Degree Programs in Humanities and Social Sciences

Master’s Programs

Humanities(Subprogram in Philosophy/ Subprogram in History and Anthropology/ Subprogram in Literature/ Subprogram in Linguistics/ Subprogram in Modern Culture Studies/ Subprogram in English Language Education)
  • February (General Admission)
International Public Policy
  • October (General Admission)
  • February (General Admission)
International and Advanced Japanese Studies
  • October (General Admission)
  • February (General Admission/ Special Selection of Working Individuals)

The following application guidelines apply to all of the programs listed above.

[Important] Information on Change in Method of
Implementing Future Entrance Examinations, Etc.,
in Response to the COVID-19 Infections

There is a possibility that there will be changes in the method of the entrance examinations for the University of Tsukuba Graduate School for academic year 2021, depending on the situation regarding the spread of the infections of the COVID-19, such as changes to online entrance examinations, etc., after these application guidelines have been published. Also, there is a possibility that entrance examination days will be added, in connection with the changes in the examination method. The latest information on the entrance examinations is published on the Information page of the Graduate Admissions site, so it can be checked at any time.
In particular, when applying and before taking the examination, be sure to check the latest information in the Information page of the Graduate Admissions site.

Information page of the Graduate Admissions site URL https://eng.ap-graduate.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Information Environment, Etc., Necessary if there is a Change to Online Entrance Examinations

At present the schedule, etc., envisaged for entrance examinations in the university (Tsukuba area) has been announced. However if there has to be a change to online entrance examinations at short notice, it will be announced on this site when the decision has been taken (as a guide, by August 7 in the case of September entrance examinations, and 1 month before the examination date for entrance examinations in October or later). Also if the examinations are to be held online, the following is advance notification of the preparations that must be made by those taking the examinations.

  1. Have a bright quiet private room environment
  2. Have a network environment capable of sending and receiving video
  3. Have a personal computer with a camera and microphone
    (using a speaker for voice output. The use of earphones or headphones, etc., that are fitted to the body are prohibited)
  4. Have a smartphone (with a camera) * Item 4 on the left is for emergency use in case of occurrence of network problems

Note that if you have questions regarding the examination environment or if you would like to do a communication test as preparation in advance for the possibility of online examinations, contact the inquiry desk of your program.

Application Process Overview Chart

Check your qualifications!

 
*Those who wish to apply for the “Special Selection of Working Individuals” must have at least one year of full-time or part-time work experience by March 2021.
 
(A) No Eligibility Screening is required for the following individuals:
(Note: Persons who are expecting to graduate cannot apply for Special Selection of Working Individuals Examination.)

  • Individuals who have graduated or expect to graduate from a four-year university in Japan by March 2021
  • Individuals who have graduated from a university outside Japan that requires 16 or more years of school curriculum up to university graduation, and have earned a bachelor’s degree, or individuals who expect to graduate from such a university and earn a bachelor’s degree by March 2021
  • Others
    (If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact us by email.)
 
(B) Eligibility Screening is required for the following individuals:
  • Individuals who have graduated from a junior college or an upper secondary school
  • Individuals who have graduated from a vocational school or a similar school
  • Individuals who have graduated from a university of a foreign country that requires less than 16 years of a school curriculum
  • Others
    (If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact us by email.)
 
Click here for information about the research fields of the faculty in each program.
If you have any questions about the research fields, contact the office for your desired program.
   
   
Assessment of Eligibility for Application

Individuals who need to undergo the Eligibility Screening should contact the Academic Service Office for the Humanities and Social Sciences Area in advance.
Email us to obtain the necessary forms and email your documents for assessment. If you are deemed eligible for admission, you will be given a passcode required for the “Educational Background” page of the Web Entry system.
(* Individuals who have previously applied for the Eligibility Screening and been deemed eligible should apply for the screening again.)

