* The Graduate School of Information Sciences (GSIS) offers a 2-year Master's program and a 3-year Doctoral program.

* All applications are welcome. Special procedures are available for mature applicants and overseas applicants.

* Examinations take place twice a year around September and March.

* Entrance examinations are given twice a year (Fall & Spring).

* Candidates for the Master's program should have already graduated from a university or should expect to do so before the start of the Master's course. Candidates whose qualifications are adjudged to be of an equivalent standard of achievement will also be accepted. In appropriate circumstances, candidates who have completed three years of a course with a university faculty are also accepted.

* Candidates for the Doctoral program should have a Master's certificate or expect to have one upon commencing their Doctoral study. Candidates whose qualifications are adjudged to be of an equivalent standard of achievement will also be accepted.

* Mature students (students who have/had been employed for two or more years as researchers, teachers or technicians in the public or private sector) of an acceptable standard may be treated as such on receipt of a recommendation from their employer.

* Students may be evaluated according to their current speciality even when they intend to change their academic emphasis after entering our graduate school.

* A Master's degree or Doctorate will usually be awarded from the faculty of Information Sciences. In appropriate cases, the qualification will be termed Master of Interdisciplinary Science or Doctor of Philosophy instead.

* The applicant is advised to select a supervising faculty member who is appropriately qualified to assist in study. The applicant should contact that supervisor prior to any application and confirm the field of research.

1. Graduates or students who have undertaken a course that finishes in September of the year of application and who expect to graduate from it.

2. Students who will have attended university for three years or longer at the end of the September of the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a high standard of achievement.

3. Graduates who use the early graduation program must attend university for three years or longer and less than four years to apply to take the examination.

1. Graduates or those who expect to graduate in September of the year of application.

2. Prospective students who have been granted the equivalent of a degree under the conditions established by the School Education Law (Law 26 of 1947) Article 68/2 Paragraph 3 or those who expect to receive such a grant in September of the year of application.

3. Those persons who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by September of the year of application.

4. Those persons who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by September of the year of application.

5. Those persons designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Please refer to the Fifth Bulletin of 1953 from the Ministry of Education).

6. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education in Japan or overseas by September of the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by September of the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

7. Those who have entered a graduate school of another university according to the Law Article 67 Paragraph 2 and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

8. Other students who, in the opinion of our school, have reached a standard of achievement equivalent to or above graduate status, and who will be older than or equal to 22 years of age at the end of September of the year of application.

* Applicants must have consulted with their prospective personal supervisors concerning their proposed research efforts via the Educational Affairs Section of the Graduate School of Information Sciences.

* Applicants wishing to rely on General Prerequisite 2; or in the case of Mature Students and Overseas Students Prerequisites 6, 7 or 8; must make a preliminary application to this school.

* Please contact the Educational Affairs Section of the Graduate School of Information Sciences for additional details.

1. Graduates or those who expect to graduate in March following the year of application.

2. Prospective students who have been granted the equivalent of a degree under conditions established by the School Education Law (Law 26 of 1947) Article 68/2 Paragraph 3 or those who expect to receive such a grant in March following the year of application.

3. Those who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by March following the year of application.

4. Those who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by the September of the year of application.

5. Those persons designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Please refer to the Fifth Bulletin of 1953 from the Ministry of Education).

6. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education by March following the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by March following the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

7. Those who entered a graduate school of another university according to the Law Article 67 Paragraph 2 and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

8. Other students who, in the opinion of our school, have reached a standard of achievement equivalent to or above graduate status, and who will be older than or equal to 22 years of age at the end of March following the year of application.

* Applicants who wish to apply as Overseas Students or Mature Students must have consulted with their prospective personal supervisors concerning their proposed research efforts via the Educational Affairs Section of the Graduate School of Information Sciences.

* Applicants wishing to rely on Prerequisites 6, 7 or 8 must make a preliminary application to this school.

1. Only those students who are expected to complete the GSIS two-year master's program in September of the year of application may apply as advancing students.

2. In order to apply as a transfer student (i.e. general, mature and overseas students), applicants must belong to one of the following categories.

I. Those persons who have a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by September of the year of application).

II. Those persons who have acquired a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by September of the year of application) at a graduate school in another country.

