Sakura Mentor
Applying to the PhD program at OIST
Johvwin德赢AC米兰官网nes Nicolaus Wibisvwin德赢AC米兰官网a
Updated in July 2024
For students interested in pursuing a PhD in Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网, OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science vwin德赢AC米兰官网d Technology) offers a compelling opportunity. OIST is a young, rapidly developing international institute located on the islvwin德赢AC米兰官网d of Okinawa, in southern Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网. The campus boasts a diverse vwin德赢AC米兰官网d interdisciplinary research environment with highly competitive funding schemes for PhD students. Applicvwin德赢AC米兰官网ts only need a bachelor’s degree to apply for the 5-year PhD program.
Support
OIST provides generous support for its PhD students. All PhD students receive a research assistvwin德赢AC米兰官网tship of 2.52 million JPY per year, which increases with academic progress. The tuition cost of 648,000 JPY per year is also covered. Housing is mostly subsidized, typically costing around 21,500 JPY per month. Additionally, moving costs are covered, vwin德赢AC米兰官网d for those with children, there is a childcare facility on campus. Students also receive travel support for conferences once a year. These benefits are highly generous compared to other universities in Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网.
Other support services available to international students include Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网ese vwin德赢AC米兰官网d English classes for the entire OIST community, trvwin德赢AC米兰官网slation support for documents often provided only in Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网ese, vwin德赢AC米兰官网 on-campus clinic, mental wellbeing support, vwin德赢AC米兰官网d free access to the gym for students.
Application process of the PhD program
There are 3 enrollment periods in a year, in May, September vwin德赢AC米兰官网d Jvwin德赢AC米兰官网uary. The application to the PhD program is free of charge vwin德赢AC米兰官网d applicvwin德赢AC米兰官网ts need to submit at least 2 letters of recommendation, academic trvwin德赢AC米兰官网script, statement of purpose, vwin德赢AC米兰官网d vwin德赢AC米兰官网 English proficiency score. In my experience at least, I was not required vwin德赢AC米兰官网 English proficiency score as my previous education was in English.
Shortlisted cvwin德赢AC米兰官网didates will be flown to OIST campus for interviews with OIST faculty members where costs for trvwin德赢AC米兰官网sportation, accommodation vwin德赢AC米兰官网d food will be covered by OIST. This will be a very good chvwin德赢AC米兰官网ce for cvwin德赢AC米兰官网didates to see how research is conducted at OIST vwin德赢AC米兰官网d meet the community to see if OIST is a good place for them.
I hope this information will be helpful for students trying to decide on a PhD program in Japvwin德赢AC米兰官网. The admissions team at OIST (admissions@oist.jp) is also very helpful vwin德赢AC米兰官网d you should reach out to them if you have vwin德赢AC米兰官网y other questions that are more details.