Back Issues for Admissions 2020 (February Entrance Examination)

Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences

Master’s Programs

6. Screening Criteria

We will determine the students to be admitted by evaluating the submitted documents and their academic skills as a whole:

Examination Schedule and the Subjects

Refer to the schedule below:

Master’s Program in Biology (general students)Master’s

February (General Admission)

February Thursday, January 30
Subject Foreign Language
(100 points)		 Oral Examination
(100 points)
Program Time – 10:00 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Biology

English

Evaluate the TOEIC Official Score Certificate or TOEFL Examinee Score Record.

See (Note) 1 and 2.

Individual Interview

Presentation on the graduation research and research plans after enrollment (10 minutes), followed by interview about the presentation and the area of specialization (20 minutes), either in English or Japanese.
Materials and computers may not be brought into the interview. And LCD projector will be available for use. See (Note) 3.

* Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to http://www.mbs.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/e/index.html.)

(Note)
  1. Submit your TOEIC Official Score Certificate (with photo attached) or TOEFL Examinee Score Record (with photo attached) at the time of application (photocopies are not accepted). Test scores taken within two years from the examination day are valid.
  2. Scores of TOEIC and TOEFL are evaluated based on the reference scores shown below. A score equal to or over the reference score is evaluated as perfect, and a lower score is proportionately reduced.
    3. TOEIC L&R TOEFL(PBT) TOEFL-iBT
    879
    600
    100
  3. If you wish to use the LCD projector, bring your material data saved as PDF files to a USB memory stick on the day of the examination. Copy the files to the computer in the examination site and check its operation within the designated time below.
    Time for computer operation: 9:00 am – 9:30 am (strictly observed)
  4. For information on the examination contact:
    Office of Master’s Program in Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
    Phone +81-29-853-6600 (Office hours: 9:00 – 12:15, 13:15 – 16:30)
    E-mail seibutsu-senkou-jimu#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Biology (foreign students)Master’s

February (General Admission)

February Thursday, January 30
Subject Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time 13:00 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Biology

Individual Interview

Presentation on the graduation research (or other previous research) and research plans after enrollment, either in English or Japanese (15 minutes), followed by interview (15 minutes). See (Note) 1.
Materials and computers may not be brought into the interview. An LCD projector will be available for use. See (Note) 2.

* Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to http://www.mbs.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/e/index.html.)

(Note)
  1. If you take the interview in Japanese, submit your TOEIC Official Score Certificate (with photo attached) or TOEFL Examinee Score Record (with photo attached) at the time of the interview. If you cannot submit either of them, bring instead a score report of International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), or English score in The International Baccalaureate (IB). Test scores taken within two years from the examination day are valid.
  2. If you wish to use the LCD projector, bring your material data saved as PDF files to a USB memory stick on the day of the examination. Copy the files to the computer at the examination site and check its operation within the designated time below.
    Time for computer operation: February 9:00 – 9:30 (strictly observed)
  3. For information on the examination contact:
    Office of Master’s Program in Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
    Phone +81-29-853-6600 (Office hours: 9:00 – 12:15, 13:15 – 16:30)
    E-mail seibutsu-senkou-jimu#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Biology Master’s

February (Special Selection of Working Individuals)

February Thursday, January 30
Subject Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time 13:00 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Biology

Individual Interview

Presentation on the graduation research (or other previous research) and research plans after enrollment (15 minutes). Interview (15 minutes). Interview in English is available.
Materials and computers may not be brought into the interview. An LCD projector will be available for use. See (Note) 1.

* Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to http://www.mbs.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/e/index.html.)

(Note)
  1. If you wish to use the LCD projector, bring your material data saved as PDF files to a USB memory stick on the day of the oral examination. Copy the files to the computer at the examination site and check its operation within the designated time below.
    Time for computer operation:　February 9:00 – 9:30 (strictly observed)
  2. For information on the examination contact:
    Office of Master’s Program in Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
    Phone +81-29-853-6600 (Office hours: 9:00 – 12:15, 13:15 – 16:30)
    E-mail seibutsu-senkou-jimu#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and Technology Master’s

February (General Admission)

February Thursday, January 30
Subject Foreign Language (100 points) Oral Examination (200 points)
Program Time   10:00 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and Technology

English

Evaluate the score on the TOEIC Official Score Certificate, TOEFL Examinee Score Record, or IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form.

Individual Interview

Presentation on the research plan (5 minutes)
Interview about your specialty, fundamental knowledge and future plans based on the presentation, either in English or Japanese.
Whiteboard/ blackboard placed in the interview room will be available for use.
Materials and computers may not be brought into the interview.

