Overview

Program Details

• Special Auditor (SA)
  • Half-year or full-year exchange in which students are assigned to a particular faculty and take classes related to their specialized area, joining full-time students.
  • Special Auditors are required to attend at least 7 classes/week (10 hours/week) from our school/graduate school per term.
• Special Research Student (SRS)
  • Half-year or full-year exchange in which students are assigned to a particular graduate school and undertake supervision and advice on their research, joining a research room or lab, same as regular full-time students. Please note that Special Research Students are not eligible to take courses.
• Program Duration:
  • Spring (One year): April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028
  • Spring (Half year): April 1, 2027 – September 30, 2027
• Number of Students Accepted:
  • Based on MoU, decided on a yearly basis. There will be a screening at each School/Graduate School. Not all applicants will be accepted.
• Application Form:
  • Sent on a nomination basis
• Scholarship:
  • Not Applicable
• Accommodation:
  • University dormitory. Room assignment is decided by Hokkaido University.

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

1.Special Auditor (SA)

• Undergraduates
  • Exchange students have a high academic record at their home university in the field of desired faculty.
  • Equivalent to JLPT level N2 or higher (preferably native level)
  • Exchange students are required to be enrolled at their home university as a full-time student during the entire period of exchange.
• Postgraduates
  • High academic record at home university in the desired field of the faculty
  • Equivalent to JLPT level N2 or higher (preferably native level)
    • Some graduate schools provide courses in English. You are required certain level of fluency in English if you take English courses.
  • Enrollment at home university
    • Exchange students are required to be enrolled at their home university as a full-time student during the entire period of exchange.

2. Special Research Student (SRS)

• High academic record at home university in the field of desired graduate school
• English or Japanese fluency to communicate with academic supervisor.*
  *May vary depending on the faculty/supervisor.

Required Documents

1. Application form
2. Certificate of Enrollment from the home university
   *Issued by the president or dean at the home university
3. Recommendation letter
   *Issued by the president, dean (or supervisor) at the home university
4. Transcript of academic record
   *For Postgraduates, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate academic records are required.
5. Photocopy of Certificate of JLPT
6. Photocopy of passport
7. Digital Photo data
8. TB Clearance Certificate (If applicable)

*This is general information, and the required documents may vary depending on the faculty.

Applying

How to Apply

Pre-admission Support System (PSS) for SRS is now open!

1. We send application information and nomination sheet to the international office or exchange coordinator of our partner universities twice a year, in late August for Spring semester and mid-December for Fall semester.
2. Fill in the sheet by the international office or exchange coordinator of our partner universities and send it back to exchange-programs[at]oia.hokudai.ac.jp.
3. We send the document for Certificate of Eligibility, and the link to access the application forms will be individually sent only to the international office or exchange coordinator of our partner universities with nominees.
4. Applicants and the international office or exchange coordinator submit the application documents on TAO (The Admissions Office) system and submit the document for Certificate of Eligibility to exchange-programs[at]oia.hokudai.ac.jp by email by the deadline.
   
   *The applicants for SRS at the applicable faculties must obtain a provisional approval from their prospective supervisor by using the Pre-admission Support System (PSS) before applying. The code with provisional approval (PSS code) is required for the application.
5. Hokkaido University screens the application.
6. Hokkaido University notifies the screening results to the international office or exchange coordinator of our partner university and gives further instructions.

• We do not accept nominations and applications from individual students. Please apply through the division in charge of exchange mobility.
• Details for the application differ for each School/Graduate School, so please follow the directions of each faculty to complete the application. Policy for course registration, including restrictions or limitations, might differ for each School/Graduate School. Please follow the guidelines of each School/Graduate School for the detailed application guidelines.

Important Dates

• Nomination Deadline:
  • [Spring Semester 2027] September 25, 2026
• Application Deadline:
  • [Spring Semester 2027] November 13, 2026
• Result Notification:
  • [Spring Semester 2027] Early February, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see Q&A before asking questions.