forms(Please download the following forms from HCU website.)・Application Form・Curriculum Vitae
・Letter of Recommendation
Issued: April 20241

1. Admission Policy

Hiroshima City University (HCU) develops professionals having sensitivity and passion toward seeking the truth,
respecting diverse cultures and values, and wishing for lasting world peace. HCU also aims to train students to become
professionals who have the ability to contribute to both the local and global communities, with a wide-ranging knowledge
and solid expertise, as well as a strong sense of ethics.
For the purpose of nurturing such competent professionals, HCU seeks to admit:- Persons who are well rounded and have a strong enthusiasm for learning.

- Persons who are intellectually curious, inquisitive, and eager to create and utilize new knowledge.
- Persons who wish to contribute positively to world peace and the development of local communities and the internationalcommunity.
The Graduate School of International Studies seeks to admit:- Persons who can try to investigate, objectively analyze the background and causes of the various issues both in the local
and global communities, and propose a solution using a professional approach.
- Persons who can think about their expertise logically and persuasively for deepening thoughts and debate- Persons who have the basic knowledge regarding the research field and the adequate language skills required for research,
as well as the desire to deepen their professional knowledge and research skills for their future work
- Persons who wish to improve their skills and potentials through learning at this Graduate School2.

Degrees Conferred
The Doctoral Program of Graduate School of International Studies confers “Doctor of Philosophy” , “Doctor ofPhilosophy (International Studies) ”, or “Doctor of Philosophy (Peace Studies) ”, according to the research field andtopics of each student’s doctoral thesis.

3. Number of Students to Be Admitted

4.

Department

Recruitment category

Number ofapplicants
to be admitted

Graduate School of International Studies

Recommendation-Based Exam for Institutions
with International Academic Exchange Agreement

A Few

Application Qualifications
Applicants must meet all the following requirements and must have completed a master program of an overseas
university that has concluded an International Academic Exchange Agreement with Hiroshima City University(“partner institution”), and have obtained a master degree, or be expected to complete a master program of a partner
university by September 30, 2024.
1) A person who can obtain recommendations from two or more faculty members (including the Dean of thegraduate school) in the partner institution attended.
2) A person who has the ability to write the Doctor thesis in Japanese or English.

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5. Application Procedures(1) Prior Consultation
Before applying, applicants need to seek consultation about their intended research themes from a faculty member theywish to work with. For details on faculty members and their research fields, please refer to the Hiroshima City
University website.
For seeking prior consultation, applicants are required to send an e-mail with the subject line “Prior Consultation forPartner University Recommendation-Based Entrance Exam (Doctor Course)” to the Admissions Office(nyushi@m.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp). The e-mail must include: your name, and the name of a faculty member you wish
to work with, and attach ② Curriculum Vitae, ⑨ Abstract of Master Thesis and ⑩ Research plan data in “6)Application documents”.
[Inquiry deadline] April 25 (Thu), 2024. (JST)* If you would like to receive a prior consultation after the deadline, please contact the Admissions Office.
(2) Application Period
May 13 (Mon) to 24 (Fri), 2024 (Must arrive by 5:00 p.m. JST on final day)(3) Application Methods
After consultation with a faculty member you wish to work with, please enclose all application documents in an
envelope and submit it by mail to the Admissions Office by the deadline. Be sure to write in red “ApplicationDocuments Enclosed for Partner University Recommendation-Based Entrance Exam” on the envelope.
After the deadline, the examination admission card will be sent to each applicant. If you do not receive the documents by
the day immediately before the announcement of the results, please contact the Admissions Office.
* We recommend using a tracking service such as Express Mail Service (EMS) or DHL when mailing.
* If you are an applicant who has graduated from a partner institution and are residing in Japan, please contact theAdmissions Office to seek consultation concerning your application.
(4) Exemption from Examination Fee
Applicants who undergo entrance exams under the International Academic Exchange Agreement Program shall be
exempt from the entrance examination fee.
(5) Application Submission Address and Inquiries regarding Applications and Examinations
Admissions Office, Hiroshima City University
Address: 3-4-1 Ozuka-Higashi, Asa-Minami-ku, Hiroshima-shi 731-3194, Japan
E-mail:nyushi@m.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp(6) Application Documentation
Document to Submit

Instructions①Application FormEnter the required information on the HCU designated form. When making entries, carefully
read the NOTES items shown in the margins.
Photos must be taken within 3 months prior to application, 4 cm H x 3 cm W, showing upper
body, uncovered head, facing camera, and no background. Write your name on the backbefore affixing it.

②Curriculum Vitae

Enter the required information on the HCU designated form. When making entries, carefully
read the NOTES items shown in the margins.

3Document to Submit③④

Letter of
Recommendation

Must be issued by the university president or the head of the graduate school of the partner
institution attended.

Certificate ofMust be issued by the dean or head of the graduate school of the partner institution
attended.
If there is any other certificate of the degree conferred, photocopies of such certificatesshould be submitted.
If the date of completion (expected) date is written on the academic transcript, a degree
certificate alone is also acceptable.

Completion ofMaster’s Program[Original]

Proof of Japanese or
English Language
Proficiency⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩A University-designated form must be used. Sealed letters of recommendation must besubmitted by two or more faculty members (including the head of the graduate school) of thepartner institution attended.
If the official seal of the university is not available, the recommender's handwritten signatureis required (electronic signatures are not accepted).

Academic Transcript[Original](Expected)⑤Instructions[Native speakersof Japanese or
English, orapplicants with adegree inJapanese or
English do notneed to submit
the document.]

