Released on August 4, 2011 JST

Application Forms are available in the Download page.

Please take TOEFL / GRE General Test and arrange delivery of scores to the GSII early enough. In order to secure traceability of your TOEFL/GRE application, we strongly recommend you to register at My Home Page (for TOEFL) and/or My GRE Account (for GRE).

If you cannot pay the examination fee at a bank in Japan, please pay it online using the following document, instead of using Form #4. Please start the procedure from here.

• How to make a Payment of Examination Fee by Credit Card (PDF file)

International Master's/Doctoral Degree Program:
Information, Technology, and Society in Asia
(ITASIA)

Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
The University of Tokyo

Contents

Introduction
Degree Programs and Projected Numbers of Entrants
Tuition and Fees
Scholarship Opportunities
Qualifications for Enrollment
Selection
Application Procedures
Application Documents
Address
Appendix 1
Appendix 2

Introduction top

This document is written for prospective students applying for admission to the ITASIA program in October 2012. The application deadline is February 24, 2012 JST (Japan Standard Time), but those who wish to be considered for a merit-based scholarship for the program must have their application arrive by January 5, 2012 JST. Applicants must take TOEFL and GRE General Test as early as possible, because submission of their Official Score Reports in time by ETS is an indispensable part of the selection procedure.

The latest version of this document is available at http://itasia.iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp/admission.html. For more information about the ITASIA program, please visit http://itasia.iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp/.

Degree Programs and Projected Numbers of Entrants top

• Master of Arts and Sciences (Information Studies), 2 years, 14 students
• Ph.D. (Information Studies), 3 years, 8 students

Tuition and Fees top

(As of 2011. Subject to changes.)

Examination Fee

10,000 yen
* Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) scholarship students are exempt from the examination fee as well as the entrance fee and annual tuition.
* Applicants for the Ph.D. program who are currently enrolled in Master's or professional degree programs at the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo are exempt from the examination fee as well as the entrance fee.

Entrance Fee

282,000 yen

Annual Tuition

535,800 yen (M.A.S. program)
520,800 yen (Ph.D. program)

* The University of Tokyo provides a limited number of needs-based exemptions of entrance fee and tuition. For details, please see the following web page:
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/stu02/h01_02_e.html

Scholarship Opportunities top

A limited number of applicants from outside faculties who have exceptional academic records will be awarded scholarships or tuition waivers through the courtesy of donors at the recommendation of the University of Tokyo. To those eligible, the scholarships will be offered simultaneously with the notification of acceptance into the program. The candidates will be requested to confirm their willingness to enter the ITASIA program by a specified date. Please be informed that some of the merit-based scholarships mentioned above are exclusively for students from some ASEAN countries.

The successful applicants for admission can also apply for scholarships directly from the University of Tokyo as well as private sources, as shown at http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/res03/i22_e.html, but typically only after enrollment. We strongly recommend that those applicants who cannot dispense with a scholarship should also apply for other scholarships that can be offered before enrollment by themselves, such as Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) scholarship, Chinese Government Graduate Student Overseas Study Program "国家建设高水平大学公派研究生项目", Tokyo University Asatsu DK China Scholarship Foundation.

Qualifications for Enrollment top

To be eligible for admission to the M.A.S. program, you must be a holder of a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent status.

To be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program, you must be a holder of a Master's degree or an equivalent status including Ph.D. candidateship.

Applicants who expect to earn the required degree(s) between the time of application and the end of September 2012 should submit their application with an official statement that certifies anticipated graduation.

Applicants must have at least 16 years of school education including university education or its equivalent. Applicants who have spent fewer than 16 years completing their elementary, middle school, high school and university education must explain very clearly their academic history.

Please be informed that the applicants with fewer than 16 years of school education or without an appropriate academic degree may need to contact the ITASIA Admissions Office by a specified date before submitting the application. For details, please refer to Appendix 1 and 2 in ITASIA's website.

Applicants must be proficient enough in English to participate in lectures and receive academic guidance in English at the graduate level.

Students applying for the Ph.D. program should have already received extensive training that will have prepared you for pursuing advance research. If the applicant for the Ph.D. program has received a Master's degree in a field that it is not directly related to the emphasis of the ITASIA program or to the applicant's proposed field of study, then we strongly encourage you to apply instead to the Master's program.

