How to Apply
Application Instructions
Please note that since September 2022 entry we have adopted a new online application system. After completing the various steps below to prepare the necessary documents, you can submit them electronically. Access to the online application system is provided on the Downloads page.
This page contains all the information you need to apply for one of the GPES course. The process is outlined below as a series of steps. Please proceed through these steps in order and make sure to read all the available documentation carefully. Every year we have an application period around June for entry in April of the following year (Schedule 2), and another application period around November for entry in September of the following year (Schedule 1). You can find the relevant application deadlines and dates on the Downloads page.
Please note that applications to both the GPES Masters and PhD courses require a GRE general test score as part of the application.
STEP 1. Read the Guidelines for Applicants.
Before beginning your application, it is essential that you read the Guidelines for Applicants (Masters Course, Ph.D course). Read the entire document carefully and ensure that you meet the various eligibility criteria before beginning your application. If you are uncertain about how any of the criteria apply to you personally or you have any other questions about the contents of the Guidelines for Applicants, first visit the FAQ section of the website and see if your question has already been answered there. If not, please use the Contact Us (INQUIRY FORM) to contact our staff directly. They will provide the necessary advice.
STEP 2. Download the necessary forms.
Once you have familiarized yourself with the application guidelines, you can begin the application process by first downloading the Application Form and the Registration Ticket Form. Please note that two types of respective forms are provided; one for Masters Course, the other for Ph.D. Course. Please download the proper course form for which you wish to apply from the Downloads page. Step 3 describes how to complete the Application Form and the Registration Ticket Form. The Application Form and the Registration Ticket Form are completed electronically and cannot be handwritten. In order to process the Application Form properly, you will need to use the Adobe Reader software. In most cases this will already be installed on your computer, but if not, you can download the latest version (using the latest version is recommended for all applicants) directly from Adobe by clicking here.
You will also need to download and complete Short Essay Form, Research plan/Statement of Purpose Form and Evaluation Form.
Note : For users of Mac OSX
It is very common to deal with pdfs using the Mac's built-in "Preview" application. This works fine for ordinary pdf files, but not for the interactive pdf form required for this application. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of the Adobe Reader software. Locate the downloaded application form on your computer and click on the file with the right mouse button (or hold down the CONTROL key while clicking the file with the left mouse button) and select "Open with" from the menu. You should then be able to select Adobe Reader to open the file.
Note : For users of Windows
Some Windows users prefer to use third party viewers to read pdf documents. Unfortunately not all third party readers completely support the pdf features necessary to complete our electronic application form. In order to ensure that you can correctly complete and validate your application form, please download the latest version of the Adobe Reader software and use this application to complete the Application Form.
STEP 3. Complete the Application Form.
Completion and submission of Application Form requires the following 4 steps
- Open the Application Form in Adobe Reader and fill in all the necessary information (simply click in the relevant boxes and type in the appropriate data). Some sections of the form will involve you clicking check boxes and selecting items from drop-down menus. At any time you can click the "Highlight existing fields" button to indicate where all the boxes are - required boxes for all applicants are indicated in red.
- At the bottom of the first page of the form is a checklist. This is to help you ensure that you have remembered to include all the necessary documents and have performed any other necessary procedures (for example requesting that your TOEFL and GRE scores be sent from the testing organization to the University of Tokyo). Click each checkbox when you have prepared the necessary document or completed the described procedure.
- Once you have completed all the information, press the "Validate Form" button located at the top of the first page. It is likely that the first time you do this, you may have missed something on the form. If this is the case, a dialogue box will appear explaining which information is missing and you will be directed to enter that information. Once all the information is successfully entered, clicking the "Validate Form" button will produce a dialogue box asking you to confirm your e-mail address. Please do this carefully as this will be our primary method of keeping in contact with you. Assuming the e-mail address matches the one you supplied earlier, the form will be validated and the red "Form not validated" box will disappear from the top of the form. At this point you should save your form safely on your computer (you can save the form at any point while you are completing it).
- Once the form has been validated, you should print it out and sign and date it (before printing you can click the purple date buttons to add today's date in the appropriate places). You should then take all your other collected documentation and mail the entire package of documents to the GPES Admissions Office at the address indicated in the Guidelines for Applicants. Note that applications will only be accepted if the Application Form has been successfully validated. Any forms containing the red "Form not validated" message will not be processed.
Note that although the Application Form and other forms are to be completed electronically, the entire submission is performed using printed versions of the completed forms submitted by international delivery service such as Express Mail Service (EMS), FEDEX or UPS. No submitted documents will be returned to you.
When completing the form, if you have more information than will fit in the section provided, please provide the additional information either by entering it directly in the box in section 4.2 or by providing the information on a separate sheet of paper.
NOTE: In the case where you include a photocopy of your TOEFL, IELTS or GRE score record in the application package, you must arrange for the original report of the record to be sent directly from the ETS to the University.
STEP 4. Complete the Research Plan/Statement of Purpose Form.
The Research Plan/Statement of Purpose Form is completed electronically and cannot be handwritten.
STEP 5. Complete the Short Essay Form.
The Short Essay Form is also completed electronically and cannot be handwritten. Answer the questions (Both Part 1 and Part 2) in the form and print it out.
STEP 6. Complete the Evaluation Form.
The Evaluation Forms (available now on the Downloads page) should be completed by two evaluators well acquainted with the applicant's academic ability and personality. Each evaluation form is to be prepared by a member of academic staff at the University where the applicant studied or is studying for their undergraduate degree (or Masters degree in the case of students applying to the PhD course) unless special permission has been granted for someone else to complete the evaluation.
This form will be completed by the evaluator. You will give one electronic version of the form to each evaluator. We recommend that you ask the evaluators to seal the completed evaluation form in an envelope (with a signed seal) and return it to you for submission along with the application form and other documents.
STEP 7. Payment of the Application Fee.
No application will be processed unless the application fee has been paid. Applicants living outside Japan should pay online (https://e-shiharai.net/english/). It is possible for applicants living in Japan to pay the fee either by bank transfer using a specified payment slip, at a convenience store or online using a credit card at the indicated website.
The application fee is JPY10,000 for both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. Once you have successfully made payment, you should make sure that you enclose the payment receipt along with your other application documents. If you experience any problems associated with payment of the application fee, please contact us using the Contact Us (INQUIRY FORM).
STEP 8. Submission of documents.
Once you have completed all the necessary forms, you can submit them electronically using the online application system. Details of how to access and use the system are provided on the Downloads page.