Admission Policy (AP)

1. Desired Applicants
In keeping with our educational philosophy, goals of education and research, Diploma Policy (DP), and Curriculum Policy (CP), we seek students who possess the following qualities and characteristics, whom we can develop into individuals capable of engaging in the discovery, explanation, foreseeing, and resolution of various global issues existing in society of the 21st century.

(1) A basic knowledge related to the specialized field of the humanities and social sciences.

(2) An awareness of issues that compels them to set forth their own vision for seeking breakthrough in the status quo.

(3) The motivation to widely share the fruits of their university studies, executing plans after drawing a cross-disciplinary linkage between knowledge and people based on an understanding and sensitivity toward people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

2. Basic Applicant Selection Policy
Two types of entrance examinations are conducted by the department: a general entrance examination and an entrance examination for international students. Please do not fail to contact your prospective supervisor in advance before submitting your application. Consult them fully about your entrance examination, the content of your research, and the language in which guidance will be provided.

3. Applicant Selection Method
In the general entrance examination and entrance examination for international students, we select students who possess the required basic knowledge in their specialized field for receiving a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary education in the humanities and social sciences. They must also have an awareness of issues, which compels them to set forth their own vision in relation to various global humanity and social science issues in the 21st century. The entrance examinations comprehensively assess the application documents and the scores of the written test and oral test. When doing so, research plans, graduation thesis, and other papers as well as academic transcripts are used as basic materials for the oral test.

Table for the selection method

Evaluation method for required aptitude and its relative weight
(most prioritized: ++, prioritized: +)

General Entrance Examination(For Japanese Citizens Only)

Entrance Examination for International Students *April 2024 Entrance

Enrollee selection is a comprehensive assessment based on an evaluation of submitted application documents, the written test score and the oral test score. However, applicants will not be accepted if their is a significantly low score in any of the evaluation items in the oral test.

1. July examination:
(1)Written test (specialized subject (in the humanities and social sciences) and Japanese language)
Written tests are conducted to determine an applicant’s basic knowledge of their specialized field in the humanities and social sciences as well as their basic skills in the Japanese language. This is to confirm whether they are at the level of academic ability required for studying at this graduate school.

(2)Oral test (oral interview regarding the application documents)
Based on their research plan and other submitted documents, examinees are first asked to present a summary of their research theme and plan (i.e., give a presentation). Q&A session follows, and examinees are assessed in both Japanese and English on their basic knowledge regarding their specialized field along with such innate qualities as awareness toward issues, and drive as well as communication skills and cooperativeness, which are required in practical situations in the humanities and social sciences.

2. February examination:
Selection Type A
(1)Written test (Japanese language)
Written tests are conducted to determine whether the applicant has the basic academic skills in the Japanese language required for studying at this graduate school.

(2)Oral test (oral interview regarding the application documents)
Based on submitted documents, such as research proposal and graduation thesis, the examinee is first asked to make a presentation of a summary of the research theme and plan . Q&A session follows, and the examinee is assessed in Japanese on the expected competency such as basic knowledge regarding the specialized field, awareness of the issues, communication skill and cooperativeness, which are required in practical situations in the humanities and social sciences.

Selection Type B
Only applicants who wish to have an academic supervisor listed as accepting students who will complete their program in English only, as shown in the list of academic supervisors and main research themes on pages 16 to 18, Section III, may apply for Selection Type B.

(1) Written test(English language)
Written tests are conducted to determine whether the applicant has the basic academic skills in the English language required for studying at this graduate school.

For Written tests (English language), the applicant must select one of the following test methods.

(2)Oral test (oral interview regarding the application documents)
Based on submitted documents, such as research proposals and graduation thesis, the examinee is first asked to make a presentation of a summary of their research theme and plan. Q&A session follows, and the examinee is assessed on the expected competency such as basic knowledge regarding the specialized field, awareness of the issues, communication skill and cooperativeness, which are said to be required in practical situations in the humanities and social sciences in English.

3. Application period: