Q: Is completion (or expected completion) of a bachelor’s course in any country sufficient for eligibility for NIG-GS application?

A: Bachelor’s degrees from any country will be honored, as long as the applicant has completed or is expected to complete at least 16 years of formal education (from elementary school to undergraduate university). We will also consider applicants with 15 years of formal education if they have excellent school records. This includes applicants from countries whose period of formal education is less than 16 years and those who have advanced placement. Please inquire in advance if you have any questions on eligibility. Exceptional cases that may not qualify by the criteria above may also be considered.
Details of the qualifications for application can be found at the following
URL：https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/admission/general_admission/qualitification/

Q: If I already have a master’s degree, can I still apply to NIG-GS?

A: Yes, you can. Several of our current students indeed had master’s degrees before entering. Please also note that having a master’s degree on its own does not satisfy the eligibility for application; applicants must have had 16 years of formal education.
For more information, please see the application guidelines.

Q: If I have a master’s degree, can I graduate in less than 5 years?

A: It is not automatically true. Like any graduate program, completion of coursework is not enough to obtain a PhD; one needs to conduct and report original research that contributes to the advancement of science and defend your thesis.
https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/education/curriculum/requirement/
Degree Criteria / Diploma Policy
If it is recognized that a student has demonstrated “outstanding research performance”, he/she may graduate before reaching the standard period of study.

Q: How can I estimate my GPA (grade point average)?

A: Your official GPA score is calculated by the SOKENDAI administration office. The calculation method is described at: Grade Point Average
You may follow the link to learn how to estimate your GPA.

Q: What is the minimum score of each English proficiency test required to apply to NIG-GS?

A: Your TOEFL or IELTS score must be equivalent to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B2 level or above.
(There are minimum scores for the MEXT scholarship selection as follows:
TOEFL iBT: 72 https://www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/scores/compare/
IELTS: 5.5 https://www.ielts.org/ielts-for-organisations/common-european-framework