International Applicants

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ENTRY

Thank you for your interest in the Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University!

First, we invite you to review the “Prospectus”, a brochure for prospective international students, that provides an overview of our university.
International Student Prospectus

<Before you apply>
STEP 0. BEFORE YOU GET STARTED…
STEP 1. FIND AND CONTACT A SUPERVISOR
STEP 2. CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND PREPARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
STEP 3. APPLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

<After you apply>
STEP 4. APPLY FOR HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL HOUSING
STEP 5. APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA
STEP 6. APPLY FOR JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE (Optional)
STEP 7. PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE
STEP 8. ARRIVE IN HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY!!
USEFUL LINKS FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

STEP 0. BEFORE YOU GET STARTED…

1. SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Many of you may be seeking information about scholarships to study in Japan.
If so, we highly recommend gathering information one year before your intended enrollment through the websites below.
Scholarships for Prospective Students (HU Website)
JASSO’s Website about Scholarships

The following scholarships and fellowships are available to candidates in the Graduate School of Environmental Science.

2. VISIT OUR GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR A SHORT TERM
1) HOKKAIDO SUMMER INSTITUTE (HSI)
The graduate school offers unique opportunities to get to know our graduate school before officially enrolling as regular students through the framework of HOKKAIDO SUMMER INSTITUTE (HSI). If you are unsure about applying to our graduate school, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.

2) Special Auditor (SA) and Special Research Student (SRS)
Students from universities with an inter-university or departmental exchange agreement can apply to be Special Auditors or Special Research Students (SA/SRS) to study as exchange students for up to one year. Master’s students affiliated with our partner universities are invited to experience student life at HU before applying to our PhD program.

STEP 1. FIND AND CONTACT A SUPERVISOR

NOTE: You need to have completed STEP 1, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR to your intended enrollment!

Graduate and research students conduct research under the guidance of a supervisor.
Students must find a faculty member willing to provide them with research guidance in advance.

1. Visit the following websites, refer to the “Staff Information”, and find your ideal supervisor.
Graduate School of Environmental Science
Other methods to search for a prospective supervisor:
Find a researcher on the HU website
HU Researcher Search Chatbot “saurus”

2. Contact the faculty member directly by email.
Ensure his/her research aligns with your interests, and then seek his/her approval to join the lab.
(*We recommend attaching your CV, research plan, academic transcripts, and English proficiency test scores, etc., when you email him/her.)

3. Discuss your enrollment options with your prospective supervisor.
1) Enrollment as a research student
A research student is defined as a non-regular student enrolled for a short-term period of six months to one year. Research students are not eligible to obtain a degree. Some students use this period to prepare for admission to a Master’s or Doctoral course. For information on the application procedures and schedule, please consult your prospective supervisor.

2) Enrollment in our Master’s/Doctoral course by taking an entrance examination in Japan
To enroll in our graduate school, you must take and pass an entrance examination. Examinations are held in Sapporo in August (for October enrollment) and in February (for April enrollment) and are open to both domestic and international candidates.

3) Enrollment in our Master’s/Doctoral course by taking an entrance examination overseas (Pre-arrival admission)
The Graduate School offers a “Special Entrance Examination for International Students Residing Abroad”, which allows overseas candidates to take entrance examinations online from their home countries. Examinations are held online in June (for October enrollment) and in November (for April enrollment), and are available to certain applicants applying to the designated departments and courses. Discuss your suitability for this admission with your prospective supervisor.

STEP 2. CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND PREPARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Before applying, you should check whether you are eligible to apply to the graduate school and prepare the required documents in advance. Please obtain and check the Application Guidelines.

All applicants to our graduate school must submit English language proficiency test scores as outlined in the application guidelines. Those who do not have scores should take an English language proficiency test well in advance of submitting their application.

NOTE: The application guidelines for the relevant academic year (from April to March) are released on the above webpages every April, except for the “Special Entrance Examination for International Students Residing Abroad,” which are released in late February. Until then, please refer to the previous guidelines for your reference.

STEP 3. APPLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

For details of the application process and required documents, please refer to the Application Guidelines. In general, applicants for our graduate school are assessed based on their submitted application documents, interviews, and written examinations.
The graduate school offers the English Program of Environmental Earth Science for a Sustainable Society (EPEES). For details, refer to the following website.
English Program of Environmental Earth Science for a Sustainable Society (EPEES)

* Instruction and Research Languages at the Graduate School of Environmental Science
Both the Master’s and Doctoral programs at the Graduate School of Environmental Science offer courses and research supervision in English, with the exception of certain courses. Students can therefore obtain a degree entirely in English.
However, particularly during fieldwork or hands-on research conducted outside the university, a daily conversational level of Japanese may be required. In addition, basic Japanese language skills are necessary for everyday life in Japan. Regardless of their proficiency at the time of admission, international students are strongly encouraged to actively study Japanese. Those deemed to have sufficient Japanese proficiency (JLPT N2 or higher) may also take courses offered in Japanese in addition to those taught in English. Please consult with your prospective supervisor for information on realistic expectations of Japanese language skills as it relates to your field of study.

STEP 4. APPLY FOR HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL HOUSING

While you wait for the application results, you can apply for HU International Housing in advance. Our administrative office will email you the application form when it is available.

STEP 5. APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA

To apply for a visa, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is required. The graduate school will act as a proxy for your COE application. Your prospective supervisor will send you details of the COE application when the time comes. After receiving the COE, please submit it, along with the other required documents, to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country to apply for a visa. For details on the required documents, please inquire at the Japanese embassy or consulate.
Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates, and Permanent Missions

STEP 6. APPLY FOR JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE (Optional)

Hokkaido University provides complimentary Japanese language courses to international students. You may receive detailed information about the application and placement tests from your supervisor.
Japanese language courses for international students

STEP 7. PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE

After obtaining your visa, please purchase your airline ticket on your own. Please prepare enough cash to cover living expenses for one to two months.
*If you plan to use a mobile phone during your stay in Japan, we recommend bringing a credit card, as most SIM contracts require payment by credit card.

STEP 8. ARRIVE IN HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY!!

Upon arrival in Hokkaido, complete the necessary procedures at the university, the ward office, a bank, and the post office.
The graduate school offers a “Supporter System” for new international students. A current HU student will help you to fill out forms at the ward office for registration and national health insurance, open a bank account, and so on. Your prospective supervisor provides detailed information about your supporter.