Admissions & Aid

Like Japanese students, the majority of international students belong to undergraduate colleges and graduate schools as regular or research students. Although most of lectures and seminars are offered in Japanese, YNU offers the following special programs (undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral programs) for those who wish to study solely in English. Also, all courses at the Graduate School of Engineering Science are taught in English.

The application period, screening method, and notice of results vary according to program. Please check the application guidelines of the appropriate program for the latest and detailed information. Apart from these, graduate students who study under such scholarships as Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Scholarship can also pursue their studies entirely in English.

If the programs we offer do not match your field of study, we recommend that you check the website of Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) where you can find a whole list of programs offered by all national, public and private universities in Japan.

YOKOHAMA Socrates Program

In April 2024, the YOKOHAMA Socrates Program (YNU Program for SOCially Resilient And susTainable EcoSystems) will be starting. The new program will be centered around the issues and methodologies in the humanities and social sciences related to the twin themes of social resilience and social sustainability. It is a bilingual global education program in the YNU College of Urban Sciences enabling students to obtain a bachelor’s degree with English and Japanese as common languages. In the first years after admission, students will take courses in English, in addition to Japanese language courses if their Japanese language proficiency is not native level. After they obtain the required level of Japanese language proficiency, students will later be able to join classes and seminars in Japanese together with students in the College of Urban Sciences. Students will participate in small classes, including seminars conducted through the dialogue-based Socratic method. Graduation theses will be co-supervised by two faculty members who will advise students with the aim of enabling them to utilize appropriate methodology for thinking deeply with their own minds about issues of our times in completing their works.

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Ocean Engineering

Mechanical engineering, material engineering, naval architecture and ocean engineering, and aerospace engineering all seek to build advanced systems and highly functional materials by combining elementary technologies while incorporating basic principles. This department helps students understand these basic principles, develop their scientific intuition in applying those principles, and cultivate the ability to adapt to technical innovation in this globalized world. The learning and research activities in the department seek to build advanced systems and create highly functional materials by bringing together elementary technologies, designing technologies to make the most of elements, and creating production technologies that maintain the balance between our society and the environment. In this manner, our department produces globally-competitive engineers and researchers with practical and sophisticated skills.

Chemistry and Life Science

Today’s material civilization is built upon comprehensive and advanced science technologies for developing and applying functional materials based on unique natural science. The important keys for the sustainable development of civilization include the pursuit of exceptional substances and materials, the construction of good production systems, and the understanding and application of life phenomena. To achieve this, a comprehensive system must be built beyond the conventional academic framework of chemistry to incorporate mathematics and information science. This department focuses on chemistry and life science and produces internationally-minded professionals who can adapt to evolving science technologies with their basic competency and comprehensive skills to address a wide range of issues involving nature research, manufacturing, energy, and life forms by applying principles and their knowledge.

Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The innovation in information and communication technology that has utterly transformed our society owes its remarkable development to electrical, electronic, communication, and information engineering. Further paradigm shifts and innovation require integrated and interdisciplinary understanding in extensive fields from basic science in mathematics and physics to applied engineering. The master’s program at the Department of Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science produces globally-competitive, practical, and creative engineers and researchers by offering learning and research opportunities in a wide area including mathematical science, physics, applied physics, as well as electrical, electronic, communication, information, and medical information engineering.

International Infrastructure (IGSI)

By extensively utilizing a studio-teaching format, the IGSI trains students to gain useful knowledge of Civil Engineering, which they put to actual use when they confront various different urban problems in emerging and developing countries. All lectures, studio classes and consultations on master’s thesis will be conducted in English. The course is offered not just to Japanese students but also to foreign students in general. The IGSI thus functions as a foreign-student teaching arm of YNU Graduate School of Urban Innovation.

・Special International Program for Urban Infrastructure Engineering in Developing Countries
The Graduate School of Urban Innovation offers graduate programs at the Master’s level in the field of Urban Infrastructure Engineering (civil engineering) taught entirely in English. The program, which originally started in 1989, now provides students with academic knowledge and tools in civil engineering theory and empirics of the highest global standards. We seek motivated students from all over the world, who are eager to work as academic researchers, specialists, or professionals in the international arena.

・International Graduate Program for Innovation of Civil Engineering through ICT technologies
Practical education and research guidance in a multicultural co-research environment will be provided in order to foster innovative high-level international human resources that can bring technological innovation to civil engineering, environment, and disaster prevention fields by actively utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

Infrastructure Management Program (IMP)

This program was established in 1995 with the receipt of a grant from a special scholarship program funded by the Japanese Government for government officers from developing countries of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). The program examines approaches to infrastructure management at all levels from the planning of infrastructure to its construction and operation while bearing in mind the welfare of the local population and preservation of the environment. A new cohort will begin in October 2016 at the Graduate School of Urban Innovation.

