Admission Policy

Desired student qualities

The Department of Polar Science expects enrolling students: to have a strong interest in the natural phenomena that occur in polar regions, to understand the objectives of the Department of Polar Science and to have the ambition to tackle the problems they wish to solve by means of theoretical study, observation-based research and experiment-based research.

Basic concepts of selection system for admission

5-year Doctoral Program

• Students from any academic background based on natural science are encouraged to apply.
• Selection is based on written exams, document screening and personal interviews, to make a comprehensive assessment of the basic capacity required to earn the degree.
• Written exams are held to test short essay writing, English-language ability and on specialized subjects.
• Short essays are assessed for the ability to think logically and the ability to convey one’s research to others.
• English exams are intended to assess whether applicants have sufficient English-language skill to pursue and make presentations of research work.
• The exams on specialized subjects include questions on physics, chemistry, Earth science and biology, to assess whether applicants have basic academic competence in their field of specialization.
• In document screening and personal interviews, applicants are comprehensively evaluated for the logic of their written and spoken expression, for their desire to conduct research, their ability to conduct research, their research plans and their outlook for the future.

3-year Doctoral Program

• Students from any academic background based on natural science are encouraged to apply.
• Selection is based on document screening and personal interviews, to make a comprehensive assessment of the basic capacity required to earn the degree, in terms of logic of written and spoken expression, uniqueness of research plans and potential for future development.

Past Entrance Exam Questions for Admission to the Department of Polar Science

Past Entrance Exam Questions for Admission to the Department of Polar Science (in Japanese)

* Due to copyright issues some excerpts from the exams are not included here. If you wish to see omitted questions, please come to view them in person at NIPR

Department of Polar Science Selection for Admission Statistics

The upper figure is for the 5-year integrated program (admission in year 1); the lower figure is for the traditional doctoral program (admission in year 3).

* Total for April and October admission selection