(Note)
  1. Make sure to contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to https://www.bres.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/masters-program/)
  2. At the time of application choose one from the following score reports to submit for the English examination: TOEIC Official Score Certificate (with photo attached), TOEFL Examinee Score Record (with photo attached), and IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form. Original test scores taken within two years from the examination day are valid.
  3. Reference scores for the English examination are shown below. A score equal to or over the reference score is calculated to be 100 points, and a lower score is proportionately reduced.
    4. TOEIC L&R TOEFL-iBT IELTS
    860
    95
    7.0
  4. From the beginning of the individual interview session (10:00) to the start of each applicant’s interview period, applicants are requested to wait at the waiting room.Applicants are allowed to bring in their lunch, etc. and eat and drink at the waiting room.
  5. For information on the examination contact:
    Sosaku ICHIKAWA, Chair of the Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and Technology
    (Phone +81-29-853-4627, FAX +81-29-853-4627, E-mail ichikawa.sosaku.fn#@#u.tsukuba.ac.jp) (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and TechnologyMaster’s

February (Special Selection of Working Individuals)
February Thursday, January 30
Subject Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time 10:00 – 15:00
Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and Technology About 20 minutes for each applicant, conducted individually

Approximately 10 minutes of presentation on your previous research or experience, motivation for applying, and research plans after enrollment, followed by about 10 minutes of interview.
You may conduct the interview in English.
(Note) 2.
(Note)
  1. Make sure to contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to https://www.bres.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/masters-program/)
  2. Presentation will be performed on the Laptop brought in by the applicants. The VGA Adapter for the projector is 15 Pin Mini D Sub Connector. If your Laptop does not support this type of adapter, bring your own adapter to the examination site. Applicants must perform preview beforehand accordingly to the instruction by staffs [Time for preview: 9:20～9:40 (time is strictly observed)].
    In preparation for trouble, applicants must bring their presentation documents saved as PDF files to a virus-free USB memory stick.
  3. For information on the examination contact:
    Sosaku ICHIKAWA, Chair of the Master’s Program in Agro-Bioresources Science and Technology
    (Phone +81-29-853-4627, FAX +81-29-853-4627, E-mail ichikawa.sosaku.fn#@#u.tsukuba.ac.jp) (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in GeosciencesMaster’s

February (General Admission)

February Wednesday, January 29 Thursday, January 30
Subject Foreign Language
(150 points)		 Specialized Subject
(250 points)		 Oral Examination
(100 points)
Program Time – 13:30 – 15:30 10:00 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Geosciences

Evaluate the score on the TOEIC Official Score Certificate, TOEFL Examinee Score Record, or IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form.
See (Note) 1 and 2.

(Geoenvironmental Science Field)
Answer common questions and questions on one area selected at the time of application from the list.
(Earth Evolution Science Field)
Answer one common question and 2 questions on areas selected during the examination from the list (total 3 questions.)

(Interview about the area of specialization and future plans.)
(Note)
  1. For the Foreign Language (English) examination, choose to submit either the TOEIC Official Score Certificate (with photo attached), TOEFL Examinee Score Record (with photo attached), or IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form at the time of application.
  2. Test Scores taken within two years from the examination day are valid. Scores are evaluated based on the reference scores shown below. A score equal to or over the reference score is evaluated as perfect (150 points), and a score below it is proportionately reduced.
    3. TOEIC L&R TOEFL-iBT IELTS
    860
    95
    7.0
  3. Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application.
    Research Area
    4. Field Research Area (Specialized Subject)
    Geoenvironmental Science Human Geography, Regional Geography, Geomorphology, Hydrological Science, Atmospheric Science, Spatial Information Science, Analysis of Environmental Dynamics, Water-related Disaster Science, Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction System
    Earth Evolution Science Paleobiological Science, Paleogeosphere Science, Geodynamics, Petrology, Mineralogy, Planetary Resource Geology, Earth Historical Analysis

    Refer below for details of the research and contact information of faculty members of your desired research area.

Master’s Program in Environmental SciencesMaster’s

February(General Admission)
February Wednesday, January 29
Subject Foreign Language (100 points) Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time If you choose “take the TOEFL-ITP test on the examination day” in
the application form. See (Note) 5.
The time of meeting: 9:30
10:00 – 12:00		 13:30 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences

Evaluate the score on TOEIC Official Score Certificate, TOEFL Examinee Score Record, IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form, or TOEFL ITP test carried out by the program on the examination day.

