Q1.

How much do you normally spend for the monthly cost of living in Japan? How my daily life will be if I receive 180,000 yen every month as a scholarship?

In 2013, the graduate students of the University of Tokyo spent 137,600 yen for the monthly cost of living in average. The master’s students spent 116,900 yen and doctoral students spent 146,900 yen. The average monthly housing cost is 60,900 yen.

Please use these data as reference to  plan your daily life in Tokyo.

Q2.

What is the difference between GSGC Scholarship and other government-sponsored scholarships for international students?

The GSGC Scholarship program provides a student 180,000 yen per month as a scholarship while he/she is taking the course, two years for the master's program and three years for the doctoral program. Repayment is not required.

For more information regarding other scholarships, please refer to the following website.

http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/offices/scholarships/

Q3.

What am I required to submit as the GSGC application documents and what is the selection procedure?

You are required to submit an application form, designated documents and test scores. We will then have a screening process based on these documents. You may be required an oral examination. For more details for documents to be submitted, please see the below website.

http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/GSGC/instructions.html

Q4.

How many faculty members belong to the Department of Physics?

The Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo consists of approximately 130 faculty members from diverse institutions covering a whole range of research fields for physics.  All faculty members are leading researchers playing important roles internationally. The Department of Physics is recognized as world's top-class both in quality and quantity.

Q5.

How do I decide my desired academic supervisor?

When you are applying to the GSGC program, you will need to choose your first choice academic supervisor from a pull-down name list which you can find on the online application form. Your 2nd and the 3rd choices can be also selected. You cannot choose an academic supervisor who is not listed there. We recommend you to contact your desired academic supervisors by e-mail, etc. in advance to see if there is a possibility for them to accept you.

For more information, please refer to the following website.

https://apps.adm.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/GSGC/

Q6.

How do I decide my laboratory?

We believe that "research" will be your main activity in graduate education, unlike in undergraduate education. You will belong to your academic supervisor's laboratory and continue studying to take a degree finally. So, it is extremely important for you to see the details of the sub-course, the research group and the institution which the academic supervisor belongs to before submitting your application. 

On our website, you can obain useful information related to our faculty members, guidance meetings, open laboratories, etc. We also recommend you to contact and communicate with a laboratory which you are interested in by e-mail, etc. actively.

Q7.

How many international students are enrolled in the Department of Physics?

As of May 1, 2015, there are 33 international students enrolled in the Department of Physics. Of these, there are 5 undergraduate students, 13 master’s students and 19 doctoral students at the Graduate School of Science, and 1 research student at the Graduate School. They comprise 7.0% of all students in our department.

Q8.

I do not have a good command of Japanese. Do I have any difficulty in following the graduate course?

As long as there is even one student  in a class who does not understand Japanese sufficiently, a professor will give a lecture in English.  Therefore,  you don't need to have a good command of Japanese.  Also, your daily research activities can be done mostly in English. However, we recommend you to take Japanese language classes to make your life in Japan easier. We are offering  Japanese language classes at all levels.

Q9.

Do you conduct a Qualifying Examination (Q.E.)?

We don't conduct a Qualifying Examination (Q.E.) for the GSGC students. Once your master dissertation is accepted, you can proceed to a doctoral program.

Your academic supervisor, who will be determined when you are entering into a master's program, will remain unchanged until you complete your master's dissertation. However, you will be able to change your academic supervisor when you are entering into a doctoral program if you have a reason to do so, such as changing your research topic, etc.