Paper certificates and other documents required for application (See below) should be mailed (using registered mail) or brought in person. All required documents must be put in an envelope which fits unfolded A4 size paper with an Address Sheet attached. You can download your Address Sheet in PDF from the Web Entry System.
The documents must arrive to our office by the deadline (See “1. Schedule”). If your documents fail to arrive by the deadline or any of the required documents is incomplete, invalid or missing, you will not be allowed to take the exam. Documents brought in after 5:00 p.m. JST on the last day of the submission period will not be accepted. The deadlines are strictly observed.
In case of delays caused by the carrier, submit a written notice from the carrier indicating the situation.
Place to Submit:
Graduate Admissions, Academic Service Office for the Human Sciences Area (See “14. Contact Us.”)
Note:
In principle, all documents submitted will not be returned to you. For certificates that cannot be reissued, please submit a copy certified by the issuer or an official institution (See below).
If you are unable to obtain a photocopy that meets our requirement, please submit the original document with a return request.
Regardless of the above, the External English Test Score Sheet will NOT be returned. Also, we will not provide you with a photocopy after submission. Please make your own copy and keep them before submission if necessary.
Documents Needed for Application
(The original documents must be submitted by registered mail or in person. These documents need to be received no later than the deadlines.)
If any false or forged statements are found in the application documents, or if there is any obvious examination misconduct, the acceptance or admission may be revoked.
| Documents | Who must submit | Instructions |
| 1. (Expected) Graduation Certificate* | All applicants | Submit a graduation certificate (or an attested document certifying that you will graduate) issued by a university or another educational institution that meets the application requirements for the Doctoral Programs of this Graduate School. |
| 2. Degree Certificate* | Those who graduated from a graduate school outside Japan | If you graduated from a graduate school outside Japan, submit a degree certificate for your master’s degree. All documents must be in English or in Japanese. ※Due to a difference with the Japanese education system, for those who graduated university overseas, eligibility for admission will be checked so upload an image in JPEG format of the certificate to be submitted on the Web system in advance. |
| 3. Academic Transcript* | All applicants | Submit an academic transcript (the official transcript of your programs history) issued by a university or another educational institution that meets the application requirements for the Doctoral Programs of this Graduate School. If any credits were transferred from another school, submit an academic transcript from that school. (All documents must be in English or in Japanese.) |
| 4. Thesis | Education/ Psychology (Three copies of any one of the theses in ① to ④ should be submitted.) Disability Sciences(Electrical file of any one of the theses in ① to ④ should be submitted.) | Any one of the following ① to ④ should be submitted as follows by the deadline to submit the application for admission. Attach the “Address Sheet for Thesis Submission” to the envelope (your envelope). The “Thesis” with the “Thesis Title Sheet” should be included in this envelope and submitted to the following address. It should be sent by “registered mail” at the post office. (It should not be enclosed in the envelope for the submission of the application.) 【Place of submission】Office concerned in the Contact field in “13. Previous Examinations and Inquiry” ① Master’s Thesis (copy possible) If it is impossible to submit the thesis above with your application, a thesis equivalent to that (a thesis with the predictions about the conclusion to the findings by submission). ② Those who completed a course in or before the last academic year may replace with a new thesis (copy possible; for the Doctoral Program in Disability Sciences, a recently published peer-reviewed paper). ③ For those who were not assigned a master’s thesis, a thesis equivalent to that (for the Doctoral Program in Disability Sciences, a recently published peer-reviewed paper) ④ For those designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (eligibility (8)) who are applicants, the graduation thesis (copy possible) (For those who were not assigned a graduation thesis, a thesis equivalent to that) ※Upload your thesis to URL below by the deadline for documents needed for application. Upload instructions will be notified on the web entry completion screen. https://utos.tsukuba.ac.jp/public/NAJpAPBAuNAHLjRLShbP8A52zfpatsVcXIdTxAr4ak4I NOTES: ・Name the PDF with your examinee number and name. ・First page of the thesis are required to put “Thesis Title Sheet (pleas use PDF format to be created after completing web entry)” and fill in the information on the sheet. ・Compress the PDF to maximum around 50MB. ※If examinees of the Doctoral Program in Education Science submit their thesis in a language other than Japanese or English, also upload the electrical file of the complete translation of their thesis in Japanese or English. ※If examinees of the Doctoral Program in Disability Science submit their thesis in a language other than Japanese or English, also submit three copies of the complete translation of their thesis in Japanese or English. ※Examinees of the Doctoral Program in Psychology submitting their thesis should establish contact with the General Affairs Office for Human Sciences Graduate School Academic Affairs Office for Doctoral Programs in Phycology +81 29.8534597 before application. |
