Message from the President 1/8. Prof. Takahito Saiki, President, Kobe Design University

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1 Kobe Design University Graduate School 2015 Fall Semester Admission Information for International Students from Exchange Partner and Cumulus Member Institutions Message from the President Prof. Takahito Saiki, President, Kobe Design University Kobe Design University Graduate School is one of the few postgraduate institutions in Japan conducting comprehensive education and research in design and art. In addition to studying their specialized programs of choice, Kobe Design University Graduate School students study design theories forming the backbone of academic activities, as well as state-of-the-art science and technology. Arts and design is an area of study for fostering through training in arts and culture rooted in human activities and history, and academic activities in design and art that draw on the strengths of science and technology advanced levels of expertise demanded by the times and by society, as well as rich creativity, flexible conceptual power, and an unconventional, yet solid ability to express thoughts and ideas. From its establishment in 1993 to March 2015, Kobe Design University Graduate School has conferred Master s Degrees (in Arts and Design) to 450 students, and Doctoral Degrees (in Arts and Design) to 52 students, who have then gone on to advance their careers at Japanese and overseas corporations, and research and educational institutions. They have also achieved remarkable success in various competitions, and many of their papers have been awarded by the Design Research Association. Our graduate students hail from many countries, including China, South Korea, Iran, India, Tunisia, Bosnia, Myanmar, Dominican Republic, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Lebanon, Russia, Nepal, Ireland, Venezuela, Brazil, and Thailand. Contact with different cultures and values encourages the production of diverse designs and ideas. I sincerely hope that each of you experience a fruitful and rewarding time at this innovative and unique Graduate School. The Integrated Arts and Design Division develops researchers with rich creativity through specialized research and theoretical deepening in design and art. The Division also fosters versatile designers and artists equipped with knowledge, ability and skills responding to today s diverse and complicated needs regarding the environment and systems, and who are capable of devising practical strategies. More advanced than the above program, the Arts & Design Division is designed to develop intellectual experts capable of supporting a knowledge-based society in their diverse capacities founded on arts and design. At the same time, through theoretical work in design and art, the program develops scholars capable of innovative and outstanding research and development, as well as educators equipped with sound educational and research capabilities. 1/8

2 Number of Places Admission Course Division category International Master s Integrated Arts and Design student Number Up to 10 students * Before applying, each applicant needs to contact his/her research adviser of choice through the Graduate School Admissions Office, and obtain consent for research supervision. * All courses are taught in Japanese. Application Deadline, Selection Date, Notification of Results, etc. Item Application period Schedule June 8 (Mon) 18 (Thu), 2015 (required documentation must be postmarked by the deadline) Selection date July 14 (Tue), 2015 Notification of results July 17 (Fri), 2015 Enrollment procedure period Withdrawal notification deadline July 18 (Sat) July 31 (Fri), 2015 (required documentation must be postmarked by the deadline) September 17 (Thu), 2015 (withdrawal notification must be received by the Graduate School on or before this date) Selection Method Method Documentary screening Remark Submitted research plan and portfolio of works* will be examined for screening. * To be written in Japanese as a rule, but English is also accepted. * Since selection is by documentary screening, candidates do not need to travel to Japan for the screening process. Eligibility Non-Japanese nationals who are not permanent residents of Japan and who meet the following criteria: 1. Aged 22 or over, and holding a bachelor s degree from one of the following exchange partner institutions and Cumulus member institutions, or expects to obtain a bachelor s degree from one of the exchange partner/cumulus member institutions by September 17 (Thu), Exchange Partner Institutions Beijing Institute of Technology Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee Dongseo University Université de Montréal 2/8

3 National Yunlin University of Science & Technology National Taiwan University of Arts National University of Kaohsiung Institut Teknologi Bandung University of Canberra Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture FH JOANNEUM Gesellschaft mbh University of Applied Sciences Cumulus (International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media) Member Institutions * Please refer to for a list of member institutions. 2. Has attained level N2 or higher on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. The JLPT is usually held on Sundays in early July and December. * Details are available from the JLPT website at 3. Resides outside Japan at the time of application, and can expect to obtain, as a rule, the College Student status of residence under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act once admitted to the Graduate School. Application Materials (All documents must be in black ink or black ballpoint pen. Please do not use an erasable ballpoint pen.) 1. Completed application form 2. Research plan 3. Statement of reason(s) for selecting your preferred research supervisor 4. Certificate of graduation (or prospect of graduation) from your university 5. Official transcript (undergraduate) 6. Résumé 7. Two letters of recommendation: one from your university s president, dean or equivalent, and one from your direct academic supervisor 8. Materials showing past research work, such as a portfolio of works or research papers (please attach abstracts in Japanese) 10. Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Certificate of Result and Scores 11. Photocopy of passport (all pages including blank pages) 12. Health certificate As a rule, all documents must be in Japanese. If a certificate or other document is only available in a language other than Japanese or English, please attach a Japanese translation certified as accurate by a Japanese-language educational institution, embassy or other official body. 3/8

