2022 Academic Year
Graduate School of Business Administration
Kobe University
Special Entrance Examination
PhD Program
Application Procedure

Graduate School of Business Administration
Kobe University

The Admission Policy of the Graduate School of Business Administration’s Doctoral Program,
Kobe University
The Graduate Program of the Graduate School of Business Administration provides students with in-depth
knowledge and advanced professional skills in the fields of management, accounting, and commerce, andenables the students to develop into outstanding internationally-minded researchers and professionals who
excel in humanity and creativity, through a five-year program, consisting of a two-year master’s course and athree-year doctoral course.
The Doctoral Program aims to foster researchers and professionals who will contribute to the progress anddevelopment of humanity through their research achievements. During the program, the students can gain
exceptional research opportunities that allow them to acquire advanced and specialized knowledge inmanagement, accounting, commerce, and related academic fields, which helps them develop the ability to
conduct original research using scientific methods. After the completion of the program, students should be
able to engage in high-level research and education; playing leading roles in their respective fields atuniversities and research institutions.
The Doctoral Program seeks students with the qualities and abilities that fit our aim. For this purpose, we
accept those with exceptional abilities from various universities and diverse academic backgrounds.


Applicants are sought with the following qualities and abilities:

1. Students with a strong desire to explore the principles of management, accounting, and commerce.
[Required competences: knowledge and technique; critical thinking, good judgement, and expression;
initiative and cooperativeness; interest and motivation]
2. Students who possess the basic capabilities to obtain the required scientific methodology for resolving
research questions in management, accounting, and commerce. [Required competences: knowledge andtechnique; critical thinking, good judgement, and expression; interest and motivation]
3. Students with the imagination and insight to translate into new scientific knowledge their researchoutcomes in the fields of management, accounting, and commerce. [Required competences: knowledge
and technique; critical thinking, good judgement, and expression; initiative and cooperativeness]Basic Policy for the Selection of Students:

To select students with the abilities mentioned above, we examine the competences of the applicants in theareas listed below, based on the diploma policy and the curriculum policy of the Graduate School ofBusiness Administration’s doctoral degree program.
Through the appropriate entrance examination (General entrance examination, Recommendation-based
entrance examination, Special entrance examination for working adults, or Entrance examination for
SESAMI PhD Program), we assess each student’s knowledge and technique; critical thinking and good
judgement, and expression; initiative and cooperativeness; interest and motivation.

The doctoral program at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University, conducts a special
entrance examination for a full-time professor, associate professor, assistant professor, lecturer, or research
associate at a university; a researcher at research institute who is recognized by our graduate school as having highability.
A qualified candidate may apply for the examination on the basis of the screening of the application documents
without paper or oral examination provided that he/she obtains a letter of recommendation from a faculty memberof our graduate school.
1. Number of Students to Be Admitted
Limited number
2. Applicant Qualifications
Applicants must fulfill at least one of the following requirements (a)-(c) at the time of application.
(a) Be a full-time professor, associate professor, assistant professor, lecturer, or research associate at a university.
(b) Be a researcher at a private or national research institute, provided that the Graduate School of Business
Administration recognizes that he/she has ability equivalent to those listed in (a).
(c) Hold a master’s degree or an MBA degree and have written an excellent master’s thesis or academic paper onbusiness administration or related subjects. The candidate must also be deemed a competent researcher by the
Graduate School of Business Administration.
In addition, applicants must fulfill at least one of the following requirements (1)-(8):(1) Have received a master’s degree or an MBA degree.
(2) Have received a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or an MBA degree in a foreign country.
(3) Have received a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or an MBA degree from a foreign school bycompleting correspondence courses administered in Japan.
(4) Through separate enrollment eligibility screening, be recognized by the Graduate School of Business
Administration, Kobe University to possess academic ability equivalent to or higher than a master’s degree
holder or an MBA degree holder. The applicant is required to be 24 years of age by March 31, 2022.
(5) Have completed a course and have received a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or an MBA degree froma foreign graduate school in Japan. The school must be recognized as an educational institution by the homecountry’s education system, and approved by the Minister of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology.
(6) Have completed a course and have received a degree equivalent to a master’s degree from the United Nations
University, which was established under the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution of December 21,
1972, based on the provision in Paragraph 2, Article 1 of the Act on Special Measures Law (Law No. 72,
1976) concerning the Implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and Japan relating to the
Headquarters of the United Nations University.
(7) Have completed a course at a foreign school, an institution specified in the above (5) or the United Nations
University; have satisfied requirements equivalent to an examination and screening specified in Article 16-2of the Graduate School Establishment Standard (under the Ministry of Education Notification No. 28, 1974);
and is recognized as possessing abilities equivalent to a master’s degree holder or higher.
(8) Have been specially designated by the Minister of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (under the Ministry of Education Notification No. 118, 1989).
3. Application Period for Eligibility Screening
Applications must be received between Wednesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 25, 2021.
If you are applying based on meeting the requirement listed in qualification (4) above, please obtain an
Application form for Eligibility Screening from the Academic Affairs Section. Please enclose a self-addressedenvelope (Standard size 23.4 cm×12 cm) with a postal stamp of JPY 84 if inside Japan.
4. Application Period
Applications must be received between Friday, October 1 and Monday, October 11, 2021.
All applications must be sent by registered express mail. Please write “Application for Special Entrance
Examination of PhD Program of the Graduate School of Business Administration” in red ink on the front of
the envelope. Applications submitted in person will not be accepted.

