International Course of Life Sciences (ICLS)
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
1. Introduction
The International Course of Life Sciences (ICLS) began in October 2015. This course enables students visiting from overseas who are unfamiliar with the Japanese language to earn credits by taking classes in English.
The International Course of Life Sciences (ICLS) began in October 2015. This course enables students visiting from overseas who are unfamiliar with the Japanese language to earn credits by taking classes in English.
2. Specialisms
The Graduate School of Life Sciences has updated its three specialisms beginning April 2018, as detailed below.
Two current topics studied in life sciences are comprehensive and integrated understanding of biological phenomena and making contributions to human welfare. Our specialisms are important fields that aim to encompass both of these topics, and are in areas which promise new developments.
These specialisms also respond to societal and industrial needs, and the construction of sustainable societies. They may solve issues involving the global environment, food supplies, and so forth, and will promote better health and medical care.
At the Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, we hope to act as a central hub that focuses on fundamental scientific study in the life sciences, to welcome a wide range of visiting students from overseas, and as well as Japanese students in nurturing researchers able to be active both at home and across the globe.
The Graduate School of Life Sciences has updated its three specialisms beginning April 2018, as detailed below.
Two current topics studied in life sciences are comprehensive and integrated understanding of biological phenomena and making contributions to human welfare. Our specialisms are important fields that aim to encompass both of these topics, and are in areas which promise new developments.
These specialisms also respond to societal and industrial needs, and the construction of sustainable societies. They may solve issues involving the global environment, food supplies, and so forth, and will promote better health and medical care.
At the Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, we hope to act as a central hub that focuses on fundamental scientific study in the life sciences, to welcome a wide range of visiting students from overseas, and as well as Japanese students in nurturing researchers able to be active both at home and across the globe.
(1) Integrative Life Sciences：
Focusing on the brain; understanding the systems by which cell populations control biology
(2) Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences：
Understanding complex biological phenomena from cells and individual entities through to ecosystems
(3) Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences：
Understanding how molecules work inside biological beings
3. Curricula
As noted in the Introduction, the ICLS enables students visiting from overseas who are unfamiliar with the Japanese language to earn credits by taking classes in English.
Since it will not be possible to offer all classes in English, we recommend speaking with academic advisors at an early stage to arrange teaching and research plans.
As noted in the Introduction, the ICLS enables students visiting from overseas who are unfamiliar with the Japanese language to earn credits by taking classes in English.
Since it will not be possible to offer all classes in English, we recommend speaking with academic advisors at an early stage to arrange teaching and research plans.
→ The Life Sciences syllabus and curricula can be found below.
Life Sciences online syllabus：
https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/curriculums/syllabus/
Life Sciences online syllabus：
https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/curriculums/syllabus/
4. Academic degree
To obtain an academic degree, students must take the required courses, and successfully pass a dissertation examination.
The criteria for acquiring an academic degree from our School are as follows.
To obtain an academic degree, students must take the required courses, and successfully pass a dissertation examination.
The criteria for acquiring an academic degree from our School are as follows.
(1) Master’s Degree
- In principle, at least two years of study.
- Students will have attended the designated courses, and will have acquired at least 30 credits.
- Students will have received the necessary research guidance and have produced a Master’s dissertation, which will have passed the examination.
(2) Doctoral Degree
- In principle, at least three years of study.
- Students will have attended the designated courses, and will have acquired at least 9 credits.
- Students will have received the necessary research guidance and have produced a doctoral dissertation, which will have passed the examination.
Note that publication in an academic journal is required before undertaking the doctoral dissertation examination.We recommend confirming the details here with an academic advisor at an early stage.
5. Entrance periods and fees
(1) Entrance takes place on April 1 (Spring semester) or October 1 (Fall semester).
Please see details below on entrance arrangements.
(2) ICLS fees (at the present time)
Entrance examination fee： 30,000 JPY
Entrance fee： 282,000 JPY
Course fees： 267,900 JPY/6months (535,800 JPY/year)
Insurance fees： Insurance details will differ depending on signup period.
Entrance examination fee： 30,000 JPY
Entrance fee： 282,000 JPY
Course fees： 267,900 JPY/6months (535,800 JPY/year)
Insurance fees： Insurance details will differ depending on signup period.
