Application

Guidelines
2024
University of Tsukuba
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
Degree Program in International Public Policy

University of Tsukuba Aims of the Program

The main goals of the program are:

Academic Environment 1. To foster human resources to promote a better

Established in October 1973, the University of understanding of SDGs as well as the associated
Tsukuba has inherited the history and tradition down problems pertaining to Central Asia, Azerbaijan,
from its predecessor (Tokyo University of Education), and Georgia (applicants from Georgia are eligible,
which was founded in 1872. As the first subject to final approval by the funding institution).
comprehensive university in Japan to be established 2. To reinforce the networks between Eurasia and
under a nation-wide university reform plan, the Japan through the goals mentioned above.
University of Tsukuba emphasizes openness in higher
education. It offers students a new system of Program Content
education and research through its New University The program is promoted by the Graduate School of
administration. Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
In addition to its leading position in university reform, of the University of Tsukuba.
the University of Tsukuba plays a major role as the First, students enroll in the MA Program, which offers
prime academic facility in Tsukuba Science City, which more than 50 courses in English, and develops
is the home of many of the nation’s top research international, interdisciplinary, and problem-oriented
institutions. We strive to maintain an exceptional level approach to the understanding of a specific country or
of education and research, to foster our university’s an area.
unique character, and to create an internationally
competitive academic institution. Structure of the Program
The University of Tsukuba offers undergraduate
The program consists of a 1.5-year Master’s Program.
degrees and at the graduate level, master’s, doctoral,
Over the course of their studies, students will have an
and professional degree programs.
opportunity to receive their education using English-
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities
language-based curriculum in addition to having an
and Social Sciences is the only institution in Japan that
opportunity to enroll in complimentary Japanese
offered a combined program for MA and PhD degrees
language education. By the end of their studies,
with a specific focus on Eurasian region. This program
students are expected to become leading specialists
heavily built upon successful experience of conducting
in the chosen area of their specialization. The
training and research within Special Program for
curriculum of the program features, among other
Central Asian Countries established in the University
subjects, seminars conducted by JICA, UN, ADB and
of Tsukuba in 2006.
governmental agencies, colloquiums based on
collaborative research projects and internships at the
Master of Arts Graduate Japanese companies. Those graduating from this
program will be in a position to seek employment in
Program in Sustainable the academic and research institutions, UN agencies,
Development Goals governmental institutions and corporate community.

Background of the Program Collaboration with Nippon Foundation

This English-language program is a unique program Central Asia – Japan Human
offering students MA degree. It is intended for students Resource Development Project
from the Eurasian region: Central Asia, Azerbaijan,
The program offers students to join “Nippon
and Georgia (applicants from Georgia are eligible,
Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human Resource
subject to final approval by the funding institution).
Development Project”. The project has been launched
Classes, guidance, and writing theses and
in January 2019, sponsored by The Nippon
dissertations are conducted in English. Areas of
Foundation, to foster human resources, who will
expertise consist of various subjects related to the
contribute to achieve “Sustainable Development
humanities and social sciences disciplines including
Goals (SDGs)” of Central Asian region. Those
the fields of Japanese, Eurasian, and International
applicants who demonstrate outstanding abilities will
Studies. The graduates of the program are expected
be “Nippon Foundation Central Asia-Japan Human
to contribute to the understanding of SDGs and their
Resource Development Project” and awarded
implementations as well as to play active roles in the
scholarships. The project provides special courses for
educational and research institutes of their home
understanding main ideas of SDGs and its
countries.
implementation in Japan and Central Asian region.

