October 2024
April 2025

For reference

Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Molecular Science]
Application Guidelines
Contents
I.

Outline: Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies
p. 2

II.

Five-year Doctoral Program: Application Procedures and Important Notes
p. 3

III. Three-year Doctoral Program: Application Procedures and Important Notes
p. 14
IV. List of Faculty Members
p. 25
The following Application Guidelines in English are provided for the purpose of non-JapaneseApplicants' convenience only. In the event of any inconsistency between the Japanese Application
Guidelines and the English version, the Japanese version shall prevail.
Applicants have to require to obtain a booklet of Application Forms. Please contact the address
below to ask for a booklet or any further information.

[Contact Information]
Student Affairs Section, Academic and Student Affairs Division
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Shonan Village, Hayama, Miura, Kanagawa 240-0193 JAPANE-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp
Telephone number +81-46-858-1525/1526

1

Ⅰ.

Outline: Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies

Admission Policy<What SOKENDAI expect of our grad students>
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, seeks students who have a strong interest in
research, who constantly hone their abundant intellect and sensitivity with the aim of conducting researchthat will open up a new era, while taking a “bird's-eye view” of the entire field of study, and who have the will
and enthusiasm to be active on the international stage.
<Basic policy for the selection of our grad students>
In selecting students for admission, SOKENDAI places importance on basic academic ability and logicalthinking ability to actively promote research in the cutting-edge 20 research institutes affiliated to SOKENDAI.
In order to properly judge such abilities, various selections will be made according to the respective fields ofspecialization.
About SOKENDAI

https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/features/
Faculty Directory
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/faculty-directory/index.html
Coursehttps://www.soken.ac.jp/en/education/curriculum/course/

Requirements for Graduation
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/education/curriculum/requirement/
Degree: Apply to Doctor (Katei-Hakase)https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/education/degree/doctor/index.html

2

Ⅱ.
1

Five-year Doctoral Program: Application Procedures and Important Notes

Number of Students Accepted
Number of Students Accepted
ProgramApril Admission

October Admission

Informatics

Around 8

A few

Statistical Science

Around 2

A few

Particle and Nuclear Science

Around 6

A few

Accelerator Science

Around 2

A few

Astronomical Science

Around 5

Fusion Science

Around 3

A few

Space and Astronautical Science

Around 4

A few

Molecular Science

Around 7

Materials structure Science

Around 2

Polar Science

Around 2

Basic Biology

Around 5

A few

Physiological Sciences

Around 3

A few

Genetics

Around 6

A few

Integrative Evolutionary Science

Around 3

A few

Total

2

A few

58

Qualifications for Application

Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions
Applicants who are not required to have qualification screening;(1) Applicants who have graduated or are expected to graduate from a Japanese university specified in Article
83 of the School Education Law by the preceding month of enrollment.
(2) Applicants on whom a Bachelor’s degree has been conferred or are expected to be conferred by thepreceding month of enrollment in accordance with Article 104, Paragraph 4 of the School Educational Law.
*1(3) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete 16-year course of school education in aforeign country by the preceding month of enrollment.
(4) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete 16-year course of school education in aforeign country by taking the correspondence courses provided by a school in said foreign country while
residing in Japan by the preceding month of enrollment.
(5) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete a program in an educational institute in Japan
designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, that provides
3

programs of a foreign university within the 16-year school education of said foreign country, by thepreceding month of the enrollment. This applies solely to those who have completed 16-year program ofschool education in said foreign country.
(6) Applicants who have been conferred or are expected to be conferred a degree equivalent to a Bachelor’s
degree by the preceding month of enrollment by completing an educational course of three or more years
in a foreign university or in a foreign educational institute; which shall be evaluated by an organization
approved by a relevant official institution in the country for their education and research activities, orrecognized as so by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The course shall
include a correspondence course which enables students to study in Japan by a university or an
educational institute which is approved by the educational system of the country and satisfy the above
requirements.
(7) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete the specialized course of a vocational school
designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in accordancewith Enforcement Regulation of the School Education Law, Article 155, paragraph 1, item 5 (limited toprograms for which the term of study is four years or more, and which satisfies the standards determinedby the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) on or after the date determined by
the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, or by the preceding month ofenrollment.
(8) Applicants who are designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology inaccordance with Enforcement Regulation of the School Education Law, Article 155, paragraph 1, item 6(i.e., Ministry of Education Notification number 5, 1953) *2
Applicants who are required to have qualification screening before the general application can besubmitted;(9) Applicants who fulfill any of the following provisions (a) to (c) below, and have been recognized by
SOKENDAI as having acquired the specified credits with excellent results;(a) Applicants who have completed 15-year course of school education in a foreign country by the end of
preceding month of enrollment,(b) Applicants who have completed 15-year course of school education in a foreign country by taking thecorrespondence courses provided by a school in said foreign country while residing in Japan,(c) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete a program in an educational institute inJapan designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
that provides courses of a foreign university within the 15-year school education of said foreign country,
by the preceding month of the enrollment. This applies solely to those who have completed 15-year
course of school education in said foreign country.
(10) Applicants who have been or will have been enrolled in a Japanese university specified in Article 83 of the
School Education Law for at least three years by the end of preceding month of enrollment, and have beenrecognized by SOKENDAI as having acquired the specified credits of said university with excellent results.
(11) Applicants who have entered a graduate school other than SOKENDAI in accordance with the Article 102,4

paragraph 2 of the School Education Law, and have been recognized by SOKENDAI as having theappropriate academic ability to follow the content of graduate coursework.
(12) Applicants who have been recognized as having academic ability equivalent to a university graduate or
higher by the individual screening of Admission Qualifications of SOKENDAI, and attain the age of 22 by
the end of preceding month of enrollment. *3*1

