Entrance exams for the 1st Semesters of Doctor’s courses of the Graduate School of Letters are divided into the following three classifications:

• General Screening for Graduate Schools

• Special Screening for Working People

• Special Screening for International Graduate Students

Students in the 1st Semesters of Doctor’s courses are asked to use their master’s thesis to demonstrate their activities and, as much as possible, their abilities as experts in the relevant field of expertise. They must find an appropriate topic in line with their own interests while ascertaining what is important in the current academic climate. They must find, collect, and analyze relevant materials and resources; produce original results from those materials and resources; and present the results convincingly in writing. Proper mental concentration and perseverance are prerequisites for taking on such a research process. The first-term program entrance exam tests students on the abilities, aptitudes, and fundamental expertise needed for research, and on the foreign language abilities needed for research.

General Screening for Graduate Schools

This applies to students expected to graduate from a Japanese university, alumni, students planning to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees, and those who have already obtained a degree. Entrance exams are held twice a year — once in the fall term (September) and once in the spring term (February). Applicants for admission may take either of the exams, or both. For the fall entrance exam, either a research abstract or a graduation thesis ( or alternatively a thesis of similar academic quality) is an important material for the selection process, in addition to foreign language exams, specialized coursework exams, and oral exams. Meanwhile, for the spring entrance exam, specialized coursework exams, oral exams, and a graduation thesis (or alternatively a thesis or of similar academic quality) are considered important selection materials.

Special Screening for Working People

There is a growing demand for professionals with highly specialized knowledge and a growing desire among adults for lifelong learning. In our Graduate School, we have established a special screening entrance exam for working people to answer that demand and desire for learning. To be eligible to apply, a candidate should have at least three years of working experience after graduating from a university, or should have at least three years of working experience after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees.
In order to judge whether a candidate’s working experience is appropriate for the 1st Semesters of Doctor’s courses, the candidate must submit an Application Letter of Intent. Candidates must also submit an essay related to the coursework. However, a foreign language exam will not be assigned. Note that candidates are not asked whether they are employed at either the time of application or after matriculation.

Special Screening for International Graduate Students

For international students that meet the candidate qualifications listed in the application guidelines, students who plan to graduate (or have already graduated) from this university’s School of Letters or, as a general rule, students who have been enrolled as research students in the Graduate School of Letters of that school for at least six months, are eligible. A Japanese language exam is required in place of a foreign language exam. Additionally, the content of the specialized exams may vary from that of exams taken by Japanese candidates.

※Since the necessary documents (such as application forms, etc.) are not posted, please order them using the “Request for Materials” process.