There are two programs offered in graduate school: one is open to candidates for Master's Degrees and the other for Doctoral Degrees. Most instruction is conducted in Japanese for international students. Applicants should note that it is essential to achieve a sufficient mastery of the language prior to admission. The amount of time it takes to earn a degree, admission qualifications, general application procedures, and so on, are outlined below.

Admission procedures and requirements differ slightly depending on the graduate school, and there are some graduate schools that make special selections for international students. Applicants wanting more details should inquire at the student support group of the graduate school concerned. A list of such groups and their addresses can be found here.

Master's Degrees are normally awarded to a student if he/she has satisfied the following requirements: at least 2 years in the Master's Program, acquisition of the required course credits in his/her Graduate School, an acceptable master's thesis written under the guidance of a faculty member, and passing a final comprehensive examination.

Doctorate Degrees are awarded to a student if he/she has satisfied the following requirements: at least 3 years in the doctoral program, acquisition of the required course credits in his/her research graduate school, an acceptable doctoral dissertation written under the guidance of a faculty member, and passing a final comprehensive examination.

In the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (except for the Pharmaceutical Science Programs), there is no Master's program; only the doctoral program is available. A minimum of 4 years residence is required.

Students with any of the following credentials may apply for admission: 

(a) University Graduate.
(b) A person who has received a bachelor’s degree from a degree-granting institution, in accordance with the 1974 School Education Law (No.26, Article 104, Section 4).
(c) A person who has completed 16 years of formal schooling in a foreign country.
(d) A person who has completed 16 years of formal schooling in a foreign country, by earning the credit(s) of correspondence course(s) in the schooling program in Japan.
(e) A person who has taken courses from a foreign university in Japan (completing 16 years of education) thereby completing the required number of years of schooling, of which is recognized by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(f) A person who has completed the specialized curriculum of a higher vocational school, of four years or more, and has been specially selected by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(g) A person who has been specially selected by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(h) A person who has entered a graduate school, in accordance with the 1974 School Education Law (No.26, Article102, Section 2) and recognized by our graduate school as having a suitable academic ability to engage in graduate level studies.
[School Education Law (Article 102, Section 2)]
(i) A person 22 or more years old, recognized by our graduate school as having academic ability equivalent or superior to that of a university graduate.
(j) A person who has attended a university for at least three years, (including a person who has been specially selected by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and has been recognized by our graduate school as having achieved excellent grades.

Students with any of the following credentials may apply for admission: 

(a) A graduate of a master's or professional degree.
(b) A person who has received a degree certificate equivalent to a master's or a professional degree in a foreign country.
(c) A person who has received a degree certificate equivalent to a master’s or a professional degree in a foreign county, by earning the credit(s) of correspondence course(s) in the schooling program in Japan. 
(d) A person who has taken courses from a foreign university in Japan thereby completing the required number of years of schooling, of which is recognized by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and hold a master’s or a professional degree.
(e) A person who has completed the course(s) provided by the United Nations University and received a degree certificate equivalent to a master’s degree.
(f) A person who has been specially approved by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
(g) A person 24 years or older, recognized as having academic ability equivalent or superior to that of a master's or professional program by individual qualification screening at our graduate school.

Students with any of the following credentials may apply for admission (only for the Biomedical Research and Applied Biomedicine Programs):

(a) A person who has completed the maximum number of years needed for completion of a six-year curriculum in medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine at the faculties of medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine of a university.
(b) A person who has been conferred a bachelor’s degree (in the field of medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine) from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation in accordance with the provision in Paragraph 4 of Article 104 of the law.
(c) A person who has completed an 18-year school curriculum education program (with the last field of study being medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine) in an overseas country.
(d) A person who has completed an 18-year school curriculum education program of a relevant county while in Japan (with the last field of study being medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine), by taking subjects through correspondence education conducted by an overseas country.
(e) A person who has completed a relevant curriculum designated separately by the Minister of MEXT (only those who have completed an 18-year school curriculum education program in the relevant country, and whose last field of was medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine) at educational institutions with university curriculum in accordance with the school education system in the relevant county.
(f) A person who has received a designation by the Minister of MEXT.
(g) In accordance with the provision in Paragraph 2 of Article 102 of the law, individuals who have enrolled at a graduate school (only medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science or veterinary medicine programs qualify), and who are recognized as having sufficient academic ability to study at the university graduate school.
(h) A person who is recognized by our graduate school as having academic ability equivalent or superior to those who have graduated from a university, such recognition is done on a case by case basis and is based the qualifications of each applicant, and who have reached 24 years of age.
(i) A person who enrolled at the faculties of medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine of a university, or have taken pharmacy courses whose main purpose is to cultivate clinically related practical skills for four years or longer (including those who received a designation by the Minister of MEXT as individuals with similar qualifications), and have obtained credits stipulated by the university graduate school with excellent marks. 

Students wishing to be admitted into either the Master's or Doctoral program must take the same entrance examination as Japanese applicants. He/she is screened through a written examination, an oral test, and submitted documents.