April 2025 Admissions
Akita University
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences
Graduate School of Engineering Science

Akita University SPRING Program
Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation(SPRING)
Application Procedures for Eligible Students

Schedule
Date
Application Period

July 12th – July 19th, 2024

Screening Date

To be announced

Result Announced

To be announcedAkita University
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences
Graduate School of Engineering Science
Akita University SPRING Program
The objective of the Akita University SPRING Program (hereinafter referred to as the "SPRING
Program") is designed to strengthen financial support for outstanding aspiring doctoral students whowill lead the future of science, technology, and innovation in Japan. The SPRING Program
strengthens financial support for outstanding doctoral students with aspirations to play a leading rolein the future of science, technology, and innovation in Japan, and to support a variety of career paths
for doctoral students to play an active role in a wide range of fields. For particularly outstanding
doctoral students who are willing to engage in challenging and interdisciplinary research, the programprovides career path support by providing a research incentive grant (equivalent to living expenses)
and research expenses, as well as career development and nurturing content.
The Graduate School of International Resource Sciences and the Graduate School of Engineering
Science at Akita University will conduct a challenging research program for the next generation ofresearchers called the " Co-creative Doctoral Human Resource Development Program in Resource
Science and Engineering Science for the Realization of Green Society". The objective of this programis to develop researchers who are able to consider not only international or regional issues, but alsoboth, by deriving emergent innovations related to the realization of a green society, ranging fromnatural resources science to materials, renewable energy, and carbon neutrality.
In order to achieve this objective, we will support doctoral students who are motivated to work
toward the realization of a green society through the following initiatives.
Initiatives through career development and training content:
1) Practical language acquisition and improvement of academic communication skills throughEnglish language training programs2) Conducting joint research and internships with external organizations and other departments
within the university3) Implementation of transferable skills training and "career development" courses for the purposeof career path development
Research incentive grant (equivalent to living expenses) and research expenses:
A monthly research grant of 150,000 yen and an annual research grant of 400,000 yen will beprovided.
(However, the maximum duration of the stipend is three years, the standard period of study for thedoctoral program.)
We are accepting applications from first-year doctoral students who understand the purpose of the1SPRING Program, have enthusiasm and planning for research, and are willing to actively participate
in the efforts of the SPRING Program.
However, the applicant must not be receiving support from any other scholarship. For details,
please refer to Application Eligibility.

21. Number of Students to be Admitted
Program Name

Number Admitted

Co-creative Doctoral Human Resource Development Program in*8Resource Science and Engineering Science for the Realization of（the 1st year of theGreen Society

Doctoral Program）* Akita University will provide financial support for those hired in FY2025 from its own resources.
However, support for FY2026 and thereafter may be subsidized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST).

2. Application Requirements
Applicants must be qualified to apply to the Doctoral Program of the Graduate School ofInternational Resources Sciences and the Graduate School of Engineering Science of the Akita
University. In addition to that, applicants must meet these requirements below.
(1) Applicants must have been done a face-to face interview (including online) with the applicant’sintended supervising professor before submitting the application, and have obtained theintended supervisor’s consent beforehand.
(2) Applicants must NOT have the Japan Society for a Promotion of Science (JSPS) research
fellowship, students receiving a sufficient level of scholarship (2.4 million yen/year) for living
expenses, the Japanese Government Scholarship. Applicants also cannot have scholarships
from their home country. Doctoral students belong to working course and have sufficient funds
for living expenses from their companies are not eligible.
(3) English proficiency equivalent to 450 or above on TOEIC or 45 or above on TOEFL iBT.

3. When and Where to Apply(1) Application period：July 12th - July 19th, 2024
Please attach application materials to the e-mail and send them to the e-mail address below.
(2) Where to submit the application
・Graduate School of International Resource Sciences,
Academic Affairs Division
Akita University
E-mail: sg-shigen@jimu.akita-u.ac.jp
1-1 Tegata Gakuen-machi, Akita-city AKITA 010-8502, Japan
Tel: +81 18-889-2236
・Graduate School of Engineering Science,
Academic Affairs Division
Akita University
E-mail: koudai@jimu.akita-u.ac.jp
1-1 Tegata Gakuen-machi, Akita-city AKITA 010-8502, Japan
Tel: +81 18-889-2316

3

4. Application Procedures(1) Application materials
Documents

Notes

Application Form toFill in the blanks on the prescribed application form to attend providedAttend

by this Graduate School.

Research Plan

The desired field or topics for study must be explained in the outlineof the research plan on the form in 300 words (in Japanese, 1,000characters) or less, upon consultation with the applicant’s intended
supervising professor.

Letter ofA letter of recommendation must be written by the applicant’s

Recommendation

supervising instructor. (in English or Japanese)

Academic Record

Academic record transcript of the most recent academic background

Transcript of the most(in English or Japanese)

Recent AcademicBackground(2) Points to consider when applying
1)

Applications with errors cannot be accepted, so please be sure to double-check yourapplication to make sure that you have entered all the required information correctly.

2)

Once submitted, application materials cannot be returned or revised.

3)

If any misrepresentations are found in the application materials, students may be expelledfrom the program even after being selected for this program.

4)

If there is any change to the “preferred mailing address” you indicated on the application
form after the application has been submitted, please notify the office immediately.

5)

The Research Plan may be prepared using a computer application as long as the form andstyle match the form designated by this Graduate School.

5. Selection Process
Selection will be based on an explanation of the research plan, an interview (scheduled to beconducted online), and the application documents, we will make a comprehensive judgment of yourresearch ability, foreign language ability, attitude toward co-creation with fields other than your own,
and willingness to contribute to science, technology, and innovation in Japan (especially contribution
to a green society).
Regarding the interview schedule, place, and waiting area, the Academic Affairs Division ofthis Graduate School and/or your intended supervising professor will notify the applicants later.

6. Announcement of Acceptances
The notification of the date and time of the announcement of acceptances will be forwarded to theapplicants separately. Under no circumstances will results be given over the phone.

45