Information
Outline
What is Five-year doctoral course?
From the 2006 fiscal year, School of Physical Sciences and School of High Energy Accelerator Science introduced Five-year doctoral program. We accept the graduates and Colleges of Technology graduates. Five-year doctoral program is divided into in the 1st to 2nd years of the 5-years doctoral course, which is equivalent to a master’s program and in the 3rd to 5th years of the 5-years doctoral course, which is equivalent to a doctoral program. The same faculty advisers provide consistent research guidance over the entire five-year period.
We also accept Three-year doctoral program course. We have introduced a flexible and unique doctoral education system to accept even master’s degree graduates.
Admission Policy
Philosophy in the Fusion Science Program
The Fusion Science Program conducts experimental research on high-temperature plasmas, using large fusion experimental devices, and various engineering research necessary for fusion reactors with a view to realizing nuclear fusion power generation that can provide a next-generation energy source. The Program also provides instruction on a theoretical inquiry into the complex behavior of high-temperature plasmas. In this way, the program aims to contribute to the advancement of fusion research and nurture high-level researchers with discernment and broad perspectives.
Prospective student for the Fusion Science Program
The program seeks students who are strongly interested in and passionate about a broad range of research, ranging from the basic analyses to the applications, which is aimed at the achievement of fusion power generation; and have formidable intellect, abundant sensibilities, and the potential to develop into high-level researchers with discernment and broad perspectives.
Admission policy in the Fusion Science Program
- We do the examination from the point of view of finding the appropriate enrollment.
- To test comprehension, expressive power, insight, and English, the examination is implemented.
It not only the score of the examination test, applicants personalities and qualities, motivation, etc., also taking into account a variety of potential, in the interview.
Important dates
| Five-year Doctor-course Program for October 2024 or April 2025 | Five-year Doctor-course Program for April 2025 or October 2025 | |
| Three-year Doctor-course Program for October 2024 or April 2025 | Three-year Doctor-course Program for April 2025 or October 2025 | |
| Distribution of application guidelines | late-April 2024 | |
| Application period | June 27 - July 3, 2024 | December 5 - December 11, 2024 |
| paper test and interview | Subsequent 2 days between August 20 and 23, 2024 | Subsequent 2 days between January 14 and 17, 2025 |
| announcement of acceptance | mid-September 2024 | mid-February 2025 |
Events for Prospective Students
Application Guide
Application Guidelines in English are provided for the purpose of non-Japanese Applicants’ convenience only. In the event of any inconsistency between the Japanese Application Guidelines and the English Version, the Japanese version shall prevail.
For the request of the printed Application Guidelines, please contact to Graduate School Affairs Section（tel：0572-58-2042、E-Mail：daigakuin@nifs.ac.jp）
Messages from graduates
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graduated in 2013 Takeshi MIYAZAWA (currently Japan Atomic Energy Agency)
I took the five-year doctoral course program, and material research aimed at the development of vanadium alloys which are attractive candidate structural materials for breeding blanket of advanced fusion reactors.
I chose this five-year doctoral course in SOKENDAI because I had wanted to contribute to the realization of the fusion reactor. Furthermore, the departure from my hometown of Tokyo for an unfamiliar place of Toki city in Gifu was likely “diving into the new world” to me. I had this little excitement that it would be very enriching and remarkable experiences of my life.
Although it is not simple when you wish to study fusion science, the fusion science research is an interdisciplinary research that you need to learn multiple specialized areas consequently and its field is diverse.
On a first year, you will learn extensively basic of the plasma physics, simulation science and the fusion system with a study of magnetic-confinement fusion science. Based on those studies, there is a great educational system that you will be able to choose your specialty from various fields, and to select a supervisor from among specialists of fusion science. You will have a great opportunity to determine which field is appropriate for you.
I chose the division of the material science for fusion reactors for my specialty. It’s worth to challenge in the process of designing a something new alloy by my own hands. I have felt a great sense of accomplishment when I was able to finish my thesis about creating an alloy after I spent a lot of effort on it.
Although it seems a large hurdle to go to the five-year doctoral program course if you are at the stage of undergraduate, let yourself experience the challenge, and join a project of the fusion reactor realization.
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graduated in 2012 Yuki TAKEMURA (currently National Institute for Fusion Science)
After I completed a master’s degree, I enrolled in a doctor’s degree in department of fusion science at SOKENDAI (the Graduate University for Advanced Studies) and had studied the plasma physics experimentally. When I was a student in the master’s degree, I knew SOKENDAI because I jointed a collaborative research with National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), which is a campus of SOKENDAI. In the institute, many researcher are involved in the fusion research, which is my interests, and there is a library with books related with the fusion research. I thought that SOKENDAI have the proper conditions to do research, and is attractive. So I decided to enter SOKENDAI. When I was a student in the doctor’s degree, I had jointed an experiment of Large Helical Device (LHD), which is a large device, and were involved in the fusion research as a member of a big project. Students in other universities are not able to have the valuable experience. For students, who wants to be involved in the fusion research for the realization of the nuclear fusion power production, and be interested in the big project research, SOKENDAI is a good place.