    【Due Dates】

  • October： August 28, 2020
  • February： November 27, 2020
 
Applicants Who Need Special Assistance

If you need special assistance at the time of the entrance examination due to disability, contact us by the following dates:

    【Due Dates】

  • October： August 28, 2020
  • February： November 27, 2020
Web Entry

You can apply to the University of Tsukuba online through our Web Entry system. Read the guidelines carefully before applying.

    【Application Period】

  • October： September 1, 2020 (from noon JST) – September 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • February： December 1, 2020 (from noon JST) – December 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)
Sign Up

First, you will need your own account to login. Once you have created an account, you save the data you have entered and log back in later to continue.
Activation

When you sign up, an activation URL will be sent to your registered email address. Click on the URL to activate your account.
Login

After you activate your account, you will be automatically logged in. Just click the “Login” button and proceed to “My Page”. The next time you login, you will need to enter your email address and password.
My Page

On “My Page,” click the “Application Form” button for the appropriate program.
On this page, you can also edit your login information or reset your password.
Application Form

There are four sections in the Application Form:

  1. Applicant’s Information / Program of Your Choice
  2. Supervisor of Your Choice
  3. Eligibility
  4. Educational Background

Each section will be saved when you click the “Proceed” button on each confirmation page. After saving, you can continue from where you left off when you login again. Use one-byte characters and numbers to input all the information.
Payment

You must pay the examination fees before submitting your application. The university accepts:

  1. –Online credit card payments (for both domestic and overseas applicants)
  2. –Convenience store payments (for domestic applicants only)

Credit Card Payment: Follow the instructions given at the last stage of the Web Entry system and pay your fees by credit card. After payment, you will be notified of a receipt number. Enter the number into the “Receipt Number” box and click the “Submit” button to proceed.

Convenience Store Payment: Follow the instructions given at the last stage of the Web Entry system and pay your fees at a convenience store in Japan. When you apply for ‘Convenience Store Payment’ online, you will receive the Examination Fee Statement with an 11-digit or 13-digit code. After the payment, enter the code and payment date into the boxes on the Web Entry system and click the “Submit” button to proceed.

(* The examination fees are exempted for the Government-Sponsored (Japanese Government Monbukagakusho scholarship) foreign students.)
Submission

After the payment is confirmed, you can submit your application by clicking the “Submit to Apply” button. Once you click on this button, the information you have entered will be sent to the university, and you will not be able to go back to make edits. Be sure to double-check all information before proceeding.
After you submit your application, a confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address. Be sure to check it.

(*Check and adjust the spam filter settings in your email account beforehand so that you can receive an email from the “entry.ap-graduate.tsukuba.ac.jp” domain.)
Create and Print PDF

After you have submitted your application, follow the instructions given at the last stage of the Web Entry system and be sure to download and print out all PDF files. You can download them from the Web Entry system only during the Web application period.

    【Application Period】

  • October： September 1, 2020 (from noon JST) – September 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • February： December 1, 2020 (from noon JST) – December 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)

Web Entry
Submission of Documents

Original copies of the documents listed in “3. Web Entry and Documents to be Submitted” must be submitted by registered mail no later than the deadlines below.
Your application will not be reviewed unless all required documents are received.

    【Due Dates】

  • October： September 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • February： December 18, 2020 (by 3 p.m. JST)
Information and Hints for Examinees

We will post “Information and Hints for Examinees” on our website. Be sure to read this before the entrance examination.

    【Estimated Release Dates】

  • October： September 29, 2020
  • February： January 12, 2021
Examination Dates
  • October： October 15-16, 2020
  • February： February 1-2, 2021

Click here to check the availability of past examination papers.
Announcement of Admission Results
  • October： November 6, 2020
  • February： February 17, 2021
Documents for Enrollment
  • Documents will be sent out from the admission office on February 17, 2021.
Procedure for Enrollment
  • Documents must be submitted by the beginning of March 2021.
Entrance
  • April 1, 2021