Graduate School of Arts and Design Doctoral Degree Course Admission for International Students 2024 Spring

■Pre-Interview (事前面談)

Before applying to Kobe DU Graduate School, all applicants need to obtain consent from a mentoring professor. Applicants will firstly need to contact us before the entry period starts, then submit the necessary documents to arrange a pre-interview. Please find more details on page 3 and 4 in 2024 Kobe DU Graduate School Admission booklet.

1. Number of Openings (募集人員)

Limited to a small number

2. Selection Process (選考方法)

1. Application Screening (Research Plan)
2. Presentation and Q&A (approx. 15mins)
   You have 15 minutes to present either your art works or thesis, followed by Q&A session.
3. Interview (approx. 10mins)
   You have 10 minutes Q&A session regarding your research plan, portfolio and art works or thesis.
4. English Written Test (90mins)
   Applicants are permitted to use the following paper dictionaries.
   Japanese⇔English, Vernacular language⇔English, Vernacular Language⇔Japanese, Japanese⇔Japanese

NOTE：

• Applicants have approx. 5mins to set up a portfolio, art works, thesis and others.
• The entrance examination will be held at Kobe Design University. All applicants will be individually notified the specific time and place for the entrance examination.

3. What To Bring (持参物等)

Type1: Presenting your art works
　Applicants need to bring items (a) and (b), and present them.
　(a) One portfolio to present your previous researching activities and achievements in the related field
　(b) Three different themed art works which you designed or created

Type2: Presenting your thesis
　Applicants need to bring items (a), (b) and (c), and present them.
　(a) One portfolio to present your previous researching activities and achievements in the related field
　(b) One or more self-written theses
　(c) One or more explanation display panels

4. Eligibility (出願資格)

Eligibility extends to applicants who do not have Japanese nationality and meet one of the following criteria from 1 to 7 as well as meeting the criteria 8.

1. Those who have received Master’s degree or professional degree from a university in Japan, or are expecting to receive it before the end of March 2024.
2. Those who have received Master’s degree or professional degree from a university outside Japan, or are expecting to receive it before the end of March 2024.
3. Those who have had a correspondence education that a foreign school performs in Japan and have received Master’s degree or professional degree, or are expecting to receive it before the end of March 2024.
4. Those who have completed a foreign school’s education in Japan which is designated by MEXT to be equivalent to a foreign graduate school, and have received Master’s degree or professional degree, or are expecting to receive it before the end of March 2024.
5. Those who have completed an education at United Nations University, and have received a degree equivalent to Master’s degree, or are expecting to receive it before the end of March 2024.
6. Those who are designated by MEXT.
7. Those who are 24 years or older, and are recognized by the individual eligibility screening at Kobe DU as having qualifications equivalent or superior to Master’s degree. *Applicants need to contact Office of Graduate School in advance.
8. Those who have a certificate of (1) and / or (2)
   (1) N2 in JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
   (2) Score of 220 or above in Japanese EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)

※MEXT: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology.
※Kobe DU: Kobe Design University

5. Application Documents (出願書類)

1. Application Form*
2. Research Plan*
3. Outline of your Master’s thesis
4. Thesis (if you choose to present your thesis as a selection process)
   ※If the thesis is written in a language other than Japanese, a summary in Japanese (more than 1,200 words) needs to be attached.
5. Certificate of Completion or Expected Completion from the graduate school
6. Certificate of Master’s Degree or Expected Master’s Degree (if you graduated or expect to graduate from the graduate school outside Japan)
7. Official Undergraduate School Transcript
8. Official Graduate School (Master’s degree course) Transcript
9. A self-addressed return envelope* and a 400yen-registered express mail stamp attached
10. Japanese Language Certificate (Original) (1) and/or (2)
    (1) N2 in JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
    (2) Score of 220 or above in Japanese EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)
    ※Kobe-DU accepts Score Confirmation Report taken within last 4 sessions. Applicants for Schedule A: 2nd session in 2021, 1st session in 2022, 2nd session in 2022, 1st session in 2023. Applicants for Schedule B:1st session in 2022, 2nd session in 2022, 1st session in 2023, 2nd session in 2023.
11. Certificate of Residence (if you live in Japan) or copy of all pages of your passport (if you apply from outside Japan)
12. Certificate of MEXT Scholarship (if you are a MEXT Scholarship student)

*Please use Kobe DU prescribed forms.

NOTE:

• All the documents must be written in Japanese by applicants with a black ink pen.
• All the certificates should be written in Japanese or English. If not, please translate them in Japanese and obtain translation certificates from public institutions.
• Items 5 and 8 must be submitted within 6 months of the issue date if you have completed or are expecting to complete a graduate school in Japan.
• Item 7 must be submitted within 6 months of the issue date if you have graduated from a university in Japan.
• Items 11, Certificate of Residence, must be submitted within 3 months of the issue date.
• Applicants are responsible for paying postage to submit application documents.
• Applicants are responsible for paying Entrance Examination Fee (30,000yen) as well as bank transfer fees.

6. Schedule for the Procedures for the year 2024 (日程)

* Application documents must be arrived by the end of the application period if you reside outside Japan.

NOTE:

• Entrance Examination fee is 30,000yen.
• Information relating to enrollment procedures will be sent to successful candidates.
• Applicants who are admitted to Kobe Design University must register and pay an entrance fee.

7. Annual Tuition Fee (学費)

(Japanese YEN)

*Educational Support Association Fee (20,000yen), Students Forum Fee (20,000yen) and Alumni Organization Fee (10,000yen) are required at the time of enrollment.
*The fees do not include personal expenses for travels, books or materials.

8.Note (その他)

• Applicants residing outside Japan should contact the Admission Office regarding the admission procedure and information materials.
• Japanese language proficiency is essential. All application materials and examinations are in Japanese
• All lectures are taught in Japanese only.
• Japanese language classes for foreign students (at the undergraduate school) and a tutoring system by senior students are available at Kobe DU.
• Kobe Design University has no dormitory but apartments dedicated for Kobe DU students are available for international students. (The number of rooms is limited.)
• The Academic year starts in April.
• This page only provides basic information. Applicants must read the full guideline on our Japanese website.
  https://gsad.kobe-du.ac.jp/
• In case you find yourself infected with virus or flu which is established by School Health and Safety Act, please contact the Office of Graduate School by the day before the entrance examination. Examination fee is refundable under certain conditions.

9. Honors Students (特待生制度)

The Graduate School offers a first-year honors student program, which refunds half of the first-year annual tuition (325,000yen) for academically outstanding students directly from Kobe DU Graduate School (Master’s degree course).
For the second and third-year honors students, there is another program allowing a refund of half of the annual tuition (325,000yen) for those who are selected from among all graduated school students on the basis of the previous year’s achievement.

10. Contact

Kobe Design University
Office of Graduate School
Email: gsad-nyushi@kobe-du.ac.jp