Are you interested in pursuing a PhD in Japan?
If so, you've come to the right place, as we have compiled some useful information for you regarding PhD programs in Japan, and the general PhD system in Japan.
The Japanese PhD system
The Japanese graduate school system is more similar to the European style than the American style. Graduate education in science and engineering consists of the 2-year Master's program followed by the 3-year PhD program. Graduate education in medicine and medical science typically consists of 2-year Master’s program followed by 4-year PhD program. In general, a Master's degree is required before entering a PhD program.If you are interested in a science graduate program, usually a student will contact a lab first. If the professor has space for a student, then he/she will encourage you to apply for the graduate program which is generally a written exam and also some form of an interview.
My feeling for the difficulty of admission to PhD programs in Japan is that it is not as difficult as U.S. graduate programs. The main reason being that in many cases students pay for the tuition for the graduate program. Therefore, there is no financial cost for taking on a graduate student.
Funding opportunities
In Japan, students generally pay for the tuition for graduate education.
The graduate student tuition for public universities is ¥535,800 per year. (Approximately USD $5000/year)
In contrast to European and American PhD systems which offer paid stipends and salaries, the Japanese financial support system for PhD students is not as widespread.
However, recent trends are promising, as some universities are waiving the tuition and providing basic salaries for PhD students.
There are also scholarship programs for international students that are supported by the Japanese government.
Monbukagakusho Scholarship
https://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-10.html
Other sources of financial support for international students are listed here:
The major funding system for PhD students are doctoral fellowships from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. International students can also apply for this fellowship if they do not have any other sources of funding.
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-pd/index.html
The success rate for this fellowship is about 20%.
Research assistantships (RA) and teaching assistantships (TA) can also supplement your income.
Notable Universities
In the U.S., private universities such as Harvard and Stanford are the most prestigious universities. However, in Japan, public universities are the most prestigious universities.
The top universities in Japan are known as the Imperial Universities, and consist of:
- University of Tokyo
- Kyoto University
- Tohoku University (Sendai, Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan)
- Kyushu University (Fukuoka, in Southern Japan)
- Osaka University
- Nagoya University
- Hokkaido University.
Among them, University of Tokyo is the most prestigious, followed by Kyoto University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Universities
The major tech/engineering university is:
- Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Some private universities that are highly regarded are:
- Keio University
- Waseda University
Both are located in Tokyo.
PhD Programs in Japan in English
Many of these major universities have degree programs in English, in which you can study in English.
Here is a comprehensive list of Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral (PhD) programs in English within Japan:
https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2019/06/26/degree_english_20190626_3.pdf
Some notable universities are listed below that offer programs in English.
University of Tokyo English degree program:
Kyoto University English degree program:
Graduate Universities
There are also some graduate universities which only offer graduate-level training:
- The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
- Nara Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
- Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)
These graduate universities are known to have better funding for graduate students.
The main AIST campus is located in Tsukuba, a research hub in Japan, with University of Tsukuba nearby.
NAIST is also located in the countryside, but it is quite close to Kyoto and Osaka, which will allow you to experience Japanese culture and explore the mainland of Japan.
Among these graduate universities OIST is a bit special where the official language is English. It is located in Okinawa, which is a small island about a 3-hour flight from Tokyo.
JAIST is located in the countryside near Kanazawa in central Japan.
Research Institutions
RIKEN is the major research institute in Japan, with institutes in various places. It is similar to the Max Planck Institutes in Germany. Principal investigators of RIKEN labs are in many cases affiliated with nearby universities, so if you want to join a RIKEN lab, you would apply to the graduate program of the university that the professor is affiliated with, and then conduct the research at RIKEN.
There is a program called the International Program Associate which is for international students.
Things that you may want to think about
- Language: The English speaking level in Japan is still not very high. The communication in most labs will probably be mainly carried out in Japanese, with the lab members speaking to you in English. Many things at the supermarket may only be labeled in Japanese. However, most Japanese people will try their best to help you, as there is a deep-rooted culture of making guests feel comfortable.
- Work Culture: The working culture is generally very hard working. Students in many cases are expected to work late and on weekends. Of course, each professor has their own philosophy about working style, so it will mostly depend on the professor. It may be good to discuss this with the professor beforehand, or try to get information from people who are currently working in the lab you are considering.
- Food: Although the number of foreigners is increasing in Japan, it is still a very homogeneous country. Especially in the countryside, it may be difficult to find food and restaurants that are halal or vegetarian. Many soups and broths will contain some form of meat. The concept of a "vegetarian meal" may not be widely known to many of the elderly people, who may serve you what they think is "vegetarian" but actually contains fish or pork broth.
Summary
In summary, if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in Japan, I would try to look through some of the videos and links above and see if you think studying in Japan is a good fit for you.
The first two things to think about are probably choosing a lab that you want to join and getting financial support. It will probably be good to discuss with your potential boss about what kind of financial support is available in the lab/institute.
Best of luck in your pursuit of a PhD!
Best of luck in your pursuit of a PhD!
If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below and we can try to answer them to the best of our knowledge.
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