This application guideline is the archive of previous year.

Degree Programs in Humanities and Social Sciences

Master’s 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.

HumanitiesMaster’s

July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
Date Wednesday, July 5
Subject Essay
(150 points)		 Oral Examination
(150 points)
Program Time 10:00-12:00
(JST, UTC+09:00)		 13:00-17:00
(JST, UTC+09:00)
Humanities Essay based on 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.

    January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)
    Date Monday, January 29 Tuesday, January 30
    Subject Specialized Subject
    (150 points)    		 Oral Examination
    (150 points)
    Program Time 10:00-12:00
    (JST, UTC+09:00)    		 10:00-15:00
    (JST, UTC+09:00)
    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 PolicyMaster’s

      July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
      Date Wednesday, July 5
      Subject Essay
      (100 points)      		 Oral Examination
      (200 points)
      Program Time 10:00-11:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)      		 notify applicants individually
      International Public Policy Select one Essay subject from International Relations (including International Law), Social Development, Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology, Economics or Area Studies closely related to your specialty and research plan. (Note)
      Examination will be conducted online using E-learning system “manaba”, etc.       		Individual Interview:
      Questions about your specialized field and Research Plan.
      Oral examination will be conducted using Zoom, etc.
      【Selection at the time of application】
      • 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.
      • Economics: Questions are given and must be answered in English.
      • Area Studies: At the time of your application, select one question from “Politics and Economy,” “Geography and History,” or “Society and Culture.” 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.
      October Selection Process (General Selection Process)
      Date Thursday, October 12 Friday or Saturday, October 13 or 14
      Subject Foreign Language
      (100 points)      		 Specialized Subject
      (200 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, Economics 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】
      1. 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 September 4, 2023 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).
      2. 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.
        Economics: Questions are given and must be answered in English.
        Area Studies: At the time of your application, select one question from “Politics and Economy,” “Geography and History,” or “Society and Culture.” 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 StudiesMaster’s

      July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
      Date Wednesday, July 5 Thursday, July 6
      Subject Essay
      (100 points)      		 Oral Examination
      (200 points)
      Program Time 10:00-11:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)      		 9:00-17:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)
      International Public Policy Select one of the following 6 Specialized Subjects (questions): Politics; Economics; Literature/ Culture / Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Research in Japanese language education.
      Either Japanese OR English may be used to write your response to the following themes: Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; and Linguistics.
      If you select Research in Japanese language education, your response must be written in Japanese.       		Around 15 minute interview per person about research content and research plan. (see Note 2).
      【Selection at the time of application】
      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.
      2. During the oral examination, you cannot consult your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.
      October Selection Process (General Selection Process)
      Date Thursday, October 12 Friday, October 13
      Subject Specialized Subject
      (100 points)      		 Foreign Language
      (100 points)       		Oral Examination
      (100 points)
      Program Time 10:00-11:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)      		 12:00-13:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)      		 9:00-16:00
      (JST, UTC+09:00)
      International and Advanced Japanese Studies Select one of the following 6 Specialized Subjects (questions) : Politics; Economics; Literature/ Culture / Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Research in Japanese language education.
      Either Japanese OR English may be used to write your response to the following themes: Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; and Linguistics.
      If you select Research in Japanese language education, your response must be written in Japanese.       		In principle, select either Japanese or English (see Note 2). Regarding other languages, see Note 3. Around 15 minute interview per person about research content and research plan. (see Note 4).
      【Selection at the time of application】
      (see Note 1).      		 【Selection at the time of application】
      (see Note 1).
      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.
      2. You cannot select your mother tongue (first language). Also, dictionary use is not allowed during the examination.
      3. In addition to Japanese and English, the following languages are available: Chinese, Korean, German, French, and Russian. If you wish to select one of these languages, you must submit an additional document (maximum 1,200 characters in Japanese or 400 words in English) explaining the relationship between your research plan and language you wish to select. This document must be submitted to doctoral program office by Friday, July 28. Upon submission, please indicate the name of your prospective supervisor. If you select one of these languages without submitting the required document in advance, your application will not be accepted. For more details, contact the Office of the Master’s Program and Doctoral Program in International and Advanced Japanese Studies.
        info@japan.tsukuba.ac.jp
      4. During the oral examination, you cannot consult your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.
      January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)
      Date Monday, January 29 Tuesday, January 30
      Subject Specialized Subject
      (100 points)      		 Foreign Language
      (100 points)       		Oral Examination
      (100 points)
      Program Time 10:00-11:00 12:00-13:00 9:00-16:00
      International and Advanced Japanese Studies Select one of the following 6 Specialized Subjects (questions) : Politics; Economics; Literature/ Culture / Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Research in Japanese language education.
      Either Japanese OR English may be used to write your response to the following themes: Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; and Linguistics.
      If you select Research in Japanese language education, your response must be written in Japanese.       		In principle, select either Japanese or English (see Notes 2). Regarding other languages, see Note 3. Around 15 minute interview per person about research content and research plan (see Notes 4).
      【Selection at the time of application】
      (see Note 1).      		 【Selection at the time of application】
      (see Note 1).
      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.
      2. You cannot select your mother tongue (first language). Also, dictionary use is not allowed during the examination.
      3. In addition to Japanese and English, the following languages are available: Chinese, Korean, German, French, and Russian. If you wish to select one of these languages, you must submit an additional document (maximum 1,200 characters in Japanese or 400 words in English) explaining the relationship between your research plan and language you wish to select. This document must be submitted to doctoral program office by Friday, October 27. Upon submission, please indicate the name of your prospective supervisor. If you select one of these languages without submitting the required document in advance, your application will not be accepted. For more details, contact the Office of the Master’s Program and Doctoral Program in International and Advanced Japanese Studies.
        info@japan.tsukuba.ac.jp
      4. During the oral examination, you cannot consult your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.
      January to February Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Working Individuals)
      Date Monday, January 29
      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 the following 6 Specialized Subjects (questions): Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/ Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; Linguistics; Research in Japanese language education.
      Either Japanese OR English may be used to write your response to the following themes: Politics; Economics; Literature/Culture/Philosophy; Law/Society/Media/Information; and Linguistics.
      If you select Research in Japanese language education, your response must be written in Japanese.       		Around 15 minute interview per person about research proposal (see Note 2)
      【Selection at the time of application】
      (see Note 1.)
      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.
      2. During the oral examination, you cannot consult your research plan or other pre-prepared materials.