Selection top

Selection for admission is based on the evaluation of documents submitted by the applicants, and, if deemed necessary, some kind of interview (including telephone, IM, etc.). It will be carried out in two phases, the first for the earlier deadline (Phase A) and the other for the final deadline (Phase B). Those who wish to be considered for the merit-based scholarships should apply for Phase A. Applicants who do not receive notice of acceptance in Phase A by February 24, 2012 will be considered again in Phase B. All the other applicants, including those for the Ph.D. program who are currently enrolled in the M.A.S. program of ITASIA, should apply for Phase B. Applicants may be contacted for additional information, with final notification no later than April 27, 2012. Successful applicants will be requested to complete the entrance procedures within a specified period.

Application Procedure top

For enrollment in October 2012, the application period starts on October 3, 2011. Completed applications must be submitted to the ITASIA Admissions Office by registered mail or an international delivery service (such as UPS or FEDEX) by the date below. We strongly encourage applicants to submit materials early, since delivery may take some time. Please note that the applications that arrive after January 5, 2012 JST will not be considered for a merit-based scholarship for the program. (This earlier deadline also applies to those planning to apply for the Chinese Government Graduate Student Overseas Study Program "国家建设高水平大学公派研究生项目".) We will not accept applications that arrive after February 24, 2012 JST.

Application Documents top

Please obtain the necessary forms from the Download page in ITASIA's website after mid-September 2012 and prepare the documents according to the following list. Applications must be written in English. If the other documents are not written in English or Japanese, an official English or Japanese translation should be attached.
The University may retroactively cancel admission of any student who has falsified personal information or academic record in his or her application documents.
(Items designated by (*) are not necessary for applicants who are currently enrolled in the ITASIA program.)
(Items designated by (+) are not necessary for applicants who are graduates of the ITASIA Master's program applying for the ITASIA Doctoral program WITHIN TWO YEARS FROM GRADUATION.)

1. CHECKLIST with signature (Form #1)

2. APPLICATION (Form #2)

3. Official proof of graduation (*)(+)

• One official document of graduation, certified with the seal/stamp of the university from which you graduated (Please do not send the original diploma.)
• M.A.S. program applicants must submit their Bachelor's certificate, and Ph.D. program applicants must submit both Bachelor's and Master's certificates.
• If it is impossible to obtain the certificate in time by any means, please contact the ITASIA Admissions Office as early as possible.
• Those who have not yet graduated from their course of study at the time of application are requested to submit an authorized statement of anticipated graduation.

4. Official transcript (*)(+)

• An official transcript listing all courses and grades, certified with the seal/stamp of the university from which you graduated, or its registrar
• If available, a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) would help the committee to assess your dossier. The GPA statement should be part of the official transcript, or, if separate, should bear an official university or registrar seal. It should include an explanation of the numerical values used to calculate the average.
• If available, an authorized certificate of class ranking may also be included.
• M.A.S. program applicants must submit their Bachelor's transcript, and Ph.D. program applicants must submit both their Bachelor's and Master's transcripts.
• Applicants may request that their university send transcripts directly. If you choose to do so, please make note of that on Form #1 of your application, with the date you made the request.

5. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Official Score Report (*)(+)

• The Official Score Report must be sent by ETS (Educational Testing Service) directly to the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, the University of Tokyo (Institution Code: 0440). (The Examinee's Score Record is not acceptable.) Applicants must explicitly request the submission early enough taking into consideration the time required for processing and handling, and write the date of the request in Form #1. ETS will issue the Official Score Report only for a PBT or iBT taken within two years. (ITP is not acceptable.)
• The application will not be reviewed without the arrival of the Official Score Report.
• The TOEFL requirement does not apply to native speakers of English. If you identify yourself as a native speaker of English at Item 18 in Form #2, you need not submit a TOEFL score. We will review all your application from that premise. If you do not identify yourself as such, you must fulfill the TOEFL requirement.

6. GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) General Test Official Score Report (*)(+)

• The Official Score Report must be sent by ETS (Educational Testing Service) directly to the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, the University of Tokyo (Institution Code: 3560). (The Examinee's Score Record is not acceptable.) Applicants must explicitly request the submission early enough taking into consideration the time required for processing and handling, and write the date of the request in Form #1. ETS will issue the Official Score Report only for the tests taken within five years.
• Revision of GRE General Test on August 1, 2011 has been announced. We accept any score either before or after the revision as long as the Official Score Report can be issued by ETS.
• The application will not be reviewed without the arrival of the Official Score Report.

7. One original of signed and sealed employer reference (optional)

8. One sample of representative research work (for M.A.S. program applicants, Bachelor's thesis or a term-paper; for Ph.D. program applicants, Master's thesis or some other publication)

• This sample must be submitted not only in a paper format but also as a PDF file that is burned on a CD or DVD media, unless the sample is a publication with an ISBN. The PDF file must contain accessible text data of the sample inside.
• If the applicant has not yet graduated at the time of application, an interim thesis report is acceptable.
• If an M.A.S. program applicant cannot submit either a thesis or a term-paper, then any other relevant research paper is required.
• If the applicant has a more suitable paper related to the intended research, then it may be submitted instead.
• If the work is not originally written in English, its summarized translation of a length of 3,000 words in English should be attached.