Submit one of the following exam score certificates (showing score, Original and onecopy).
We accept only scores from these tests taken after April of 2022. Original documents will beenclosed and returned with the examination admission card.
1) TOEICⓇL&R (IP test also accepted)
2) TOEFLⓇ (PBT or iBT)
3) IELTS™ (Academic Module)
4) Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
5) Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (taken the"Japanese as a foreign language" subject)* If you take the online exam and submit your scores, we will only accept scores fromtests with a proctor. Please submit a printout of the grade display screen as your reportcard. Proctored exam score is an exam score that is identified and monitored by a proctor
based on camera footage during the online exam.

Statement of Purpose

Use Japanese or English. Write in detail the specific reason(s) you decided to apply.
Japanese should be in about 2,000 characters, or English should be in about 1,200 words.

Master Thesis, etc.

If you do not have a master thesis, please submit a suitable alternative paper related toyour intended research field. If you want the thesis/paper to be returned, let us know at thetime of application.

Abstract of MasterThesis
Research PlanPrepare an abstract in Japanese or English of the master thesis mentioned above (item 8)
Japanese should be in about 1,200 characters, or English should be in about 700 words.
Use Japanese or English. Write in detail your plan how to research in the Doctoral Program.
Japanese should be in about 2,000 characters, or English should be in about 1,200 words.

Notes: 1. Please download the forms for documents ①, ② and ③ from HCU website.
2. If a document in ③, ④, or ⑤ is written in other than Japanese or English, be sure to attach
its Japanese or English translation. However, Japanese or English translation of a document
in ⑧, Master Thesis is not required.
3. Inadequately completed application documents may not be accepted.
4. A certificate with the applicant's maiden name may be used. In such a case, please attach a document stating
the date of the name change, the new name and the maiden name filled in by the applicant. (The format isoptional.)
5. It is the responsibility of each applicant to carefully consider and submit the application documents.

4(7) Other Important Points for Application
1) Inadequately completed application will not be accepted. Before submitting your documents, be sure to double checkthem.
2) No change can be made to application documents that have been submitted.
3) Submitted application documents shall not be returned.
4) Once granted, admission may be cancelled if it is determined that contents stated in the submitted documents differ
from actual facts.
(8) Handling of Personal Information
1) Personal information contained in application documents (such as your name, date of birth, sex, etc.) will be used forentrant selection, notification of acceptance, enrollment procedures, providing scholarship information andsurveys/research (entrance exam improvement, application trend surveys/analyses, etc.).
Also, said information will be managed by the university in connection with the educational affairs of enrolled
students (student registration, school guidance, etc.) and student support services (health management, scholarship
applications, tuition waiver applications, etc.),
2) With some of the operations and services mentioned above, outside companies may be employed, after necessary
steps are taken to ensure that personal information is appropriately managed.

6.

Admission Criteria
Research plans and other submitted documents are reviewed and evaluated comprehensively.

7.

Notification of AcceptanceJune 26 (Wed), 2024, 10:00 a.m. (JST)A notification of acceptance will be delivered to the successful applicants, and the application numbers of successful
applicants will be posted on HCU website.
However, since this is reference information, please check for the official notification of acceptance letter, which is sent tosuccessful applicants.
Inquiries regarding results by e-mail or other means will absolutely not be accepted.

8.

Enrollment Procedures(1) Enrollment Period
July 1 (Mon), 2024 to July 12 (Fri), 2024 (Application must arrive by 5:00 p.m. JST on final day.)(2) Enrollment Procedures
1) Documents necessary for enrollment procedures, together with the notification of acceptance, will be sent directly tosuccessful applicants.
2) Please enclose all documents to be submitted in an envelope and send it by mail by the deadline mentioned above. Be
sure to write in red “Enrollment Procedure Documents Enclosed” on the envelope.
* We recommend using a tracking service such as Express Mail Service (EMS) or DHL when mailing.
3) After completing the enrollment procedures, an admission letter will be sent to all accepted applications.
(3) Points to Note about Enrollment Procedures
1) Those who have not completed all the necessary enrollment procedures will be regarded as having declined the offerof admission.
2) Check the accuracy of all materials before submission. Inadequately completed documents will not be accepted.
3) Submitted enrollment procedure documents will not be returned, and paid enrollment fees will notbe refunded.
4) Applicants who applied pending completion of a master program are required to submit theCertificate of Completion as soon as possible.
59. Fees Payable upon Admission(1) Fees to Be Paid Prior to Admission
Fee Type

AmountAdmission Fee¥ 423,000(2) Fees to Be Paid after Enrollment
Fee Type

AmountDue Date¥ 267,900

By the end of April¥ 267,900

By the end of October

Tuition (¥ 535,800/year)
Notes: Amounts shown are current as of April 2024. If revisions are made, the new tuition rate will apply at the timeof revision.
(3) Scholarships
International students who have obtained residence status are eligible to apply for scholarships sponsored by local
governments and organizations that provide support for international students.
(4) Reduction and Exemption of Admission Fee
Applicants to whom any of the following items apply may be exempt from paying their admission fees. Please consult
the Admissions Office.
Those who find it difficult to pay the admission fee because
1) The person scheduled to bear the cost of the student’s study dies, no more than one year before his/her admission tothe graduate program; or2) The student or the person scheduled to bear the cost of study is a victim of a natural disaster, including but not limited
to storm and flood damage, no more than one year before admission to the graduate program.
(5) Reduction and Exemption of Tuition
The University has a system for reducing and exempting tuition for international students. Please consult us afterenrollment.

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