Entrance Examination Schedule and Application Guidelines
Application guidelines are only published on the website. Please download and use it.1.International Graduate Program in Language Sciences (IGPLS)_Programs taught in English
2. Graduate Program in Global Governance & Sustainable Development(G2SD)_Program taught in English
3. Programs taught in Japanese
1.International Graduate Program in Language Sciences (IGPLS)_Programs taught in English
For more information about this program, please visit the IGPLS website.
Entrance Examination Schedule
Enrollment: October 2026
Application Period: Monday, March 23, 2026- Friday, April 10, 2026
Examination Date: May or June, 2026
Application Guidelines
Master's Program
Application for Master’s Program (2-year course) for October 2026 Admission
Doctoral Program
Application for Doctoral Program (3-year course) for October 2026 Admission
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Application Information
Note1:The Graduate School of International Cultural Studies at Tohoku University has introduced an online application system, The Admissions Office (hereinafter referred to as TAO). The Admissions Office (hereinafter referred to as TAO) is an online application system.
All applications must be submitted through the online application system (TAO).
Note2:
If you need to undergo a pre-qualification screening for the IGPLS entrance exam, please refer to the pre-qualification screening guidelines and submit your application documents to the Academic Affairs Section by the following deadline.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Admission Qualification Screening Guidelines
Note3:
Tohoku University will implement a special measure to waive the entrance examination fee for entrance examinations to be held in the 2026 academic year in order to reduce the economic burden on victims of disasters such as wind and flood damage that occurred in Japan in 2026 and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in 2024, and to ensure opportunities for students to continue their education.
If you are an applicant to the Graduate School of International Culture and would like to be exempt from the examination fee, please contact the Academic Affairs Section of the Graduate School by email with the following information: 1) your name, 2) contact information, 3) the course you plan to apply for, and 4) the damage situation.
When applying, please submit an application form for exemption from entrance examination fees.
Note4:
If you wish to apply for special accommodations related to entrance examinations or academic studies, please be sure to consult with the Academic Affairs Section within the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies in advance.
Considerations made by the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies regarding how to best accommodate your needs at the time of the entrance examinations will be based on the details provided on your application form.
More information can be found here.
Note5:
In response to reports of fraudulent TOEIC test-taking, for graduate school admissions at the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, only the official digital certificate for the TOEIC® Listening & Reading Public Test conducted in Japan will be accepted. Scores without a QR code will not be accepted.
Financial Aid
〇For international students enrolled in Master’s ProgramTohoku University will establish a new scholarship program, the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship, beginning with students enrolling in the 2027 academic year. This scholarship will provide focused financial support to outstanding international students enrolled in undergraduate programs, master's programs, and professional degree programs. Recipients will be selected based on entrance examination results or academic performance after enrollment, together with other relevant criteria. We will provide further details once they have been finalized.
Establishment of the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship: https://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/english/scholarships-for-international-students-tohoku-university-international-excellence-scholarship/
〇For Doctoral Students
Tohoku University launched the Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program in April 2026 to foster outstanding researchers who will lead the next generation of innovation and be active on the global stage, as well as to supply highly skilled professionals to diverse sectors. In principle, this program provides support to all doctoral students*.
For an overview of the program and application eligibility, please refer to the website below.
*Doctoral students: Students enrolled in a three-year doctoral program or in the medical, dental, or pharmaceutical doctoral program.
Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program Website: https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/LEAP.html
〇For Doctoral Students
Tohoku University launched the Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program in April 2026 to foster outstanding researchers who will lead the next generation of innovation and be active on the global stage, as well as to supply highly skilled professionals to diverse sectors. In principle, this program provides support to all doctoral students*.
For an overview of the program and application eligibility, please refer to the website below.
*Doctoral students: Students enrolled in a three-year doctoral program or in the medical, dental, or pharmaceutical doctoral program.
Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program Website: https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/LEAP.html
Related Pages
・Admissions Policy for Graduate School of International Cultural Studies・Faculty List
・Admissions
・Fees and scholarships
2. Graduate Program in Global Governance & Sustainable Development(G2SD)_Program taught in English
For more information about this program, please visit the G2SD website.
