Master Course
HIGO Program Basic Course
Application Information for International Students
Enrolled in October 2013

The applicants must take TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS.

Graduate School of Medical Sciences
Kumamoto University

The Student Affairs Section, School of Medicine, Kumamoto University
1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
TEL: +81-96-373-5025

FAX: +81-96-373-5030

E-mail: iyg-igaku@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp

The Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University recruits international students whowish to enroll in the Master Course of the HIGO Program Basic Course. The English language isused for all classes and research instructions in this program.

-1-Number of Students Accepted for Admission
few students
Qualifications of Applicants
1) Educational Background:
Applicants should be persons without Japanese nationality who meet any of the following
educational background from ① to ④.
① Applicants who have completed, or are due to complete in September 2013,16 years of school
education abroad.
② Applicants who have completed, or are due to complete in September 2013, 16 years of school
education in a foreign country by means of finishing a correspondence study of the said countryin Japan.
③ Applicants who have completed 15 years of school education abroad or applicants who havecompleted 15 years of school education in a foreign country by means of finishing acorrespondence study of the said country in Japan. He/She should be regarded as having
acquired the credits designated by Kumamoto University with excellent results.
④ Applicants who have been regarded as having a level of academic ability equivalentor superior to that of a university graduate by this Graduate School and reached theage of 22 years by September 2013.
2) Health:Applicants must be in a good physical and mental health.
3) Language:
Applicants must have earned the minimum required score in any one of the following:①TOEFL-iBT ②TOEFL-CBT ③TOEFL-PBT ④TOEIC ⑤IELTS
4) Visa:
Applicants must have a student visa when coming to Japan
Period of Study
Two (2) years from October 2013 to September 2015
*Successful applicants are needed to continue on to Doctoral Course (HIGO Advanced Course) fromOct. 2015 to Sep. 2019 (for 4 years)
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants are eligible to receive a stipend while in school (140,000 JPY per month forthe 2013 academic year).
Note that the amount of scholarship is subject to change each academic year.

-2-Also note that the qualifications for this privilege may be reassessed during mid-term evaluations.
Screening Procedure
1)

Applicants must choose one of the research leaders in the Graduate School of MedicalSciences, Kumamoto University as his/her prospective supervisor, and must obtain permission
to apply for this program from the supervisor beforehand.

2)

Applicants must obtain all application information and forms through Internet by themselves.
After filling in all the forms, they must send them to their prospective supervisor of theGraduate School of Medical Sciences.

3)

Their prospective supervisors must submit all application forms to the committee for thisprogram before the deadline for application.

4)

The committee will have examinations for those who apply to the program. The main parts ofthe examination are the English test (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS), essay and interviews.

5)Interviews by three committee members will be held over Internet. For details of theinternet-based interview, please refer to “Instruction for internet-based interview ofGraduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University” The essay exam will also beheld over Internet. As an alternative, if the foreign applicants are visiting Japan on the day ofthe entrance examination (July 6, 2013) for Japanese applicants, they will be able to take theessay exam and have interviews with three committee members in Kumamoto University.

6)

The total of scores of the English test, essay and interviews with three committee members
will be used to score the examination.

Date of Enrollment
October 1, 2013

Degrees
After successful fulfillment of the HIGO Program Basic Course, a Master of Health Life Science
degree will be conferred.
Application DeadlineThe research leaders, or prospective supervisors, of the international students should collect andsubmit all documents required for application to the Student Affairs Section, School of Medicine.
The deadline is Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

Examination Date
Saturday, July 6, 2013-3-

Required Documents【Applicants must submit the following documents.】
1)

Application form for HIGO Program (Form 1)
Photo Identity Slip, Admission Card, Address Label (Form 2)

2)

One photograph (Paste a 4×3cm photograph taken no more than three months prior toapplication, upper frontal view without a hat, with upper body showing)3)

A certificate of graduation (completion) or prospective graduation (completion) from theuniversity attended

4)

Academic record issued by the university attended

5)

Written Statement of Reasons for Application (Form 3)

6)

Examination fee (30,000 JPY)

7)

A copy of the applicant’s score of English examination that you took within 2 years from theday of the entrance examination (Either of the following: TOEFLibt (Score should be 50 orhigher), TOEFLpbt (463 or higher), IELTS (4.5 or higher) or TOEIC (480 or higher)

8)

A letter from the applicant’s employer indicating agreement with this application, if theapplicant is an employee.

Additional Statements:
1)

Applicants are urged to discuss a research plan with their prospective supervisors of theGraduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University beforehand.

2)

All documents should be typewritten on A4 size paper.

3)

Applications with incomplete information, or those submitted after the deadline, will not beaccepted.

4)

No application materials will be returned to the applicants.

Announcement of Results
Friday, July 26, 2013
Admission Procedure◎The details of admission procedures will be described in the letter of acceptance.
1) When and How to Pursue Admission Procedures
The details will be described in the letter of acceptance.
*The prospective instructors for the students who wish to enroll in April should familiarize
themselves with admission procedures (including deadlines) beforehand, and make sure that thestudents can complete the procedures before enrollment.
2) Important Point Regarding Admission Procedures
If a successful applicant does not complete the admission procedures before the deadline,-4-he/she will be considered to have declined enrollment.
3) Fee to Pay at the Time of Admission Procedures
Admission fee (scheduled amount) 282,000 JPY
4) Main Documents Required for Admission Procedures① Pledge ②Letter of Guarantee ③Color photo of face (4cm length x 3cm width)◎Tuition fee
Tuition for the second semester 267,900 JPY (535,800 JPY annually)
Attentions
1) Students will not be allowed to continue studying at Kumamoto University if any of thefollowing occur:
1. There are false statements in the application.
2. Student is expelled or dismissed from the university as a disciplinary measure, or determined
to be unlikely to complete academic requirements.
3. Student leaves the university or transfers to another university.
4. The status of the student visa is changed to another type of visa.
2) Applicants are advised to become familiar with Japanese culture, customs, climate, and theuniversity system before coming to Japan. Japanese language skills for daily life would also beadvantageous.
Inquiries
The Student Affairs Section, School of Medicine,
Kumamoto University
1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
TEL: +81-96-373-5025

FAX: +81-96-373-5030

E-mail: iyg-igaku@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp-5-