The Graduate School accepts about 60 full-time graduate students per year. This ensures low numbers of students for each faculty member so that we can deliver best-in-the-world teaching to our graduate students. The basic requirement for the OIST Graduate Program is completion of a Bachelors, Masters, or equivalent degree prior to the admission date. Students may submit an application at any time. Your application will be considered at the next admissions committee meeting. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Admissions Workshop, held on-campus twice a year, as part of the selection process.

OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. For more details, please refer to the OIST Graduate School Three Policies.

Selection Schedule

 

  On-Campus
Winter Admissions Workshop 2025
Application deadline November 15, 2024 23:59 (JST UTC+9)
Announcement of shortlisting result
Selection results will be sent via an official email address from OIST.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Admissions Workshop at OIST.		 Late December 2024
Admissions Workshop
Various sessions introducing OIST and our PhD program will be offered for the shortlisted candidates. These sessions will be held at OIST.
At least 4 interviews will be arranged for the shortlisted candidates. 		February 17 - 21, 2025
Announcement of final result Late February 2025
Enrollment
Successful candidates can choose the term of enrollment.		 1) May 1, 2025
2) September 1, 2025
3) January 1, 2026

*The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

  On-Campus
Summer Admissions Workshop 2025
Application deadline March 31, 2025, 23:59 (JST UTC+9)
Announcement of shortlisting result
Selection results will be sent via an official email address from OIST.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Admissions Workshop at OIST.		 Late April 2025
Admissions Workshop
Various sessions introducing OIST and our PhD program will be offered for the shortlisted candidates. These sessions will be held at OIST.
At least 4 interviews will be arranged for the shortlisted candidates.		 June 16 - 20, 2025
Announcement of final result Late June 2025
Enrollment
Successful candidates can choose the term of enrollment.		 1) September 1, 2025
2) January 1, 2026

*The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

 

Number of Accepting Students

The Graduate School accepts 60 students. To conduct education and research tailored to the wishes and aptitude of each student, we accept a small number of students.

Eligibility

Those who have graduated with a bachelor's or master's degree or expect to complete their degree before the date of enrollment into the PhD Program at OIST are eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

We accept application documents only online. Please prepare all necessary documents written below in English and in a PDF file and upload all necessary documents at the application website.

Note: We recommend using a computer when preparing the online application. If you prefer using a mobile device, please make sure to have the latest operating system for the application website to work properly.

Required Documents

Scanned copies of your current academic transcript and any other transcript from your past degree (BSc, MSc, etc.) along with completed diploma (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format.

  • A scan of an unofficial transcript or other record of grades may be uploaded to the application website.
  • English explanation is required for transcripts that are not written in English.
  • If you have not graduated and do not have a diploma yet, please upload a certificate of enrollment from your institution, preferably indicating your expected graduation date.

This should be no more than 400 words (2500 characters) and should address the following points:

  • The applicant’s scientific interests and aspirations.
  • What the applicant hopes to gain from undertaking graduate studies at OIST.

The application system requires applicants to submit a passport number and upload a scan of their passport photo page. It is essential that applicants from outside Japan have a valid passport for travel to Japan. You must supply your passport details in the application process.

If you do not have a passport at the time of application, you can upload other government-issued identification documents instead. However, if you receive an offer after the Admissions Selection, OIST will need a copy of your valid passport immediately to prepare your visa application and travel arrangement to relocate to Okinawa.

Each applicant is required to have at least two and no more than five letters of recommendation from appropriate academic referees. Two is the minimum requirement, but as a rule, it is very helpful for the admissions committee to have three or more letters. In the online application system, the applicant will enter the name and email of each recommender. The system will then contact the referee directly for their letter.

  • OIST strongly recommends that applicants ask academic referees in advance for permission to list them as recommenders. Recommendation letters need to be submitted by the deadline. Referee comments are a very important part of the selection process, and it is the applicant's responsibility to first ensure that referees are willing to submit such a letter, and then that they do submit before the deadline.
  • Recommender’s letters will be treated as confidential material and will not be available to applicants or parties other than OIST faculty members assessing the application. In registering a recommender, the applicant acknowledges that there is no right to read the recommender’s letter.
  • You can only submit your application after at least two recommendation letters are received in the application system.

An applicant who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university for which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English is required to provide a TOEFL iBT or IELTS score obtained within the last 2 years. Please upload a digital copy of your official score report to the application website.

  • There is no minimum score required but the information is necessary in determining preparatory course requirements.

Optional Documents

The following documents may be submitted optionally, and will be taken into consideration by the selection committee if available:

  1. Additional evidence of academic ability such as GRE general or specific test scores obtained within the last 2 years.
  2. Additional material such as the title and abstract of publications and oral presentations, and other evidence of achievement.

Note: The OIST Graduate School reserves the right to request an external evaluation of academic qualifications from any applicant.

Application Fee

There is no application fee to apply for the OIST Graduate Program.