October 2024
April 2025

For reference

Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Astronomical 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. 15
IV. List of the Faculty Members
p. 27
The following Application Guidelines in English are provided for non-Japanese Applicants' reference
only. In the event of any inconsistency between the Japanese Application Guidelines and the English
version the Japanese version shall prevail. The utmost care shall be taken to ensure that the applicant
is not disadvantaged by inconsistencies between the two versions.
Applicants are required to obtain a booklet of Application Guidelines to start the application
procedure. 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. Five-year Doctoral Program: Application Procedures and Important Notes

1

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 Japan3

designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, that provides
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
the 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 the preceding month of enrollment, and havebeen recognized by SOKENDAI as having acquired the specified credits of said university with excellent
4results.
(11) Applicants who have entered a graduate school other than SOKENDAI in accordance with Article 102,
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 the 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)
Application fee, however, should be paid after the application qualification is approved.
(c) Other documents required by the program. For details, please refer to the program office.
(a), (b) and (c) above must be submitted altogether. Please note that applicants might be asked tosubmit other documents by the program.
(2) Application Period for Qualification Screening
Application Period
April 2025 Admission

June 3 (Monday) to June 6 (Thursday), 2024

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received between 09:00～12:00, and 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(3) Procedure for Qualification Screening
5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 the qualification screening shall be notified prior to the application period. Applicants who havebeen 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 remittance receipt 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
April 2025 Admission

June 27 (Thursday) to July 3 (Wednesday), 2024

The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.
It must be received between 09:00～12:00, and 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 a commerciallyavailable envelope (33cm x 24cm) with the prescribed label in the booklet pasted. Please be sure tosend it by registered express mail. The application must reach SOKENDAI no later than the last day of theapplication period. Please note that application documents will not be accepted by any parent institute orprogram 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
5

Application Documents
Please read through the “Important Notes” on page12 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.
6(2) Academic transcripts (originals)(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 transferring 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 certificate of enrollment, 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 their second-choice program must prepare Form 2 for the second-choiceprogram 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.
(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]
7

* https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/file/tokuteiruikei-E.pdf(8) 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](9) Curriculum Vitae (Form 1-2)
Only for international applicants and Japanese applicants who have received their education outside
Japan.
(10) 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 copies of the documents
for the second-choice program separately.
(11) 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.
(12) 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.

Please use the application forms in the booklet. Form 2 is also downloadable at our website.

https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/astro/
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 the examination. 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.
8

Examination Dates

Written examination: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Interview: Friday, August 23, 2024

April 2025 Admission

Note: Detailed information about the time and venue of the examination will be provided with the admission
ticket for the examination. 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/astro/
Venue of the examination
Program

Location and Directions

Astronomical Science

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka-city, Tokyo 181-8588*From the South Exit of JR Musashi-sakai station (JR Chuo Line), take Odakyu bus No.91 at theNo.3 bus stop and get off at "Tenmondai Mae" bus stop.
*From the North Exit of Keio Chofu station, take Odakyu bus (91 and 51) at the No.14 bus stop,and get off at "Tenmondai Mae" bus stop.
https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/access/mitaka/access.html

7Announcement of Results
Notification
April 2025 Admission

Mid-September, 2024

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 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
9

