Ver.2_20240704

Q & A: Examination for the Master’s Program1

English Test Score
1.1

Q: Do I have to submit an English score?
A: An English test score is a required document that all applicants for the Master’s
Program must submit to GSID. If the score is not sent to GSID, you will not be
considered eligible to apply.

1.2

Q: I took an English class at a university. Can I get an exemption from my Englishscore?
A: The English score is a required document that all applicants for the Master’s
Program must submit to GSID. This is true even if you have a bachelor’s degreefrom a university in an English-speaking country such as the United States or theUnited Kingdom. There is no exemption for English scores.

1.3

Q: My English proficiency test score may not be available when I apply. Whatshould I do?
We recommend that you take an English test whose results you can get relatively
quickly.

1.4

Q: Is the TOEFL iBT’s “Best scores” allowed to be submitted?
A: Your “MyBest Scores” provided by TOEFL iBT are not evaluated. GSID
evaluates the total score of the exams you took.

1.5

Q: Is the score of IELTS One Skill Retake allowed to be submitted?
A: Scores of IELTS One Skill Retake shall not be accepted.

1.6

Q: Do I have to send the English score with the “Overall” score passing theminimum requirement of the English ability, or with the scores of all English skills(reading, speaking, listening, and writing) exceeding the minimum standard?
A: Our decision is based on the “Overall” score, not the score for each skill.

1.7

Q: Shall I request the English proficiency test organization to send the result
directly to Nagoya University?
A: Please do not have it sent directly from the organization. Save the score in PDF
or take a screenshot yourself and send it as an electronic file by e-mail attachment.

1.8

Q: What is the score level for each English proficiency test?
A: Please refer to the table on page 4 of the “Application Guidebook.” Theminimum standards are shown in this table. You will not be eligible to apply if you
do not meet this standard.

1.9

Q: The score on the English proficiency test is minimum. Does it mean that thehigher it is, the more likely I can pass?

Ver.2_20240704

A: GSID will comprehensively judge the applicant’s ability from various angles.
English proficiency is also an essential factor. Therefore, if you have taken the
English proficiency test multiple times, we recommend submitting a higher overallscore.

2Recommendation Letter
2.1

Q: To whom should the letter of recommendation be addressed?
A: Submission of a letter of recommendation is voluntary. You can apply without aletter of recommendation. It should be addressed to “the Graduate School ofInternational Development, Nagoya University.” See the final page of the“Application Guidebook” for its postal address.

2.2

Q: Do you have any specific format?
A: No format is specified. However, it is desirable to use a form with letterhead
from the institution, such as the university to which the recommender belongs.

2.3

Q: Is it all right to ask the supervisor at the current seminar to write a letter ofrecommendation? Or it must be the dean or superior of the faculty?
A: It is up to the applicant to decide who to request to write the recommendation
letter. It does not have to be a dean. Instead, asking someone familiar with theapplicant, mainly your academic advisor, is better.

2.4

Q: Should applicants submit the recommendation letter written by the academic
advisor together with other documents, or should it be submitted directly to GSID
by its author?
A: The recommender may send the recommendation letter directly to the GSID
Administrative Office by postal mail or by e-mail attachment. However, GSID
would appreciate it if you send it together with the other application documents.
This is because problems are less likely to occur at the processing stage at ourend. In addition, when it is the applicant, not the recommender, who submits therecommendation letter, it must be a paper letter and submitted by postal mail.

3Research Proposal
3.1

Q: Is it correct that the 1600-word limit of the research proposal does not include
the number of words in the bibliography?
A: References, footnotes/endnotes, charts, tables, etc., are not included in thenumber of words. However, the title and subtitle of the research are included.

3.2

Q: Is it possible to exceed the word limit?
A: If you exceed the word limit, certain points will be deducted according to theVer.2_20240704

number of excess words.
3.3

Q: Is the submitted research proposal final and cannot be changed? Or is it
possible to change it during the course of research?
A: The research proposal submitted at the time of application is a plan. It is
possible to make changes after consulting with your academic advisor.

4

Other Documents to Be Submitted
4.1

Q:

Certificates of my university are issued only in an electronic version, and there

i are no hard copies.
A:

In that case, you may submit them directly from your university by e-mail. It is

not necessary to submit paper certificates.

5The 1st Round Exam (September) and the 2nd Round Exam (January)
5.1

Q: Are there any differences between the exams in September and January, thehandling, and the education program to which I can belong to?
A: The details of the January exam have not been finalized yet. Currently, we plan
to use the same method as the September Exam. Please see the “Application
Guidebook” for the Second Examination in January announced around October.
You will enjoy the same status after admission without any differences dependingon the examination that you take.

5.2

Q: If I fail the 1st Round Examination in September, can I take the 2nd RoundExamination?
A: Anyone who wishes to enroll in GSID can apply for the 2nd Round Examinationin January. Even if you fail the 1st Round Examination, you can take the 2ndRound Examination. However, you will have to pay the examination fee again.

6The Oral Examination (Interview)
6.1

Q: Please tell me about the language of the interview.
A: It will be conducted in Japanese or English. It is basically conducted inJapanese for the examinees who have written a research proposal in Japanese,and English for the examinees who have written a research proposal in English.
If you have any specific preference about the language, please let the interviewers
know at the beginning of the oral examination. Even if you take the oral
examination in Japanese, you will be asked a few questions in English. Please be
prepared to answer in English.

6.2

Q: Will using the English language during the interview make a better impression

Ver.2_20240704

than someone using the Japanese language or vice versa?
A: We will not discriminate against applicants according to what language is usedin the in the interview.

7Academic Advisor
7.1

Q: Should I get advice from a GSID faculty member regarding my research plan
before applying?
A: For the master’s program, you do not need to obtain consent from a GSID
faculty member regarding future supervision. It is possible to consult with a GSID
faculty member about the research plan. But it may not always be possible to geta reply from the GSID faculty.