Note：If the amounts above are revised, the new fees will take precedence and apply from the time of revision.
Students may apply for scholarships and/or waivers from entrance and course fees, but there is
no guarantee that these requests will be granted.
We also estimate that there will be monthly costs of around 100,000-200,000 JPY for accommodation, utilities, groceries, transport, and so forth, depending on each student’s lifestyle.
Please make prior appropriate arrangements for the required expenses, referring also to the websites listed below.
no guarantee that these requests will be granted.
We also estimate that there will be monthly costs of around 100,000-200,000 JPY for accommodation, utilities, groceries, transport, and so forth, depending on each student’s lifestyle.
Please make prior appropriate arrangements for the required expenses, referring also to the websites listed below.
- Tohoku University TU Support：http://sup.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/index_en.html
Information on preparation for coming to and living in Japan - Tohoku University Global Learning Center : http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/admissions/financial_aid.html
Information on scholarships and financial aid - Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)： http://www.jasso.go.jp/index_e.html
(1) Student Guide to Japan: http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/sgtj_e.html
(2) Scholarship for International Students in Japan： http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/scholarships_sfisij_e.html
* Some proficiency in the Japanese language will be necessary in many daily situations after
admission to Tohoku University.
Even for students who have been admitted onto the ICLS course, we strongly recommend
becoming familiar with Japanese as soon as possible.
Even for students who have been admitted onto the ICLS course, we strongly recommend
becoming familiar with Japanese as soon as possible.
6. Entrance examinations
Admission to the Graduate School of Life Sciences is possible once you have taken and passed an entrance examination.
The procedures leading up to the entrance examination are as follows.
Admission to the Graduate School of Life Sciences is possible once you have taken and passed an entrance examination.
The procedures leading up to the entrance examination are as follows.
(1) There is great variety and diversity across our faculty members. Please seek out the teachers who match the particular kinds of study which you wish to pursue. Use the websites below to gain an idea of our fields of study and the details of research conducted by individual staff members, and confirm whether they match your own interests.
Note that the School’s Professors and Associate Professors are those who are will be able to
provide research guidance.
Integrative Life Sciences： https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/research/fields/field1/
- Neuroethology (Professor Tanimoto)
- Molecular Ethology (Professor Takeuchi)
- Brain Development (Professor Abe)
- Systems Neuroscience (Professor Tsutsui)
- Membrane Trafficking Mechanisms (Professor Fukuda)
- Developmental Dynamics (Professor Sugimoto)
- Organelle Pathophysiology (Professor Taguchi)
- Super-Network Brain Physiology (Professor K. Matsui)
- Germ Cell Development (Professor Y. Matsui)
- Cancer Biology (Professor N. Chiba)
- Developmental Neurobiology (Professor Ogura)
- Developmental Neuroscience (Professor Osumi)
- Molecular Oncology (Professor K. Tanaka)
- Experimental Immunology (Professor Takai)
Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences： https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/research/fields/field2/
- Plant Development (Professor Kyozuka)
- Histogenetic Dynamics (Professor Kuranaga)
- Plant Sensory and Developmental Biology (Professor Higashitani)
- Organ Morphogenesis (Professor Tamura)
- Plant Cell Dynamics (Professor Minako Ueda)
- Aquatic Ecology (Professor Urabe)
- Functional Ecology (Professor Hikosaka)
- Evolutionary Biology (Professor Kawata)
- Ecological Integration (Professor Kondoh)
- Symbiosis Genomics (Professor S.Sato)
- Plant Diversity and Evolution (Professor Maki)
- Conservation Biology (Professor S. Chiba)
- Marine Biodiversity (Professor Kumano, Professor Kondoh)
- Ecosystem Functions (Professor Tayasu)
- Systems Bioinformatics (Professor Kinoshita)
Molecular chemistry and biology：https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/research/fields/field3/
- Analytical Bioorganic Chemistry (Professor Arimoto)
- Biostructural Chemistry (Professor Sasaki)
- Bioactive Molecules (Professor Ishikawa)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology (Professor Ohashi)
- Applied Biological Molecular Science (Professor Y. Tanaka)
- Microbial Genetics and Genomics (Professor Nagata)
- Plant Molecular Breeding (Professor Watanabe)
- Molecular Genetics and Physiology (Professor Higashitani)
- Evolutionary Genomics (Professor Makino)
- Molecular Analysis of Biological Functions (Professor S. Takahashi)
- Biofunctional Chemistry and Nanobiotechnology (Professor Mizukami)
- Structural Biology (Professor Inaba)
- Omics and Informatics (Professor Nagase, Professor Hirakawa)
- Chemical Biology of Natural Product (Professor Minoru Ueda)
- Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry (Professor Doi)
- Redox Biology (Professor Motohashi)
- Cellular Function (Professor Nakayama)
(2) Directly contact the faculty member via email, noting the points below.
