Graduate International Research Students (kenkyusei), Graduate School of Science

Programme overview

A non-degree research placement at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Science. "A Graduate International Research Student (kenkyusei) is an international student admitted to the Graduate School of Science to conduct research on a specific subject under the supervision of a faculty member." The status confers no degree, no qualification and, in principle, no academic credits: kenkyusei are "not eligible to attend classes or earn degrees or academic credits". The standard enrolment period is six months, extendable twice-yearly with the supervising professor's approval up to a maximum of two years in total. Admission is decided per applicant and hinges on first obtaining a prospective supervisor's written consent to supervise; that consent is a precondition for applying but, the School stresses, is not itself a guarantee of acceptance. Two intakes are published for 2027 (April 1 and October 1), each with its own application window, plus a separate and earlier window for applicants routed through the Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship. Because the route is non-degree, it does not substitute for degree admission: the School states plainly that applicants "can apply directly for the Master's/Doctoral course for international students without first being a 'kenkyusei'."

There is no programme structure in the usual sense. A Graduate International Research Student is attached to one faculty member's laboratory within the Graduate School of Science and works on the research subject agreed with that supervisor in the Study Plan. There is no curriculum, no credit load and no thesis: "In principle, they are not eligible to attend classes or earn degrees or academic credits." Enrolment runs in six-month blocks from April 1 or October 1; the Graduate School Office reviews continuation around June and December each year, and an extension is granted only "subject to approval from their supervising professors", up to a two-year ceiling. Admission is handled centrally by the Graduate School Office rather than by departmental entrance examination: applications are uploaded to a designated URL and applicants are notified of the outcome by the Office.

Important facts