1.Research Students Program
Research Students at Kobe DU are allowed to conduct their own particular research under the supervision of an institute faculty member.
2.Research Guidelines
Research Students conduct their research following their own theme. They may take lectures as long as their supervisors permit, but no credits will be accredited.
3.Eligibility
Eligibility extends to applicants who exclusively apply to Kobe DU, and meet the criteria 1 or 2, and as well as meeting the criteria 3 if you are a foreign student.
- Those who have graduated or are expecting to graduate from a university, or are recognized as having qualifications equivalent or superior to university graduates.
- Those who have completed or are expecting to complete graduate school, or are recognized as having qualifications equivalent or superior to graduate school.
- Those who have a certificate of (1) or (2) if you are a foreign student (except for Kobe DU alumni or MEXT students).
(1) N1 in JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
(2) Score of 270 or above in Japanese EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)
(3) The criteria 3 must be obtained at the time of the pre-entry.
※MEXT: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology.
※Kobe DU: Kobe Design University
4.Study Duration
One semester (6 months) or two semesters (one year)
An extension may be granted in certain cases.
| ONE YEAR | April / 1 / 2025 ～ March / 31 / 2026 |
| HALF-YEAR | Spring Semester : April / 1 / 2025 ～ September / 30 / 2025 Fall Semester : October / 1 / 2025 ～ March / 31 / 2026 (Extension Only) ※Please note that the Fall Semester is only available as an extension. New admissions are no longer accepted. |
5.Pre-entry
All applicants need to contact us to have a meeting with a mentoring professor during the entry period. Please follow this step-by-step guide.
Applications cannot be made at the same time as the Graduate School Entrance Examination(Schedule B)
STEP1: Choose your mentoring professor.
https://www.kobe-du.ac.jp/faculty_member/
STEP2: Email Items (1), (2), and (3) to kenkyu-kamoku@kobe-du.ac.jp
(1) Entry Sheet [PDF]
(2) Research Plan
(3) Portfolio
Entry period
Spring Semester: January 10th 2025 ～ January 17th 2025
STEP3: Screening by a mentoring professor.
STEP4: Interview with a mentoring professor at Kobe DU.
Only successful applicants approved by a mentoring professor will be able to apply for the admission.
※Data size should not exceed 15 MB.
※We will send you an e-mail for the pre-entry completion within 3 days (excluding Sundays and holidays) after you have submitted pre-entry documents. If you do not receive the e-mail from Kobe DU after 4 days since you have sent pre-entry documents, please contact us.
※Under no circumstances Kobe DU will not accept pre-entry email after the due date.
※Early pre-entry is recommended. Kobe DU will not change the application period even an interview with a mentoring professor is scheduled close to the application due.
※Kobe-DU does not make an arrangement with an applicant and a mentoring professor before the pre-entry.
6.Application Period
Spring Semester: January 27th 2025 ～ February 3rd 2025
Fall Semester: July 4th 2025 ～ July 11th 2025
(Extension Only)
7.Application Procedures
All the application documents must be submitted to the Admission Office by registered mail before the end of Application Period.
8.Entrance Examination Fee
20,000yen
9.Application Documents
- Application Form in Japanese with Photo(Provided Form)
- Research Plan in Japanese (Provided Form)
- Curriculum Vitae in Japanese (Provided Form)
- Certificate of Graduation/Completion or Expected Graduation/Completion from the final academic institution
- Certificate of Bachelor（/ Master’s） Degree or Expected Bachelor （/ Master’s）Degree (if you graduated or expect to graduate from a university outside Japan)
- Official Academic Transcript from the final academic institution
- Medical Examination Report issued by doctor within the last 3 months.
(For Kobe DU students, submit the Medical Report issued by Kobe DU) - Letter of Approval from employer (Provided Form)
(Only if the applicant is currently employed)
※If you need the form, please contact us. - 4×3 cm size photo taken within the last 3 months
- Copy of Japanese Language Certificate (a) and/or (b) for foreign students
(a) N1 in JLPT (Japanese Proficiency Test)
(b) Score of 270 or above in Japanese EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)
※For Kobe DU alumni, alternatively submit “Official Academic Transcript” to prove accreditation of the subject “Japanese”.
※If applicants are MEXT scholarship students and do not meet the language requirement above, please contact us before starting the application. - Copy of Passport.
- Residence Card of Japan (if you live in Japan)
NOTE: Items 4 and 5 should be written in Japanese or English. If not, please translate them and obtain translation certificates from public institutions such as the embassy or consulate.
10. Entrance Procedures
Information relating to the entrance procedures will be sent to successful candidates.
They must register and pay tuition fees by the deadline.
| RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT | DEADLINE OF TUITION FEE PAYMENT | DEADLINE OF DECLINING | |
| FOR SPRING SEMESTER | Around February / 26 / 2025 | March / 6 / 2025 | March / 31 / 2025 |
| FOR FALL SEMESTER (Extension Only) | Around July / 30 / 2025 | August / 12 / 2025 | September / 18 / 2025 |
11.Tuition Fee
(Japanese YEN)
| One Year | Half-Year | |
| TUITION | 300,000 | 150,000 |
| Educational Enhancement Fee | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| TOTAL | 400,000 | 200,000 |
12.Note
- All the lectures are taught in Japanese only.
- Regardless of an admission result, the application documents cannot be returned.
- Once the entrance examination fee and/or school fees are paid, they cannot be refunded. In case of cancelation of enrollment, only the school fees will be refunded if declinature for entrance is submitted by the deadline.
- For details, please check the Japanese page below:
URL：https://www.kobe-du.ac.jp/education/auditor/#anc1
13. Contact
Kobe Design University
Office of Academic Affairs
TEL: 078-794-5024
Email: kenkyu-kamoku@kobe-du.ac.jp
