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October 2024 Admission
Application Guidelines for the Admission
to the Higher Agricultural Specialist Program for the Russian Federation Far Eastfor the Master’s Degree at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University
The Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, offers a program, the Higher
Agricultural Specialist Program for the Russian Federation Far East, which was selected as one of theInternational Priority Graduate Programs (PGP), Advanced Graduate Courses for International Students,
by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Therefore, theGraduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, accepts applications for October 2024
admission from those interested in pursuing a master's degree in this program as follows.
1. Program Outline
As the gateway from the Japanese sea coast to the world, Niigata University makes great efforts topromote education and research opportunities with East Asia and the Russian Federation. This program,based on a request from the Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East, provides a reorganizedcurriculum closely in line with requests obtained in field investigations in 2013 and aims to foster
advanced agricultural specialists urgently needed by the Russian Federation and to nurture Japanese
researchers who possess international as well as local perspectives. Student participants in this program
will be matriculated at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, as full-time
regular students and pursue a master's degree by taking required courses and conducting researchwithin two years, the standard number of years required to complete the program.
2. Number of Students to be Admitted
Number of
Major
Students
Life and Food Sciences

Several

Major

Number ofStudents

Environmental Science andTechnology

Several

3. Eligibility for Application
An eligible applicant is considered to be someone applying as an international student, conforming
to any of the conditions listed below.
(1) Those who have graduated from a university stipulated in Article 83 of the School Education Law(Law 26 of 1947) or who expect to graduate by September 2024.
(2) Those who have obtained a bachelor's degree according to the provisions of Article 104 Section 7 of
the School Education Law or who expect to obtain such a degree by September 2024.
(3) International applicants from countries which do not require sixteen years of school education
before university graduation who fulfil the following two conditions, and who are deemed by the
Graduate School to have academic ability equivalent to or greater than graduates of a Japanese
university. (Refer to Note)a. Those who after finishing university have engaged in research for a minimum of one year as
research students or researchers at a university, research institute or equivalent institution
either in Japan or another country or who expect to have pursued such research for a minimumof one year by September 2024.
b. Those who are 22 years old by September 30, 2024.
(4) Those who have completed sixteen years of education in a country other than Japan or who expect
to have completed such education by September 2024. (Refer to Note)1(5) Those who have completed sixteen years of school education in a country other than Japan bytaking lessons in Japan through a distance learning program provided by that other country or who
expect to complete such education by September 2024. (Refer to Note)(6) Those who have completed or expect to complete by September 2024, in Japan, the curriculum of auniversity of a country other than Japan (limited to those who have completed a sixteen-year
curriculum in the school education of that country) where this educational facility is recognized by
the school educational system of that country and has been specifically designated by the Ministerof Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology.
(7) Those who have obtained a qualification equivalent to a bachelor's degree or who expect to obtainsuch a qualification by September 2024 in a university or other school in a country other thanJapan (limited to those universities or schools whose general educational research activities havebeen recognized by a person certified by the government or relevant organ of that country or
specifically designated as equivalent by the Minister of Education, Sports, culture, Science andTechnology) and who have completed a course of study with a program of at least three years(including completion of that program by taking classes in Japan through distance learning
provided by the school in the country concerned where the school is an educational institution
recognized by the school educational system in that country and has been specifically designatedby the Minister of Education, Sports, culture, Science and Technology). (Refer to Note)(8) Those who have completed after the date specified by the Minister of Education, Sports, Culture,
Science and Technology or expect to complete by September 2024 a specialized course at aprofessional school specifically designated by said Minister (limited to courses of study of aminimum of four years and which reach the standards set by said Minister).
(9) Those designated by the Minister of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology(10) Those matriculated at a graduate school as specified in the provisions of Article 102 Section 2 of
the School Education Law and who are deemed thereafter to have adequate academic ability to
pursue education in the graduate school of this research department. (Refer to Note)(11) Those who by September 30, 2024 will have attended university for a minimum of three years as
set out in Article 83 of the School Education Law, who are considered likely to obtain excellent
results in the credits prescribed by this research department and who have completed fifteen yearsof school education in a country other than Japan. (Refer to Note)(12) Those who following individual screening of eligibility for application to this research department
are approved as having academic ability equivalent to or greater than a university graduate andwho will be 22 years old by September 30, 2024. (Refer to Note)[Note]
Those eligible to apply on the basis of (3), (4), (5), (7), (10), (11) and (12) above should
submit the “Application Forms” and the “Application Form for Eligibility Screening of
Entrance Examination” to the program director by Monday, December 25, 2023.
Eligibility screening results will be announced individually by the program director on or after
Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
4. Submission of Application Documents and Any Inquiries
For submitting application documents and any additional question or inquire about the program,should contact to the program director.
Program Director: Hideo HASEGAWA, Professor
Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University
TEL/FAX: +81-25-262-6690 Email: hsgw@agr.niigata-u.ac.jp

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Postal Address: 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181, JAPAN
Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University
To: Hideo HASEGAWA, Professor
5. Application Period
Tuesday, January 16 -Wednesday, January 17, 2024 by 16:00 (Japan Standard Time)(Application documents must arrive within this period)
6.

