Guidelines for Application 2025
Kobe Global Graduate Program for Agricultural Science (master’s program)
The “Kobe Global Graduate Program for Agricultural Science” is a master’s program aimed atinternational students.

If you wish to apply, be sure to contact your prospective supervisor beforehand.

Graduate School of Agricultural Science
KOBE UNIVERSITY

Admission Policy
The master's program of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science aims to provide
students with a broad range of knowledge in their respective fields, problem-solving skills andabilities to think creatively with an interdisciplinary perspective. To achieve this goal, theGraduate School admits individuals excelling in rational thinking with solid fundamental
academic ability and strong interest of further study in the field of agricultural science as wellas with a passion for science and strong intellectual curiosity, who wish to utilize theirknowledge in the sciences at public institutes and in the industrial sector.

Degree requirements
To graduate with a master's degree, students must complete the master’s program, receive
research guidance for at least two years, earn at least 30 credits in their major field of study,and pass the master’s thesis defense and final examination.

Degree Conferred
Master of Agricultural ScienceApplication Guidelines
1. Divisions and Enrollment Capacity
Divisions and Research Fields available for the Kobe Global Graduate Program for Agricultural Science:

Departments and Divisions

Research Fields
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering for Agriculture
Geo-Environmental Engineering for Agricultural Facilities

Rural Planning
Agri-Food Process Engineering
Mechanical Engineering of Bioproduction
Information Engineering of Bioproduction
Field Machinery and Plant Production
Food Economics and Policy Science
Food and Environmental Economics Farm and Rural Management
International Agriculture and Food Studies
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biotechnology
Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Animal Science
Animal Molecular Morphology
Microbiology and Immunology
Animal Genetic Resources
Cell Signaling
Crop Science
Plant Breeding
Forest Resources
Plant Science
Horticultural Crop Propagation
Horticultural Crop Production
Tropical Crop Science
Plant Germplasm Enhancement
Biological Chemistry
Food and Nutritional Chemistry
Natural Products Chemistry
Applied Chemistry in Bioscience Phytochemistry

Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering andSocio-Economics

Bioresource Science

Chemistry and Utilization of Animal Production Resources

Agrobioscience

Plant Health, Environment andBiotechnology

Enrollment Capacity:
A few for the master’s program

2. Admission
April 1, 2025, or October 1, 2025

Environmental Microbiology
Biochemistry Frontiers
Soil Science
Plant Nutrition
Plant Genetics
Crop Evolution
Cell Function and Structure
Environmental Chemistry
Cell Signaling and Regulation
Plant Pathology
Insect Molecular Biology
Insect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science3. Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
3.1 Applicants must meet all of the following requirements 3.1.1 to 3.1.3.
3.1.1 Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements (a) to (c) and obtain an appropriate
recommendation from the relevant university or organization.
(a) Those who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from universities with which Kobe University
or the Graduate School of Agricultural Science has academic exchange agreements, or fromuniversities that have previously had exchange agreements with Kobe University.
(b) Those who have established close communication with faculty members of the Graduate School ofAgricultural Science and are recognized as eligible by the Graduate School of Agricultural Science.
(c) Those who have received a foreign government or private scholarship for their research stay in Japan.
3.1.2 Those who have obtained the consent of a prospective supervisor at the Graduate School of
Agricultural Science (who will supervise their studies upon enrollment).
3.1.3 Those who can obtain a “student” visa at the time of enrollment.
3.2 Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements 3.2.1 to 3.2.3. Those who do not meet
one of these requirements at the time of application must meet one of these requirements by the end ofMarch 2025 for admission in April 2025, and by the end of September 2025 for admission in October2025.
3.2.1 Those who have completed 16 years of school education in a foreign country.
3.2.2 Those who have completed 15 years of school education in a foreign country, and are recognizedby the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, as having earned excellent grades.
3.2.3 Those who have qualified through individual eligibility screening by the Graduate School of
Agricultural Science and are judged to have academic ability equivalent to or superior to that ofuniversity graduates, and who are 22 years of age or older.
* Those who are applying under the requirements of 3.2.2 or 3.2.3 must undergo a preliminary eligibility
screening process before submitting their application. Please contact the Student Affairs Section,
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University (ans-kyomu@office.kobe-u.ac.jp) no later thansix weeks prior to the application deadline.

4. Selection
Applicants will be selected through a comprehensive evaluation of their application documents, followedby an interview conducted via online meeting software or e-mail. The details of the interview will be sent
separately to the applicants by the prospective supervisor.

5. Documents to be Submitted
All application documents should be submitted in English. Documents in languages other than English
must be accompanied by an English translation. To obtain the necessary forms, please send your request

by e-mail to the Student Affairs Section, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University (anskyomu@office.kobe-u.ac.jp).
(1) Application form for admission (Form 1)
Applicants must complete all required items on the form.
Attach your photo (taken within the last 3 months, full face from the shoulders up, with no background)in the designated section of the form.
(2) Detailed educational background and employment history (Form 2)
Provide your detailed educational background and employment history on the form.
(3) Application fee
Remittance period: From October 10 to November 1 (for admission in April 2025)
From April 10 to May 1 (for admission in October 2025)(A) Applicants residing in Japan
Payment of Application Fee by Post Bank Transfer
・The application fee of 30,000 yen can be paid at Japan Post Bank branches in Japan using the Kobe
University application fee payment form.
・After the payment, please submit part A of the form with the required application documents. (Pleasemake sure that the remittance forms are properly stamped).
(B) Applicants residing outside Japan
Applicants residing outside Japan may pay the 30,000 yen by credit card or Alipay. Overseas applicants
are required to contact the Student Affairs Section, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe
University (ans-kyomu@office.kobe-u.ac.jp) before making the payment to inquire about the payment
procedure.
〔Notes〕*Once the fee is paid, no refund will be granted under any circumstances except the following case.
*Kobe University will take special measures to waive the application fee for applicants affected by largescale natural disasters. Applicants who wish to benefit from these special measures should contact
the Admissions Office of Kobe University (Tel: +81-78-803-5230) even after paying the fee.
(4) Original certificate of university graduation (or expected graduation certificate)(5) Copy of university diploma
Applicants who have not yet graduated from university at the time of application must submit a copy of
their university diploma upon graduation.
(6) Original academic transcript issued by the university attended(7) Abstract of graduation thesis or summary of experiments/practical training/seminars
Prepare a summary on A4 size paper (200 to 300 words).
(8) Letter of recommendation 1
Submit a letter of recommendation from a supervisor or dean of the university you attended orgraduated from.

(9) Letter of recommendation 2
If you are employed by a public agency or company at the time of application, submit a letter ofrecommendation from your immediate superior.
(10) Certificate of scholarship award
If you have received a foreign government or private scholarship for your research stay in Japan, submit
the scholarship award certificate from the director of the scholarship foundation.
(11) Letter of acceptance (Form 3)
Submit a letter of acceptance from your prospective supervisor in the Graduate School of AgriculturalScience, Kobe University. (Documents written in Japanese will also be accepted for this item only.)(12) Research plan
Submit a research plan at Kobe University (A4 size paper, 200 to 300 words).
(13) Copy of official score of English proficiency test (TOEFL-iBT or IELTS)
Submit a copy of either a TOEFL-iBT Official Score Report or an IELTS Test Report Form (must includeyour photo) dated to within 24 months of your application.
(14) Copy of passport or certificate of residence(15) Certificate of residence (Jūminhyō)Foreign applicants residing in Japan must submit an original certificate of residence (Jūminhyō) issued
by the Mayor of the municipality.

6. Application Procedure(1) The application documents must be submitted by registered mail, such as simple registered mail ofJapan Post, EMS, DHL or FedEx (whichever is available), and they must arrive by the application
deadline.
The application documents should be sent to:Student Affairs Section, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University
1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, JAPAN(2) Applicants with physical disabilities who require special arrangements should contact the StudentAffairs Section, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University (ans-kyomu@office.kobeu.ac.jp) beforehand.

7. Application Deadline/ Announcement of Successful Applicants
For admission in April 2025
Application Deadline: November 5, 2024
Announcement of successful applicants: Late December, 2024
For admission in October 2025
Application Deadline: May 7, 2025
Announcement of successful applicants: Late June, 2025
A notification will be mailed to all successful applicants.

8. Admission Fee and Tuition
Admission fee: 282,000 yen: *This amount may be revised at the time of enrollment.
Yearly tuition fee: 535,800 yen: *This amount may be revised at the time of enrollment.
(Japanese Government Scholarship Students are exempted from paying tuition fee.)

9. Notes(1) To select a research field, please contact the prospective supervisor of the field you wish to enterin advance. Make sure to read the Outline of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe
University carefully before doing so. If you have any questions about selecting a laboratory, pleasecontact the Student Affairs Section, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University (anskyomu@office.kobe-u.ac.jp).
(2) Applicants who are employed by a company, public agency or research institution: Even if suchapplicants pass the selection process, they will not be admitted unless they resign or take a leave ofabsence from their current employment.
(3) The contents of the submitted application documents cannot be changed for any reason. Please also
note that the admission fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
(4) Handling of personal information
Personal information (name, gender, date of birth, address etc.) provided in the application
documents will be used only for the selection process (the entrance examination) and the preparation
for accepting students (the admission procedure, scholarships, accommodation).
(5) If you wish to apply, be sure to contact your prospective supervisor beforehand.