OIST Graduate Scholarship Programme 2020/2021 for International Students

Applications are now open for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University PhD programme for 2020/2021

OIST Graduate Scholarship Programme

The Graduate School accepts about 60 full-time graduate students per year. This ensures low numbers of students for each faculty member so that we can deliver best-in-the-world teaching for our graduate program. The basic requirement for the OIST Graduate Program is completion of a Bachelors, Masters or equivalent degree prior to the admission date. Students may submit an application at any time. Your application will be considered at the next admissions committee meeting. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the next possible Admissions Workshop, held at OIST, as part of the selection process. If you prefer to attend a later admissions workshop, you may defer the invitation.

OIST Graduate Scholarship Programme Eligibility

To be eligible for the OIST Graduate Program, you must have completed a BSc, MSc or equivalent degree or expect to do so prior to the admission date.

Selection Criteria: Admission to OIST is competitive against a standard that is similar to that of graduate programs of the leading universities the world over. The selection process for admissions takes into account all aspects of the OIST Graduate School application, including: academic record, applicant’s statement, letters of recommendation, additional evidence of academic ability such as GRE general test scores, additional material such as copies of publications and abstracts of oral presentations, and any other evidence of achievement provided. For short-listed applicants, the selection process additionally takes into account face-to-face interviews with five faculty members. All of these aspects are considered together in the final decision for each candidate.

Worth of Scholarship

All students enrolled in OIST PhD program are fully-funded with a generous Research Assistantship, The Research Assistantship ensures a comfortable living in Okinawa so that students can focus on research.

How to Apply for OIST Graduate Scholarship Programme

Prospective students are required to open an Embark account to Apply Online. Please check the necessary documents below and read the Frequently Asked Questions.

Required Documents

1. Transcript and Diploma: Scanned copies of your current academic transcript and any completed diploma (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format. An English explanation is required for transcripts that are not written in English.
   • A scan of an unofficial transcript or other record of grades may be uploaded to the application website.
   • If you have not graduated and do not have a diploma yet, please upload a certificate of enrolment from your institution that indicates your expected graduation date.
2. Applicant’s Statement: This should be not more than 400 words and should address the following points:
   • The applicant’s scientific interests and aspirations, and
   • What the applicant hopes to gain from undertaking graduate studies at OIST.
3. Passport: The application system requires applicants to submit a passport number and upload a scan of their passport photo page. It is essential that applicants from outside Japan have a valid passport for travel to Japan. You must supply your passport details in the application process.
4. Recommendation Letter: Each applicant is required to have at least 2 and no more than 5 letters of recommendation from appropriate academic referees. Two is the minimum requirement, but as a rule, it is very helpful for the admissions committee to have three or more letters. In the online application system, the applicant will enter the name and email of each recommender. The system will then contact the referee directly for their letter.
   • OIST strongly recommends that applicants ask academic referees in advance for permission to list them as recommenders. Recommendation letters needs to be submitted by the deadline. Referee comments are a very important part of the selection process, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to first ensure that referees are willing to submit such a letter, and then that they do submit before the deadline.
   • Recommender’s letters will be treated as confidential material and will not be available to applicants or parties other than OIST faculty members assessing the application. In registering a recommender the applicant acknowledges that there is no right to read the recommender’s letter.
5. Proof of English Proficiency: An applicant who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university for which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English is required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score obtained within the last 2 years.
   • OIST Institutional Code for TOEFL: 8794
   • OIST address for IELTS:Admissions and Career Development Section
     Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
     1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun,
     Okinawa, Japan 904-0495
   • There is no minimum score required but the information is necessary in determining preparatory course requirements.

Optional Documents

The following documents may be submitted optionally, and will be taken into consideration by the selection committee if available:

1. Additional evidence of academic ability such as GRE general or specific test scores obtained within the last 2 years.
   • OIST Institutional Code for GRE reports: 8794
2. Additional material such as the title and abstract of publications and oral presentations, and other evidence of achievement.

Note: The OIST Graduate School reserves the right to request an external evaluation of academic qualifications from any applicant.

There is no application fee to apply for the OIST Graduate Program.

GO TO APPLICATION PAGE

For more information, visit the OIST Graduate Scholarship Programme.

Application Deadline:

• 15th November, 2019 – to participate in February Admissions Workshop (2/18-2/20), 2020.
• 1st April, 2020 – to participate in June Admissions Workshop (6/23-6/25), 2020.