Economics

Designed to provide graduates with knowledge of economic theory, empirics, and policy at the highest of global academic standards, in 2013, the Department of Economics in the Graduate School of International Social Sciences established two all-English degree programs to serve a competitive pool of selected international student applicants eager to pursue careers as academic researchers, specialists or business professionals in the international arena. Our program has two distinctive features. First, we offer a North American course-based curriculum with specializations in international economics and labor economics. Second, we also offer a policy-oriented program employing both comparative economic systems and political economy approaches.
The Ph.D. Program seeks candidates who have already obtained the skills and knowledge in economics at a Master’s level and who have a strong motivation and the aptitude to continue studying economics at a deeper level both theoretical and empirically. After completion of their doctoral degree, graduates would typically go on (or return) to a career in academics, work at international organizations, or return to a high-level government position in their home country.

Japanese Management

In accordance with the extension of global economy, Japanese firms extend their business areas. As you know, “Japanese management” is known as excellent management system. There are many characteristics of this Japanese management and these suggest meaningful insights through the comparison to other country and area. Our Japanese management program focuses on the student who is interested in Japanese management and wishes to study business management in specific country and area based on Japanese management. Through the study of this course, student can become academic researcher who is familiar with the essence of global business or the advanced business person who has enough academic skills.

Transnational Law and Policy

The Department of International and Business Law at Yokohama National University (YNU) is launching a new doctoral program in Fall 2013 taught entirely in English. The program is designed to provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills needed for work in, inter alia, international organizations and transnational civil society organizations in various areas of global policy making. We seek motivated students from all over the world, who are eager to work in such fields. Graduates of the Doctoral Program in Transnational Law and Policy will be able to conduct leading-edge research and publish their research outcome in international conferences (both academic and policy-oriented). They will also have the opportunity to acquire high-level research skills in various methods of empirical and theoretical analysis so as to enable them to produce policy-oriented papers.

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Ocean Engineering

In this department, education will be conducted in mechanical, material, naval architecture and ocean, and aerospace engineering based on analyses of physical phenomena from micro to macro levels. Research conducted in this department addresses: basic science technologies to comprehensively design advanced systems from micromachines to large structures; production and processing methods for the development of functions and structural materials that maintain the balance with the global environment by applying the mechanical properties of solid materials and theories on the origins of various properties; and systems for using marine space through microengineering for marine energy use and for designing mobile objects and structures. In this manner, the department produces globally-competitive, practical, and creative engineers and researchers who can be leaders in their area of research.

Chemistry and Life Science

Molecules and solid materials as aggregates of atoms, and organic materials as aggregates of molecules, exhibit very different functions depending on their electronic structures, types of atoms and molecules, and their arrangements. Therefore, the clarification of the interrelation between structures and exhibited functions is vital to material chemistry. The most crucial task for producing and using materials efficiently with minimum environmental load is to establish efficient production systems for new materials by effectively harnessing the chemical energy of materials and integrating a wide range of information. In order to tackle global problems related to food, life, medicine, and so forth, it is essential to unravel and apply life phenomena. This department provides opportunities to develop molecules and materials that exhibit new functions, devise new processes for producing and using them, and unravel and apply life phenomena. In this manner, the department cultivates creative professionals who can identify challenges involving materials and life, and effectively address them with due consideration to the global environment.

Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Similar to the master’s programs, the doctoral programs at the Department of Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science requires broad familiarity and interdisciplinary knowledge in mathematical science, physics, and other basic sciences, as well as their engineering application. By engaging in the world’s leading researches, these doctoral programs deepen the knowledge gained in the master’s programs and help students take initiatives in the creation and development of science and industries in the fields of mathematical science, physics, applied physics, as well as electrical, electronic, communication, information, and medical information engineering. In this manner, the programs produce leading researchers and engineers who can creatively address challenges faced by the knowledge-based and information-driven society that is going through a radical change.

Urban Innovation(Urban Infrastructure Field)

・Special International Program for Urban Infrastructure Engineering in Developing Countries
The Graduate School of Urban Innovation offers graduate programs at the Dr. Eng. and Ph. D. levels in the field of Urban Infrastructure Engineering (civil engineering) taught entirely in English. The program, which originally started in 1989, now provides students with academic knowledge and tools in civil engineering theory and empirics of the highest global standards. We seek motivated students from all over the world, who are eager to work as academic researchers, specialists, or professionals in the international arena.

・International Graduate Program for Innovation of Civil Engineering through ICT technologies
Practical education and research guidance in a multicultural co-research environment will be provided in order to foster innovative high-level international human resources that can bring technological innovation to civil engineering, environment, and disaster prevention fields by actively utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.