Application Procedures(1) Application Methods
Applicants should submit the following documents to the program director.
(2) Application Documents
Documents and Forms
Instructions
a.2024 Application Form ・Use the attached form (Print double-sided)for Japanese Government ・Affix a photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm), showing the applicant’s
upper body, full face view with no hat, and facing the camera(MEXT) Scholarship(RESEARCH STUDENS)
directly, to the designated area. (Photo data acceptable)
・Be sure to accurately enter the year and month of the entrance andgraduation dates in the designated areas.
b.Field of Study andResearch Plan
c.Letter ofRecommendation

d.Copies of International
Passport Pages

・Use the attached form. (Print double-sided)
・Submit a letter of recommendation, from a person in a position
equivalent to or higher than dean, or department head at theapplicant’s university addressed to the President of Niigata
University.
・No specific format required.
*Ref.e below: in cases where the academic transcript conversion
table cannot be converted to the specified format, the letter ofrecommendation should show that “university or undergraduate
results are within the top 30 per cent.”
・Submit copies of applicant’s international passport pages (thepages of applicant’s photograph, name, and nationality).

e.Academic Transcript(s) ・Submit the original academic transcript, with certifying seal orsignature from the appropriate authority, issued by the mostrecent university attended.
・Those who are expected to graduate and are still enrolled atuniversity must submit the most updated transcript.
・If the grading system is based on letters, such as A, B, C, etc.,
submit the grade conversion table, converting from letter grading
to the point system (100 points maximum). Please also submit acertificate describing the passing grade point.
*If the conversion table cannot be converted to the following format, theLetter of Recommendation (Referred in c. above) is required.

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Classification

Academic Transcript

4-step grading

Excellent

Good

Acceptable

Fail4-step grading

A

B

C

F

4-step grading

100-80points79-70
points69-60
points59 points
or less

5-step grading

S

A

B

C

F

5-step grading

A

B

C

D

F

5-step grading

100-90points89-80
points79-70
points69-60
points59 points
or less

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3

2

1

0

Pointsf.Certificate of・Submit the original Certificate of (Expected) Graduation, with(Expected) Completion certifying seal or signature, or diploma issued by the most recent
university attended.
g.Documents Certifying
the Academic
Excellence at the Last
Institution Attended
h.Abstract of Thesis

・Please submit a document certifying the applicant’s academic
excellence at the most recent university attended. For example,
GPA, ABC classification, or student ranking (out of total numberof students).
・Submit abstract of graduation thesis for bachelor's degree.
・No specific format required.
・If the applicant cannot submit the graduation thesis, provide
documents certifying the reason, such as that there is no thesisrelated course available in the curriculum.

i.Certificate of Health・Use the attached form.

j. Documents Certifying
Language Abilities

・Submit documents certifying that one of the following conditions
is met.
a. Score of B2 or above in English in CEFR or score in
proficiency test such as TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS.
b. Documents certifying that applicant has completed an
educational program meeting the entrance requirements for amaster's program at a Japanese graduate school and in which
the main language was English.
c. If there are no documents showing applicant's language
ability, please submit documents such as any awards received
at international conferences or publications in academic
journals proving that applicant has appropriate language
ability as indicated under a. above.

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k. Examination Fee

・Payment is not required at the moment of submitting anapplication. However, in case you are not selected as a Japanese
government (MEXT) scholarship student, please pay an
examination fee of 30,000 Japanese yen.

l. Photographs

・Submit two extra photographs taken within three months prior toapplication. They should measure 4.5cm long by 3.5cm wide,showing the applicant’s upper body, full face view with no hat,and facing the camera directly.

