April 2021 Admission

Master’s Course / Doctoral Course(Special Selection for International Course Students)

Admission Guidelines

Graduate School of Science
Osaka City University
Any changes to admission guidelines due to COVID-19 will be announced on the following website:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/

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Purpose
Graduate School of Science (GSS), in an effort to further internationalize and strengthen its educational andresearch functions, has established new Master’s and Doctoral courses offered entirely in English. GSS welcomesapplications for admission from a wide range of international students. The application guidelines are provided
below.
Admissions Policy〈Master’s Course〉
GSS welcomes individuals who have basic academic ability in a specialized area of natural science and aims toreveal and understand laws of nature, pursuing basic, applied, or interdisciplinary research.
〈Doctoral Course〉
GSS welcomes individuals who have a high level of academic ability in a broad area of natural science and are
eager to discover and tackle new problems on their own initiative, aiming to actively work as global leaders in avariety of fields.
Length of Course
The standard course duration for the master’s course is two years, and that for the doctoral course is three years.
1 Admissions
Division

Master’s Course
Total
International

Doctoral Course
Total
International

Mathematics &
31
A few
10
A few
Physics
Molecular Materials
37
A few
7
A few
Science
Biology &
29
A few
9
A few
Geosciences
Notes: 1. No applicant will be granted admission if their entrance examination scores are not satisfactory.
2. The total number of admissions includes those for enrollment in April and in October.
2 Qualifications for Applying〈Master’s Course〉
Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals, have good enough proficiency in English to attend lectures andseminars and to carry out research, and meet one of the following conditions.
(1) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete by March, 2021, 16 years of formal education in acountry other than Japan.
(2) The applicant has graduated, or is expected to graduate by March, 2021, from a university or college in Japan;
or the applicant has completed after a date specified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology—Minister of Education for short—or is expected to complete by March, 2021, a postsecondary
course, separately specified by the Minister of Education at a specialized training college.
(3) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete by March, 2021, a course separately specified by the
Minister of Education, offered in Japan by an educational institution that is designated as comparable to auniversity or college—requiring 16 years of formal education for completion—in the education system of acountry other than Japan.
(4) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete by March, 2021, 16 years of formal education of acountry other than Japan, through distance courses offered in Japan by an educational institution in the
country.
(5) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete a course of study that extends over at least three years
at a university, college, or other academic institution in a country other than Japan, receiving, as a result, a
degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree by March, 2021. Here the academic institution must be one that has
been evaluated about its overall state, including its educational and research activities, and then accredited bya body authorized by the country’s government or a relevant organization; or it must be separately designatedas equivalent to such an accredited institution by Japan’s Minister of Education. The course of study includes
those completed either through distance courses offered in Japan by an educational institution in the said2

country or at an educational institution that is part of the educational system of the country and that meets thecondition (3) above.
〈Doctoral Course〉
Qualified applicants are non-Japanese nationals, have good enough proficiency in English to attend lectures andseminars and to carry out research and meet one of the following conditions.
(1) The applicant has received, or is expected to receive by March, 2021, a degree equivalent to a master’s orprofessional degree in a country other than Japan.
(2) The applicant has received, or is expected to receive by March, 2021, a master’s or professional degree as aninternational student from a graduate school in Japan.
(3) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete by March, 2021, a course separately specified by the
Minister of Education and offered in Japan by an educational institution that is designated as comparable to a
graduate school in the education system of a country other than Japan, receiving, as a result, a degree
equivalent to a master’s or professional degree.
(4) The applicant has received, or is expected to receive by March, 2021, a degree equivalent to a master’s orprofessional degree, through distance courses offered in Japan by an educational institution in a country otherthan Japan.
(5) The applicant has completed, or is expected to complete a course offered by the United Nations University,
receiving a degree equivalent to a master’s or professional degree by March, 2021.
3 Application Process
The application process is explained below, with the details of each step provided on later pages.
Consult with host faculty member by e-mailRequest letter of acceptance from host

Request letters ofrecommendation to
be written and sent

Prepare other application
documents

Recommendation letters tobe emailed by preparer toInternational Course
Examination Office

Pay examination fee

All documents other than recommendation lettersto be emailed by applicant to International
Course Examination Office