4 * As for application materials 1 to 3, and 6, please download the relevant formats from the website of Kobe Design University Graduate School at * If incomplete application materials are submitted, the application might not be accepted. Please make sure that your application materials are free from any deficiencies before submitting them. 4/8

5 How to Submit Your Application Please send the above application materials by EMS (Express Mail Service) or equivalent to the following address (application materials must be postmarked on or before June 18, 2015): Kobe Design University Graduate School Admissions Office Gakuennishi-machi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo , Japan In principle, no submitted materials will be returned. Notification of Results and Enrollment Procedures 1. Results will be notified to applicants by and postal mail. The Graduate School cannot respond to telephone inquiries. 2. Successful applicants are required to pay half the entrance fee (180,000 yen) and submit enrollment documents within the prescribed enrollment procedure period (details will be notified to successful applicants). 3. The remaining half of the entrance fee (180,000 yen) and the first installment of the tuition and equipment & laboratory fee (130, ,000 = 200,000 yen), as well as the Japanese language tuition (150,000 yen) are due by Monday, September 14, Successful applicants are required to submit, within the prescribed enrollment procedure period, proof of ability to finance their expenses, such as certificate of sponsor/guarantor bank balance, certificate of employment, or certificate of tax. Please prepare such documents in good time, since the enrollment procedure period is quite short. 5. Admission will be denied to applicants who fail to complete, for whatever reason, the required enrollment procedures within the prescribed enrollment procedure period. 6. The entrance fee is non-refundable. Tuition and Other Fees by Academic Year (JPY) Item Due Japanese Entrance Equipment & Tuition language fee laboratory fee tuition Total 2015 July , ,000 Fall Sep , ,000 70, , ,000 1st Fall Jan ,000 70, ,000 5/8

6 2016 Spring Apr ,000 70, ,000 1st Spring July ,000 70, ,000 Fall Oct ,000 70, ,000 1st Fall Jan ,000 70, , Spring Apr ,000 70, ,000 1st Spring July ,000 70, ,000 Fall Oct ,000 70, ,000 1st Fall Jan ,000 70, ,000 * Tuition and equipment & laboratory fee are paid in four installments. * A number of scholarships, offered either by Kobe Design University or by external organizations, are open to application by international students. * Exemption of half of the tuition for the next academic year (half tuition: 325,000 yen) is open to application by all students in the Graduate School, excluding government-financed international students. This exemption is applicable to excellent students selected based on their performance during the first year. International students from exchange partner and Cumulus Member Institutions are required to enroll for two years and six months. Accordingly, for such students, exemption of the tuition for the next academic year (half tuition: 325,000 yen) is applicable to students selected based on their performance during the first one year and six months. For details, 6/8

7 please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office. Course Duration (September 2015 to March 2018) Students are required to enroll for two years and six months to complete the master s degree course at Kobe Design University Graduate School. Other Points to Note 1. International students admitted to Kobe Design University Graduate School are required to take a six-month Japanese language course offered at a Japanese language school designated by Kobe Design University Graduate School. Students are responsible for their own travel expenses (a six-month student commuter pass costs around 48,000 yen) to and from the language school. 2. The Japanese language course runs from October 2015 to March Students are required to take an end-of-course exam on Friday, February 26, Students who do not pass this exam must retake the Japanese language course at their own cost. 3. For any inquiries, please contact the Kobe Design University Office of Student and International Relations. [email protected] Entrance Ceremony The entrance ceremony is scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2015 at Kobe Design University. Educational and Research Goals The Graduate School develops researchers creativity through specialized research and theoretical deepening in design. The School provides training for students to become versatile designers equipped with knowledge, ability and skills responding to today s diverse environmental and systemic needs, and who are capable of devising practical strategies. Arts and design constantly evolves and develops in pace with society. Kobe Design University Graduate School offers a curriculum and practical program for exploring design principles, ideas and methods addressing the latest themes and issues presented by contemporary society. Educational and Research Structure Led by 55 selected faculty members from the various departments of Kobe Design University, the Graduate School offers comprehensive study in interdisciplinary art and design theories and methods, which in turn serve as the basis for further, specialized research in art and design practices. Students The discipline of arts and design covers a vast area. Students are therefore admitted from a diverse range of academic backgrounds that include but are not limited to art and engineering subjects. The Graduate School also welcomes older adult and international students. 7/8

8 Research Supervision When applying for admission, prospective students select the faculty member they wish to be their research or project supervisor. Under the specialized supervision of the appointed instructor, students complete their master s thesis, project work, or doctoral thesis (in Arts and Design). Students may also select to receive supervision from instructors from more than one area of specialization. 8/8