Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI[Particle and Nuclear Physics Program]
Doctoral Program 2024
Special Admissions for Applicants Residing Abroad(Privately Financed International Students)

1. General Prospectus
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI was founded on October 1, 1988 as
one of the national universities of Japan. The basic idea of SOKENDAI is to develop a newsystem of postgraduate education in Japan. Its key features are as follows;
1)

SOKENDAI offers both three-year and five-year doctoral programs.

2)

SOKENDAI consists of 20 programs under one institute operated by 20 Inter-UniversityResearch Institutes and Independent Administrative Institutions (“parent institutions”)

3)

Research and education are carried out in close cooperation with the parent institutions.

4)

Broad and international visions are fostered by enhanced interchange among various
institutions and other universities in Japan and abroad.

The parent institutions provide Japanese and foreign scientists with opportunities to conductadvanced joint research in various branches of science. They are equipped with extensive
research facilities and function as centers for advanced studies. At present, they are cooperatingin establishing a world-class program of postgraduate education in SOKENDAI.
[Admission Policy]<What SOKENDAI expects 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 research that 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 logical thinking ability to actively promote research in the cutting-edge 20 research institutes
affiliated with SOKENDAI. In order to properly judge such abilities, various selections will bemade according to the respective fields of specialization.

2. Particle and Nuclear Physics Program Outline

Both particle physics and nuclear physics are the most fundamental areas of basic science, andthey are the sources of new frontiers in physical concepts and methods that are the basis ofmodern science; these subjects involve the pursuit of the most fundamental principles of natureand the exploration of the basic structure and building blocks of matter.
In this program, we conduct both theoretical and experimental research in particle and nuclearphysics. The theoretical investigations include not only those in particle and nuclear physics but
also those in cosmology and astrophysics. The experimental investigations are conducted bymeans of colliding beam accelerators and various beams from high-intensity proton accelerators.
In addition, related research in physics, including the R&D of new devices, methods, and theirapplications, are pursued in a versatile manner.

3. Doctoral Degree Requirements
A Doctor of Philosophy degree shall be conferred on students who have satisfied therequirements of their respective doctoral programs as prescribed below.
[Three-year doctoral program]Students must be enrolled in SOKENDAI for at least three years in principle; additionally, theymust earn the necessary credits, receive necessary research guidance, and pass theexamination for a doctoral thesis. Students who are recognized as having achieved significant
progress may be able to graduate in a shorter time frame.
[Five-year doctoral program]Students must be enrolled in SOKENDAI for at least five years in principle; additionally, theymust earn the necessary credits, receive necessary research guidance, and pass theexamination for a doctoral thesis. Students who are recognized as having achieved significant
progress may be able to graduate in a shorter time frame.

4. Doctoral Programs and Number of Students Accepted
Doctoral Programs

Number of Students Accepted
Enrolled in October 2024

Three-year doctoral program

A few students

Five-year doctoral program

A few students

5. Qualifications for Application[Qualifications for the three-year doctoral program]Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions;
1)

Applicants on whom a Master’s degree or a degree equivalent to a Professional degree has
been conferred or is expected to be conferred by the month preceding enrollment;

2)

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 theindividual screening of the Admission Qualifications of SOKENDAI, and have attained theage of 24 years by the end of the month preceding enrollment. (Note)

Notes:*The qualifications concern not the date of completion of the master’s course of study, but thedate of conferral of a master’s or equivalent professional degree.
*Applicants who intend to apply under the provision (2) above are required to have a qualification
screening to confirm “having academic ability equivalent to those who have a Master’s degree
or a professional degree” before the application can be submitted.
Also, those who have completed or are expected to complete a master’s course before the timeof enrollment in the doctoral program, but are not expected to be granted a master’s orprofessional degree by that time must take extra screening procedures before the application.
If applicable, please contact the Student Affairs Section by email before application period.
*Other than the above qualifications (Qualification 1 and 2), eligible applicants include those whootherwise satisfy or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission toSOKENDAI. If you have any questions regarding the qualifications for admission, pleasecontact the Student Affairs Section in advance.
[Qualifications for the five-year doctoral program]
Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions;
1)

Applicants who have completed or are expected to complete a 16-year course of school
education in a foreign country by the month preceding enrollment;

2)

Applicants who have graduated or are expected to graduate from a Japanese university
specified in Article 83 of the School Education Law by the month preceding enrollment;

3)

Applicants upon whom have been conferred or are expected to be conferred a degree
equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree by the month preceding enrollment by completing an
educational course of three or more years in a foreign university or in a foreign educationalinstitute;4)Applicants who have completed a 15-year course of school education in a foreign country

by the end of the month preceding enrollment; (Note)
5)

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 have attained the age of 22 years by the end of the month preceding enrollment. (Note)

Notes:
Applicants who intend to apply under the provisions 4) or 5) are required to have qualification
screening before the application can be submitted. If applicable, please contact the StudentAffairs Section by email before application period.
*Other than the above qualifications 1) to 5), eligible applicants include those who otherwise
satisfy or will satisfy the qualification requirements for general admission to SOKENDAI. If you
have any questions regarding the qualification for admission, please contact the Student Affairs
Section in advance.

