Graduate Admissions Overview

To join one of our graduate schools as a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree student, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and have completed at least 16 years of education (18 years in the case of Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine.)

Application Steps

You need to have completed Step 1 at least six months prior to your intended enrollment !

  1. Find and Contact a Supervisor
    Graduate and research students conduct research under the guidance of a supervisor. To enter Hokkaido University as a research or graduate student, you need to find a faculty member who is willing to give you instruction on your research. Find a prospective supervisor from our website:
    1. Hokkaido University’s Researcher Directory
      Hokkaido University’s Website>Research and Education>Find a Researcher>HU’s Researcher Directory
      https://researchers.general.hokudai.ac.jp/search/index.html?lang=en
    2. HUSCAP (Hokkaido University Collection of Scholarly and Academic Papers)
      Hokkaido University’s Website>Research and Education>Find an Academic Paper (HUSCAP)>HUSCAP
      https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/?locale=en
    3. Graduate school’s website information is listed on pg11-12.
  2. Apply to the Graduate School
    Check how to apply on the website of the graduate school you wish to enter. Applicants must pay the examination fee at the time of application.
  3. Take the Entrance Examination
    Screening procedures for research students are conducted on the basis of documentation submitted whilst screening procedures for graduate level students differ between each school.
    Please check the website of the school you wish to enter. In the event that you are required to come to Japan for the entrance examination, you will need to obtain a temporary stay visa at your local Japanese Embassy.
  4. Commence Enrollment Procedures
    After passing the screening process, you will be required to submit necessary documentation, pay the entrance fee, and complete other necessary procedures to become enrolled. Only once you are issued with a Letter of Acceptance from Hokkaido University, which is needed to apply for a student visa at your local Japanese Embassy.

*Some programs may have different application steps, please check the program’s website for details before proceeding to application.

**Many International students enroll from six months to one year as “research students.” Some graduate schools recommend this option as a precursor to their graduate programs, to allow students to settle into their research environments with ease. As with postgraduate students, research students receive guidance from a supervisor in their field of specialty, but they cannot receive credits and do not obtain any formal qualification.

Study in English

Hokkaido University offers 8 graduate-level degree programs in English. For detailed information, please visit the individual program pages listed below.

International students may also obtain a graduate degree in English in other graduate schools not listed above, depending on the academic supervisor. For complete information on all graduate schools, please check the following website dedicated to graduate-level study information, “Future Graduate Students website.”

Future Graduate Students

Study in Japanese

International students may also enroll in any graduate-level program of any graduate school where the primary language of instruction is Japanese. Qualifications and procedures vary by graduate school. Please visit the website of the school you wish to attend for more information.