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University of Tsukuba
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
Degree Program in International Public Policy

Note: Please note that those selected for the program

and eventually awarded Nippon Foundation fellowship a. The applicant is already the recipient of a
awards will be required to participate in the events scholarship from an organization other than the
organized for the fellows and submit their reports Nippon Foundation.
about these events. In addition, the information b. The applicant is considered a “future graduate’
regarding the details of the fellows such as their and selected as such, is unable to graduate
names, short biographies as well as their activities with within the present date or unable to fulfill
their photos is to be published online and distributed graduation requirements.
widely as a part of promotional activities of the
program. Also, the photos and videos of events
organized for the fellows will be made public on the Enrollment Quota
website. Thus, those who apply for the fellowship need This program admits up to 10 students per year. Those
to be aware that their application for the fellowship applicants who demonstrate outstanding abilities will
is considered to be their consent to the conditions be awarded up to 10 scholarships of Nippon
above. Foundation (subject to availability and approval of
funds by the funding institution).
Those who qualify for the program but unable to
Language of Instruction secure a scholarship of Nippon Foundation will be
English is the main language of instruction for this admitted into the program as privately financed
program. students. They will be responsible for the costs of their
tuition and residence in Japan over the period of their
Degrees Obtained studies.
Students will receive an MA degree in International
Public Policy at the Graduate School of Business Enrollment Date
Sciences, Humanities and Socials Sciences at the October 1, 2024.
University of Tsukuba.
Scholarship (Nippon Foundation
Central Asia-Japan Human Resource
Admissions Development Project)
Eligibility Those demonstrating outstanding abilities will be
1. Nationality. Applicants must be from Kazakhstan, awarded the following scholarships (up to 10
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, scholarships per year, subject to availability and
Azerbaijan, or Georgia (applicants from Georgia approval of funds by the funding institution) on a
are eligible, subject to final approval by the funding competitive basis. Amount of scholarship is 113,350
institution). yen/month (MA students). This amount is subject to
2. Age. Applicants who have been born on or after change.
April 2, 1985.
3. Educational background. Applicants who have an
undergraduate degree and who have completed 16 Travel Expenses
years of school education. Each grantee of the Nippon Foundation Central Asia-
4. Language Qualifications (proofs will only be Japan Human Resource Development Project under
requested during the second stage of the this program will be provided with an airplane ticket
application process). Applicants must demonstrate from the international airport nearest to his/her home
their English language proficiency by submitting address in his/her home country to Narita International
scores in English Language Proficiency Tests Airport.
(TOEFL IBT 80, TOEFL CBT 230, TOEFL PBT 500, Upon completion, the grantee will be provided with an
IELTS 6.0). The scores provided above are airplane ticket if he/she returns to his/her home
approximate, i.e. each applicant’s ability will be country during the designated period of time.
checked and considered on a case-by-case basis.
5. Arrival in Japan. Applicants must be able to arrive
to Japan by the last week of September 2024.
6. Other. Any applicant who falls under the following
conditions is not eligible. If identified after the
commencement of the scholarship period, the
applicant will be required to withdraw from the
scholarship.

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University of Tsukuba
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
Degree Program in International Public Policy