6. Required Conditions and Notes
Applicants are expected to satisfy each of the following conditions.
1)

Applicants must be foreign nationals currently residing overseas.

2)Arrival in Japan: Applicants have to be able to arrive in Japan in time for the semester thatbegins in October 2024.

3)

Health: Applicants must be physically and mentally healthy enough to take graduate studies
at a university in Japan.

4)

Language Ability: Applicants must have a good command of English or Japanese.

5)

Security Export Control: Depending on the specifics of the education and research
instructions they wish to receive upon entering the doctoral program, applicants may besubject to regulations on the export/transfer of controlled technologies based on the Foreign
Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. Please consult the Student Affairs Section of SOKENDAI
for further details.

7. Application Procedure[Application Period]First Round

October 6, 2023 to December 15, 2023

Second RoundMarch 29, 2024 to May 10, 2024

*The application must arrive no later than the last day of the application period without fail.

[Contact the prospective supervisor]
Before applying, the applicant must contact the prospective supervisor and confirm whether
he/she can accept the applicant if the applicant passes the examination.
[Application Method]
The applicant must submit the complete set of application documents either by mail or email.
For the details, please confirm the following 1) and 2). The application must reach SOKENDAI
no later than the application deadline.
1)

mailThe complete set of application documents must be submitted by registered express mail or asimilar service. If there are any problems with submitted documents, SOKENDAI will contact theapplicant via email.
Mailing address;
Student Affairs Section, Division of Academic and Student Affairs
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Shonan Village, Hayama, Miura, Kanagawa 240-0193 JAPAN
Telephone number +81-46-858-15262)

email

The complete set of application documents must be submitted by email. If the attached files
contain more than 10 megabytes, please send them separately and number each email subject.
Also, when sending files, please attach them to your email directly, not using the uploaders.
After receiving the applicant’s email, SOKENDAI will send the applicant a confirmation email. Ifthe applicant does not receive our email within a week after submitting the documents, pleasecontact us.
Email address; gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp (Student Affairs Section, SOKENDAI)
Notes: If the applicant is accepted enrollment, the applicant must submit the original officialtranscript and certification of graduation.

8. Application Documents
Please read “Application checklist” on our website.
1)

Application Form (Attached)

Please attach a photograph (sized 4.5cm×3.5 cm taken within the past six months, upper body,full-faced with no hat) on the Application Form. Your signature is required on the ApplicationForm.

2)

Examination fee: 30,000 yen

For payment details, please refer to “Instructions on how to make a payment” on our website.
3)

Official Transcripts
Applicants who apply for the three-year doctoral program must submit the Official
Transcripts of each academic year from both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants who apply for the five-year doctoral program must submit the Official
Transcript of each academic year from the undergraduate school.

4)

Certificate of Graduation or Expected Graduation (originals or certified copies)
Applicants who apply for the three-year doctoral program must submit the Certificateof Graduation for both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Applicants who apply for the five-year doctoral program must submit the Certificate ofGraduation for the undergraduate school.

Applicants who have not yet graduated from a university must submit an attested
document certifying that the applicant will graduate from the university before entering
the doctoral program.

5)

Certified copy of degree diploma
Applicants who have already graduated from a university must submit certified copies ofdegree diplomas as follows:Applicants who apply for the three-year doctoral program must submit a certified copyof their bachelor’s degree diploma and their master’s degree diploma.

Applicants who apply for the five-year doctoral program must submit a certified copyof their bachelor’s degree diploma.

6)

Recommendation letter from a person who knows the applicant’s research / academic
activities well (e.g., the applicant’s academic supervisor at the university in which theapplicant is currently enrolled or the university which the applicant previously attended.)addressed to the President of SOKENDAI. (original, free format)

7)

Recommendation letter from a prospective supervisor

8)Your past research work and activities (if applicable)

9)

Summary of your graduation thesis
If the applicant has no thesis or publications, please submit a summary of his/hercurrent research project.

10) Field of study and Research Plan (Attached)11) Photocopy of the applicant’s passport pages showing the applicant’s name, date of birth,nationality, gender, photograph, and passport number.
Notes:
Application documents must be prepared in Japanese or English. If the documents areprepared in languages other than Japanese or English, the official English translation mustbe attached.
The application documents above must be prepared using word-processing software. Print
all the required documents on A4 size paper (if possible).

Your admission may be rescinded at any time even after enrollment if the application
documents are found to be invalid or contain false information.

9. Selection Schedule and Method
Schedule
First Round
Second Round

MethodFrom January 15, 2024 toSelection will be based on theJanuary 19, 2024

submitted materials, as well

From May 27, 2024 to May

as an interview via internet if31, 2024

necessary.

10. Announcement of Result
The result will be announced to all applicants in no later than the end of February (First Round),the end of July (Second Round) via email.

11. Admission Procedures(1) The period of admission procedures is scheduled as below:
Late September 2024 for the enrollment of October 2024
Successful applicants must complete 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*If 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.

12. Student Visa
Each candidate who is selected as a privately financed student must apply for a visa in personat the nearest Japanese consulate in order to enter Japan after receiving the Certificate ofEligibility which will be mailed from SOKENDAI.

13. Contact details for inquiries
Student Affairs Section, Division of Academic and Student Affairs
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
E-mail: gakusei@ml.soken.ac.jp