Applicants to whom the provision (2) above applies are those on whom a Bachelor’s degree has been

conferred or is expected to be conferred by National Institute for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancementof Higher Education (formerly, National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation).
*2

Applicants to whom the provision (8) above applies are those who have graduated or are expected tograduate from a university under Old University Ordinances, or Daigakko under orders for organization and actsof establishment of government ministries or agencies.
*3

Applicants to whom the provision (12) above applies are those who have graduated or are expected tograduate from junior college, technical college, vocational school, other schools, Japan campus of foreign
university, foreigners’ school in Japan and other educational institutes, and who have been recognized by
SOKENDAI as having academic ability equivalent to a university graduate or higher by individual screening.
If you have any questions regarding the qualification for admission, please contact the Student Affairs Section(E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp or telephone no.: +81-46-858-1525/1526) in advance.
3

Qualification Screening for Application

Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (9) to (12) in “2 Qualifications for Application” are required
to submit the following documents to the Student Affairs Section by the designated deadline. Application
documents shall be withheld until the qualification screening is completed.
(1) Documents Required for Qualification Screening for Application(a) Application for Certifying Applicant’s Qualification (Attached Form 7-1)(b) Application documents (as described in “5 Application Documents” below)
Examination fee, however, should be paid after application qualification is approved.
(c) Other documents required by this program. For details, please contact to Program office.
(a), (b) and (c) above must be submitted all together.
(2) Application Period for Qualification Screening
Application Period
Those who apply only for molecular science or those who
apply in conjunction with other programs:
June 3 (Monday) to June 6 (Thursday), 2024
First round

Second round

April 2025 Admission

April 2025 Admission

Those who apply only for molecular science:
July 22 (Monday) to July 25 (Thursday), 2024
(Please submit the application documents in either
application period.)Those who apply only for molecular science or those who
apply in conjunction with other programs,
November 5 (Tuesday) to November 7 (Thursday), 2024
5

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received during 09:00～12:00, 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(3) Procedure for Qualification Screening
The complete set of application documents should be sent by postal mail in a commercially available
envelope (33cm x 24cm) with the prescribed label in the booklet pasted. Please be sure to send it byregistered express mail. Applicants should write “Application Documents and Application for Certifying
Applicant’s Qualification Enclosed” in red ink on the face of the envelope. The application must reach
SOKENDAI no later than the last day of the application period.
(4) Result of Qualification Screening for Application
The result of Qualification Screening for Application shall be notified prior to the application period.
Applicants who have been approved by the screening should send in the payment for the examination fee
in accordance with Form 8. After remittance is completed, please submit Form 8 on which the remittancereceipt is attached.
4

Application Procedure

Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (1) to (8) in “2 Qualifications for Application” are required tosubmit the following documents to the Student Affairs Section by the designated deadline.
(1) Application Period
Application Period
Those who apply only for molecular science or those who
apply in conjunction with other programs:
June 27 (Thursday) to July 3 (Wednesday), 2024
First round

Second round

April 2025 Admission

April 2025 Admission

Those who apply only for molecular science:
August 26 (Monday) to August 30 (Friday), 2024
(Please submit the application documents in either
application period.)Those who apply only for molecular science or those who
apply in conjunction with other programs:
December 5 (Thursday) to December 11 (Wednesday), 2024

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received during 09:00～12:00, 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(2) Application Method
In principle, the complete set of application documents should be sent by postal mail in acommercially available envelope (33cm x 24cm) with the prescribed label in the booklet pasted.
Please be sure to send it by registered express mail. The application must reach SOKENDAI no later
than the last day of the application period. Please note that application documents will NOT be accepted byany parent institute or program office.
Mailing address:
Student Affairs Section, Academic and Student Affairs Division
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Shonan Village, Hayama, Miura, Kanagawa 240-0193 JAPAN
Telephone number +81-46-858-1525/1526
6

5

Application Documents
Please read through the “Important Notes for Applicants” beforehand. Also, application forms must becompleted with a black or blue pen or ballpoint pen (erasable pens are not acceptable).
(1) Application form and admission ticket for the examination (Form 1-A)
Please attach two identical photographs (4.5cm by 3.5cm taken within the past three months, upper
body, full-faced with no hat) on Form 1-A. Please read through the application guidelines and sign yourname in agreement with the contents.
(2) Academic transcripts (original)(a) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (1) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit academic transcripts from the undergraduate school. In case any of the credits wasapproved after transferred to the undergraduate school, academic transcripts from the technicalcollege or other college are also required.
(b) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (2) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit all the academic transcripts concerning the Bachelor’s degree.
(c) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (3) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application”
must submit the academic transcripts from the foreign undergraduate school.
(d) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (10) to (12) in “2 Qualifications for Application”
must submit the academic transcript from their final academic background.
(3) Certificate of (expected) graduation (original)(a) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (1) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the certificate of graduation from the university which a Bachelor’s degree has been
conferred from.
(b) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (2) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the certificate from National Institute for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement ofHigher Education (formerly, National Institute for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation).
(c) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (3) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application”
must submit the certificate of (expected) graduation from the foreign undergraduate school.
(d) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (10) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the school-certificate, and applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (11) and (12)in “2 Qualifications for Application” must submit the certificate of graduation of their final academic
background.
(4) Statement of Purpose (Form 2)
Applicants who apply to a second-choice program must copy and prepare the form for the secondchoice program separately.
(5) Examination fee of 30,000 yen
For payment details, please refer to Form 8. MEXT scholarship students do not have to bear theexamination fee, therefore certificate of MEXT scholarship student status is required.
7