| 5. Research Plan | Education | The research plan (in Japanese, within 2000 characters, or in English, within 900 words up to two A4 sized sheets (including the references) in portrait orientation and written horizontally, and one-side printing) should be submitted describing the following items in relation to your previous works (master’s thesis, etc.). 1) Research theme, area of study of your choice, and academic advisor of your choice, 2) purpose of research, 3) research content, 4) research methods and planning (for 3 years), 5) rationale of the study based on the literature reviews, and 6) references. Furthermore, the references are not counted within the 2,000 characters in Japanese or 900 words in English, however, it shall be adduced in the text. |
| Psychology | Applicants are required to submit a research plan outlining the intended research content following admission. The plan must clearly indicate the applicant’s name, proposed research topic, and preferred academic advisor. The document should be prepared on no more than two A4-sized pages (portrait orientation, horizontal writing, single-sided printing), and must not exceed 2,000 characters, excluding figures, charts, and references. The research plan may be written in English (no more than two A4-sized pages (portrait orientation, horizontal writing, single-sided printing)). Furthermore, attach a separate sheet (one A4 paper) with a list of accomplishments and affiliated academic societies in addition to the research plan. |
| Disability Sciences | The content and the plan of your research after admission (should also include your name, research subject, academic advisor of your choice), must be written using A4 sized paper in portrait orientation, written horizontally, and be printed one-side (any format can be used). The document must be within 2 pages (including figures, tables and references). If writing in Japanese, the document must be within 2,000 Japanese characters (Figures, charts and references are not included in the word count.). English is also accepted. The document must be within 2 pages (including figures, tables and references). |
| 6. Summary of Thesis | If applicable | If submitting a thesis written in a language other than Japanese or English, submit the abstract in Japanese (4,000 characters) or English (1,500 words) enclosed in the envelope for thesis, etc. |
7.The original English Score <The submitted test scores must be:> For January to February Selection Process: taken after January 2025 | January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process) Disability Sciences | Submit one of the following test scores. Submitted score report must be original. -TOEIC L&R Test (Official Score Certificate or Official Score Report with photo), or -TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition (Official Score Report or Test Taker Score Report) (with photo) , or -IELTS Academic Test Report Form (with photo) If the original copy cannot be submitted at the time of application, the applicant must bring the original copy by the examination date. Failure to submit the original document, regardless of the reason, will result in the student being marked absent from the foreign language examination and will not be considered for selection. Please note that the original copy submitted will not be returned. * For applicants who took TOEIC, print out of the Digital Official Score Certificate is also accepted. * If there isn’t sufficient time to send in the official Score Report of TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, you may carry out the procedure for the official score reports to be sent directly from ETS to University of Tsukuba (DI code : 9995, Department code : 99). The Official score report of TOEFL iBT must be received by the university no later than 3 days before the examination date. Also send the printed out version of the test score. *Please request so that your IELTS Test Report Form will arrive to our university from the institution by no later than 3 days before the examination date. Please select “Electronically” for the sending method. At the same time, please submit a copy of the Test Report Form. Official scores of TOEIC SW Test and TOEIC Bridge Test, TOEIC Institutional Program (IP) Score Report, TOEFL Institutional Test Program (ITP) Score Report, IELTS General Training Test Report Form are not accepted. Submitted certificates must be original. |
| External English Test Score Sheet | See “External English Test Score Sheet.” |
| 8. Copy of “Application Completed” Page of Examination Fee Payment by Credit Card | Applicants who made a credit card payment (*Refer to “5. Examination Fee.”) | After the payment, print out the “Application Completed” page, and submit it to us by airmail. |
| 9. Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) of Examination Fee Statement | Applicants who made a convenience store payment (*Refer to “5. Examination Fee.”) | After the payment, detach the Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) from the Examination Fee Statement given at the convenience store and submit it to us by airmail. The Receipt Portion needs to be attached to the form that can be created online and printed out after you complete the Web Entry procedure. |
| 10. Letter of approval for entrance examination | If applicable - Individuals who are currently attending a university or graduate school
*Except for April entry applicants who are expected to graduate by March 2027 and October entry applicants who are expected to graduate by September 2027 - Individuals who are currently working for a government agency, school, or company (except for part-time workers)
| - Need to submit a letter of approval issued by the head of their university or graduate school (or the head of their department) allowing them to take the entrance examination or, submit a letter of application the applicant (stating that he/she will withdraw from the university before enrolment). Any format is acceptable, but the letter must be printed on A4 paper.