• Include “Admission” in the title of the email.
• In the body text, include details of your current living situation, your academic background,
what you wish to study, and so forth.
(3) If the faculty member acknowledges that you will take an entrance examination, please obtain details regarding the application form from them (or from the academic affairs office).
(4) In principle, the entrance examination will be conducted in Japan, but it may also be possible to make arrangements via Skype. Please determine this following discussion with the faculty member.
The examination will involve comprehensive inspection of submitted documents,
The examination will involve comprehensive inspection of submitted documents,
communication skills, English language proficiency, oral presentations, interviews, and so
forth.
7. Contact details for academic administration inquiries
Graduate School of Life Sciences Academic Affairs Section： lif-kyom@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
Graduate School of Life Sciences website： https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
Graduate School of Life Sciences Academic Affairs Section： lif-kyom@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
Graduate School of Life Sciences website： https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
８. Entrance procedures (for spring enrollment)
The entrance procedures are divided into three stages across different periods.
Entrance procedure: Stage 1 early March
The entrance procedures are divided into three stages across different periods.
Entrance procedure: Stage 1 early March
Entrance procedure: Stage 2 early April
Entrance procedure: Stage 3 (payment of tuition fee) late May
Entrance procedure: Stage 3 (payment of tuition fee) late May
(1) Entrance procedure: Stage 1
1. Declaration
2. Admission fee (282,000 JPY)
Students applying for Admission fee waiver or Deferment of admission fee payment should submit the application documents to the Kawauchi Campus Student Support Division about mid-March, and a separate document entitled “Notice of (intended) application for entrance fee exemption” to the Graduate School of Life Sciences Academic Affairs Section.
3. Admission fee receipt
This step is not required for those applying for Admission fee waiver or Deferment of admission fee payment
1. Declaration
2. Admission fee (282,000 JPY)
Students applying for Admission fee waiver or Deferment of admission fee payment should submit the application documents to the Kawauchi Campus Student Support Division about mid-March, and a separate document entitled “Notice of (intended) application for entrance fee exemption” to the Graduate School of Life Sciences Academic Affairs Section.
3. Admission fee receipt
This step is not required for those applying for Admission fee waiver or Deferment of admission fee payment
(2) Entrance procedure: Stage 2
1. Student Record
2. Registration of Bank account for transferring tuition fee (need a bank account in a Japanese bank)
3. Certificate of graduation
4. Academic transcript
5. Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (Gakkensai)
Please be sure to sign up. After signing up, please then register for the supplementary comprehensive student insurance for students visiting from overseas (Inbound Futai-Gakusō).
6. Copy of a resident card
1. Student Record
2. Registration of Bank account for transferring tuition fee (need a bank account in a Japanese bank)
3. Certificate of graduation
4. Academic transcript
5. Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (Gakkensai)
Please be sure to sign up. After signing up, please then register for the supplementary comprehensive student insurance for students visiting from overseas (Inbound Futai-Gakusō).
6. Copy of a resident card
(3)Entrance procedure: Stage 3 (payment of tuition fee for the first term)
Students applying for tuition fee waiver or Deferment or monthly installment of tuition payment should submit application documents to the Kawauchi Campus Student Support Division about early April.
Students applying for tuition fee waiver or Deferment or monthly installment of tuition payment should submit application documents to the Kawauchi Campus Student Support Division about early April.
9. Entrance ceremony, Orientation, Social exchange and Celebration
These events are held early April.
All students have to attend the orientation.
ICLS
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES,
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES,
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
