Last upd. August 23, 2024
In these FAQ you will find:
Q1. How long does it take to earn a master's degree?
The normal period of enrollment is two years. So far majority of the students graduate in two years.
Q2. Is it possible to graduate in less than two years?
Students normally spend their first year on coursework as they have to earn at least 30 credits, 20 from regular courses (each course carries 1 or 2 credits) and another 10 credits from seminars regularly held in their laboratories. The second year is spent on research which in most cases, includes experiments.
It is possible to shorten the enrollment period if you complete all the coursework, show excellent research results, and are planning to continue to the doctoral course (please check out the student manual of your year of enrollment for more details and consult with your supervisor).
Q3. Where can I find division-specific graduation requirements?
In addition to the coursework completion requirements, there are division-specific requirements, so you should check the manual of the year of your enrollment for the graduation requirements.
Q4. When is my thesis defense?
Students enrolled in April will have their thesis defense together with graduating Japanese students in February. Students enrolled in October, e3 thesis defense is usually scheduled during the 1st - 2nd week of August.
A longer time of presentation is recommended to be allocated for e3 students (20-minute presentation+10-minute discussion), but not always applied by each particular division.
Q5. What should I prepare for my thesis defense?
Your supervisor will identify at least 3 professors as your examination committee members. You shall give each member a copy of your draft thesis at least one week before your defense. Below is the tentative timeline:
Q6. How do I register my thesis defense?
Please input into your e3 alumni account as soon as it is fixed:
- Title of your thesis- Date, time, and venue for your public presentation
Log-in from: https://eprogram.eng.hokudai.ac.jp/e3/login/
Deadlines:
- March graduates: January 20- September graduates: July 20
The announcement for your defense will be published on the e3 community noticeboard, so it’s easier for you to share this information with your friends and colleagues.If you are doing some collaborative research etc. and will have a closed defense, please inform e3 in advance.
Q7. What and when shall I submit to e3 office?
- March graduates: March 5- September graduates: September 5
1) Full text of the thesis (soft copy)
How: Please send a soft copy by e-mail to e3 office. Please title your file and your email as:Thesis number_your full name_thesis.
How to prepare the thesis for submission:You can find the recommended format here: https://eprogram.eng.hokudai.ac.jp/e3/community/student-information/guideline-thesis
If your laboratory follows another format, please feel free to use it. However, please make sure to format the title page according to the guidelines above for the submission to e3.
2) Final dissertation abstract and achievements, contact information, etc.How: please upload directly to your e3 alumni account before the deadline.Format: PDF
Please follow the preparation guidelines: http://eprogram.eng.hokudai.ac.jp/e3/community/student-information/abstract)
3) List of first-author publications in English (including conferences) and awards
How: Please upload directly to your e3 alumni account before the deadline.
4) Plan and contact information after the graduation
5) e3 exit survey
How: Please follow the link provided by e3 office and fill out the survey before the deadline.
Q8. Where can I find my thesis number?
You will be notified by e3 office by e-mail in July for September graduates, and in January for March graduates.
Q9. Where are the achievements, abstracts, and thesis manuscripts published?
Thesis abstracts, awards, and achievements, alumni profiles are published online. Thesis manuscripts are not published online.
Thesis abstractsPublicationsAwardsAlumni database
Q10. Do I have to follow e3 thesis format?
Guidelines for preparing a thesis and abstract can be downloaded from e3 noticeboard. If your division or laboratory offers another format, you can follow it. However, for the submission to e3, please make sure to format your title page following the e3 format.
Q11. How do I proceed to the doctoral program?
You need to submit your application for the admission to the doctoral program following the official admission calendar. There are two different admission systems at the Graduate School of Engineering
(1) e3 special selection for the e3 program
Please check the Admission page for details of e3 Special Selection. Documents required from applicants already enrolled in Graduate School of Engineering are slightly different from those required from newly applying.
(2) General entrance examination for general courses
*Scholarship extension procedure is different from the admission procedure and may need to be done before or after the admission application depending on the type of the scholarship and the time of enrollment. If you have MEXT scholarship, please refer to the section "What is the procedure to extend the MEXT scholarship" below. If you have a scholarship other than MEXT, please make sure to check out the extension procedure for PhD with the scholarship authority well in advance.
Q12. Can I take a general exam of the graduate school of Engineering to enter the e3 program?
If you belonged to the e3 program in your Master's course, but took a general examination to enter the PhD course, you will not be automatically considered an e3 student. To continue as an e3 student, please make sure to submit your application for the e3 program. Please check the required documents and application timeline here.
Q13. I am a MEXT scholarship holder, what do I have to do if I want to continue to the doctoral program?
MEXT scholarship holders are required to apply for the extension of the scholarship nearly one year in advance in case of October enrollment. There are several types of MEXT scholarships, not all of them can be extended.
(1) Awarded through the embassy in the student's country - If you are holding this type of scholarship, your can apply for the extension of your scholarship to cover the doctoral program. The application for extensions is usually called around November-December of the year before your expected graduation irrespective of your enrollment semester (April or October). You have to have good academic performance and pass the university-level selection to be nominated for the extension of your scholarship. Evaluation includes your GPA during the master's course. Final approval of the extension is subject to the decision of MEXT. Please note that you have to complete the application for enrollment into the doctoral degree program separately (see Q9 above).
(2) Awarded via e3 program - Continuation of this scholarship is first subject to internal selection at e3 prior to the scholarship extension procedure. You will be notified about the selection procedure in advance (around the October of your second year of enrollment).
Q14. I am a self-supported student. Can I apply for the MEXT scholarship for the doctoral program?
No, most of the MEXT scholarships require applicants to apply from overseas.
Q15. If I go home after the graduation, can I, after some time, return and reapply for the MEXT scholarship?
If you had a MEXT scholarship for your master's study and then left Japan after your graduation, you are not eligible to receive MEXT scholarship for the next 3 years. So, earliest you can try to re-apply is approximately 2 years after your graduation (given that selection process takes roughly a year).
Q16. I am a self-supported student from China. Can I apply for CSC scholarship for the doctoral program?
No, students who currently enrolled in Hokkaido University are not eligible to apply for an acceptance letter for CSC via Hokkaido University.
Q17. If I'm applying for PhD as a self-supported student, what are the scholarships/support options available?
Currently available at e3 forms of support is e3 grant for self-supported PhD students (JPY100,000 once).
Self-supported students can try to apply for scholarships offered by private organizations to Hokkaido University via the Scholarship Candidate Registration system or directly. Please refer to the university's website.
Q18. When can I leave the university?
Your studentship ends at the end of March if you enrolled in April, and at the end of September if you enrolled in October. If you have completed all the necessary requirements, you can leave anytime.
About one month or so before the graduation ceremony, Academic Affairs Office (hereinafter referred to as "Kyomu") will ask you:
- to verify your name that will appear on the diploma- whethr you will apply for the additional copies of your graduation certificate and transcript- whether you plan to attend the graduation ceremony
In case you do not attend the graduation ceremony, Kyomu will send your diploma (and certificates) to your laboratory to forward it to you.
Q19 I will leave the university before the graduation ceremony. How can I receive my diploma and certificates?
If you have notified Kyomu that you will not attend the graduation ceremony, your diploma and certificates will be sent to your laboratory. Please make sure to leave your new address after the graduation and instructions for posting your certificates.
Q20. When can I get an air ticket to return home (MEXT scholarship)?
When you graduate and leave Japan, MEXT will provide you with a return ticket. You will be informed of the application procedure and deadlines when the time of your graduation approaches (around June for the graduates in September, and around December for the graduates in March).
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