PhD Opportunities with Possible MEXT University Recommendation

Our laboratory welcomes inquiries from highly qualified prospective Ph.D. applicants whose research background closely matches our research areas. However, because financial support and admission routes are highly competitive, applicants are strongly encouraged to read the following information carefully before contacting us. 　

For outstanding candidates, we may consider nomination for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship under University Recommendation, subject to the applicant’s academic excellence, research fit, and the availability of nomination slots. Under this scheme, universities screen candidates first and then recommend selected nominees to MEXT for final review.

About the MEXT University Recommendation Scheme

The MEXT scholarship for research students supports international students who wish to study in Japanese graduate programs as research students or regular graduate students. In the university recommendation route, applicants apply through the host university, and the university recommends selected candidates to MEXT.

Please note that MEXT University Recommendation is highly competitive and cannot be guaranteed. Final scholarship decisions are made by MEXT after the university’s internal selection.

We generally recommend that prospective applicants first apply for MEXT Scholarship through the Embassy Recommendation route before coming to Japan. Please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country for details on eligibility, application procedures, and deadlines.

Other Financial Support

In addition to the MEXT University Recommendation scholarship, doctoral students may also be eligible for other financial support depending on their status, qualifications, and funding availability.

• JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1/DC2): Highly qualified doctoral students may apply for the JSPS fellowship after enrollment, subject to eligibility requirements and competitive selection.
　　
• Research Assistant (RA) support: Students may also have opportunities to work as Research Assistants under funded research projects, depending on the laboratory’s projects and the university’s employment rules. In some cases, RA support may be provided at a level of up to JPY 2.4 million per year.

Please note that the availability, eligibility, and compatibility of these schemes may vary, and they cannot be guaranteed in advance. In particular, RA support depends on the budget status of the relevant research projects at the time of enrollment and during the period of study.

Who Should Apply

We encourage inquiries from applicants who:

• hold a master’s degree in engineering, or, in the case of applicants with only a bachelor’s degree, have multiple years of relevant research or professional experience,
• have an excellent academic record,
• have sufficient English ability for research communication and academic writing,
• plan to pursue a PhD degree at Tottori University.

Research Areas

Our laboratory is particularly interested in applicants whose background matches one or more of the following topics:

• Microstructural analysis
• Numerical deformation analysis at the nano/micro/meso scale
• Experimental testing of structural materials
• Data assimilation analysis
• Hydrogen embrittlement
• X-ray computed tomography
• First-principles calculation

Initial Contact

Prospective applicants should first contact Professor Matsuno by email before making any formal application. In your first email, please include:

1. your CV,
2. academic transcripts,
3. a short summary of your previous research,
4. a brief statement of your proposed research interests,
5. proof of English proficiency, if available,
6. your expected date of enrollment.

Selection Process

1. Review of CV, transcripts, and research background
2. Online interview, if shortlisted
3. Internal screening within the university
4. Nomination to MEXT if selected by the university
5. Final decision by MEXT

Entrance Examination for the Doctoral Program

For admission to the doctoral program, selection is based on application documents and an interview, which is normally about one hour. Applicants are expected to explain their previous research achievements, including their master’s thesis, publications, and conference presentations, as well as their proposed research plan. Applicants who are not based in Japan may be interviewed online after prior consultation with their prospective supervisor.

For details, please refer to the official Tottori University application guidelines for the doctoral program: Application Procedure for Foreign Student Admission to Graduate School of Engineering Doctor’s Program .

Important Notes

• MEXT University Recommendation slots are limited each year.
• Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee nomination or scholarship award.
• Applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not receive a reply.
• Applicants who are not selected for MEXT nomination may still be considered for admission through other routes, depending on program regulations and supervisor availability.
• There is also a separate MEXT scholarship application route through Japanese embassies or consulates (Embassy Recommendation). For details, please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.
• Application schedules vary by year and by program. Applicants should carefully check the latest official information from MEXT and Tottori University.

Master’s Program

If applicants wish to enroll in the master’s program in October, the process would generally be as follows:

1) August: Travel to Japan for a short stay on a tourist visa, take the entrance examination, and then return to your home country.
2) September: If you pass the examination, obtain the necessary documents issued by the university and apply for a student visa. The university staff will assist you with the procedure for obtaining residence status in Japan. The issuance of the necessary documents usually takes about three weeks, which should allow sufficient time for October enrollment.
3) October: Enroll in the graduate program.

This is the quickest route, provided that you pass the entrance examination. The examination is usually taken in Japan, and most applicants come to Japan in advance in order to complete the payment procedure while staying here. The university staff can assist with this process during your short stay.

The university recommends that applicants first enroll as research students for approximately six months in order to acquire Japanese language skills and basic academic knowledge. For more information, please refer to this page.

In that case, the process would generally be as follows:

1) Apply for admission as a research student. The university will review your application.
2) Obtain a student visa and residence status, following the same procedure as for October enrollment.
3) Arrive in Japan and prepare for the graduate school entrance examination in December.
4) Enroll as a regular student in April.

After enrollment, students may apply for scholarships for which they are eligible.

Financial support for Master's students

Except for applicants who have already been selected for the MEXT Scholarship through the Embassy Recommendation route, students entering the master’s program are expected to be self-funded. Our laboratory does not provide financial support for self-funded master’s students. Applicants who require financial support are strongly encouraged to first seek the MEXT Scholarship through the Embassy Recommendation route.

In principle, our laboratory does not nominate prospective master’s students for the MEXT Scholarship under the University Recommendation scheme, unless there is a special prior connection, such as an established collaborative research relationship.

Entrance Examination for the Master’s Program

Applicants to the master’s program in the Course of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Engineering, Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Tottori University, are required to take written examinations in Mathematics and Physics for Mechanical Engineering. The latter subject covers fundamental areas of mechanical engineering, including mechanics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, mechanical vibration, and related topics. According to the current application procedure, each written examination is 120 minutes long. An oral examination is also conducted.

Applicants should also note that most lectures in the Department of Engineering are offered in Japanese, and sufficient Japanese-language proficiency is essential for study in the master’s program. In recent years, there have been repeated cases in which research students were unable to pass the entrance examination because they had not previously studied the relevant examination subjects and did not yet have sufficient communication ability in either Japanese or English. Prospective applicants are therefore strongly advised to carefully assess, before applying, whether they are realistically prepared to pass the entrance examination.

For details on the entrance examination, please refer to the official Tottori University admissions page: Foreign Student Admission to the Department of Engineering, Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Master’s Program .