- Need to submit a letter of approval issued by a superior allowing them to take the entrance examination or a written self-declaration stating that attending the entrance examination will not adversely
affect their duties. Any format is acceptable, but the letter must be printed on A4 paper. 〔Individuals who are planning to resign and enter the university may replace the letter of approval for entrance examination with a letter clearly stating to that effect, provided however, that in this case, a “letter of resignation” at admission procedures should be submitted.〕 |
| 11. Certificate of Government-Sponsored (Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship) Foreign Student | If applicable | The certificate must be submitted by airmail. If you are enrolled in another university at the time of application, submit the certificate of the government-sponsored (Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship) foreign student issued by the university. |
*In case your current name is different from that on the documents you submit (e.g., because of marriage), submit with the proof (e.g., copy of your marriage license).
If the student wishes to register under his/her maiden name, he/she can apply for the use of his/her maiden name during the enrolment procedure
PDF to Be Created After Completing Web Entry
| Documents | Created for | Remarks |
| Reference Card | All applicants | The Web Entry system instructs you to supply a photograph for your Reference Card in JPEG format. The photograph must be taken within the last three months and must not include hats or other head adornments. Print out the Reference Card with your photograph and bring a copy of the card to the venue with you on the examination day. |
| Address Sheet | All applicants | Attach the address sheet to your envelope when you submit the required documents to us by airmail or in person. 【Due Dates】 See “1. Schedule.” If you submit the documents in person, you have to submit them by 5 p.m. JST. |
| Address Sheet for Thesis Submission | If applicable (Except Disability Sciences) | Fill in the required items on this sheet and attach it to an envelope for submitting your thesis or paper. |
| Thesis Title Sheet | If applicable | Fill in the required items on this sheet and attach it to the front page of each thesis or paper to be submitted. (This sheet may be photocopied.) Disablitity Sciences: submit electrically by the deadline. |
| Form for Submission of the Certificate of Payment of Application Fee | Applicants who made a convenience store payment | Attach the Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) of the Examination Fee Statement to the form and submit it to us by airmail. |
Results from the entrance examination, as well as personal information obtained by the University of Tsukuba from the application documents, will be used not only for affairs concerning admission and screening, but also research and study aimed at improvement of the admission procedure and the university education. We will carefully take care of the data not to be disclosed as a specific person.
External English Test Score Sheet
Before submitting your application, please be sure to check the “English Proficiency Test Scores for the University of Tsukuba Graduate School Entrance Examination” in the Information on the top page of this website. It contains the details of how to submit the scores.
Who should submit:
| General Selection Process | Special Selection Process for Working Individuals |
| Selection Process | August | January to February | August | January to February |
| Education | ○ | ○ | | |
| Psychology | ○ | ○ | | |
| Disability Sciences | ○ | ○ | | |
Applicants specified in the table above must submit one of the following External English Test Score Sheets:
- TOEIC Listening and Reading Test Digital Official Score Certificate (*1)
- TOEFL iBT® Test Taker Score Report which is sent to the TOEFL examinee from ETS by postal mail
(TOEFL iBT® Home Edition score sheets are also valid.) (*2) - IELTS Academic (on paper or on computer) Test Report Form (*2)
Score sheets must meet all of the following requirements to be accepted:
- The score sheet must be original (Score sheets issued in paper format). (*1)(*2)(*3)
- The English test must be taken in July 2023 or later.
- The applicant’s photo must be printed on the score sheet.
We will not accept the following documents:
- Photocopy of a designated score sheet
- Printed score sheets issued in PDF format (*1)(*2)(*3)
- TOEIC Institutional Program Score Report
- TOEFL ITP® Score Report
- IELTS General Training Test Report Form
- IELTS Academic (Online) Test Report Form
- In addition to the above examples, other than the designated External English Test Score Sheets, we will not accept any other score sheets.
The score sheet must be pasted on the designated form which can be downloaded from the system after completing web entry. If the score sheet extends beyond the submission form, you may fold the score sheet.
If a score sheet that meets the requirements is not submitted at the time of application, regardless of the reason, you will be considered to have missed the examination subject of “English” (or “Application Document Screening” in the examinations of the Doctoral Program in Empowerment Informatics) and will be excluded from the further selection.
*1: If you are submitting the Digital Official Score Certificate issued for TOEIC, a paper score sheet will not be issued, so please respond as follows.
- Please copy and paste the URL of the Digital Official Score Certificate, which will be sent to you by the TOEIC Office via e-mail, into the field for entering the URL in the Web Entry System.
- Print out the Digital Official Score Certificate, pasted on the designated form which can be downloaded from the system after completing web entry, and mail it together with the other application documents.
*2:For the TOEFL and IELTS, submission of “Official Score Report (TOEFL)” or “e-TRF (IELTS)” by direct delivery to the university is also acceptable. For details on how to submit the Official Score Report, please refer to the “Information” section on the top page of this application guidelines website.
*3: If you are submitting a score sheet for an External English Test for which paper score sheets are not issued, with the exception of the TOEIC Digital Official Score Certificate, please contact us in advance (See “14. Contact Us”).