9. One list of publications (if applicable)

10. One copy of your census register, passport, or other proof of citizenship (Please do not send the original.)

11. Three letters of recommendation including Form #3 (*)(+)

• They should be written in English or Japanese.
• Each letter, together with Form #3, must be placed in an envelope and signed by the recommender on the seal in order to ensure confidentiality.
• They may be sent directly by the recommender to the ITASIA Admissions Office.
• At least two recommenders must be outsiders of the GSII.
• The application will not be reviewed without the letters of recommendation.

12. Three passport-style photographs (Please write your name on the back.)

• height: 4cm x width: 3cm
• color photographs taken within the last six months
• upper frontal view without hat, etc.

13. One original of the Certificate of Remittance (Portion C of Form #4) (*)

• All the applicants, except Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) scholarship students and applicants for the Ph.D. program who are currently enrolled in Master's or professional degree programs at the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo, must pay the examination fee before sending the application.
• If the payment is done at a bank in Japan using Form #4, the Certificate of Remittance (Portion C of Form #4) should be pasted on the designated place in Form #2.
• If the payment is done by the online method, please enclose the printed "Result" page. (Please see the attachment "How to make a Payment of Examination Fee by Credit Card.")

Please note that none of the submitted documents and materials will be returned.

Address top

ITASIA Admissions Office
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Phone / Fax: +81-3-5841-0539 / +81-3-3811-5970
E-mail (For inquiries only - not for submission of applications):
itasiaao2012(AT)iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp ("(AT)" actually means "@".)
Website: http://itasia.iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp/

Appendix 1. Requirements for Eligibility: M.A.S. program of ITASIA top

* The terms "university" and "Bachelor's degree" below are narrow legal concepts defined within Japan's education system, which do not include the equivalents abroad unless explicitly specified otherwise.

Persons must fulfill at least one of the following requirements in order to be considered eligible to apply to M.A.S. program of ITASIA:
(1) Those who have graduated from a university or are expected to graduate by September 30, 2012.
(2) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by September 30, 2012, 16 years of school education abroad.
(3) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by September 30, 2012, 16 years of school education of a foreign country by taking in Japan correspondence courses provided by a school in said foreign country.
(4) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by September 30, 2012, a program in an education facility in Japan designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that provides courses of a foreign university within the school education system of a foreign country. This applies solely to those who have completed 16 years of school education in said foreign country.
(5) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by September 30, 2012, a specialized training college program in Japan otherwise designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology after the date on which said program received the Ministry's designation. This applies only to a program lasting at least 4 years and satisfying standards determined by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(6) Those designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, in accordance with 1953 Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Notification No. 5. (Note 1)
(7) Those on whom a Bachelor's degree has been conferred or is expected to be conferred by September 30, 2012, in accordance with Article 104 Paragraph 4 of the School Education Act. (Note 2)
(8) Those who have completed 15 years of school education in a foreign country, or who have completed 15 years of school education of a foreign country through correspondence courses provided in Japan by a foreign school of said country, and whom this graduate school has recognized as having obtained the necessary credits with excellent grades. (Note 3)
(9) Those who have completed a program designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in an education facility in Japan that provides courses of a foreign university within the school education system of a foreign country, and who are recognized by this graduate school as having obtained the necessary credits with excellent grades. This applies solely to students who have completed 15 years of school education of said foreign country. (Note 3)
(10) Those who will be at least 22 years old as of September 30, 2012, whom this Graduate School has authorized, through individual screening of entrance qualifications, as having abilities that are at least equivalent to those who graduated from a university. (Note 4)

(Note 1)
Those covered under requirement (6) above are those who have graduated from or are expected to graduate from a university under the old university ordinances, or national colleges/prefectural colleges (Daigakko) under various orders for organization and acts of establishment of government ministries, and so on.

(Note 2)
Those covered under requirement (7) above are those on whom a Bachelor's degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees or the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation has been conferred, or is scheduled to be conferred.

(Note 3)
Those who intend to apply under requirements (8) and (9) above shall contact the ITASIA Admissions Office by email as soon as possible before submitting their application. Inquiry arriving past 4pm February 3, 2012 JST will not be processed.

