Overseas applications to the Graduate School
To enter the Graduate school of Letters, Kyoto University, overseas applicants must sit entrance examinations to demonstrate an ability in foreign languages, together with a written test of geographical competencies and an oral examination.
Regarding the language requirements, competence in Japanese is compulsory; students are also required to show satisfactory skills in one other language in which they are not native speakers. The written test in geography is designed to establish competence in advanced (tertiary) level geographical studies; selected copies of previous tests may be forwarded on request. At the oral examination, staff members will raise questions concerning materials submitted as the equivalent of a ‘graduation paper’ in Japan. Further information on this requirement may be obtained on request.
Prospective overseas applicants should note that, because all examinations are conducted in Japanese, a good command of that language is assumed. Accordingly, no English guide is available. Detailed Japanese information is provided in the appropriate section of this web site. A formal Japanese guide will be supplied on request.