4 Advance consultation by email:The applicant is required to consult, in advance, with the faculty member they wish to be their advisor about what
to do in their research after entering the graduate program, and then to receive a letter of acceptance from thefaculty member. The applicant is advised to allow enough time to contact, by email, the faculty member they wish
to be their advisor so as not to miss the application deadline, September 18, 2020. For the email addresses of thefaculty members, please refer to the Graduate School of Science web site:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/index_e.html.
5 Application Documents
All the documents listed below are to be emailed by the applicant themselves, except the letters of recommendation,
which are to be emailed by those who have written them, by the deadline to the International Course Examination
Office: sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp.
Note: The designated forms are available for download at the university website:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/3

＜Mathematics & Physics＞

1

Letter of Acceptance2

Application for Admission

3

Examination Fee

4Statement of Purpose

5

Certificate of (Expected)
Graduation and Transcripts

Master’s Course
Doctoral Course
The applicant is required to consult, in advance by email, with the faculty
member they wish to be their advisor in the Graduate School of Science at
Osaka City University and to request the faculty member to prepare a letter of
acceptance stating that the applicant will be accepted into the faculty
member’s research group on condition that the applicant pass the entrance
examination. Please submit the letter of acceptance in an electronic form. A
letter of acceptance template is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Fill in the application form, which is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
30,000 yen (JPY).
How to make payment of examination fee: see the following website:

https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Importance will be placed on the statement of purpose when applications arereviewed. Using a form available for download at the website below, write astatement of purpose, up to two A4-size pages long, describing the following
two points:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
1. Reasons for choosing the program and the research group
2. Past research experience and research proposal
Bachelor’s degree diploma with the
Master’s degree certificate with thedegree clearly stated—or a certificate degree clearly stated—or a certificate
of expected graduation for anof expected completion for an
applicant still in college—issued byapplicant still in graduate
the president of the university theschool—issued by the president ofapplicant graduated from, and thethe university where the applicant
transcript of the bachelor’s program
completed a master’s program, andthe transcript of the master’s program
Send scanned certificates in an electronic form; enrollment will require theoriginal documents. If the certificates are written in a language other thanJapanese or English, attach an English translation certified by the university
or other relevant body.
Applicants are required to submit TOEFL-PBT, TOEFL-iBT (TOEFL-ITP is not
accepted), TOEIC (TOEIC bridge is not accepted) or IELTS scores.

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7

Certificate
Proficiency

ofEnglishGRE (Graduate Record
Examination) Scores

Please submit scanned score reports in an electronic form; enrollment will
require the original score reports.
Note: Applicants who meet any of the following conditions need not submit
certificates:
・Native English speakers
・Applicants who graduated from a university in a native English-speaking

country・Applicants who graduated from a university with English as the official
language (Please submit an official document, issued by the university orother relevant body, certifying that English is the official language.)
Applicants in Mathematics are
required to submit a scanned GRE
Subject test (Mathematics) score
report and those in Physics a scanned
GRE Subject test (Physics) score
report in an electronic form

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Please submit an electronic copy ofthe master’s thesis, which should be
written in English. If the master’s
thesis has not been completed,applicants in mathematics are
required to submit a summary,approximately two A4- or letter-size
pages long, of their research written
in English; applicants in physics are
required to submit a paper, twenty or
more A4- or letter-size pages long,summarizing their research in
English in the format specified
below*.

Master’s Thesis

Letters of Recommendation* Format:A. Title
B. Author
C. Abstract
D. Main body of the paper
1) Introduction2) Description of the study you havedone3) Summary and discussion
E. Appendix
F. References
Submit at least two letters of recommendation.
Recommendation letters must be written by either the president of theuniversity the applicant graduated from, the dean, the chairman of thedepartment, or the applicant’s academic advisor and must be emailed by therecommender to the International Course Examination Office(sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp).
The recommendation letter form is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the recommenderwrites and sends the letter of recommendation to the International Course
Examination Office by the deadline.