(6) Recipient’s address labels (Form 9)
Applicants who live outside Japan must contact the Student Affairs Section in advance. [E-mail:gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp](7) Confirmation Letter regarding the Applicability of the Specific Categories for Compliance with Article
25(1) and (2) of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Form10)
Applicants residing in Japan must submit Form 10. Please refer to the simple check flow chart (*) tocomplete the form. For details, please contact the Research Coordination Section. [E-mail:kenkyo@ml.soken.ac.jp]* https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/file/tokuteiruikei-E.pdf(8) Application for language request for the examination of major subjects (Form 11)(9) Elective Registration Form for Specialized Subjects (Form 12)
Refer to “Important Notes for Applicants”.
(10) TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS score
Please select how to submit your English score on Form 13-1. Refer to “Important Notes for Applicants”.
(11) LETTER PACK PLUS
We will send Admission ticket for the examination by "LETTER PACK PLUS." Please purchase"LETTER PACK PLUS" at the post office in Japan. Applicants who live outside Japan must contact theStudent Affairs Section in advance. [E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp](12) Curriculum Vitae (Form 1-2)
Only for international applicants and Japanese applicants who have received their education outsideJapan(13) Documents certifying the applicant’s research abilities, such as thesis, research reports and othermaterials are also accepted, if applicable.
Applicants who apply to the second-choice program must submit another set of copy of the documents
for the second-choice program separately.
(14) Permission for Studying While in Employment (Form 6)
Applicants who are currently employed full-time are required to submit Permission for Studying Whilein Employment (Form 6). In case the permission cannot be obtained or the applicant intends to resign
before enrollment, s/he may submit a statement of reason sealed by her/himself. In this case, “Letter of
Permission to be enrolled while employed” or “Certificate of Resign” must be submitted at the time ofadmission.
(15) A copy of Residence Card (international applicants residing in Japan) or
A copy of passport (international applicants residing outside Japan at the time of application)
Notes:i.

Incomplete documents shall not be accepted. No documents shall be returned.

ii.

In case the applicant’s name has changed after marriage etc., a copy of family register should be
attached.

iii.

Form 2 is also downloadable at our website.
8https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/ms/
iv.

Application documents should be written in Japanese or English. If you submit the certificate neither
in Japanese nor English, please also attach the certificate in Japanese or English.

v.

Applicants who are (were) in the doctoral or master's program must submit a transcript of the doctoralor master's program. Applicants who have graduated from a doctoral or master's program must submit
a certificate of graduation. Applicants who have withdrawn from the doctoral or master's program must
submit a withdrawal certificate.

6

Screening Procedures

Screening will be conducted based on submitted application documents and results of academic tests. For thedetails of the screening methods for this program, please refer to “Important Notes for Applicants”.
If you apply to more than two programs, please note that screening is conducted individually, and the date orvenue may differ depending on the screening.
Examination Dates

First round

April 2025 Admission

September 24 (Tuesday) and September 25 (Wednesday), 2024

Second round

April 2025 Admission

January 27 (Monday) and January 28 (Tuesday), 2025

Note: Detailed information about the time and place of the examination will be provided with theadmission ticket for the exam. In case the ticket shall not be delivered one week prior to the date of
examination, please contact the Student Affairs Section. Please see the following website for the delivery
schedule of admission ticket.
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/ms/
Venue of the examination
Program

Location and Directions

Molecular Science

Institute for Molecular Science
38 Nishigo-Naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585
Seven-minute walk from Higashi-Okazaki Station (Nagoya Railway, Meitetsu)
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/about/campus/access.html

7Announcement of Results
Notification
First round

April 2025 Admission

Mid-October 2024

Second round

April 2025 Admission

Mid-February 2025

Further details will be sent to applicants.
Results will be mailed to the successful applicants. Announcement of results will be made on the SOKENDAI
website (https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/general_admission/result/index.html), however, results shallbe confirmed by notification by mail. Inquiries regarding the results by telephone or other means will not be
responded to.
98Admission Procedures(1) Admission period is scheduled as below:
Early to mid-March 2025 for the enrollment of April 2025
Successful applicants must complete the admission procedures during the prescribed period. Further
details will be notified to successful applicants separately.
(2) Fees required for admission are as follows.
Entrance Fee: JPY 282,000
Tuition Fee for six months: JPY 267,900
Student Insurance Fee for five years: JPY 5,750(Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research)
Note:(a) In case the entrance or tuition fees are revised at the time of or during enrollment, the revised fees
shall be applied from the date of revision.
(b) Entrance fees shall not be refunded under any circumstances once the payment is made. Premiumfor the student insurance, however, may be refunded only if applicants decline the admission by the
cut-off dates as blow:
March 31, 2025 for the enrollment of April 2025
(3) Applicants who are currently employed full-time should submit a “Letter of Approval” issued by the employer
that acknowledges the enrollment while employed. Resignation certificate must be submitted if you resign
before you enroll at SOKENDAI.
(4) Applicants who are enrolled at a school other than SOKENDAI at the time of application (not including
applicants who will have graduated/completed the school before you enroll at SOKENDAI) must submit thecertificate of withdrawal from said school.
(5) Foreign nationals are strongly advised to acquire a student visa unless a particular reason would prohibit
them from doing so. Detailed information on how to acquire this type of visa is available on the SOKENDAI’s
website: http://www.soken.ac.jp/en/campuslife/international/immigration/
9Long-term course system
Long-term course system is a planned course of study for a certain period of time beyond the standard
period of study upon request from the student, who has an occupation or other circumstances. For further
information, please contact the Educational Affairs Section.
E-mail: kyomu@ml.soken.ac.jp, or Fax: +81-46-858-1632