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
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 schools 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, these10characters 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 the applicant’s name and address submitted to SOKENDAI as part of
the application 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 Astronomical Science Program(Five-year Doctoral Program)
Astronomical Science Program offers, by exploiting one of the most advanced set of research facilities it hasaccess to, including optical and radio telescopes and a supercomputer, an environment in which students canbe involved in theoretical, observational or instrumentation researches at the highest levels, and aims to train
researchers in the forefront of the international stage of research, leading experts in advancement of technology,
or education and public outreach professionals with advanced knowledge.
The program provides an excellent research environment for students with various backgrounds, both inobservational and theoretical astronomy. The program encompass the following three areas: “Optical andinfrared astronomy”, “Radio astronomy” and “General astronomy and astrophysics”, but they cooperate in our
educational efforts. The first-year students are to study the basics of astronomy primarily in Mitaka campus.
Once this stage is finished, students set out to take on more advanced topics such as the principles behind themost advanced technology and their applications to astronomy, designing and building observational
instruments, data acquisition, and data analyses. At the same time, students are expected to be engaged inobservational or theoretical research in astronomy.
Astronomical Science Program seeks students with interests in astronomy, motivated to tackle scientificquestions by theoretical or observational researches or through developing instruments, and equipped not onlywith basic academic skills but also with the ability to think logically and creatively, which are all crucial for the
pursuit.
1. Research field selection
When selecting your field of research (research area) and supervisor, please carefully go through this document
along with information provided on the website, to fully understand the research field and research contents.
The list of all the possible supervisors can be found at the URL:
https://www.guas-astronomy.jp/Supervisors/index.html.
In Astronomical Science program, applicants may choose professor, associate professor, or assistantprofessor as their potential supervisor. In addition, faculty members of the Astrobiology Center/NINS are also
involved in the education of Astronomical Science Program, and applicants may choose a faculty member ofthe Astrobiology Center as their potential supervisor as well.
It is strongly recommended for applicants to contact the potential supervisor they intend to work with and to
discuss research plans. Applicants also may contact the academic guidance instructors (contact information
shown in the URL below) in order to have further information on research and educational activities ofsupervisors. If you are not sure which supervisor you should choose at the time of application, you may leave
the section for your potential supervisor blank on the Application Form (Form 1-A), but please describe theresearch you are interested in in detail on the Statement of Purpose (Form 2).
You may apply for up to two programs at the same time if both programs have the same application period,
12

course of study, and admission date. However, since the selection process is conducted for each program,please be aware of the examination schedules and venues when applying for two programs.
Astronomical Science Program：https://guas-astronomy.jp/eng/index.html
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan：https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/
2. Selection Method
Screening is conducted by examining submitted documents, results of written examination (on Wednesday,
August 21, 2024) and interview (on Friday, August 23, 2024). Based on the contents of the submitted documents
and the results of the written examination, we select applicants to proceed to interview.
(1) Paper screening: Transcripts and statement of purpose. When writing statement of purpose, please be
sure to clearly state the contents of research you wish to conduct after enrollment.
(2) Written examination: Special subjects and English. Regarding special subjects, applicants will be given
three questions from physics and two from physical mathematics. The English test is for 1 hour and 30
minutes (point allocation: 150), and the special subject test 3 hours (point allocation: 400).
All the questions and the answers of English test are in English.
(3) Interview: Based on the submitted documents and the results of the written examination, applicants arescreened and the names of those who have passed this screening will be posted at 5 pm on the day
following the written examination (5pm, Thursday, August 22, 2024) on the website of Astronomical
Science Program, along with the interview schedule. In the interview, applicants are asked to explain
about his or her previous research and education, what motivates them to study at Astronomical
Science Program, as well as contents of researches they intend to conduct once they are accepted.
3. Criteria for grading, evaluation and admission decision
Admission decision is made by evaluating submitted transcripts, statement of purpose, results of written
examination and interview comprehensively and also considering the followings.
1) An applicant must, aligned with objectives of Astronomical Science Program, have ability to become a“world-class researcher,” “professional to lead improvement of advanced technology,” or “education andpublic outreach professional with advanced knowledge” in the field of astronomy or related area.
2) An applicant also must have basic knowledge and understanding of physics and mathematics etc., as wellas English skills, logicality, creativity, solid motivation for research, and future potential.
4. Financial support for students
There is “Associate Researcher” system that provides certain amount of monthly allowance to reward thestudents’ contribution to researches. (Applicable only after six months have passed after enrollment)
In addition, the program offers the NAOJ Junior Fellow system whereby students demonstrating exceptional
research abilities and displaying motivations for pursuing a career in research are selected and granted
scholarships.

