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)
    Enrollment in April 2026

  • July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
  • January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process)
International Public Policy
    Enrollment in April 2026

  • July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
  • October Selection Process (General Selection Process)

International and Advanced Japanese Studies
    Enrollment in October 2025

  • July Selection Process (Special Selection Process for Recommended Applicants)
    Enrollment in April 2026

  • October Selection Process (General Selection Process)
  • January to February Selection Process (General Selection Process / Special Selection Process for Working Individuals)

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

If you have any questions about the application process, please check the information in this application guideline before contacting us, and inquire at the contact information in “11. Contact Us”.

Security Export Control

The University of Tsukuba has established the University of Tsukuba Rules on Security Export Control in accordance with the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA), and conducts strict examinations for acceptance of international students etc. International applicants who fall under any of the conditions set out in said regulations may be unable to enter their desired program.

[IMPORTANT] Procedures for “Deemed Export” for Security Export Control

In order to strengthen the prevention of leakage of sensitive technology related to security, “deemed export control” was clarified and related laws and regulations were revised (effective May 1, 2022).
As a result, our university has decided to require all applicants to our graduate school to confirm the applicability of Specific Categories.
Please review the link below and check the corresponding items on the web application system.

・Procedures for “Deemed Export” for Security Export Control

Application Process Overview Chart

Check your qualifications!

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

  • Individuals who have graduated or expect to graduate from a four-year university in Japan by enrollment
  • 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 enrollment
  • Others
    〈For more details, please click here.〉
 
(B) Eligibility Screening is required for the following individuals:
  • Individuals who have graduated from a junior college or an upper secondary school as latest academic background
  • Individuals who have graduated from a vocational school or a similar school as latest academic background
  • Individuals who have graduated from a university of a foreign country that requires less than 16 years of a school curriculum
  • Others
    〈For more details, please click here.〉
 
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.

【International Public Policy】
Please be sure to contact the prospective supervisor before applying and obtain his/her informal consent to be your supervisor if you are accepted.
   
   
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】

  • July Selection Process： May 22, 2025
  • October Selection Process： August 28, 2025
  • January to February Selection Process： November 25, 2025
 
Applicants Who Need Assistance

If you need assistance at the time of the entrance examination due to disability, contact us by the following dates:
We may not be able to accommodate your request for consideration.

    【Due Dates】

  • July Selection Process： May 22, 2025
  • October Selection Process： August 28, 2025
  • January to February Selection Process： November 25, 2025
Web Entry

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

    【Application Period】

  • July Selection Process： May 23, 2025 (from noon JST) – June 3, 2025 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • October Selection Process： September 1, 2025 (from noon JST) – September 11, 2025 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • January to February Selection Process： December 1, 2025 (from noon JST) – December 11, 2025 (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”. From the next 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. Degree Program / Applicant’s Information
  2. Supervisor
  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 MEXT 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 “webentry.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】

  • July Selection Process： May 23, 2025 (from noon JST) – June 3, 2025 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • October Selection Process： September 1, 2025 (from noon JST) – September 11, 2025 (by 3 p.m. JST)
  • January to February Selection Process： December 1, 2025 (from noon JST) – December 11, 2025 (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 or by bringing them to the Graduate School Affairs, Academic Service Office for the Humanities and Social Sciences Area no later than the due date specified below.
Your application will not be accepted if your documents are not submitted by the due date or if they are incomplete.

    【Due Dates】

  • July Selection Process： June 4, 2025 (must arrive)
  • October Selection Process： September 12, 2025 (must arrive)
  • January to February Selection Process： December 12, 2025 (must arrive)

Note: If you bring your documents to the office, the closing time is 5:00 p.m. on each due date.

Information and Instructions for Examinees

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

    【Estimated Release Dates】

  • July Selection Process： June 16, 2025
  • October Selection Process： September 24, 2025
  • January to February Selection Process： January 8, 2026
Examination Dates
  • July Selection Process： July 4, 2025
  • October Selection Process： October 9-10, 2025
  • January to February Selection Process： January 29-30, 2026

Click here to check the availability of past examination papers.
Announcement of Admission Results
  • July Selection Process： July 18, 2025
  • October Selection Process： October 31, 2025
  • January to February Selection Process： February 13, 2026

The examinee’s numbers of successful applicants will be posted on this website.
Letter of Acceptance will be issued online.
An email will be sent to the email address registered for the application from 10:00 a.m. on the day of acceptance announcement sequentially.
Please follow the instructions in that email to download Letter of Acceptance.
Documents for Enrollment

The information on Admission Procedures will be sent to successful applicants to the email address registered for the application.

Please follow the instructions in that email to conduct the admission procedures.

    Date to send email: For entrants in October 2025

  • The notification will be sent on the day of the Acceptance Announcement (July 18, 2025).
    Date to send email: For entrants in April 2026

  • Successful applicants for except January-February Selection Process：Mid-January to Mid-February 2026 (scheduled)
  • Successful applicants for the January to February Selection Process：February 13, 2026
Procedure for Enrollment

Documents must be submitted by the following due dates for each enrollment period.

  • Due Date for Enrollment in October 2025: August 22, 2025
  • Due Date for Enrollment in April 2026: March 3, 2026
Entrance
  • October 1, 2025 or April 1, 2026