JICA program

ABE Initiative Program, SDGs Global Leader Course, and JICA Knowledge Co-creation Program (Creating Leaders for Clean Cities) at Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University (October 2026)

The scholarship for this program will be provided by JICA to those applying to master’s course or doctoral course of the Graduate School of Environmental Science. (ABE Initiative Program and JICA Knowledge Co-creation Program (Creating Leaders for Clean Cities) accept applicants for master’s course only).

Applicants are screened by JICA, and the candidates selected by JICA will take a research student examination of Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University. Successful candidates will join the Graduate School of Environmental Science as research students in October 2026 and will take an entrance examination for our master’s or doctoral program in February 2027. Those who pass the entrance exam will start the two-year master’s program or three-year doctoral program in April 2027.

Our research area and a list of supervisors are found on the web.
https://www.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/kigaku/?lang=en
https://www.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/kigaku/?page_id=38&lang=en

Those who can accept JICA scholars are:
Profs. R. Avtar, J. Garcia Molinos, Y. Hayakawa, T. Hirata, M. Ishikawa, T. Liu, J. Negishi, S. Noro, T. Okino, K. Oshiro, T. Sato, M. Senzaki, T. Shiraiwa, K. Yamada.

Prospective applicants can contact us before an application.

Application Procedures for Research Students (ABE Initiative Program, SDGs Global Leader Course, and JICA Knowledge Co-creation Program (Creating Leaders for Clean Cities) scholar candidates)
(Admission for October 2026)

Graduate School of Environmental Science
Faculty of Environmental Earth Science
Hokkaido University

1. Required Documents for Application

1) Application Form (Designated form, including resume)
2) University Graduation Certificate
3) Academic Transcript
4) Research Plan (Designated form)
5) Copy of Passport
6) Score sheet of TOEIC, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test or IELTS.
7) Power Point file for your 10 min presentation about your Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, or current activity, and research plan at interview

2. Application Period

April 3, 2026 (Fri) ― April 10, 2026 (Fri)

3. Interview Period and Methods as a research student examination

May 11, 2026 (Mon) ― May 29, 2026 (Fri)
Applicants will be interviewed by using the Zoom system. If it is difficult to take the interview by Zoom, we are able to interview by an alternative method. Information on exact dates, times and communication system will be provided in early May. Interviewees will make a short presentation and then be asked about their Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, or current activities, and research plan for the Master’s or Doctoral course.

4. Address to apply

E-mail: kyomu@ees.hokudai.ac.jp

5. Announcement of successful candidates

JICA will inform applicants of the results in July, 2026.

6. Contact

Dr. Takafumi Hirata (program supervisor)
E-mail: tahi@arc.hokudai.ac.jp

Academic Affairs Office, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University
E-mail: kyomu@ees.hokudai.ac.jp

cf. Schedule after application