13

5. Languages used in written examination
Written examination is developed targeting on those who are able to read and write in Japanese language. For
applicants who are not able to read and write in Japanese, there is Special admissions for applicants residing
abroad, in which only English is used for written examination of GRE Subject Tests (physics) and English(TOEFL-iBT score). Applicants who are not able to read or write in Japanese language must go through Special
admissions for applicants residing abroad.
6. Contact details for inquiries
Graduate Student Affairs Unit,
Research Promotion Division, Administration Department,
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka-city Tokyo 181-8588
TEL +81-422-34-3659
E-mail daigakuin@nao.ac.jp

14

Ⅲ. Three-year Doctoral Program: Application Procedure 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 been15

conferred or is expected to be conferred in a foreign country by the preceding month of enrollment.
(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.

16

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 the program office for details.
(ⅰ)(ⅱ) and (ⅲ) above must be submitted altogether. Please note that applicants might be asked
to submit other documents by the program.
(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 between 09:00～12:00, and 13:00～17:00 on weekdays of the application period.
(c)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. 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.

17

4

Application 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 between 09:00～12:00, and 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 bytraceable 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 by any parent institute or program
office.
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 to application, contact with the potential supervisor is required.
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 (originals)(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 transferring 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.
18

(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) (Downloadable from SOKENDAI’s website)(5) List of Research Presentations and Publications (Form 4) (Downloadable from SOKENDAI’s website)(6) Research Proposal (Form 5) (Downloadable from SOKENDAI’s website)
Applicants who apply to their second-choice program must prepare Form 5 for the second-choice program
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 (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(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 their second-choice program must submit another set of copies of the Master’s
19thesis for the second-choice program separately.
(13) Reporting form for expected submission date of Master’s thesis (Form 16)
Applicants applying for the second round who expect to submit a Master's thesis must submit Form 16
within the application period, and then submit copies of the Master's thesis by the designated date.
(14) Two copies of academic publications (if any)
Applicants who apply to their second-choice program must submit another set of copies of the academic
publications for the second-choice program separately.
(15) Letter of Recommendation
Applicants are strongly advised to submit the Letter of Recommendation from those who are appropriate toevaluate the applicant’s academic ability. The letter must be sealed up by the writer.
(16) 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.
(17) A copy of Residence Card (international applicants residing in Japan), orA 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 3, 4, and 5 are also downloadable at our website.

https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/application_info/astro/
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 the examination. 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.
Examination DateFirst round

October 2024 Admission
April 2025 Admission

Monday, August 19, 2024

Second round

April 2025 Admission

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Detailed information about the time and place of the examination will be provided with the admission ticket for
the examination. In case the ticket shall not be delivered one week prior to the date of examination, please20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/astro/
Venue of the examination
Program

Location and Directions

Astronomical Science

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka-city, Tokyo 181-8588*From the South Exit of JR Musashi-sakai station (JR Chuo Line), take Odakyu
bus No.91 at the No.3 bus stop and get off at "Tenmondai Mae" bus stop.
*From the North Exit of Keio Chofu station, take Odakyu bus (91 and 51) at theNo.14 bus stop, and get off at "Tenmondai Mae" bus stop.
http://www.nao.ac.jp/en/access/mitaka/access.html

7Announcement of Results
First round
Second round

Notification
October 2024 Admission
April 2025 Admission
April 2025 Admission
October 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.
21

(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 below:
September 30, 2024 for the enrollment of October 2024
March 31, 2025 for the enrollment of April 2025
(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 schools 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, these22characters 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 the applicant’s name and address submitted to SOKENDAI as part of
the application 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, scholarship application, and career support), and administrative purposes of processing
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.

