【Applicants Who Have Completed (or Are Expected to Complete) a Graduate Program at a Japanese Institution】
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.
Note: If you are unable to submit the original certificates within the application period due to residing overseas or other unavoidable circumstances, please contact the office listed below in advance.
Place to Submit:
SIGMA Office, University of Tsukuba (See “13. Contact Us.”)
[Applicants Who Have Completed (or Are Expected to Complete) a Graduate Program at an Overseas Institution]
Applicants who have completed, or are expected to complete, a graduate program at an overseas institution and are unable to submit documents by postal mail may be permitted to take the entrance examination by submitting PDF copies of the following documents by email:
• Academic transcript
• Certificate of completion (or expected completion)
• Certificate of master’s degree conferral (including an expected degree conferral certificate)
• TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, or other English proficiency test score documents
• Proof of payment of the application fee
Applicants who wish to submit certificates and other documents by email must check the designated box in the online application system and send PDF copies of the required documents to the address below.
Submission Address:
g-sigma@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
SIGMA Office, University of Tsukuba
Note: Original copies of the academic transcript, certificate of completion, and certificate of master’s degree conferral are still required. Therefore, these original documents must be submitted either by postal mail or in person to the office below before completing the enrollment procedures. Applicants whose original documents cannot be verified before the enrollment procedures will not be permitted to enroll.
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
Contact Office:SIGMA Office, University of Tsukuba
Location: Research Building A (7th Floor), Central Area 2 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday except national holidays and the year-end/New year holiday.
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.
Documents Required for Application (Certificates etc. to be obtained by the applicant)
The original documents must be submitted by registered mail or brought to the office. A copy of the original cannot be accepted.
Note: Applicants who have completed (or are expected to complete) a graduate program at an overseas institution and are unable to submit documents by postal mail may submit certificates and other required documents in PDF format by email.
*If your current name is different from that on the documents you submit (e.g. because of marriage), submit proof of your name change (e.g. a copy of your marriage certificate).
*Applicants must submit certificates with an original official seal (of the university that issued the document), signatures or authorization stamp.
*Certificates must be issued in Japanese or English. If the university does not issue certificates in Japanese or English, please submit a translation certified by official institutions (embassy, notary public, etc.) together with the original certificate issued by the university.
*If you wish to register under your maiden name, you can apply for the use of your maiden name during the enrolment procedure.
| Documents | Who must submit | Instructions |
| Letter of Recommendation | Applicants to Innovative Legal Studies | The letter of recommendation must be prepared responsibly by the applicant’s academic supervisor at their current university/institution or by a person who is able to evaluate the applicant’s academic qualifications, and must be submitted in a sealed envelope. Letter of Recommendation (Legal) D * If the recommender (e.g., academic supervisor) submits the letter of recommendation directly, submission by email is permitted. Please send the document to the following email address: ils-sigma@un.tsukuba.ac.jp(SIGMA Office, University of Tsukuba) |
| (Expected) Graduation Certificate* | All applicants | Submit a certificate of completion (or an attested document certifying that you will complete your current program) issued by a university or other educational institution that meets the application requirements for the Doctoral Programs of this Graduate School. (All documents must be in English or Japanese.) * If the certificate (original) is issued online by an overseas university graduate, a ‘copy of the page and the URL’ of the official website of the issuing institution (university) must be attached to the certificate to confirm that the certificate is an ‘online certificate = original’. * Applicants who have completed a graduate program at an overseas institution and wish to submit certificates in PDF format by email should follow the procedures described under “Applicants Who Have Completed (or Are Expected to Complete) a Graduate Program at an Overseas Institution” in “7. Section 7, Documents to Be Submitted, Reference Card etc.” Note: If the relevant certificate is not issued by the overseas university or institution, please ask the institution to prepare and issue it using the form provided below. ・Expected Graduation Certificate Sample * For graduates of Chinese universities, see ‘Note 2 and Note 3 below’. |
| (Expected) Degree Certificate* | Applicants who completed or will complete a graduate program outside Japan | *If you have completed or complete a graduate program outside Japan, submit a certificate (degree certificate etc.) verifying that you have received or expect to receive a master’s degree. All documents must be in English or Japanese. * If the certificate (original) is issued online, a ‘copy of the page and the URL’ of the official website of the issuing institution (university) must be attached to the certificate to confirm that the certificate is an ‘online certificate = original’. Also, applicants who wish to submit certificates in PDF format by email should follow the procedures described under “Applicants Who Have Completed (or Are Expected to Complete) a Graduate Program at an Overseas Institution” in “7. Documents to Be Submitted, Reference Card etc. Note: If the relevant certificate is not issued by the overseas university or institution, please ask the institution to issue the certificate using the sample form provided below. ・Expected Degree Certificate Sample * For graduates of Chinese universities, see ‘Note 2 and Note 3 below’. |
| Academic Transcript* | All applicants | Submit an academic transcript (the official record of your courses and grades etc.) issued by a university or other educational institution that meets the application requirements for the Doctoral Programs of this Graduate School. * If the certificate (original) is issued online by an overseas university graduate, a ‘copy of the page and the URL’ of the official website of the issuing institution (university) must be attached to the certificate to confirm that the certificate is an ‘online certificate = original’. Note: Applicants who have completed a graduate program at an overseas institution and wish to submit certificates in PDF format by email should follow the procedures described under “Applicants Who Have Completed (or Are Expected to Complete) a Graduate Program at an Overseas Institution” in “7. Documents to Be Submitted, Reference Card etc. * For graduates of Chinese universities, see ‘Note 2 and Note 3 below’. |