※Application documents must be completed in English and printed double-sided in A4 size, byusing document creator software, if possible.
※Attach English or Japanese translation if the original certificates are in a language other thanEnglish.
※Submitted application documents will not be returned for any reason.
7. Method of Admission Selection
Admission Selection shall be made upon the evaluation of application documents and interview.
(Note) Interviews will be conducted either face to face or by interactive vocal or visualcommunication via Internet.
8. Interview Date
The interview will be held on one day from Monday, January 22 to Friday, February 2, 2024
（EXCEPT weekends）
Individual interview date and time will be informed from the program director.
9. Announcement of Admission Decision
10:00 (Japan Standard Time) on Friday, March 8, 2024
The list of successful applicant’s Examinee Numbers shall be posted at the main entrance hall of
the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University. Successful applicants will also
be informed of the admission decision by mail.
The list shall also be posted on the Graduate School of Science and Technology website at 12:00(Japan Standard Time) of the day of announcement. (https://www.gs.niigata-u.ac.jp/)
No telephone inquiries regarding the admission decision will be answered.
10. Scholarship for Accepted Students
Students who are accepted to the program and meet the eligibility requirements to apply for theJapanese Government Scholarship Program may be recommended as MEXT student nominees.
When they are granted the scholarship, they will receive the following support;(1) Monthly stipend: JPY 144,000(2) Period of Scholarship: For the standard period of years required to complete the master's
program (from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2026)(3) Travel Expenses (Round trip):Students will receive in-bound travel expenses when entering Niigata University and out-boundtravel expenses if they return to their home country within the scholarship period. The travel5expenses cover air fares from the international airport closest to their residence to theinternational airport closest to the university in Japan.
(4) Fees Required for Entering Niigata University:
Student participants are exempted from the entrance fee and tuition for the standard period ofyears required for completion.
(5) Other: If for any reason the student participants’ stay at Niigata University exceeds thestandard number of years required for completion, if they are expelled or transferred, or in any
way violate the oath made to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology, even after matriculation, the scholarship stipends will not be provided.
11. Eligibility Requirements to Apply for the Japanese Government Scholarship Program(1) Nationality: Applicants must have the nationality of the CIS countries at the time of application.
(2) Age: Applicants must have been born on or after April 2, 1989.
(3) Academic Background: Those who have obtained a bachelor's degree or are expected to obtainsuch a degree by September, 2024; or those who, following the individual screening of theireligibility for application, are approved by the Graduate School of Science and Technology,
Niigata University as having academic ability equivalent to or greater than those who have
graduated from university and who will be 22 years old by September 30, 2024.
(4) Major Field of Study: Those who studied one of the following fields at a university are eligible
to apply: Management of Food and Resources; Plant Resource Production; Animal Resource
Production; High Level Use of Plant Functions; Enhancement of Microorganism Functions;
Elucidation of Food Functions; Sustainable Agricultural Produce; Conservation and Use ofForest Resources; Local Management Engineering; Agricultural Engineering; Fluctuation of
Water Circulation; Atmospheric Environment(5) Academic Grades: Those who have had a GPA of 2.30 or higher, based on the calculation
formula specified by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), in the past years and who are expected to maintain a GPA of 2.30 or higher during theperiod in which they receive their scholarship stipend.
※Niigata University will calculate the students’ GPA upon receipt of the application documents.
(6) Recommendation: Those who are recommended officially by the president or dean of thegraduate school of a university in the CIS countries with which Niigata University has
concluded a cooperation agreement or where there are other close collaborations with Niigata
University.
(7) Other: Any applicant who meets any of the following conditions is NOT eligible to apply forthe scholarship.
a. Those currently in the military service.
b. Those who are unable to arrive in Japan by the date specified by Niigata University.
c. Those who apply for this scholarship from another university and who are granted any other
scholarships for international students from the Japanese government (MEXT) or the Japan
Student Services Organization (JASSO).
d. Those who expect to obtain a scholarship from an organization (including a governmentalorganization in their own country) other than the Japanese government (MEXT).
e. Those who do not meet the expected eligibility requirements or conditions by the specified
date.
f. Those who have dual nationality at the time of application and cannot prove that they haverenounced their Japanese nationality by the time they arrive in Japan.

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g. Those who in the past were international Japanese government (MEXT) scholarshipstudents and who do not thereafter have a study and research career of a minimum of three
years by the time of scholarship take-up.
h. Those who after applying hope to undertake fieldwork or an internship in a country otherthan Japan.
i. Those who failed the entrance examination for the master's degree program at this research
department.
12. Admission Procedure
The following is general information about the university admission procedure. Details will be
notified to the successful applicants.
(1) Admission Procedure Period
Mid-September, 2024 (tentative)

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