Application Documents exams. Those who are selected for the second stage
will be informed individually. However, due to the high
There are several stages of the application as below. volume of applications, the Selection Committee
cannot acknowledge the receipt of applications or
First Stage (Fellowship application): The notify those who are not selected for the interview
completion and submission of the Preliminary stage.
Application Form is the first stage of application After the first stage of application screening, the faculty
process. The preliminary application form should be members of the University of Tsukuba will conduct
sent to the following address: interviews with the semi-finalists (those who proceed
to the second stage of screening). Successful
E-Mail: spca-info@[Link] applicants will then have their files reviewed for final
approval and related procedures at the University of
Second Stage (Program application): Additional Tsukuba.
documents will need to be submitted by those
applicants who passed the first stage. An interview
and an exam conducted in the applicant’s home Tentative Application Time Schedule
country constitutes the second stage of screening. First Stage: Fellowship application process
Each applicant should bring all related documents
(certifying statements of academic and professional November 6, 2023 – Program is officially announced
background and authenticated English proficiency (Preliminary application form and application
certificate [TOEFL, IELTS, GRE etc.]) on the interview guidelines will be available through the Program
day or send them by post to the following address. Website: [Link]
SPJES, Special Program in Japanese and ↓
Eurasian Studies,
Degree Program in International Public Policy, January 15, 2024 – Deadline for the preliminary
Graduate School of Business Sciences, application and the first stage screening of the
Humanities and Social Sciences, application at the University of Tsukuba
University of Tsukuba
Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken ↓
JAPAN 305-8571
E-Mail: spca-info@[Link] February-March 2024 – Interviews/exams by the
commissioning faculty members of the University of
Tsukuba
Application Checklist for the Second Stage
*These are to be submitted by those applicants who
passed the first stage of application process.
Second stage: Program application process
 Program application form (to be provided for those Mid-April 2024 - Additional Documents to be submitted
who passed the first stage)
↓
 8 photographs (30x40mm)
Late April 2024 - Second stage interviews/exams by
 Letter of Recommendation in sealed envelope. the commissioning faculty members of the University
of Tsukuba
 Official transcripts or official copies of diplomas from
all undergraduate and graduate institutions previously ↓
attended. *If you are currently studying at the
university, please submit a current transcript. May 2024 – Receiving an acceptance letter from the
University of Tsukuba
 TOEFL, IELTS, GRE etc. original score report. *The
test should be taken no earlier than 2 years prior the ↓
submission date of your application.
September 20-30, 2024 – Arriving in Japan

↓
Selection and Notice of Selection
Applicants will be selected based on a comprehensive October 1, 2024 – Enrolling in the M.A. Program in
assessment of their preliminary and program International Public Policy as full time students
applications, and the results of their interviews and
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University of Tsukuba
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
Degree Program in International Public Policy

Tuition and related fees (4) Satellite Room: An air-conditioned computer room
This program admits up to 10 students per year. Those (8A210) is available 24 hours per day. Students can
applicants who demonstrate outstanding abilities will use printers (up to 1200 sheets for free per year; may
be awarded scholarships of Nippon Foundation (up to be subject to change)
10 scholarships per year, subject to availability and (5) Mail Box
approval by the funding institution). (6) Personal Locker

Those who qualify for the program but unable to Faculty Members and Curriculum
secure a scholarship of Nippon Foundation will be For information about our faculty members, please
admitted into the program as privately financed check the program’s homepage:
students. They will be responsible for the costs of their
tuition and residence in Japan over the period of their [Link]
studies.
Contact Information
Student accommodation SPJES, Special Program in Japanese and Eurasian
Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to Studies
reside in the university residence halls. The monthly Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities
rent is approximately 15,380- 44,000 yen. and Social Sciences
University of Tsukuba
Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken JAPAN
305-8571
Campus Life E-Mail: spca-info@[Link]

Academic Calendar
1. Autumn Semester: October-March For more information, please visit the pages below:
Entrance Ceremony and Guidance: End of September
Orientation with Supervisors: Early October University Main Page:
Classes Begin: October 1 [Link]
University Festival: November 6-8 SPCEA website:
Winter Break: December 29-January 5 [Link]
Thesis Submission: Early January
Thesis Oral Defense: Mid-January
Last Day of Classes: Mid-February
Thesis Midterm Presentation: Mid-February-April
Spring Break: Mid-February-March 31

2. Spring Semester: April-September

Classes Begin: Early April
Last Day of Classes: Early August
Summer Break: Early August-September 30
Graduation Ceremony: End of September
These dates may be subject to modification and are
not legally binding. The Academic Calendar is also
available at
[Link]
calendar/[Link]

Student Facilities
Students will be able to benefit from the following
services:
(1) Tutor: A tutor will be arranged for each student.
They will help students with their life in Tsukuba.
(2) Copy Card (up to 1000 sheets for free per year;
may be subject to change).
(3) Study Room: The study room for SPJES students
is located in the building of Master’s Programs in
Humanities and Social Sciences.