Graduate Education FAQs

Besides the unique research subject and areas of study, there are other strong reasons to study at WPI-SKCM². We ensure degree completion with an appropriate supporting environment for both research and personal life.
To facilitate a substantial research environment, we ensure the co-mentoring of young researchers, doctoral students, and postdocs, where these researchers will have primary, secondary, and international co-mentors with whom they will jointly publish while supported by the WPI grant. For example, a doctoral student in Physics at HU might be co-advised by HU PIs in chemistry or math and by a PI from an international node. A critical mass of active interdisciplinary researchers coordinates to solve problems with you which can not only ensure degree completion in your planned program of study but also cultivate your expertise and facilitate your research career.
We also organize various tutorials and short courses around the World for teaching key concepts from fields different from one’s primary training under the umbrella of knotted meta-matter. Public lectures by Peace Nobel Laureates will complement the science programs of WPI schools, calling for important roles to be played by scientists to sustain global peace.
Students can spend extended periods of time at the other WPI nodes, such as MIT, Cambridge, and CU-Boulder. These arrangements allow doctoral students to take specialized courses at partner institutions. We dedicate significant resources to sponsor student travel and research exchanges between Japanese & international nodes of the WPI-SKCM². Modeled after the top graduate programs in the USA and UK, with graduate students from such programs as frequent visitors, we intend to create a student-centered environment preparing the tomorrow’s global leaders in fundamental science for sustainability.

To enhance your personal life in Higashi Hiroshima City, we provide various support. In cooperation with local governments, we provide English-language support for the daily lives of researchers and accompanying persons, including schooling and housing. All international residents living or working in Higashi Hiroshima city are also eligible to apply for the Japanese classes. By communicating with locals, one can enrich understanding of Japanese culture and society. WPI-SKCM² will organize workshops for family members of foreign visitors/students to become familiar with Japanese traditions ( like mizuhiki and origami or tea ceremony).
We provide a great environment to do science. Shared space for WPI-SKCM² students/postdocs is secured at VBL, and a new building is under construction. The new research building is to be erected, which will serve as the center’s core, will have an open space, the Ideas-Exchange Lounge, and will provide an environment for meetings and informal discussions to promote the fusion of different fields and brain circulation. For example, we have everyday coffee/tea meetings, where one can freely discuss pending scientific problems with peers and senior advisors having electronic boards at hand. We organize weekend hikes within the Chugoku region including prefectures near Hiroshima.
The WPI-SKCM² has close contact with colleagues from different research areas across Hiroshima University and provides shared research laboratories being able to tackle diverse scientific problems. We are working to create a network of industrial and non-commercial partners who would support our action.

We recruit students with a wide variety of backgrounds to join us. We admit students based on their potential to contribute to their chosen field.

WPI-SKCM² does not discriminate based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national origin, political beliefs, or disability unrelated to the job or course of study requirements. Immigration status does not factor into decisions about admissions and financial aid.

WPI-SKCM² actively seeks applicants from groups historically underrepresented in graduate schools of Japan, with a strong intention of achieving gender balance and recruiting talent from all over the World. All degree candidates are admitted for full-time study beginning in the fall term, though exceptions can be made in special circumstances and starting the studies from the Spring semester is also possible

The WPI-SKCM² can also accept candidates with their own funding who are also welcome to apply for a place of study. We might be able to provide additional support, depending on the requirements and guidelines of your fellowship or other sources of support. If you have independent funding and would like to apply to the WPI-SKCM², we recommend that you contact us to discuss your application beforehand by emailing us.

・An undergraduate degree in Physics, Mathematics, Material Science, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Earth and Planetary Science, or other related disciplines.

・ An interest in interdisciplinary sciences and willingness to work with several PIs from different research fields in Japan and abroad.

・English proficiency, and good communication skills.

・No prior knowledge of the theory of knots or chirality phenomena, or any other preparation backgrounds beyond undergraduate curriculum, is required.

The WPI-SKCM² offers 5-year PhD-degree programs (with 2-year master-degree obtained as an intermediate step). The degree program is full-time. WPI-SKCM² students will be expected to take a set of core courses developed by the institute and may also take courses taught by other graduate programs at HU such as physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and cosmology, and mathematics to meet the program coursework requirements.

 The program includes:

・An interdisciplinary research project supervised by experts from different disciplines.
・Training technical skills in focus areas like topology and knot theory and related subjects to support your development as a professional researcher.
・Informal communication with renowned scientists regularly visiting WPI-SKCM²
・The opportunity to undertake collaborative research visits to our partner institutes abroad.

Programs start in April and October of each academic year.

Each student at WPI-SKCM² will have the opportunity to select three mentors. While one mentor from Hiroshima University is mandatory, the other two mentors can be chosen from either domestic or international Principal Investigators (PIs), co-PIs, or Affiliate Members. You can refer to the directory for potential mentors, and their names must be specified in the screening application.

Once your application is approved to proceed to the full application stage with Hiroshima University, you will need to submit an application to the school affiliated with your approved Hiroshima University mentor. These schools are the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Mathematical and Life Sciences.

To assist with living and educational expenses, students supported by WPI-SKCM² will be employed as researchers and will be paid 2,000,000 yen/year (Doctoral students, after passing a PhD-qualifying exam) and 1,000,000 yen/year (Master’s students, before passing the PhD-qualifying exam). Students successfully passing qualifying exams and engaging in productive research may receive additional support. Support is contingent on a student remaining in good standing.

Enrollment and tuition fees are as follows;

A: Enrollment fee: 282,000 JPY

B: Tuition (per year): 535,800 JPY

2022–2023 Estimated Living Expenses Budget

	One academic term (6 months)	Full academic year (12 months)
Single	$3,000-6,000	$6,000-10,000
With spouse or partner	$5,000-8,000	$8,000-12,000
With spouse or partner and one child	$8,000-13,000	$13,000-16,000
Additional child	$2,000-3,000	$4,000-6,000

*6,000 USD = 840,000 yen

We realize that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, recent natural disasters, and other extenuating circumstances may have impacted applicants’ academic and personal lives.

If any of these conditions apply to you, we encourage you to contact us for any accommodation that can be made for you to successfully apply.

Hiroshima University WPI-SKCM² Office
Email: wpi-skcm2-admission@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

During the application process, you and others, such as recommenders, may provide the WPI-SKCM² with certain kinds of personal data about you that may be regarded as sensitive personal information. By submitting an application, you consent to WPI-SKCM² processing of personal data about you in order to evaluate your application for admission and your eligibility for financial aid, if applicable.

By accepting the offer of admission, students join a community ideally characterized by free expression, free inquiry, intellectual honesty, respect for the dignity of others, and openness to constructive change..

If an admitted candidate for admission has made misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate statements, submitted false material in connection with the application, or has been found to have engaged in academic or personal conduct that is inconsistent with the preceding paragraph, WPI-SKCM² will take appropriate action, which could include rescinding an offer of admission or revoking a degree. Newly admitted candidates are expected to inform the Office of Admissions of any past or present conduct that is inconsistent with these standards.

・If a misrepresentation is discovered after a student has registered, the case will be reviewed by the SKCM² Graduate Administrative Committee, who will determine the action to be taken.

・ If the discovery occurs after a degree has been awarded, the case will be reviewed by the SKCM² Graduate Administrative Committee who will determine the action to be taken, and the degree may be rescinded.