III. Those persons who have completed while in Japan a course of study through a correspondence course provided by a foreign school and have had conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by September of the year of application).

IV. Those persons who have completed a master's course in an educational institution in Japan, that is (i) recognized under the education system of a foreign country as operating a graduate school program and (ii) designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT Minister) of Japan, and have conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by September of the year of application).

V. Those who have completed programs in United Nations University (founded based on the resolution of United Nations on Dec. 11 1972, which was prescribed in paragraph 2, Article 1 of a special legislation involved with an agreement on headquarters of United Nations University between United Nations and Japan), and who have been received a degree comparable to Master's (including those who are planning to finish the enrolled program by the September of the year of application.)

VI. A student, enrolled in overseas educational institutions, graduate schools or United Nations University, qualified with the graduate school standard (MEXT Notice 28-16-2) and deemed to have an equivalent academic performance with a master's degree. Degrees expected to be endowed by September of the year of application will be given considerations.

VII. Those persons designated by the MEXT Minister (Ministry of Education Notice 118 of 1989).

(i) University graduates who have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

(ii) Those who have completed 16 years of education in a foreign country or who have completed while in Japan a study program equivalent to 16 years of education in a foreign country through a correspondence course provided by a school in that country, and have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

VIII. Other students who, on the basis of an individual screening, are deemed by the GSIS to have a level of scholastic attainment equivalent to or above those with master's or professional degrees, and who will be at least 24 years old by September of the year of application.

* All those wishing to apply as transfer students should consult beforehand with the GSIS Education Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor to confirm their research plans after transfer admission.

* As those wishing to apply under 2-VII or 2-VIII above will be subject to a prior documentation screening, they should consult beforehand with the GSIS Educational Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor, submitting the documentation stipulated by the GSIS for additional deadline.

1. Only those students who are expected to complete the GSIS two-year master's program in September of the year of application may apply as advancing students.

2. In order to apply as a transfer student (i.e. general, mature and overseas students), applicants must belong to one of the following categories.

I. Those persons who have a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by Match following the year of application).

II. Those persons who have acquired a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by Match following the year of application) at a graduate school in another country.

III. Those persons who have completed while in Japan a course of study through a correspondence course provided by a foreign school and have had conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by March following the year of application).

IV. Those persons who have completed a master's course in an educational institution in Japan, that is (i) recognized under the education system of a foreign country as operating a graduate school program and (ii) designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT Minister) of Japan, and have conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by March following the year of application).

V. Those who have completed programs in United Nations University (founded based on the resolution of United Nations on Dec. 11 1972, which was prescribed in paragraph 2, Article 1 of a special legislation involved with an agreement on headquarters of United Nations University between United Nations and Japan), and who have been received a degree comparable to Master's (including those who are planning to finish the enrolled program by the March following the year of application.)

VI. A student, enrolled in overseas educational institutions, graduate schools or United Nations University, qualified with the graduate school standard (MEXT Notice 28-16-2) and deemed to have an equivalent academic performance with a master's degree. Degrees expected to be endowed by March following the year of application will be given considerations.

VII. Those persons designated by the MEXT Minister (Ministry of Education Notice 118 of 1989).

(i) University graduates who have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

(ii) Those who have completed 16 years of education in a foreign country or who have completed while in Japan a study program equivalent to 16 years of education in a foreign country through a correspondence course provided by a school in that country, and have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

VIII. Other students who, on the basis of an individual screening, are deemed by the GSIS to have a level of scholastic attainment equivalent to or above those with master's or professional degrees, and who will be at least 24 years old by March following the year of application.

* All those wishing to apply as transfer students should consult beforehand with the GSIS Education Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor to confirm their research plans after transfer admission.

* As those wishing to apply under 2-VII or 2-VIII above will be subject to a prior documentation screening, they should consult beforehand with the GSIS Educational Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor, submitting the documentation stipulated by the GSIS for additional deadline.

1. Graduates or those who expect to graduate in March of the year of application.

2. Prospective students who have been granted the equivalent of a degree under the conditions established by the School Education Law (Law 26 or 1947) Article 68/2 Paragraph 3 or those who expect to receive such a grant in March of the year of application.

3. Those persons who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by March of the year of application.

4. Those persons who have or expect to have completed 16 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by March of the year of application.