10

General Notes(1) Before applying and taking the entrance examination, applicants should read through “Important Notes forApplicants”.
(2) Submitted documents shall not be returned. No changes or alternations to the submitted documents will be
10

accepted after filing.
(3) Admission might be revoked in case of any false entry or act of dishonesty on application documents andother documents.
(4) Applicants who wish to transfer to SOKENDAI from other graduate school must contact Student Affairs
Section before the last day of the application period.
(5) Applicants with disabilities who require special consideration at the examination and after enrollment areadvised to inform SOKENDAI three months prior to the application period.
(6) Applicants should inform the Student Affairs Section if they wish to withdraw their applications.
(7) In case the applicant has changed the mailing address after submitting the application documents, please
inform the Student Affairs Section of the change.
E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp, or Fax: +81-46-858-1632(8) Students are not allowed to simultaneously register at other universities while studying at SOKENDAI.
(9) For applicants with foreign nationality, if your name contains characters from your native language, thesecharacters may be replaced with the Roman alphabet for administrative purposes.
(10)Please be sure to check our website for any changes in the method of admission selection due to the impact
of new coronavirus infection or other factors.
11

Security Export Control
Based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (*), SOKENDAI has established regulations andconducts examinations for the provision of technology and the acceptance of researchers and students. For
this reason, if it is deemed that there is a risk of falling under regulations, you may be required to change
your desired education or research content. Security Export Control regulations has nothing to do with
passing or failing the entrance examination. Please consult the program office for further details.
* https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/englishpage.html

12

Privacy Policy(1) Any personal information including applicant’s name and address submitted to SOKENDAI as part of theapplication documents shall be used during the application process such as applicant/examination
procedures, notification of results and admission procedures. After enrollment, personal information shallalso be used for student affairs (school register and course registration), student services (health care,tuition exemption and scholarship application, and career support) and administrative purposes ofprocessing payments for entrance and tuition fees.
(2) Personal information obtained in the screening process such as examination results, shall be used for
aggregate analyses of examination results and research for use in the screening process.

11

Important Notes for Applicants to Molecular Science Program(Five-year Doctoral Program)This program, offered by the Institute for Molecular Science (Okazaki City), fosters a future generation ofresearchers who will establish a systematic understanding of molecules—which are the basic constituent unitsof matter—and elucidate the diverse phenomena that matter presents. We aim to produce graduates who canconduct advanced research (experiments, measurements, theories, etc.), rationally understand the results of
their research, challenge unexplored problems with creative ideas, create new intellectual values and universal
truths, and contribute to the development of humanity based on molecular science.
1. Application
Read throughout the Application Guidelines and our website for admission information in preparing application
documents:

https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/boshu.html

For details of faculty members, see “IV. List of Faculty Members”.
Applicants can also contact their expected academic advisors directly by e-mail. The website of Institute for
Molecular Science, where educations and researches take place, and of the program, are as follows:
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/
Applicants can apply to the second-choice program from Astronomical Science, Fusion Science, Space andAstronautical Science, Materials Structure Science, Basic Biology, Physiological Sciences or Integrative
Evolutionary Science, if the application period, doctoral program, and enrollment period are the same. Please
note that screening of each program is conducted individually, and the date or venue may differ depending on
the screening of the program.
2. Selection Method
Selection will be made based on examining submitted application documents, written examinations and faceto-face interviews.
1)

Examination of application documents: conducted by referring to submitted transcripts etc.

2)

Written examination:
Specialized subjects (120 minutes): Applicants must choose two subjects they will answer from thefollowing six subjects when applying (according to Form 12): (i) physical chemistry, (ii) organic chemistry,(iii) inorganic chemistry, (iv) biological chemistry, (v) physics A (classical mechanics, electromagnetism),and (vi) physics B (quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics). Each subject has twoquestions, and applicants select any three questions out of four questions from the subjects of their choice.

3) Face-to-face Interview:
15-minute question session is to be conducted to examine the applicant’s fundamental scientific knowledge,
research ability and motivation for researches etc.
4) English:
Applicants are required to obtain the below-mentioned TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS score. Please make surethat applicants are not allowed to take main entrance examination unless he or she has the required TOEFL,
12

TOEIC or IELTS score. If it is impossible to obtain the score record (original) by the application period,
applicants need to submit Form 13-1 when applicants apply and submit the English score (original) by thedeadline (first round: Friday, August 30, 2024, second round: Friday, December 27, 2024). (Not e-mail)TOEFL: Official Score Report or Examinee’s Score Report. The score must be PBT500, iBT61, or higher.
TOEIC: Official Score Certificate of TOEIC test or IP test. The score must be 586 or higher.
IELTS: IELTS (Academic Module) Test Report Form. The score must be 5.0 or higher.
* We also accept expired scores.
* English test scores may not be necessary for the applicants who are native speaker of English or
graduated universities in the countries where English is a native language and education is made in English.
Note:
Dates and venues for these English tests are limited. If you intend to apply to Molecular Science Program,
we recommend that you take one of the English tests ahead of time.
*Written examination and the interview will take place at Institute for Molecular Science in Aichi, Japan. Please
note that the department office will NOT make an arrangement for applicants to obtain a short-term stay visa
for entrance examination, air tickets and/or accommodation.
3. Financial Supports
We will provide financial supports as Research Assistant program. We will also provide IMS SRA Supports tooutstanding students. For details of IMS SRA Supports, see the website:
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/sra.html
4. Contact details for inquiries
If you have questions regarding this section, contact the following office.
Graduate Student Affairs Section
International Relations & Research Cooperation Div.
Institute for Molecular Science,
National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS)TEL: +81-564-55-7139

