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Admission

Our department welcomes applications from international students to our graduate degree courses. We will accept applications for our Master and Doctoral degree programs for April and October each year.


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Special Integrated Science Course (SISC)

Information of guraduate admissions

Application documents for SISC Course


The following is an AI translation of a Japanese webpage and is intended for students who use Japanese. Therefore, please note that some explanations and links to Japanese webpages, may not be applicable to those interested in SISC courses.

If you would like to obtain the application guidelines, please visit the Graduate School Admissions page of the Graduate School of Science.

1. About the Division

While research groups in polymer science are generally affiliated with engineering faculties, the Division of Macromolecular Science is unique in Japan as the only polymer-related division housed within a Graduate School of Science. It is widely recognized as a leading center for fundamental research in polymer science. The division encompasses a comprehensive range of research areas within a single program, including polymer synthesis, structure, physical properties, and functional materials, forming a well-balanced and highly regarded research organization. In 2002, the division was selected for the 21st Century COE Program, “Creation of Chemistry for Coexistence with Nature,” and in 2005 for the Attractive Graduate School Education Initiative, “Interactive Graduate Education.” Through these programs, the division has played a central role in advancing cutting-edge graduate education. Building on these achievements, the division currently participates in programs such as “Integrated Graduate Education in Science” (adopted in 2007) and the Global COE Program “Global Education and Research Center for Bio-Environmental Chemistry” (adopted in 2008), promoting innovative graduate education aimed at creating new directions in chemistry. In addition, research groups from the Institute for Protein Research participate as cooperative laboratories, offering research and educational programs focused on the fundamental understanding of the relationships between the structure, physical properties, and biological functions of proteins as macromolecules. Please also refer to the Graduate School of Science’s introduction to its academic divisions.

2. Graduate Education

The Master’s Program offers a broad range of lectures designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of polymer science. Specific courses are listed in the “Course List and Syllabus.” In addition to regular coursework, intensive lectures on current topics in polymer science are offered each year. For special research projects, students work on state-of-the-art research themes, and the results are regularly presented at major international and domestic conferences and published in academic journals. Outstanding first-year master’s students may also qualify for an accelerated advancement system that allows progression to the doctoral program during their second year.

3. Admissions System

The Division of Macromolecular Science welcomes applicants from universities throughout Japan and abroad, and every year admits many students from other universities to both the master’s and doctoral programs. For admission to the Master’s Program (Doctoral Program, First Stage), entrance examinations are held annually in August of the preceding academic year (admission capacity: 24 students). In addition, a special selection process is conducted in February for exceptional third-year undergraduate students wishing to proceed directly to the master’s program (limited number of openings). For admission to the Doctoral Program (Doctoral Program, Second Stage), entrance examinations are conducted: * in February for April enrollment (admission capacity: 11 students), and * in August for October enrollment (limited number of openings). Details regarding the second round of applications are available separately.

Universities of Recently Admitted Students

Recent successful applicants have come from institutions including:
* Osaka University * Okayama University * Ochanomizu University * Kagoshima University * Kanazawa University * Gifu University * Kyushu University * Kyoto Institute of Technology * Kochi University * Tokyo Institute of Technology * Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology * Nagoya University * Nagoya Institute of Technology * Nara Women’s University * Yamagata University * Osaka Prefecture University * The University of Shiga Prefecture * Doshisha University * Keio University (Approximately 20% of admitted students come from other universities.)

7. Laboratories Accepting Students for October 2026 / April 2027 Enrollment

  Polymer Reaction Chemistry (Professor Kiyotaka ONITSUKA) HP
  Macromolecular Precise Science (Professor Akihito HASHIDZUME) HP
  Polymer Synthesis Chemstry (Professor Takaya TERASHIMA) HP
  Polymer Physical Chemistry (Professor Yumi MATSUMIYA) HP
  Polymeric Materials Design (Professor Yoshinori TAKASHIMA) HP
  Macromolecular Structure (Professor Katsumi IMADA) HP
  Supramolecular Science, Polymer Functional Chemistry (Professor Hiroyasu YAMAGUCHI) HP
  Macromolecular Solutions (Professor Ken TERAO) HP
  CryoEM Structural Biology (Professor Takayuki KATO) HP
  Protein Crystallography (Professor Genji KURISU) HP

Applicants considering admission to the doctoral program are encouraged to contact the faculty member of their prospective laboratory in advance for consultation.

8. Past Entrance Examination Questions

2026 Master’s Program Entrance Examination (First Round)

2025 Master’s Program Entrance Examination (First Round)

2024 Master’s Program Entrance Examination (First Round)

2023 Master’s Program Entrance Examination (First Round)

2022 Master’s Program Entrance Examination (First Round)