"The IDEC Institute 3+1 Program” is an initiative that accepts international students who have completed their third year at their universities as Special Auditing Students. During the program, students receive research guidance on their graduation thesis, which they submit to their home universities. 
Students in the program engage in their research and write their graduation thesis under the supervision of a faculty member at Hiroshima University. By leveraging the advanced research facilities at Hiroshima University and its network with partner companies, students can engage in a high-level research, particularly in the field of advanced technologies.
 

1．Specialized Education：

Students receive specialized education, including research guidance for their graduation thesis from their academic supervisor at Hiroshima University. Additionally, they can earn credits at Hiroshima University, which can be transferred to their home universities to meet their graduation requirements.

2．Further Studies at HU：

Upon completing the program, students can continue their studies as research students, facilitating a seamless transition to graduate studies at Hiroshima University when they pass the master’s entrance exam.

3．Extensive Selection of Schools：

Applicants can choose one of the 12 undergraduate schools at Hiroshima University for enrollment. 

4．Authentic Experience of Japan：

Students gain genuine insights into Japanese life, enjoying the advantages of a safe environment and affordable living costs.

5．Certificate of Completion：

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants who fulfill the program requirements. Bachelor’s degrees will be conferred by the students’ respective home universities.

6．Cutting-edge Research Facilities and Network with Partner Companies：

Students can utilize cutting-edge research facilities of Hiroshima University for their graduation research. They can also benefit from Hiroshima University's network with partner companies to win an opportunity for further experience such as an internship.

4th-year students: 399,600JPY (3 terms, which are equivalent to 9 months)
 

Accepted applicants pay the tuition fee (program fee) in a single payment (without installments) when they begin the program. 

Syllabi for the courses offered at Hiroshima University can be accessed through the following link:

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Based on their academic needs, students in the program can enroll in additional courses alongside their research.

However, please note that some courses may not be available to program students if:

・The number of registered students exceeds the course capacity.

・There are specific enrollment limits or requirements.
 

The standard program period runs from June to March of the following year. 

During this period, students dedicate three full terms (9-10 months) to their learning and research. 

The image below depicts the general timeline from application to program completion: 

General Timeline from Application to Program Completion (An Example) 

Application Documents and Schedule

We send application guidelines and application documents to our partner universities at the beginning of January. 

When you receive application information from your home university, you need to apply on the International Application Assistance System (IAAS) on Hiroshima University's website. Application deadline is typically at late February*. 

You can access and register for IAAS here: 

International Admissions Office

*The detailed application schedule may vary each year. Please make sure to check the announcements from your home university for specific dates. 

Please note that applications are exclusively open to students from our partner universities. Partner universities will announce the application details to their students when the application period begins.

Two Different Application Tracks

In this program, you have two different application tracks which are detailed below: 

・Proposal-based Track: 

In this track, you identify a professor at Hiroshima University who you wish to receive research guidance from, designate them as your preferred academic supervisor in your application documents, and submit a research proposal to the professor. The designated professor will review your documents and decide if you can proceed to the interview stage. If you pass both the document screening and the interview, you will be accepted under the designated professor.

・Project-based Track:

Several laboratories are seeking students who wish to participate in their ongoing research and/or projects as part of their research activities during the program period.

For more detailed information on the research/ project topics and application requirements for each laboratory, please refer to the following link:

The IDEC 3+1 Program Project-based Application Track

At Hiroshima University, the academic year is divided into two semesters: the Spring Semester (April to September) and the Fall Semester (October to March). Each semester is further divided into two terms. Each term typically lasts for 8 weeks, making each semester 16 weeks long.

   ・Spring Semester: Term 1 (April to June) and Term 2 (June to August)
   ・Fall Semester: Term 3 (October to November) and Term 4 (December to February)

You can check Hiroshima University’s class schedule through the following link.

Hiroshima University's Academic Calendar and Class Schedule

*This section is currently undergoing updates. We will release it when the updates are complete.