FAX: +81-564-55-7119

E-mail: r7139@orion.ac.jp
Website:https:/www.ims.ac.jp/en/education

13

Ⅲ. Three-year Doctoral Program and Important Notes
1

Number of Students Accepted
Number of Students Accepted
ProgramApril Admission
Anthropological Studies

Around 4

Japanese Studies

Around 3

Japanese History

Around 3

Japanese Literature

Around 2

Japanese Language Science

Around 3

Informatics

Around 12

A few

Statistical Science

Around 6

A few

Particle and Nuclear Science

Around 1

A few

Accelerator Science

Around 1

A few

Astronomical Science

Around 1

A few

Fusion Science

Around 2

A few

Space and Astronautical Science

Around 3

A few

Molecular Science

Around 5

A few

Materials structure Science

Around 1

A few

Global Environmental Studies

Around 2

Polar Science

Around 1

A few

Basic Biology

Around 3

A few

Physiological Sciences

Around 6

A few

Genetics

Around 2

A few

Integrative Evolutionary Science

Around 1

A few

Total

2

October Admission

62

Qualifications for Application
Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions
Applicants who are not required to have qualification screening;(1) Applicants who hold or are expected to obtain a Master’s degree or a Professional degree by thepreceding month of enrollment.
(2) Applicants on whom a Master’s degree or a degree equivalent to a Professional degree has been
conferred or is expected to be conferred in a foreign country by the preceding month of enrollment.
14

(3) Applicants who have completed the correspondence courses provided by a school in a foreign country
while residing in Japan, and have been conferred or are expected to be conferred a Master’s degree ora degree equivalent to a Professional degree by the preceding month of enrollment.
(4) Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete a program in an educational institute inJapan that provides courses from a foreign graduate school within the school education system of said
foreign country, and that is designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology, and have been conferred or are expected to be conferred a Master’s degree or a degree
equivalent to a Professional degree by the preceding month of enrollment.
(5) Applicants who have completed a course at the United Nations University and have been conferred orare expected to be conferred a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree by the preceding month ofenrollment, in accordance with the Enforcement Regulation of the School Education Law, Article 156,Item
4.
(6) Applicants who have completed a course of study at a school in a foreign country or an educational
institute that has graduate school in a foreign country or the United Nations University, and have passed
or will have passed the examinations and screening equivalent to those specified in Article 16-2 of theStandards for Establishment of Graduate Schools (1974 Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
Ordinance Number 28), and who have been or will have been recognized by SOKENDAI as having
academic abilities equivalent to those who have a Master’s degree.
Applicants who are required to have qualification screening before the general application can besubmitted;(7) Applicants who have graduated from a university and have been or will have been engaged in researchat a university or a research institute for at least two years by the preceding month of the enrollment, andhave been recognized by SOKENDAI as having academic ability equivalent to or superior to those whohave a Master’s degree or a Professional degree based on said research achievement.
(8) Applicants who have completed 16-year course of school education in a foreign country or 16-year courseof school education by taking the correspondence courses provided by a school in a foreign country while
residing in Japan, and thereafter, have been or will have been engaged in research at a university or a
research institute for at least two years by the preceding month of the enrollment, and have beenrecognized by SOKENDAI as having academic ability equivalent to or superior to those who have a
Master’s degree or a Professional degree based on said research achievement.
(9) Applicants who have been recognized by SOKENDAI as having academic ability equivalent to or superior
to those who have a Master’s degree or a Professional degree by the individual screening of Admission
Qualifications of SOKENDAI, and attain the age of 24 by the end of preceding month of enrollment.
If you have any questions regarding the qualification for admission, please contact the Student Affairs Section(E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp or telephone no.: +81-46-858-1525/1526) in advance.

15

3

Qualification Screening for Application(1) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (7) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application” arerequired to submit the following documents to Student Affairs Section by the designated deadline.
Application documents shall be withheld until the qualification screening is completed.
(2) Applicants who wish to apply under the provisions (7) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application” arerequired to submit the following documents for screening to be recognized as “having academic ability
equivalent to those who have a Master’s degree or a Professional degree”. An interview may be
conducted if necessary.
(a) Documents Required for Qualification Screening for Application(ⅰ) Application for Certifying Applicant’s Qualification (Form 7-2)(ⅱ) Application Documents as specified in “5 Application Documents”
Examination Fee, however, should be paid after the application is approved.
(ⅲ) Other documents required by this program. Please consult Program office for details.
(ⅰ)(ⅱ) and (ⅲ) above should be submitted all together.
(b)

Application Period for Qualification Screening

First round
Second round

Application Period
October 2024 Admission
June 3 (Monday) to
April 2025 Admission
June 6 (Thursday), 2024
November 5 (Tuesday) to
April 2025 Admission
November 7 (Thursday), 2024

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received during 09:00～12:00, 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(c)Procedure for Qualification Screening
he complete set of application documents should be sent by postal mail in a commercially available
envelope (33cm x 24cm) with the prescribed label in the booklet pasted. Please be sure to send it byregistered express mail. Applicants should write “Application Documents and Application for Certifying
Applicant’s Qualification Enclosed” in red ink on the face of the envelope. If the application documents
do not fit in an envelope, they may be sent in a box. However, even in this case, please send the
documents by traceable mail. The application must reach SOKENDAI no later than the last day of theapplication period.