5. Those persons designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Please refer to the Fifth Bulletin of 1953 from the Ministry of Education.).

6. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education in Japan or overseas and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standardof achievement. Those who have or expect to have completed 15 years of education by finishing a correspondence course of certain foreign countries in Japan by March of the year of application and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

7. Those who have entered a graduate school of another university according to the Law Article 67 Paragraph 2 and, in the opinion of our school, have attained a sufficient standard of achievement.

8. Other students who, in the opinion of our school, have reached a standard of achievement equivalent to or above graduate status, and who will be older than or equal to 22 years of age at the end of March of the year of application.

* Applicants must have consulted with their prospective personal supervisors concerning their proposed research efforts via the Educational Affairs Section of the Graduate School of Information Sciences.

* Applicants wishing to rely on Prerequisites 6, 7 or 8 must make a preliminary application to this school. Please contact the Educational Affairs Section of the Graduate School of Information Sciences for additional details.

1. Only those students who are expected to complete the GSIS two-year master's program in March of the year of application may apply as advancing students.

2. In order to apply as a transfer student (i.e. general, mature and overseas students), applicants must belong to one of the following categories.

I. Those persons who have a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by March of the year of application).

II. Those persons who have acquired a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who are expected to acquire such a degree by March of the year of application) at a graduate school in another country.

III. Those persons who have completed while in Japan a course of study through a correspondence course provided by a foreign school and have had conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by March of the year of application).

IV. Those persons who have completed a master's course in an educational institution in Japan, that is (i) recognized under the education system of a foreign country as operating a graduate school program and (ii) designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT Minister) of Japan, and have conferred a degree equivalent to a master's degree or a professional degree (including those who expect to acquire such a degree by March of the year of application).

V. Those who have completed programs in United Nations University (founded based on the resolution of United Nations on Dec. 11 1972, which was prescribed in paragraph 2, Article 1 of a special legislation involved with an agreement on headquarters of United Nations University between United Nations and Japan), and who have been received a degree comparable to Master's (including those who are planning to finish the enrolled program by the March of the year of application.)

VI. A student, enrolled in overseas educational institutions, graduate schools or United Nations University, qualified with the graduate school standard (MEXT Notice 28-16-2) and deemed to have an equivalent academic performance with a master's degree. Degrees expected to be endowed by March of the year of application will be given considerations.

VII. Those persons designated by the MEXT Minister (Ministry of Education Notice 118 of 1989).

(i) University graduates who have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

(ii) Those who have completed 16 years of education in a foreign country or who have completed while in Japan a study program equivalent to 16 years of education in a foreign country through a correspondence course provided by a school in that country, and have engaged in research for two or more years at universities or research institutes, etc., and who are deemed by the GSIS on the basis of research results, etc., to have attained a level of scholastic achievement equivalent to or greater than those with master's or professional degrees.

VIII. Other students who, on the basis of an individual screening, are deemed by the GSIS to have a level of scholastic attainment equivalent to or above those with master's or professional degrees, and who will be at least 24 years old by March of the year of application.

* All those wishing to apply as transfer students should consult beforehand with the GSIS Education Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor to confirm their research plans after transfer admission.

* As those wishing to apply under 2-VII or 2-VIII above will be subject to a prior documentation screening, they should consult beforehand with the GSIS Educational Affairs Section and their prospective supervisor, submitting the documentation stipulated by the GSIS for additional deadline.

1. Graduating from other universities in March following the year of application.

2. Students who are registered in the major department of the second year of a two-year course study period at a technical college, and who expect to be awarded a Bachelor's Degree given by March, following the year of application.

* English (Depending on the speciality, Overseas Students may choose Japanese instead. Contact Educational Affairs Section for details.)

* Specialty (Students may choose questions based on their existing preferences without reference to their proposed research.)

* Mature Students receive an exemption from written examinations.

* Students will be expected to present details of their graduation thesis or equivalent for the Master's course, or their Master's thesis or equivalent for the doctor's course and to undergo an interview based on the presentation.

Web Site:
http://www.is.tohoku.ac.jp
(mailto: )

Mailing Address:
Educational Affairs Section (KYOMU-gakari)

Graduate School of Information Sciences
Tohoku University
Aramaki-Aza-Aoba 09, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8579
JAPAN