Rules regarding entering the Graduate School of Science and
Technology at Kobe University for foreign graduate students. The following is a description of the procedures that we use to determine which foreign students will be selected for entrance into our graduate school.
Prerequisites If you wish to enter our graduate masters program (either at the beginning of the school year, which starts at the beginning of April, or midyear at the beginning of October), then you must satisfy one of the following prerequisites. Entering the masters program allows for the possibility of being accepted into the doctoral program after you finish your masters degree.

• an undergraduate degree
  
• 16 years of education (if living outside Japan)
  
• 3 years of university level education, or (in the case that you are living abroad) 15 years of education, with demonstrated good grades or scores for passing from each year to the next
  
• in the case that you are studying at Kobe University, an undergraduate degree or higher level degree from Kobe University
  

If you wish to enter our graduate doctoral program (either at the beginning of the school year, which starts at the beginning of April, or midyear at the beginning of October), then you must satisfy one of the following prerequisites.

• a masters degree
  
• the equivalent of a masters degree in Japan (if living outside of Japan)
  
• you have been selected by the head of the Ministry of Education in Japan (as established by rule 118 of Monbusho in 1989)
  
• in the case that you are studying at Kobe University, an masters degree or higher level degree from Kobe University
  

Necessary application materials If you wish to enter our masters program (either in April or October), then you must submit all of the following application materials along with the application fee in one package by the appropriate deadline.

• an application form
  
• a curiculum vitae
  
• either a transcript from the university where you received your undergraduate degree, or both a grade report and a proof of graduation (diploma) from your undergraduate university
  
• a letter of recommendation from your present advisor
  
• proof of sufficient Japanese language ability
  
• in the case that you are already in Japan, proof of legal residence in Japan, i.e. certificate of alien registration
  
• a certificate of good health
  

If you wish to enter our doctoral program (either in April or October), then you must submit all of the following application materials along with the application fee in one package by the appropriate deadline.

• an application form for mid-year entrance
  
• a curiculum vitae
  
• proof of having studied through the fall semester at your educational institution and a grade report
  
• a letter of recommendation from your present advisor
  
• in the case that you are already in Japan, proof of legal residence in Japan, i.e. certificate of alien registration
  
• certificate of good health
  

Means by which successful applicants are chosen We choose successful candidates on the basis of a written exam, an oral exam, a health check, and the application materials submitted.
If you have received a Japanese government scholarship (as established on March 31, 1954), or if you are applying from abroad, then the written and oral exams will not be needed.
The usual time to enter the graduate school is the beginning of April or beginning of October. However, if there is a special reason why you cannot enter at these times, and if it will not create a problem for your studies, then it may be possible for you to enter at a different time.