(d)Result of Qualification Screening for Application
The result of Qualification Screening for Application shall be notified prior to the application period.
Applicants who have been approved by the screening should send in the payment for the examination
fee in accordance with Form 8. After the remittance is completed, please submit Form 8 on which theremittance receipt is attached.

16

4Application Procedure

Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (1) to (6) in “2 Qualifications for Application” are required tosubmit the following documents to the Student Affairs Section by the designated deadline.
(1) Application Period
First round
Second round

Application Period
October 2024 Admission
June 27 (Thursday) to
April 2025 Admission
July 3 (Wednesday), 2024
December 5 (Thursday) to
April 2025 Admission
December 11 (Wednesday), 2024

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received during 09:00～12:00, 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(2) Application Method
In principle, the complete set of application documents should be sent by postal mail in acommercially available envelope (33cm x 24cm) with the prescribed label in the booklet pasted.
Please be sure to send it by registered express mail. If the application documents do not fit in an envelope,
they may be sent in a box. However, even in this case, please send the documents by traceable mail. The
application must reach SOKENDAI no later than the last day of the application period. Please note thatapplication documents will not be accepted by any parent institute or program office.
Mailing address:
Student Affairs Section, Academic and Student Affairs Division
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Shonan Village, Hayama, Miura, Kanagawa, 240-0193 JAPAN5

Application Documents

Prior contact with the prospective supervisor of your choice is required in order to apply.
Please read through the “Important Notes for Applicants” beforehand. Also, application forms must be completedwith a black or blue pen or ballpoint pen (erasable pens are not acceptable).
(1) Application form and Admission Ticket for the Examination (Form 1-B)
Please attach two identical photographs (4.5cm by 3.5cm taken within the past three months, upper body,full-faced with no hat) on Form 1-B. Please read through the application guidelines and sign your name inagreement with the contents.
(2) Academic transcripts (original)(a) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (1) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must submit
the academic transcript from the graduate school or the Professional graduate school, and that from theundergraduate school. In case any of the credits was approved after transferred to the undergraduate
school, academic transcripts from the technical college or other college are also required.
(b) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (2) to (6) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the academic transcript from the graduate school in said foreign country (a Master’s degree or a
Professional degree) and that from the undergraduate school concerning the Bachelor’s degree.
17

(c) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (7) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the academic transcript from their final academic background.
(3) Certificate of (expected) graduation (original)(a) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (1) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must submit acertificate of (expected) graduation from the graduate school which a Master’s degree or a Professional
degree has been conferred from.
(b) Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (2) to (5) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit the certificate of (expected) graduation from the foreign graduate school.
(c) Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions (6) to (9) in “2 Qualifications for Application” must
submit a certificate of graduation of their final academic background.
(4) Summary of Previous Research Experience (Form 3)(5) List of Research Presentations and Publications (Form 4)(6) Research Proposal (Form 5)
Applicants who apply to a second-choice program must copy and prepare the form for the second-choiceprogram separately.
(7) Examination fee of 30,000 yen
For payment details, please refer to Form 8. MEXT scholarship students do not have to bear theexamination fee, therefore, a certificate of MEXT scholarship student status is required.
If not applicable, specify “None” and submit the Form.
(8) Recipient’s address labels (Form 9)
Applicants who live outside Japan must contact the Student Affairs Section in advance. [E-mail:gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp](9) Confirmation Letter regarding the Applicability of the Specific Categories for Compliance with Article 25(1)and (2) of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Form 10)
Applicants residing in Japan must submit Form 10. Please refer to the simple check flow chart (*) tocomplete the form. For details, please contact the Research Coordination Section. [E-mail:kenkyo@ml.soken.ac.jp]* https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/file/tokuteiruikei-E.pdf(10) LETTER PACK PLUS
We will send Admission ticket for the examination by "LETTER PACK PLUS." Please purchase "LETTERPACK PLUS" at the post office in Japan. Applicants who live outside Japan must contact the Student Affairs
Section in advance. [E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp](11) Curriculum Vitae (Form 1-2)
Only for international applicants and Japanese applicants who have received their education outside Japan.
(12) Two copies of Master’s thesis
Applicants who have (or are expected to obtain) a Master’s degree or a Professional degree are required
to submit the Master’s thesis. Specify “Master’s thesis” on the upper-right corner of the front page in red ink.
Applicants who apply to the second-choice program must submit another set of copy of the Master’s thesis
18

for the second-choice program separately.
(13) Two copies of academic publications (if any)
Applicants who apply to the second-choice program must submit another set of copy of the academic
publications for the second-choice program separately.
(14) Permission for Studying While in Employment (Form 6)
Applicants who are currently employed full-time are required to submit Permission for Studying While in
Employment (Form 6). In case the permission cannot be obtained or the applicant intends to resign before
enrollment, s/he may instead submit a statement of reason with her/his signature.
(15) A copy of Residence Card (international applicants residing in Japan), orA copy of passport (international applicants residing outside Japan at the time of application)(16) How to take the exam (Form 19)
Applicants residing abroad are required to submit How to take the exam (Form 19).
Notes
i.

Incomplete documents shall not be accepted. No documents shall be returned.

ii.

In case the applicant’s name has changed after marriage etc., a copy of family register should be
attached.

iii.

Form 3, 4 and 5 are also downloadable at our website.
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/ms/

iv.

Application documents should be written in Japanese or English. If you submit the certificate neither
in Japanese nor English, please also attach the certificate in Japanese or English.

v.