5. Application Procedure
Enclose the required application documents listed below in an envelope and send them to the Academic
Affairs Section by registered express mail. Please use the documents marked with “◆” by downloading fromthe website: (https://b.kobe-u.ac.jp/admission/phd/)
Address:

Academic Affairs Section,
Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University
2-1, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe-shi
657-8501, Japan(1) Application Form and Curriculum Vitae ◆Please use the Graduate School’s designated format. (A4 size, printed on both sides)
Please refer to the GSBA faculty list for ‘Research Field’ and ‘Supervisor’.
(2) Examination Fee
In case you pay the examination fee from the bank in Japan, please pay the fee (JPY 30,000) by bank transfer(through Automated Teller Machine or internet banking is recommended) and submit the transfer bill. Pleaseattach the receipt on either the application form (the position is predetermined) or a blank A4-size paper. Printed
screen shot of the completed bank transfer of the internet banking is also acceptable. Account balance shall beblacked out.
If you wish to remit the fee from overseas, please contact the Academic Affairs Section for details.
*Transfer destination account: 三井住友銀行六甲支店（普通）4165080 国立大学法人神戸大学
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Rokko Branch, Savings Account 4165080, National University
Corporation Kobe University*Payer’s name: Must be “D45〇〇〇〇” (〇〇〇〇 is the name of the applicant. Name in Katakana is also
acceptable).
*Please make sure to input the applicant’s name instead of the account holder’s name if the account does notbelong to the applicant.
*Bank Transfer fee should be borne by the payer.
International students on a MEXT Scholarship should submit a copy of their MEXT Scholarship Certificate
instead of the examination fee.
*Note 1 applies.

(3) Letter of Recommendation from a Faculty Member of Our Graduate School
Submit a letter of recommendation written by a faculty member of the Graduate School of Business
Administration, Kobe University. No specific format is required. The faculty member must attach his/her
signature and seal the envelope.
(4) Master’s or MBA Thesis(a) Summary of Thesis (8 copies)
Submit copies of your master’s or MBA thesis summary (maximum 3 pages of A4-size paper). If yourthesis is written in a language other than Japanese, you may submit your thesis summary written in English(around 3,000 words).
(b) Thesis (8 copies)
Submit copies of your master’s or MBA thesis. You may attach your other research papers for reference.
* If your master’s degree does not require a thesis, you must submit 8 copies of your research summary
during the master course that exceeds more than 10 pages of A4-size paper. You may write it in English(around 10,000 words).
(5) Research Plan (8 copies) ◆Please use the Graduate School’s designated format. (A4 size, printed on both sides)(6) Academic Transcript (Master’s degree)
Submit an original transcript issued by the president (or dean) of the graduate school from which you
graduated.
*Notes 1 and 2 apply.

(7) Certificate of Graduation
Submit an original certificate of graduation issued by the president (or dean) of the graduate school fromwhich you graduated.
*Notes 1 and 2 apply.

If you graduated from a foreign university, you must also submit a certificate for your master’s degree (e.g., acopy of your diploma).
(8) Academic Transcript (Bachelor’s degree)
Submit an original transcript issued by the president (or dean) of the university from which you graduated.
*Notes 1 and 2 apply.