Entrance Examination Schedule
Enrollment: April 2026
Application Period: Monday, December 1, 2025 - Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Date of examination: February 2026
Enrollment: October 2026
Application Period: Monday, March 23 - Friday, April 10, 2026
Date of examination: May or June 2026
Application Guidelines
Master's Program
Application for Master’s Program (2-year course) for April 2026 Admission
Application for Master’s Program (2-year course) for October 2026 Admission
Doctoral Program
Application for Doctoral Program (3-year course) for April 2026 Admission
Application for Doctoral Program (3-year course) for October 2026 Admission
Application Documents
Application DocumentsUpload the application documents listed in the application guidelines to the online application system (TAO) during the application period.
Applications will be accepted only if the application procedure is completed on the system during the application period.
Please use the form below.
Application for admission to the 2-year Master’s Program
Application for admission to the 3-year Doctoral Program
Letter on English Proficiency Sample
Applicable countries only (see G2SD Application Guideline for more details).
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
FAQ (Master’s Program/Doctoral Program) (as of May 12,2026)
Application Information
Note1:The Graduate School of International Cultural Studies at Tohoku University has introduced an online application system, The Admissions Office (hereinafter referred to as TAO). The Admissions Office (hereinafter referred to as TAO) is an online application system.
All applications must be submitted through the online application system (TAO).
Note2:
If you need to undergo a pre-qualification screening for the G2SD entrance exam, please refer to the pre-qualification screening guidelines and submit your application documents to the Academic Affairs Section by the following deadline.
April Admission
November 7, 2025 (Friday)
Admission Qualification Screening Guidelines for April Admission
October Admission
Friday, February 20, 2026
Admission Qualification Screening Guidelines for October Admission
Note3:
Tohoku University will implement a special measure to waive the entrance examination fee for entrance examinations to be held in the 2026 academic year in order to reduce the economic burden on victims of disasters such as wind and flood damage that occurred in Japan in 2026 and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in 2024, and to ensure opportunities for students to continue their education.
If you are an applicant to the Graduate School of International Culture and would like to be exempt from the examination fee, please contact the Academic Affairs Section of the Graduate School by email with the following information: 1) your name, 2) contact information, 3) the course you plan to apply for, and 4) the damage situation.
When applying, please submit an application form for exemption from entrance examination fees.
Note4:
If you wish to apply for special accommodations related to entrance examinations or academic studies, please be sure to consult with the Academic Affairs Section within the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies in advance.
Considerations made by the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies regarding how to best accommodate your needs at the time of the entrance examinations will be based on the details provided on your application form.
More information can be found here.
Note5:
In response to reports of fraudulent TOEIC test-taking, for graduate school admissions at the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, only the official digital certificate for the TOEIC® Listening & Reading Public Test conducted in Japan will be accepted. Scores without a QR code will not be accepted.
Financial Aid
〇For international students enrolled in Master’s ProgramTohoku University will establish a new scholarship program, the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship, beginning with students enrolling in the 2027 academic year. This scholarship will provide focused financial support to outstanding international students enrolled in undergraduate programs, master's programs, and professional degree programs. Recipients will be selected based on entrance examination results or academic performance after enrollment, together with other relevant criteria. We will provide further details once they have been finalized.
Establishment of the Tohoku University International Excellence Scholarship: https://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/english/scholarships-for-international-students-tohoku-university-international-excellence-scholarship/
〇For Doctoral Students
Tohoku University launched the Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program in April 2026 to foster outstanding researchers who will lead the next generation of innovation and be active on the global stage, as well as to supply highly skilled professionals to diverse sectors. In principle, this program provides support to all doctoral students*.
For an overview of the program and application eligibility, please refer to the website below.
*Doctoral students: Students enrolled in a three-year doctoral program or in the medical, dental, or pharmaceutical doctoral program.
Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program Website: https://pgd.tohoku.ac.jp/english/rpc/LEAP.html
Related Pages
・Admissions Policy for Graduate School of International Cultural Studies・Faculty List
・Admissions
・Fees and scholarships
3. Programs taught in Japanese
For more information about this program, please click here.
Contact Us
Inquiries about student recruitment
For inquiries about the entrance examination, please contact the Academic Affairs Section.
Kawauchi 41, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8576, Japan
Tohoku University, Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Academic Affairs Section
E-mail : int-kkdk [@] grp.tohoku.ac.jp (Please change [@] to @.)