＜Molecular Materials Science＞

1

Letter of Acceptance2

Application for Admission

Master’s Course
Doctoral Course
The applicant is required to consult, in advance by email, with the faculty
member they wish to be their advisor in the Graduate School of Science at
Osaka City University and to request the faculty member to prepare a letter of
acceptance stating that the applicant will be accepted into the faculty
member’s research group on condition that the applicant pass the entrance
examination. Please submit the letter of acceptance in an electronic form. A
letter of acceptance template is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Fill in the application form, which is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html

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30,000 yen (JPY).
How to make payment of examination fee: see the following website:

3

Examination Fee

4Statement of Purpose

5

Certificate of (Expected)
Graduation and Transcripts

https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Importance will be placed on the statement of purpose when applications arereviewed. Using a form available for download at the website below, write astatement of purpose, up to two A4-size pages long, describing the following
two points:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
1. Reasons for choosing the program and the research group
2. Past research experience and research proposal
Bachelor’s degree diploma with the
Master’s degree certificate with thedegree clearly stated—or a certificate degree clearly stated—or a certificate
of expected graduation for anof expected completion for an
applicant still in college—issued byapplicant still in graduate
the president of the university theschool—issued by the president ofapplicant graduated from, and thethe university where the applicant
transcript of the bachelor’s program
completed a master’s program, andthe transcript of the master’s program
Please send scanned certificates in an electronic form; enrollment will require
the original documents. If the certificates are written in a language other thanJapanese or English, attach an English translation certified by the university
or other relevant body.
Applicants are required to submit TOEFL-PBT, TOEFL-iBT (TOEFL-ITP is not
accepted), TOEIC (TOEIC bridge is not accepted) or IELTS scores.

6

7

8

Certificate
Proficiency

ofEnglishMaster’s Thesis

Letters of Recommendation

Please submit scanned score reports in an electronic form; enrollment will
require the original score reports.
Note: Applicants who meet any of the following conditions need not submit
certificates:
・Native English speakers

・Applicants who graduated from a university in a native English-speaking
country・Applicants who graduated from a university with English as the official
language (Please submit an official document, issued by the university orother relevant body, certifying that English is the official language.)
Write a summary, up to two A4-size
pages long, of the master’s thesis in
English and submit it in an electronic
form.
Submit at least two letters ofSubmit at least one letter ofrecommendation.
recommendation.
Recommendation letters must be written by either the president of theuniversity the applicant graduated from, the dean, the chairman of thedepartment, or the applicant’s academic advisor and must be emailed by therecommender to the International Course Examination Office(sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp).
The recommendation letter form is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the recommenderwrites and sends the letter of recommendation to the International Course
Examination Office by the deadline.

6＜Biology and Geosciences＞

1

Letter of Acceptance2

Application for Admission

3

Examination Fee

4Statement of Purpose

5

Certificate of (Expected)
Graduation and Transcripts

Master’s Course
Doctoral Course
The applicant is required to consult, in advance by email, with the faculty
member they wish to be their advisor in the Graduate School of Science at
Osaka City University and to request the faculty member to prepare a letter of
acceptance stating that the applicant will be accepted into the faculty
member’s research group on condition that the applicant pass the entrance
examination. Please submit the letter of acceptance in an electronic form. A
letter of acceptance template is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Fill in the application form, which is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
30,000 yen (JPY).
How to make payment of examination fee: see the following website:

https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
Importance will be placed on the statement of purpose when applications arereviewed. Using a form available for download at the website below, write astatement of purpose, up to two A4-size pages long, describing the following
two points:
https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
1. Reasons for choosing the program and the research group
2. Past research experience and research proposal
Bachelor’s degree diploma with the
Master’s degree certificate with thedegree clearly stated—or a certificate degree clearly stated—or a certificate
of expected graduation for anof expected completion for an
applicant still in college—issued byapplicant still in graduate
the president of the university theschool—issued by the president ofapplicant graduated from, and thethe university where the applicant
transcript of the bachelor’s program
completed a master’s program, andthe transcript of the master’s program
Please send scanned certificates in an electronic form; enrollment will require
the original documents. If the certificates are written in a language other thanJapanese or English, attach an English translation certified by the university
or other relevant body.
Applicants are required to submit TOEFL-PBT, TOEFL-iBT (TOEFL-ITP is not
accepted), TOEIC (TOEIC bridge is not accepted) or IELTS scores.

6

7

Certificate
Proficiency

ofEnglishGRE (Graduate Record
Examination) Scores

Please submit scanned score reports in an electronic form; enrollment will
require the original score reports.
Note: Applicants who meet any of the following conditions need not submit
certificates:
・Native English speakers
・Applicants who graduated from a university in a native English-speaking

country・Applicants who graduated from a university with English as the official
language (Please submit an official document, issued by the university orother relevant body, certifying that English is the official language.)
Applicants in Geosciences are
required to submit a scanned GRE
General test score report in anelectronic form

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Master’s Thesis
Submit at least two letters ofrecommendation.