Interview about your specialty, your understanding of environmental issues and future plans based on the research plan.
(Note)
  1. Before sending an application from, every applicant MUST contact a prospective advisor and discuss about a research proposal.
    (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/)
  2. Refer to the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences website (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/) for e-mail address of the faculty member of your desired research area.
  3. Precautions regarding the examination will be released on the website of Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/) around one week before the examination day, so please make sure to check the notes.
  4. For information on the examination contact:
    Admission office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences (E-mail admission#@#envr.tsukuba.ac.jp) (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)
  5. Applicants who chose “take the TOEFL-ITP test on the examination day” must be seated on the designated seat at the examination site 30 minutes before the examination begins.
  6. Reference scores for the English examination are shown below. A score equal to or over the reference score is calculated to be 100 points.
    7. TOEIC L&R TOEFL-iBT TOEFL-PBT IELTS
    860
    98
    595
    7.0

Environmental SciencesMaster’s

February (Special Selection of Working Individuals)

February Wednesday, January 29
Subject Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time 9:15 – 13:00
Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences

Individual Interview

10 minutes of presentation, referring to the Research Plan and Activity/ Research Achievement Record, on jobs, civil activities, and other experiences gained after graduation, thoughts on the environment through the experience, motivation for applying for the program, and research plans after enrollment. Use of laptops is allowed. (In principle, applicants are required to bring in and operate their own laptops. An LCD projector is available for use on site. Contact the admission office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences for details.) The presentation is followed by a comprehensive interview (15 minutes).
(Note)
  1. Before sending an application from, every applicant MUST contact a prospective advisor and discuss about a research proposal.
    (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/)
  2. Refer to the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences website (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/) for e-mail address of the faculty member of your desired research area.
  3. Precautions regarding the examination will be released on the website of Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences (http://www2.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/) around one week before the examination day, so please make sure to check the notes.
  4. For information on the examination contact:
    Admission office of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences (E-mail admission#@#envr.tsukuba.ac.jp) (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Mountain StudiesMaster’s

February (General Admission)
February Wednesday, January 29
Subject Foreign Language (100 points) Oral Examination (200 points)
Program Time 13:30 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Mountain Studies

English

Evaluate the score on the TOEIC official Score Certificate, TOEFL Examinee Score Record, IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form.

Individual Interview

Presentation on the research plan (5 minutes).
Interview about your specialty, fundamental knowledge and future plans based on the presentation, either in English or Japanese.
Whiteboard / Blackboard placed in the interview room will be available for use.
Materials and computers may not be brought into the interview.
(Note)
  1. Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to http://www.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/~sangaku/en/member.html)
  2. At the time of application choose one from the following score reports to submit for the English examination:
    TOEIC Official Score Certificate (with photo attached), TOEFL Examinee Score Record (with photo attached), and IELTS Academic Module Test Report Form. Original test scores taken within 2 years are valid.
  3. Reference scores for the English examination are shown below. A score equal to or over the reference score is calculated to be 100 points.
    4. TOEIC L&R TOEFL-iBT IELTS
    860
    95
    7.0
  4. For information on the examination contact:
    Admission staff of the Master Degree Program of Mountain Studies sangaku-admission#@#ml.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)

Master’s Program in Mountain StudiesMaster’s

February (Special Selection of Working Individuals)
February Wednesday, January 29
Subject Oral Examination (100 points)
Program Time 13:30 – 17:00
Master’s Program in Mountain Studies Individual Interview (20 minutes)

Presentation on your research and research plans after enrollment using presentation software (10 minutes), followed by interview about the presentation and the area of specialization either in English or Japanese.
(Note) 2.
(Note)
  1. Contact the faculty member of your desired research area in advance of the application. (Refer to http://www.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/~sangaku/en/member.html)
  2. Presentation will be performed on the Laptop brought in by the applicants. The VGA adapter for the projector is 15 pin Mini D sub Connector. If your PC doesn’t support this type of adapter, bring your own adapter to the examination site. Applicants must perform preview beforehand accordingly to the instruction by staffs.
    [Time for preview] 12:50 – 13:10 (time is strictly observed)
    In case of trouble, applicants must bring their presentation documents saved as PDF files to a virus-free USB memory stick.
  3. For information on the examination contact:
    Admission staff of the Master Degree Program of Mountain Studies sangaku-admission#@#ml.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp (*Replace “#@#” with “@.”)