Verification of the TOEIC Official Score Certificate, TOEIC Digital Official Score Certificate, TOEFL Test Taker Score Report, or IELTS Official Score Report Score validity period: • For the October Selection Process: tests taken in or after October 2024 • For the January-February Selection Process: tests taken in or after January 2025 | All applicants(If English is your native language or the language of instruction for your higher education, please follow the instructions in the left column.) | Please review the “Policy on External English Proficiency Test Scores” and submit the relevant score document. Applicants whose native language is English, or who have obtained or are expected to obtain a degree from an educational program in which English is the primary language of instruction, may be exempt from submitting English proficiency test scores. For details, please contact the SIGMA Office. Note: Applicants who have completed a graduate program at an overseas institution and wish to submit certificates in PDF format by email may also submit their English proficiency test score reports by email. |
| Master’s thesis, academic papers, etc. | Applicants for the Innovative Legal Studies and Social Ecology | Applicants are required to submit either a master’s thesis or one academic paper of equivalent quality. The equivalent academic paper is not required to be a published work and may be prepared specifically for and submitted as part of this application. |
| Research Plan | Applicants for the Innovative Legal Studies, Social Ecology and Co-creative Next-Generation Energy | 〇Applicants for the Innovative Legal Studies and Social Ecology must prepare their research proposal in accordance with the preparation guidelines for their intended degree program as stated on the designated cover sheet, and submit it together with the designated cover sheet. Note: There is no prescribed format for the main body of the research proposal. The research proposal, including the cover sheet, must be submitted as a PDF file. ・Research Plan Cover Sheet 〇Applicants to Co-creative Next-Generation Energy are required to submit a research plan describing the research they intend to pursue after enrollment and the proposed plan for conducting it. The research plan must clearly state the applicant’s name, research topic, and preferred supervisor. There is no designated format; however, it must be prepared on A4-size paper in portrait orientation and written horizontally, within 2,000 Japanese characters or 1,000 English words. Note: However, among applicants who have graduated from an overseas university or equivalent institution, those who wish to submit certificates by email (PDF format) may also submit their research plan by email. |
| Research Outline | Applicants for the Co-creative Next-Generation Energy | Submit an outline of your current research by the application deadline. Your outline should be no longer than 4 pages, corresponding to about 4,000 characters in Japanese or 2,000 words in English. Attach the designated cover for the “Research Outline” to your outline. 〈For the designated cover for the “Research Outline,” visit here. (Word) 〉 |
| Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) of Examination Fee Statement | Applicants who make a convenience store payment (*Refer to “5. Examination Fee.”) | After payment, detach the Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) from the Examination Fee Statement given to you at the convenience store. Then affix the Receipt Portion to the designated form (a PDF you will create online and print out after you complete the Web Entry procedures) and submit the form. |
| Copy of “Application Completed” Page for Examination Fee Payment by Credit Card | Applicants who make a credit card payment (*Refer to “5. Examination Fee.”) | After online payment, print out the “Application Completed” page, and submit it. Note: Applicants who have completed graduate studies at an overseas university and wish to receive the certificate (PDF) via e-mail may also submit proof of payment of the application fee via e-mail. |
| Letter of Approval for Entrance Exam (no designated form) | Applicable Applicants: - Individuals currently enrolled in a university or graduate school (excluding those who are expected to graduate or complete their program before enrollment at this University)
- Individuals currently employed in a full-time position
| - A Letter of Authorization for Entrance Examination and Enrollment issued by the president (or head) of the applicant’s current university or institution.
- Applicants who intend to withdraw from their current university and enroll in this University may submit a statement signed by themselves indicating such intention in place of the Letter of Authorization for Entrance Examination and Enrollment.
(Any format accepted; A4 size) Moushitate Sample |
| Certificate of Government-Sponsored (Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship) Foreign Student | If applicable | If you are enrolled in another university at the time of application, submit the certificate of the government-sponsored (Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship) foreign student issued by the university. |
(Note 1) 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.
(Note 2) Substitution of the original English version of the Academic Credentials verification report issued by the ‘China Higher education Information and Student Information (CHSI (Japan))’ is acceptable.
(Note 3) For those who have completed the 「自学考試(本科)」and obtained a degree, the original transcript and degree certificate issued by the institution conducting the 「自学考試」must be submitted. Applications from applicants who have not yet completed the 「自学考試」are not accepted.
PDF to Be Created After Completing Web Entry
| Documents | Created for | Remarks |
| Reference Card | All applicants | Print out the Reference Card with your photograph and bring the card to the venue with you on the examination day. (The PDF can be generated only during the online application entry period. Please make sure to print all required documents before the deadline.) See “1. Schedule.” |
| Address Sheet | Applicants who submit documents by postal mail | Attach the address sheet to your envelope and submit the originals of your required documents by registered mail or bringing them to SIGMA Office. 【Due Dates】 See “1. Schedule.” Note: If you bring your documents to the office, the closing time is 5:00 p.m. on each due date. |
| Form for Submission of the Certificate of Payment of Application Fee | Applicants who make a convenience store payment | Attach the Receipt Portion (Certificate of Payment) of the Examination Fee Statement to this form and submit it to us by registered mail or by bringing to SIGMA Office, University of Tsukuba. |
*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. Also, we will use the data to screen students for scholarships from the Japan Student Services Organization, which are offered to individuals who have completed the enrollment procedures.
*Applicants who have any questions regarding the application process should contact the office indicated in “13. Contact Us.”
*If any false information or falsification is discovered in the application documents, or if there is clear evidence of misconduct during the examination, the applicant’s acceptance may be revoked and admission may be cancelled.