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Letters of Recommendation

Write a summary, up to two A4-size
pages long, of the master’s thesis in
English and submit it in an electronic
form.
Submit at least one letter ofrecommendation.

Recommendation letters must be written by either the president of theuniversity the applicant graduated from, the dean, the chairman of thedepartment, or the applicant’s academic advisor and must be emailed by therecommender to the International Course Examination Office(sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp).
The recommendation letter form is available for download at the following
website:https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/admissions.html
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the recommenderwrites and sends the letter of recommendation to the International Course
Examination Office by the deadline.

6 How to Apply
Anyone who wishes to apply to the International Course should first pay the examination fee and then submit, by
email to the address below, all the application materials except the letters of recommendation, which should besubmitted by the recommenders. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the recommenders send the lettersof recommendation by email.
Application Period
Send tosci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp
In the subject line, write "Application documents for
September 9, 2020 – September 18, 2020
OCU_*****" , where ***** is the full name of theapplicant in the English alphabet.
Note: An application number will be sent by email to an applicant whose application has been received.
Application numbers are scheduled to be sent around September 25, 2020. If you do not receive one even after aweek has passed, contact the International Course Examination Office by email (sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp).
7 Selection Process
Master’s Course
Successful applicants will be selected bycomprehensive judgment with application documents
and oral examination.

Doctoral Course
Successful applicants will be selected bycomprehensive judgment with application documents
and oral examination.

Document screening:
The Graduate Selection Committee will review thesubmitted applications. The selected applicants will be
notified of the date, place, and procedure for oral
examination by email in October.

Document screening:
The Graduate Selection Committee will review thesubmitted applications. The selected applicants will be
notified of the date, place, and procedure for oral
examination by email in October.

Oral examination:
An oral examination will be given at Osaka City
University about the applicant’s specialization andresearch proposal.
The planned examination day is November 14, 2020
and the details will be provided by email.

Oral examination:
An oral examination will be given at Osaka City
University about the applicant’s research experience,research proposal, and relevant specialization.
The planned examination day is November 14, 2020
and the details will be provided by email.

88 Admission Results(1) Announcement of Admission Decisions
The application numbers of the applicants who have been granted admission will be posted on the website of
Osaka City University from 10:00 am on November 26, 2020 to 5:00 pm on December 2, 2020.
(2) Notification of Admission Decisions“Notification of admission decisions” and “Enrollment Steps” will be sent to the successful applicants byemail.
(3) Enrollment/Registration Day
Date: January, 2021
Note: Details will be separately provided to applicants who have been granted admission
9 Tuition and Fees
Admission Fee: Students admitted into the International Course will be exempt from the admission fee.
Note: Students admitted through the general entrance examination will pay an admission fee of¥382,000 (JPY).
Tuition: ¥535,800 (JPY) for a full year; ¥267,900 (JPY) for a half year (as of April, 2020)
Note: In case the tuition fees are revised while students are still enrolled, the revised tuition rates will
apply to them.
10 Notes(1) An application may not be canceled under any circumstances after it has been received.
(2) Inquiries about examination results will not be answered.
(3) The entrance examination fee, once paid, will not be returned.
(4) If false statements are detected in an application form or if it is found that an applicant cheated during theentrance examination, the admission may be revoked even after the student has been formally enrolled.
(5) If an applicant does not meet the qualifications, no admission will be granted even if the applicant passes theentrance examination.
(6) The University may use the personal information collected through the application and admissions process
within the scope deemed necessary for the entrance examination, admissions guide, enrollment steps,
selection method study, statistical data generation, and the operations concerning student affairs at thisuniversity. If the collected personal information is used outside the aforementioned scope of operations, itwill always be done with the applicant’s approval. Such personal information collected for the purpose ofadmissions operations will never be provided to a third party.
(7) OCU is in charge of Osaka City University Regulations for Security Export Control according to the Foreign
Exchange and Foreign Trade Act and strictly screens all items and technology to be exported from theuniversity. If your issue is in conflict with any regulation put forth by OCU, you may not be allowed toreceive your desired education or conduct research. Please direct all inquiries to the following address:
gaitame@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp

Contact Information
Website: https://www.sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp/i-course/
E-mail: sci-i-course@ado.osaka-cu.ac.jp (International Course Office)9