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Admissions Policy & Selection Process

-Preferred applicant profiles, selection methods, and objective standards-

The Graduate School has several applicant selection methods in place, and aims to accept students with diverse talents in order to realize its educational objectives. More specifically, the Graduate School proactively evaluates and accepts students who possess the attitude and talents to engage positively with global issues, such as: 1) a comprehensive interest in problems and broad foundational knowledge of global society beyond the specialist domain, 2) communication skills enabling an active role in global scenarios, 3) a strong willingness to address problem solving beyond the boundaries of the field and in academia.

In order to accept students fitting the above profile, the graduate school adopts several selection methods and when selecting applicants gives serious consideration to: 1) foundational academic capability in the specialist field, 2) appropriate Japanese (or English) proficiency for communicating his/her own interests in problems and ideas to others, 3) an inclination and desire to grapple positively with new issues. We also welcome adult learners and overseas students within our student quota.

Master’s program selection methods

As several methods of selection, there are 1) the general selection, the special selection for adult learners and the special selection for overseas students as well as 2) for international courses (for entry in October), all held twice a year in summer and winter; 3) an individual screening exam, which individually screens particularly excellent candidates suited for this Graduate School.

  1. General selection, special selection for adult learners, and special selection for overseas students: Consists of written and oral examinations. The written examination includes a test in foreign languages and in the specialist subject. The foreign language section looks at foreign language comprehension and communication skills. The specialist subject measures knowledge and skills in the respective specialist field. The oral examination assesses general competencies such as the sharpness of issue awareness, appropriateness of framing issues, and problem-solving skills.
  2. International course entrance exam: For applicants to the international courses where degrees are obtainable through classes taught only in English, guidance through preliminary interviews and individual examinations will be conducted at the Kyushu University’s Ito Campus and at Kyushu University’s overseas offices (e.g. the California Office).
  3. Individual screening exam: Students possessing talents and accomplishments of particular excellence suited for this Graduate School will be assessed via document screening, and via scholastic aptitude tests that are individually set and tailored to the respective student.
Doctoral program selection methods

Applicants for the doctoral program can enter the university in April or October, and the general selection, special selection for adult learners, special selection for overseas students and international course entrance exams are held twice, in the summer and winter. The entrance exam for the international course is conducted at the test-centers on Kyushu University’s Ito Campus and at Kyushu University’s overseas offices (e.g. the California Office).

The selection for the doctoral program is based on documentation such as the master’s dissertation or equivalent accomplishments, and transcript results, on the scholastic aptitude test and verbal examination, and comprehensively gauges the capability to frame issues, knowledge of the specialist field and related areas, problem-solving skills, linguistic abilities, and expression skills.