23

Important Notes for Applicants to Astronomical Science Program(Three-year Doctoral Program)
Astronomical Science Program offers, by exploiting one of the most advanced set of research facilities it hasaccess to, including optical and radio telescopes and a supercomputer, an environment in which students canbe involved in theoretical, observational or instrumentation researches at the highest levels, and aims to train
researchers in the forefront of the international stage of research, leading experts in advancement of technology,
or education and public outreach professionals with advanced knowledge.
Astronomical Science Program seeks students with interests in astronomy, motivated to tackle scientificquestions by theoretical or observational researches or through developing instruments, and equipped not onlywith basic academic skills but also with the ability to think logically and creatively, which are all crucial for the
pursuit.
1. Research field
When deciding on research theme etc., please discuss well with a supervisor you intend to work with inadvance. Applicants are strongly recommended to have a seminar presentation at the appropriate researchgroup in the program. In the application form indicate the names of the supervisor of the first and the second
choice. The list of all the potential supervisors can be found at the URL:
https://www.guas-astronomy.jp/Supervisors/index.html.
Please indicate the name of your first and second choice of potential supervisor on the application form.
In Astronomical Science program, applicants may choose professor, associate professor, or assistant professor
as their potential supervisor. In addition, faculty members of the Astrobiology Center of the NINS are also
involved in the education of Astronomical Science Program, and applicants may choose a faculty member ofthe Astrobiology Center as their potential supervisor as well. You may apply for up to two programs at the sametime if both programs have the same application period, course of study, and admission date. However, since
the selection process is conducted for each program, please be aware of the examination schedules and venues
when applying for two programs.
Astronomical Science Program：

https://guas-astronomy.jp/Intro/outline.html

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan：

https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/

2. Three-year doctoral program
The program is for those who are with basic trainings in astronomy or related fields, typically with 2-year
education in a graduate course and a master thesis describing the research he/she has done, or an equivalent.
If you are not sure about your qualification, you are recommended to apply for Five-year doctoral program.
3. Selection Method
Paper screening and interview are carried out.
24

(1) At interview, applicants are first asked to have a presentation on their study. Then, an oral examination
follows. At the oral examination, applicants are provided with basic text in English that is related to astronomy
and physics, and to answer questions either in Japanese or English. Following that, an interview is carried out
to examine the applicant’s future plans and other general matters. For presentation, a PC projector will be
provided.
(2) On the day of interview, there is also an English test (30 minutes. A dictionary cannot be used.).
4. Submitting Master’s Thesis
Applicants who are unable to submit a copy of Master’s thesis by the application deadline of the second round,
may apply only if the copy of Master’s thesis can be submitted by 17:00, Friday, January 17, 2025. If you wish
to do so, submit the appended Form 16 when applying, and afterward, submit two copies of your Master’s
thesis to Astronomical Science Program (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan).
5. Criteria for grading, evaluation and admission decision
Grading is conducted by the submitted documents and results of interview. Applicants are evaluated by contentsof submitted transcripts, Master’s thesis, research plan, presentation at the interview, question and answer
session, answer at the oral examination, and English ability. At interview, the applicant’s motivation for applying
and willingness are highly considered.
To make an admission decision, we comprehensively consider the followings: 1) Being aligned with objectivesof Astronomical Science Program, the applicant must have the ability to become a “world-class researcher,”“professional to lead improvement of advanced technology,” or “education and public outreach professional withadvanced knowledge” in the field of astronomy or related area; 2) the applicant must have a strong awarenessof the issues in the field and motivation and is able to obtain a doctoral degree within the prescribed period of
attendance; 3) the applicant must also have basic knowledge and understanding of physics and astronomy,
expressive ability to render his or her ideas, solid motivation for research, future potential and English ability.
Application of students from other academic fields is welcome if we find his or her experience would contributeto researches in the field of astronomy or its related area.
6. Languages used in the entrance examination
For applicants who are unable to read or write in Japanese, an examination in English is available. Researchpresentation and question-and-answer session can be done either in Japanese or English.
7. Financial support
There is an “Assistant Researcher” system that provides a certain amount of monthly allowance to reward thestudents’ contribution to researches. Please contact us for further information.
In addition, the program offers the NAOJ Junior Fellow system whereby students demonstrating exceptional
research abilities and displaying motivations for pursuing a career in research are selected and granted
scholarships.
25

8. Contact details for inquiries
Graduate Student Affairs Unit,
Research Promotion Division, Administration Department,
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka-city Tokyo 181-8588
TEL +81-422-34-3659
E-mail daigakuin@nao.ac.jp

26

Ⅳ. List of the Faculty Members

Please see the websites below for the list of faculty members.
Program: Astronomical Science

https://guas-astronomy.jp/eng/Supervisors/index.html

27