The Special Selection for International Applicants

This page contains information about the requirements and exam details for this department in the “Special Selection for International Applicants” conducted by the Graduate School of Science.

Please refer to the “Special Selection for International Applicants” page on the Graduate School of Science website for information about application qualifications, application periods for desired admission periods, and general application guidelines.

This page is for Special Selection for International Applicants(held only in English). If you wish to take an equivalent examination in Japanese, please refer to this page.

Application to the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

In addition to the application requirments(such as submission of TOEFL scores) set by the Graduate School of Science, the Department of Earth and Planetary Science has the requirements below.

Preliminary Evaluation Certificate(PEC)

All applicants are required to obtain a Preliminary Evaluation Certificate (PEC) from their potential supervisor. The PEC will be issued after an interview with the potential supervisor, which can be conducted either online or in person and should be arranged by direct contact with the proposed supervisor. In the PEC, the potential supervisor will include confirmation of the type of exam (GRE test scores or online department test) and the subjects that will be assessed. A list of the possible application periods is given in Section 4 (Application Period) of the Instructions for International Students applying to the Graduate School of Science (Special Selection for International Applicants).

Submission of GRE subject test scores or take an online written test organized by the Department

The type of examination and the range of subjects accepted is determined by each potential supervisor of the Department. The main distinction is between potential supervisors who require GRE subject test scores to be submitted and those who require applicants to take an online written test organized by the Department. There are also additional subject requirements. Applicants should consult the list below and verify the appropriate examination type and subjects for their own application.

*Please be sure to check the application documents on the Special Selection for International Applicants when you apply.

Online Examination

Applicants who pass the documentary assessment will be invited by the Department to take an online examination.
The final admission decision regarding the success or failure of applications will be announced by the Graduate School Office (not by the Department).

There are two types of online test: the oral test, which is mandatory for all applicants, and the academic test, which is taken by applicants who have not submitted GRE scores. The time required differs depending on whether you are applying for a master’s or doctoral program, so please refer to the following.

Preparation of presentation materials in advance

The applicants should prepare a presentation that can be displayed online using software such as Powerpoint.
The online examination will be held using Zoom.
There will be a “connection test day” before the test date, so you can also check your connection environment there.

Online Examination （Master’s Course Applications）

For those who selected a Departmental online written test, this examination will include a written test of 20 minutes followed by a further oral examination also of 20 minutes.
For those who selected to submit their GRE subject test scores, there will be no further written test, but the same 20-minute oral examination is required.
The oral examination will consist of a 10-minute presentation of your research background and research plan in the University of Tokyo, followed by 10 minutes of questions by the examiners.

Online Examination (Doctoral Course Applications)

For those who selected a Departmental online written test, this examination will include a written test of 20 minutes.
For those who selected to submit their GRE subject test scores, there will be no further written test.
Doctoral course applicants are required to take an oral examination lasting 40 minutes and consisting of a 20-minute presentation of your master’s (or equivalent) study and a 5-minute presentation of your research plan at the University of Tokyo, followed by 15 minutes of questioning by the examiners.

Dates of the Online Examinations

*Schedules are subject to change

Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship for 2026

Application period(s)	July 1 to August 8, 2025
Exam Date	August 26, 2025
Enrollment	Either April or October 2026

Self-financed study abroad or University Recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship for 2026

Application period(s)	October 15, 2025 to October 31, 2025
Exam Date	December 4th and 5th, 2025
Enrollment	April 2026 (private funding) or October 2026 (university-recommended government funding)

Self-financed study abroad or GSGC

Application period(s)	December 5, 2025 to December 22, 2025
Exam Date	February 4th to 5th, 2026
Enrollment	October 2026

Application Calendar

QA（Special Selection for International Applicants）

General

What is the difference between the general entrance examination and the special selection International Applicants?

The general entrance examination is conducted in Japanese only. The Special Selection International Applicants examination is conducted in English only. The general entrance examination page is only available in Japanese, if you cannot understand it in Japanese, we recommend that you take the Special Selection for International Applicants.

What should I do if I want to take the special selection examination for International Applicants?

1. Please read the page for the Graduate School of Science Special Selection for International Applicants carefully.
2. Please read this page for the Department of Earth and Planetary Science Special Selection for International Applicants carefully.
3. Find a faculty member you would like to be your academic advisor from the list of faculty members, contact them directly, and have a preliminary interview.
4. Have them issue you a PEC, and apply from the Special Selection for International Students Application Page.

Can I apply for both the general entrance examination and the special selection for International Applicants?

Applicants for both Master’s and Doctoral programs are not allowed to submit more than one application for the same enrollment term in the Graduate School of Science. However, applicants are allowed to apply for both “Special Selection for International Applicants” and “Global Science Graduate Course (GSGC)” for the same enrollment term.
For more information, please contact the Graduate School Office.

Regarding the Special Selection for International Applicants

What is PEC?

The Preliminary Evaluation Certificate (PEC) is a document issued by a faculty member of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science to students who wish to take the special selection for international applicants. It includes information on the examination to be applied for, the screening method, subjects, the date of admission, and the faculty member’s signature. In the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, you will not be allowed to take the examination unless you submit the PEC from the application site. Be sure to have a preliminary interview and have the PEC issued.
Please note that the PEC cannot be reused once it has been issued, and a new one is required for each application.

What do I need to apply?

Please check the page for the Graduate School of Science’s Special Selection for International Applicants.
In principle, TOEFL scores are required, and GRE scores may also be required.
In principle, TOEFL scores are required, but there are cases where this requirement may be waived depending on conditions such as being born in an English-speaking country.
If you have questions concerning your eligibility, please contact the Graduate School of Science.
Whether or not GRE scores are required depends on the supervising professor you wish to apply to.
Please check the list of requirements and also confirm with your prospective supervisor during your preliminary interview.
PEC: Required
TOEFL score: In principle, required
GRE score: Required depending on the supervisor you wish to study under
If you are considering taking the examination, please check the necessary documents and start preparing as soon as possible. (In many cases, it is not possible to take the TOEFL or GRE after the application period has started.)

Can I submit TOEIC, IELTS or other certificates instead of a TOEFL score?

No, you cannot. For more information, please contact the Graduate School Office.

Do you have past papers for the online test?

Past questions are not published.

What is the pass rate?

The pass rate is not published.

What is GSGC?

Please check the GSGC website.
For more information, please contact the Graduate School Office.

Others

Are there any scholarships?

Please check the scholarship page.
For more information, please contact the International Team.

Is there a dormitory?

Please check the page for support for international students.
For more information, please contact the International Team.

What kind of support systems are available?

Please check the page for support for international students.
For more information, please contact the International Team.

Is it possible to obtain a degree in English only, even if I don’t understand Japanese?

If an international student requests it, lectures at the Graduate School of Science will be given in English. (There are some exceptions, such as joint lectures with the undergraduate school.)
If you can use English, it is possible to obtain a degree even if you cannot understand Japanese.
In addition, lectures to learn Japanese are also offered, so please consider taking them if you want to use Japanese in your daily life.
For details, please check the page for support for international students. If you have any questions, please contact the International Team.

Has the website Special Selection for International Applicants on the Earth and Planetary Science website been updated in mid-June 2025?

Yes, we updated it to make it easier to understand. You can check out the previous explanation here. The content is the same.

Contact Details for Inquiries

Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
web:Special Selection for International Applicants (Master’s and Doctoral Programs)
email: daigakuin.s[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Office of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science
email: gakumu-eps.s[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Please convert [at] to @ and send.