Applicants who are (were) in the doctoral program must submit a transcript of the doctoral program.
Applicants who have graduated from a doctoral program must submit a certificate of graduation.
Applicants who have withdrawn from the doctoral program must submit a withdrawal certificate.

6

Screening Procedures

Screening will be conducted based on submitted application documents and results of academic tests. For
details of the screening methods for this program, please refer to “Important Notes for Applicants”.
If you apply to more than two programs, please note that screening is conducted individually, and the date orvenue may differ depending on the screening.
First round

October 2024 Admission
April 2025 Admission

Second round

April 2025 Admission

Examination Date

August 26 (Monday) to August 27 (Tuesday), 2024
January 27 (Monday) to January 28 (Tuesday), 2025

Detailed information about the time and place of the examination will be provided with the admission ticket
for the exam. In case the ticket shall not be delivered one week prior to the date of examination, pleasecontact the Student Affairs Section. Please see the following website for the delivery schedule of admission
ticket. (https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/ms/)

19

Venue of the examination
Program

Location and Directions

Molecular Science

・The entrance examination will be conducted at the venue below or throughthe Internet remotely.
Institute for Molecular Science
38 Nishigo-Naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585
Seven-minute walk from Higashi-Okazaki Station (Nagoya Railway, Meitetsu)
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/about/campus/access.html

7Announcement of Results
First round
Second round

Notification
October 2024 Admission
April 2025 Admission
April 2025 Admission

Mid-September 2024
Mid-February 2025

Further details will be sent to applicants.
Results will be mailed to the successful applicants. Announcement of results will be made on the SOKENDAI
website（https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/general_admission/result/index.html）, however, results shallbe confirmed by notification by mail. Inquiries regarding the results by telephone or other means will not be
responded to.
8

Admission Procedures(1) Admission procedures period is scheduled as below:
Late September 2024 for the enrollment of October 2024
Early to mid-March 2025 for the enrollment of April 2025
Successful applicants must complete the admission procedures during the prescribed period. Further
details will be notified to successful applicants separately.
(2) Fees required for admission are as follows.
Entrance Fee: JPY 282,000
Tuition Fee for six months: JPY 267,900
Student Insurance Fee for three years: JPY 3,620(Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research)
Note:(a) In case the entrance or tuition fees are revised at the time of or during enrollment, the revised fees
shall be applied from the date of revision.
(b) Entrance fees shall not be refunded under any circumstances once the payment is made. Premiumfor the student insurance, however, may be refunded only if applicants decline the admission by the
cut-off dates as blow:
September 30, 2024 for the enrollment of October 2024
March 31, 2025 for the enrollment of April 202520

(3) Applicants who are currently employed full-time should submit the “Letter of Approval” issued by theemployer that acknowledges the enrollment while employed. Resignation certificate must be submitted if
you resign before you enroll at SOKENDAI.
(4) Applicants who are enrolled at a school other than SOKENDAI at the time of application (not including
applicants who will have graduated/completed the school before you enroll at SOKENDAI) must submit thecertificate of withdrawal from said school.
(5) Foreign nationals are strongly advised to acquire a student visa unless particular reason would prohibit
them from doing so. Detailed information on how to acquire this type of visa is available on the SOKENDAI’s
website: http://www.soken.ac.jp/en/campuslife/international/immigration/
9Long-term course system
Long-term course system is a planned course of study for a certain period of time beyond the standard
period of study upon request from the student, who has an occupation or other circumstances. For further
information, please contact the Educational Affairs Section.
E-mail: kyomu@ml.soken.ac.jp, or Fax: +81-46-858-1632

10

General Notes(1) Before applying and taking the entrance examination, applicants should read through “Important Notes forApplicants”.
(2) Submitted documents shall not be returned. No changes or alternations to the submitted documents will be
accepted after filing.
(3) Admission might be revoked in case of any false entry or act of dishonesty on application documents andother documents.
(4) Applicants who wish to transfer to SOKENDAI from other graduate school must contact Student Affairs
Section before the last day of the application period.
(5) Applicants with disabilities who require special consideration at the examination and after enrollment areadvised to inform SOKENDAI three months prior to the application period.
(6) Applicants should inform the Student Affairs Section if they wish to withdraw their application.
(7) In case the applicant has changed the mailing address after submitting the application documents, please
inform the Student Affairs Section of the change.
E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp, or Fax: +81-46-858-1632(8) Students are not allowed to simultaneously register at other universities while studying at SOKENDAI.
(9) For applicants with foreign nationality, if your name contains characters from your native language, thesecharacters may be replaced with the Roman alphabet for administrative purposes.
(10)Please be sure to check our website for any changes in the method of admission selection due to the impact
of new coronavirus infection or other factors.

21

11

Security Export Control
Based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (*), SOKENDAI has established regulations andconducts examinations for the provision of technology and the acceptance of researchers and students. For
this reason, if it is deemed that there is a risk of falling under regulations, you may be required to change
your desired education or research content. Security Export Control regulations has nothing to do with
passing or failing the entrance examination. Please consult the program office for further details.
* https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/englishpage.html

12

Privacy Policy(1) Any personal information including applicant’s name and address submitted to SOKENDAI as part of theapplication documents shall be used during the application process such as applicant/examination
procedures, notification of results and admission procedures. After enrollment, personal information shallalso be used for student affairs (school register and course registration), student services (health care,tuition exemption and scholarship application, and career support) and administrative purposes ofprocessing payments for entrance and tuition fees.

(2) Personal information obtained in the screening process such as examination results, shall be used for
aggregate analyses of examination results and research for use in the screening process.