(9) Photograph (4cm x 3cm)
Two (2) passport-sized photographs (4 x 3 cm) for Application Form and Examination Admission Slip. Your
photographs must show your full face, without a hat, and be taken within the past three months.
(10) Certificate of Employment

Submit a certificate of employment issued by the relevant university, research institute, company, or
government.
(11) Examination Admission Slip ◆Please use the Graduate School’s designated format. (A4 size)(12) Certificate of Residence or Copy of Residence Card (Foreigners only)
Foreign applicants residing in Japan should submit an official document indicating their Japanese residency
status as issued by the head of their residential city/ward/town/village, such as a Copy of Resident Record(must be issued within the past 30 days). A photocopy of both sides of Residence Card is acceptable.
(13) Address Slip (2 slips printed on an A4 size paper) ◆Please fill in your name, address, and zip code in the Graduate School’s designated form. These slips are used
to mail the Examination Admission Slip and enrollment procedure documentation.
(14) Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
Please enclose a standard size (23.4 cm×12 cm) self-addressed envelope with your name, address, and zip
code and postal stamps attached for return postage (express mail postage of JPY 344 if in Japan).
Note 1: Each certificate must be the original.
Note 2: As for documents such as certificates prepared in languages other than English, please attach a Japaneseor English translation with a certificate of translation issued by a public institution such as the relevant
consulate or embassy (The certificate in Chinese should be translated at a public institution in China).
Please prepare and attach your own translation (English or Japanese) for research papers or related
documents in languages other than English or Japanese.
Note 3: Specify a contact person in Japan if you are applying from a foreign country.
Note 4: If one of the following situations applies to you, please submit the specified documents at the time ofenrollment.
(a) If you will continue to work for the current company or civil service after enrollment, submit a letter ofapproval by your supervisor to enroll in the graduate school.
(b) If you will retire from the current company or civil service to enroll in the graduate school, submit acertificate of retirement.
6. Obtaining the Application Forms
Please download the application forms from the website below.
https://b.kobe-u.ac.jp/admission/phd/
7. Screening Method
Admission selection will be made on the basis of the screening of the application documents, letter ofrecommendation, research plan, and master’s or MBA thesis in order to evaluate an applicant’s ability to write
a high-quality doctoral dissertation. All documents must be written in either Japanese or English.
8. Announcement of Results
Friday, November 19, 2021, 2:00 p.m. (Tentative)
The admission results will be posted on the web site of the Graduate School of Business Administration(https://b.kobe-u.ac.jp/). The official letter for successful applicants will be sent by post as well. No telephoneor email inquiry is accepted.
9. Admission Fee(1) Entrance fee: JPY 282,000(2) Tuition fee (first semester): JPY 267,900 (annual amount JPY 535,800)(The above entrance and tuition fees apply for the academic year 2021. These fees are subject to change forstudents enrolling in the academic year 2022. If the tuition fee changes while students are enrolled, the newtuition fee will be applicable from the date of revision.)
10. Handling of Personal Information(1) Personal information obtained by the Kobe University will be handled in the strictest confidence, in compliancewith the Protection of Personal Information Act and other related laws and regulations, as well as Kobe University
Guidelines on Personal Information Protection.
(2) Personal information used in applicant selection, such as examination results, shall be used for applicant screening,announcement of examination results, enrollment procedures, and the creation of study materials for the purpose of
improving future applicant screening and education program. No individual can be identified in any form of
publication.
(3) Personal information provided during the application process shall be used for student support services including
health management, exemption from tuition fees, and scholarship applications, as well as for purposes such as
academic instruction and other administrative procedures.
(4) Some work may be commissioned to a third party (hereafter referred to as a contractor). When commissioning work,
all or part of the personal information shall be provided to the contractor to the extent necessary to conduct thework, after imposing a confidentiality agreement.

11. Important Notes(1) Changes to information included in application documents are not accepted after submission. The examination
fee is non-refundable and no application documents will be returned after submission.
(2) An offer of admission may be subsequently rescinded where false information is provided by the applicant in
the application or other related documents.
(3) An academic year begins in April and ends in March of the following year at Kobe University.
12. Inquiries about Obtaining and Submitting Application Forms
For further inquiries, please contact the Academic Affairs Section.
Academic Affairs Section,
Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University
2-1, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe-shi
657-8501, Japan
Tel: +81-78-803-7260
Fax:+81-78-803-7294
E-mail: bkyomu@b.kobe-u.ac.jp【Number of successful applicants in the past】
2019

2020

2021

Applicants

23 (10)19 (2)

29 (12)

Examinees

19 (10)17 (2)

26 (12)

Successful
applicants

12 (8)

12 (2)

15 (10)

Enrollees

12 (8)

11 (2)

12 (7)

The figures indicate the total number of doctoral program.
( ) indicates the number of Special Entrance Examination.