Graduate Student Admission

Applicants must take an entrance examination by the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Humanities and Human Sciences.

Application

Applicants must have completed at least sixteen years of accredited secondary school education.

Language Proficiency

<Masterʼs Course>
International applicants must be proficient in the Japanese language as most classes are conducted in Japanese.

<Doctoral Course>
Please consult with supervisor about Japanese language proficiency for research.

Entrance Examinations

Due to visa complexity, it is recommended for applicants outside Japan to first start as a Research Student (Kenkyusei: a non-degree-seeking research student), and then take the examination in February or March and start the program in April.

Research Student

On-campus examinations for the graduate program are held in September and February. Applicants need to contact a professor in their interested fields through the International Affairs Unit of the Graduate School of Humanities and Human Sciences for the procedures at least six months prior to the expected examination date.

Master’s Course

The entrance examination tests the applicant’s basic knowledge of his/her chosen field, capabilities in logical thinking and the conducting of research, language skills, and expressiveness. To be more concrete, the selection is made based on the assessment of a research plan (where applicable) and undergraduate thesis, combined with the results of the language examination, examinations in specialized subjects, an oral examination, etc.

Master’s Course Entrance Examination
(Special International Student Selection Bracket)

Doctoral Course

The entrance examination tests the applicant’s basic knowledge of his/her chosen field, capabilities in logical thinking, research objectives and research plan, capabilities in the conducting of research, language skills, and expressiveness. To be more concrete, the selection is made based on the assessment of undergraduate thesis and master’s thesis (or equivalent), and the results of the language examination, examinations in the specialized subjects, an oral examination, etc.

 

Applicants for a Master’s program may visit the campus to take the examination in September, but, when admitted, they will not be allowed to stay in the country until the program starts: They need to reenter the country with a new student visa to start the program in April.

Enrollmenrt

April