22

Important Notes for Applicants to Molecular Science Program(Three-year Doctoral Program)This program, offered by the Institute for Molecular Science (Okazaki City), fosters a future generation ofresearchers who will establish a systematic understanding of molecules—which are the basic constituent unitsof matter—and elucidate the diverse phenomena that matter presents. We aim to produce graduates who canconduct advanced research (experiments, measurements, theories, etc.), rationally understand the results of
their research, challenge unexplored problems with creative ideas, create new intellectual values and universal
truths, and contribute to the development of humanity based on molecular science.
1. Application
Read throughout the Application Guidelines and our website for admission information in preparing Application
documents:

https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/boshu.html

Applicants must contact prospective academic advisors prior to the submission of the application documents,and obtain in advance his/her agreement to their supervision for the PhD research work. It is also recommended
for applicants to consider second choice of the academic advisor and contact him/her as well.
For details of faculty members, see “IV. List of Faculty Members”.
Applicants can also contact their expected academic advisors directly by e-mail. The website of Institute for
Molecular Science, where educations and researches take place, and that of education program, are as follows:
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/
Applicants can apply to the second-choice program from Astronomical Science, Fusion Science, Space andAstronautical Science, Materials Structure Science, Global Environmental Studies, Basic Biology, Physiological
Sciences or Integrative Evolutionary Science, if the application period, doctoral program, and enrollment period
are the same. Please note that screening of each program is conducted individually, and the date or venue may
differ depending on the screening of the program.
2. Selection Method
Selections will be done based on examining submitted application documents and interview. In the interview,
applicants shall present details of their previous researches (Master’s thesis or equivalence) for 15 minutes, a
research plan for PhD for 5 minutes, and subsequently questions and answers for 10 minutes. The interview isconducted either in Japanese or in English.
(Residents in Japan)
The interview will take place at Institute for Molecular Science in Aichi, Japan. A PC projector is available.
(Residents abroad)
Applicants can choose to take the exam either at the venue or through the Internet remotely (according to Form
19).
If applicants choose to take the exam at the venue, the interview will take place at Institute for Molecular Sciencein Aichi, Japan. A PC projector is available. Please note that the department office will NOT make an23arrangement for applicants to obtain a short-term stay visa for entrance examination, air tickets and/or
accommodation.
If applicants choose to take the exam through the Internet remotely, the interview will be conducted via Zoom.
3. Criteria for grading and evaluation
In the interview, applicant’s academic ability, research ability, motivation for researches, creativity and potential
shall be comprehensively evaluated. In addition to the interview results, applicant’s previous researches andacademic transcripts are taken into consideration for judgment.
4. Financial Supports
We will provide financial supports as Research Assistant program. We will also provide IMS SRA Supports tooutstanding students. For details of application to IMS SRA Supports, see the website:
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/sra.html
Those who are applying for IMS SRA Supports, interview will be conducted as stated in selection method for
IMS SRA Supports.
5. Admission Procedures for foreign nationals
Foreign nationals are strongly advised to acquire a student visa unless particular reason would prohibit themfrom doing so. Detailed information on how to acquire this type of visa is available on the SOKENDAI’s website:

http://www.soken.ac.jp/en/campuslife/international/immigration/
If foreign nationals are residing abroad, it will take 2 or 3 months to obtain a visa, so please confirm theapplication period and enrollment period carefully.
6. Contact details for inquiries
If you have questions regarding this section, contact the following office.
Graduate Student Affairs Section
International Relations & Research Cooperation Div.
Institute for Molecular Science,
National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS)TEL: +81-564-55-7139

FAX: +81-564-55-7119

E-mail: r7139@orion.ac.jp
Website:https:/www.ims.ac.jp/en/education24

Ⅳ. List of Faculty Members
Please see the websites below for course subjects and the faculty members.
Program: Molecular Science
The faculty members who accept students for the entrance examination conducted in AY2024 are as follows.
Division

Professor

Theoretical Molecular Science I

SAITO, Shinji

Theoretical Molecular Science II

ISHIZAKI, Akihito

Computational Molecular Science

EHARA, Masahiro

Associate Professor

OKUMURA, Hisashi
OKAZAKI, Kei-ichi
Photo-Molecular Science II

OHMORI, Kenji *1

Photo-Molecular Science III

KERA, Satoshi

Electronic Structure

SUGIMOTO, Toshiki

Molecular Functions

NISHIMURA, Katsuyuki

Biomolecular Functions

KATO, Koichi *1
IINO, Ryota

Complex Catalysis

UOZUMI, Yasuhiro *2
MOMIYAMA, Norie

Functional Coordination ChemistryTrans-Hierarchical Molecular Systems

SEGAWA, Yasutomo
AKIYAMA, Shuji
KURAMOCHI, Hikaru

Functional Molecular Systems

YAMAMOTO, Hiroshi

Broadband Multiscale Analysis

KUMAGAI, Takashi

Beam Physics and Diagnostics

TAIRA, Yoshitaka

Research
Advanced Solid State Physics

MATSUI, Fumihiko
TANAKA, Kiyohisa*1 The supervisor who will retire before the minimum duration of study for the 5-year doctoral program (5 years)*2 The supervisor who will retire before the minimum duration of study for the 3-year doctoral program (3 years)

For details of research subjects of faculty members, see the websites:

https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/education/group_list.html

25

Contact:
Graduate Student Affairs Section
International Relations & Research Cooperation Div.
Institute for Molecular Science,
National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS)TEL: +81-564-55-7139

FAX: +81-564-55-7119

E-mail: r7139@orion.ac.jp26