The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences International Liaison Office

Prospective International Students

• About GSFS
• Degree-Seeking students
• Non Degree-seeking Students
• Living in Kashiwa
• Scholarships

African Development Bank – Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program

1. What is African Development Bank – Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program (JADS)?

JADS is a capacity building project organized by the African Development Bank and the government of Japan. They provide two-year scholarship awards to African students studying at master level at their designated institutions. Please check the JADS eligibility first in the following link.

JADS Details:
https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/japan-africa-dream-scholarship-jads-program

GSFS is one of the designated institutions for the JADS Program.

2. Applicable departments at GSFS

GSFS consists of three divisions, Transdisciplinary Sciences, Biosciences, and Environmental Studies. Only the Division of Environmental Studies has been appointed as an educational institution by AfDB.

The Division of Environmental Studies consists of six departments and one program.

Department of Natural Environmental Studies

Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment

Department of Environment Systems

Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies

Department of Socio – cultural Environment Studies

Department of International Studies

Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences – Global Leadership Program (GPSS-GLI)

* All classes at GPSS-GLI are conducted in English.

3. Steps for those who wish to study at GSFS with JADS scholarship

JADS requires applicants to obtain an acceptance letter from an institution where they wish to study. If you wish to study at GSFS, please follow the following steps.

–  Decide on the department and supervisor you wish to be supervised (see 5.)

–  Take an entrance examination

–  If you pass it, GSFS will issue an acceptance letter

–  Apply for a scholarship to JADS with your acceptance letter

–  If a JADS scholarship is granted and a student visa is issued successfully, you can study at GSFS

4. Academic calendar at GSFS

There are two semesters a year, summer and winter. The summer semester (S1-S2) starts on April 1, and the autumn semester (A1-A2) starts on October 1.

Academic Calendar

Students enroll in either April or October.

5. Decide department you wish to study

All master courses students at GSFS must conduct research and write a master thesis to graduate. Therefore, choosing a supervisor is very important prior to filing an application. Not only doctoral course applicants, but also master course applicants are requested to find a supervisor and contact him/her with your research plan, which you wish to do at GSFS, in order to discuss it. If the supervisor finds him/her unsuitable to act as your supervisor, he/she would turn down your application. The faculty’s contact information is on the respective department website. When contacting them by email, we suggest you introduce yourself, to tell what you want to study/research, and that you are going to take a Schedule A or B examination and apply for a scholarship to the African Development Bank.

Note that it is not necessary to obtain an agreement from GPSS-GLI to take the exam. Though it is advisable to contact them in advance. GPSS-GLI and students will decide on his/her supervisor through discussions after enrollment.

6. Entrance examinations at GSFS

There are two entrance exams a year, Schedule A and B.

If you wish to study at GPSS-GLI, sit for Schedule B examination. If you pass you will obtain an acceptance letter in February, 2022. Then consult and submit the letter to AfDB regarding the scholarship application for the October 2022 enrollment.

7. Examination methods

There are two exam methods, “Ordinary Exam” and “Special Selection for Applicants with Overseas Education”. If you have been educated in a country other than Japan until your undergraduate program, you are eligible to choose to take the “Special Selection for Applicants with Overseas Education”.

Please refer to the the Guidelines

In 2021, due to the entry restriction measures against covid-19 spread, most departments will conduct their examinations, that are “documents review”, “written exam” and “oral interview,” online. Please refer to the respective department website for the examination methods.

The following departments will not conduct “written exam” in the “Special Selection for Applicants with Overseas Education.

– Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies

– Department of International Studies

– Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences – Global Leadership Program (GPSS-GLI)

8. How to apply to take an examination

Please follow the website below.

Information on Entrance Examinations

Be sure to check both the guidelines, “Guidelines to Master Course” which applies to all applicants regardless of applying departments, and “Entrance Examination Guide” of the department you wish to apply to.

9. Immigration issue

International students must hold a student visa by the time they enter Japan.

Steps for visa process:

1. An acceptance letter will be issued after you pass the entrance examination
2. With the acceptance letter, proceed to apply for a JADS scholarship and obtain a certificate of scholarship from AfDB
3. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) through GSFS. Both an acceptance letter and scholarship certificate are necessary to apply for a CoE. It will take about two months until a CoE is issued.
4. Apply for a student visa at the Japanese Embassy in your country after you receive a CoE from us. Usually it takes a week to 10 days until a student visa is issued.
5. If a student visa is successfully issued, you will be able to enter Japan and enroll in GSFS.

10. Inquiry

International Liaison Office
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
The University of Tokyo

ilo[at]edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp (replace ‘[at]’ with @)