Degree Programs in Humanities and Social Sciences

Doctoral Programs

6. Screening Criteria

Candidates for admission will be selected on the basis of comprehensive assessment of the documents submitted and the examination results.

Examination Schedule and the Subjects

Refer to the schedule below:

HumanitiesDoctoral

January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)

Date		Monday, January 30	Tuesday, January 31
Subject		Specialized Subject (150 points)	Oral Examination (150 points)
Program	Time	10:00-12:00	10:00-15:00
Humanities		Questions about your specialized fields, including specialized literature written in a foreign language.	Individual Interview: Questions about your specialized field.
		【Selection at the time of application】

Select one from the language list below:
Applicants CANNOT use dictionaries during examination.
Subprogram in Philosophy: English, German, French, Chinese, Chinese classics or Japanese. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select Japanese.
Subprogram in History and Anthropology: English, German, French or Chinese. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select one from the above-mentioned languages and Japanese except your mother tongue.
Subprogram in Literature: English, German, French, Russian, Italian, Chinese, or classical languages (classical languages include Greek, Latin, and classical Chinese. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select Japanese.
Subprogram in Linguistics: English, German, Russian, Chinese or Korean. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select Japanese.
Subprogram in Modern Culture Studies: English, German, French or Spanish. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select Japanese.
Subprogram in English Language Education: English. If your mother tongue (first language) is not Japanese, select Japanese.

The “mother tongue (first language)” means your most proficient language in the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. In other words, the language which you received your education with and have a good command of for expressing your opinion, thought, emotion, etc.

International Public PolicyDoctoral

January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)

Date		Monday, January 30		Tuesday, January 31
Subject		Foreign Language (100 points)	Specialized Subject (100 points)	Oral Examination (200 points)
Program	Time	10:00-11:00 (JST, UTC+09:00)	11:30-12:30 (JST, UTC+09:00)	notify applicants individually
International Public Policy		Japanese or English Written examination will be conducted online using E-learning system “manaba”, etc. (Note 1)	Select one subject from International Relations (including International Law), Social Development, Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology or Area Studies. Written examination will be conducted online using E-learning system “manaba”, etc. (Note 2)	Individual Interview: Questions about your specialized field and Research Plan. Oral examination will be conducted using Zoom, etc.
		【Selection at the time of application】	【Selection at the time of application】

English: Questions must be answered in either English or Japanese.
Japanese: Questions must be answered in Japanese.
Applicants CANNOT select their mother language (first language) as their chosen foreign language. Applicants CANNOT use dictionaries during this examination. If the following languages―Chinese, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese―are highly relevant to the applicant’s research theme which they plan to study in our program, applicants can select one of these languages as their chosen language for the foreign-language examination. If applicants want to designate one of the languages noted above, they must inform the office by December 5, 2022 by providing a statement (within 1200 letters in Japanese or 400 words in English) explaining the relationship between their chosen research area, research plan, and designated foreign language. For detail, please consult with our office (ipp-office@dpipe.tsukuba.ac.jp).
International Relations (including International Law), Social Development, Anthropology, Political Science: Questions are given in both English and Japanese and must be answered in either English or Japanese.
Sociology: Questions are given and must be answered in Japanese.
Area Studies: At the time of your application, select one question from “Economics,” “Politics and Economy,” “Geography and History,” or “Society and Culture.” Questions of “Economics” are given and must be answered in English. Questions of “Politics and Economy,” “Geography and History,” and “Society and Culture” are given in both English and Japanese and must be answered in either English or Japanese.

International and Advanced Japanese StudiesDoctoral

July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)

Date		Wednesday, July 6
Subject		Essay (100 points)	Oral Examination (200 points)
Program	Time	10:00-11:00 (JST, UTC+09:00)	13:00-17:00 (JST, UTC+09:00)
International and Advanced Japanese Studies		Select one of following 6 questions : Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Japanese Language Education. Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics are given in Japanese and English, so applicants must answer in Japanese or English. Japanese Language Education is given in Japanese, so applicants must answer in Japanese. The examination will be conducted by Google Forms and Google Meet.	Interview about research proposal (see Notes 2). A 30-minute interview per person will be conducted by Google Meet. For those applicants who have problems with their equipment during the oral examination, it may be held again on Thursday, July 7.
		【Selection at the time of application】 (see Notes 1).

The subjects selected at the time of application cannot be changed at the time of the examination. Also, dictionary and other material use is not allowed during the examination.
During the oral examination, you cannot refer your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.

October Selection Process (General Selection Process)

Date		Thursday, October 13
Subject		Specialized Subject (100 points)	Oral Examination (200 points)
Program	Time	10:00-11:00 (JST, UTC+09:00)	13:00-17:00 (JST, UTC+09:00)
International and Advanced Japanese Studies		Select one of following 6 questions : Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Japanese Language Education. Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics are given in Japanese and English, so applicants must answer in Japanese or English. Japanese Language Education is given in Japanese, so applicants must answer in Japanese. The examination will be conducted by Google Forms and Google Meet.	Interview about research proposal (see Notes 2). A 30-minute interview per person will be conducted by Google Meet. For those applicants who have problems with their equipment during the oral examination, it may be held again on Friday the 14th.
		【Selection at the time of application】 (see Notes 1.)

The subjects selected at the time of application cannot be changed at the time of the examination. Also, dictionary and other material use is not allowed during the examination.
During the oral examination, you cannot refer your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.

January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)

Date		Monday, January 30
Subject		Specialized Subject (100 points)	Oral Examination (200 points)
Program	Time	10:00-11:00	13:00-17:00
International and Advanced Japanese Studies		Select one of following 6 questions : Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Japanese Language Education. Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics are given in Japanese and English, so applicants must answer in Japanese or English. Japanese Language Education is given in Japanese, so applicants must answer in Japanese. The examination will be conducted by Google Forms and Google Meet.	Interview about research proposal (see Notes 2). Around 30-minute per person interview will be conducted by Google Meet. For those applicants who have problems with their equipment during the oral examination, it may be held again on Tuesday, January 31.
		【Selection at the time of application】 (see Notes 1.)

The subjects selected at the time of application cannot be changed at the time of the examination. Also, dictionary and other material use is not allowed during the examination.
During the oral examination, you cannot refer your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.

January to February Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Working Individuals)

Date		Monday, January 30
Subject		Specialized Subject (100 points)	Oral Examination (200 points)
Program	Time	10:00-11:00	13:00-17:00
International and Advanced Japanese Studies		Select one of following 6 questions : Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Japanese Language Education. Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics are given in Japanese and English, so applicants must answer in Japanese or English. Japanese Language Education is given in Japanese, so applicants must answer in Japanese. The examination will be conducted by Google Forms and Google Meet.	Interview about research proposal. Around 30-minute per person interview will be conducted by Google Meet. For those applicants who have problems with their equipment during the oral examination, it may be held again on Tuesday, January 31.
		【Selection at the time of application】

The subjects selected at the time of application cannot be changed at the time of the examination. Also, dictionary and other material use is not allowed during the examination.
During the oral examination, you cannot refer your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.