(Note 4)
(a) Those who intend to apply under requirement (10) above are those who are not covered under (1) through (9) above and who have graduated (or completed a program of study) from an education facility equivalent to a 4-year university, and are recognized, through individual screening of entrance qualifications by this graduate school, as having abilities at least equivalent to that of a university graduate.
(b) Those who intend to apply under requirement (10) must have their qualifications individually screened before submission of application. Such persons are therefore required to contact the ITASIA Admissions Office as soon as possible by email, with curriculum vitae including date of birth, current address, contact information, and information on all relevant qualifications. They may be requested to provide additional information. Inquiry arriving past 4pm February 3, 2012 JST will not be processed.
(c) Those who are recognized, through the individual screening process, as having abilities at least equivalent to a holder of a Master's or professional degree will be notified of it by email and requested to submit the applications together with certificates of all relevant qualifications.

Appendix 2. Requirements for Eligibility: Ph.D. program of ITASIA top

* The terms "university", "Master's degree", and "professional degree" below are narrow legal concepts defined within Japan's education system, which do not include the equivalents abroad unless explicitly specified otherwise.

Persons must fulfill at least one of the following requirements in order to be considered eligible to apply to the Ph.D. program of ITASIA:
(1) Those who are expected to have obtained by September 30, 2012, a Master's degree from this Graduate School.
(2) Those who are expected to have obtained by September 30, 2012, a Master's or professional degree from another graduate school or department of this university.
(3) Those who have already obtained a Master's degree or professional degree from this university.
(4) Those who have obtained, or are expected to obtain by September 30, 2012, a Master's or professional degree from another university.
(5) Those on whom a degree equivalent to a Master's or a professional degree abroad has been conferred, or is expected to be conferred by September 30, 2012.
(6) Those on whom a Master's degree has been conferred or is expected to be conferred by September 30, 2012, in accordance with Article 104 Paragraph 4 of the School Education Act. (Note 1)
(7) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete a correspondence course provided in Japan by a foreign school and on whom a degree equivalent to a Master's or a professional degree was conferred or is expected to be conferred by September 30, 2012.
(8) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by September 30, 2012, a program in an educational institution in Japan, designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that provides courses of a foreign graduate school within the school education system of a foreign country, and have been or will be conferred a degree equivalent to a Master's or a professional degree.
（9） Those who have completed a program and received or are expected to receive a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree by September 30, 2012, from the United Nations University, which was established under the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 11, 1972, as stipulated in the Article 1 Paragraph 2 of the Act on Special Measures Incidental to Enforcement of the Agreement between the United Nations and Japan regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations University (Act No.72, 1976).
(10) Those who have graduated from a university and have been engaged in research at a university, research institute or other institution in Japan or abroad for at least 2 years, or are expected to have been engaged in research for at least 2 years by September 30, 2012, and have been recognized by this graduate school as having abilities at least equivalent to those who have a Master's degree or a professional degree as a result of said research. (Note 2)
(11) Those who have been engaged in research for at least 2 years, or
who are expected to have been engaged in research for at least 2 years by September 30, 2012, at a university, research institute or other institution in Japan or abroad after completing 16 years of school education in a foreign country or completing 16 years of school education of a foreign country through correspondence courses provided by said foreign country in Japan. Such applicants must also be recognized by this graduate school as having abilities at least equivalent to those who have a Master's degree or professional degree as a result of said research. (Note 2)
(12) Those who will be at least 24 years old as of September 30, 2012, and are recognized by this graduate school through individual screening of entrance qualifications as having abilities at least equivalent to a holder of a Master's degree or professional degree. (Note 3)

(Note 1)
Those covered under requirement (6) above are those on whom a Master's degree has been conferred by the National Institution for Academic Degrees or the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation.

(Note 2)
Those who intend to apply under requirement (10) or (11) above shall contact the ITASIA Admissions Office by email as soon as possible before submitting their application. Inquiries arriving past 4pm February 3, 2012 JST will not be processed.

(Note 3)
(a) Those who intend to apply under requirement (12) above are those who are not covered under (1) through (11) above and are recognized, through individual screening of entrance qualifications by this graduate school, as having abilities at least equivalent to those of a holder of a Master's or professional degree.
(b) Those who intend to apply under requirement (12) must have their qualifications individually screened before submission of application. Such persons are therefore required to contact the ITASIA Admissions Office as soon as possible by email, with curriculum vitae including date of birth, current address, contact information, and information on all relevant qualifications. They may be requested to provide additional information. Inquiries arriving later than 4pm February 3, 2012 JST will not be processed.
(c) Those who are recognized, through the individual screening process, as having abilities at least equivalent to a holder of a Master's or professional degree will be notified of it by email and requested to submit the applications together with certificates of all relevant qualifications.

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