The Special Scholarship Program (SSP) was established in 2003 in order to support the development of advanced research at the university through the contribution of highly capable doctoral students. Through the 3-year curriculum, Kochi University of Technology (KUT) provides comprehensive education in the multidisciplinary environment. Every year, KUT enrolls approximately 15 selected doctoral students to work in specific research projects. Each student pursues a doctoral course in English while at the same time assisting his/her host professor in his/her research projects and receiving monthly payment in return for his/her contribution to the projects. This program is for those who have strong intention to engage in his/her research projects for the whole three years acquiring profound knowledge and skill and ability to become a full-fledged researcher, and aspire to satisfy the degree requirements accordingly. It is designed to help diligent and talented students with limited financial resources, especially foreign students from emerging countries, who are ready to devote themselves to the expected research and related studies for the coming three years so as to finally accomplish their academic goal.
Type of Program: Doctoral program (3 years), Department of Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
Entry: April and October
Medium of study: English
Number of students to be admitted: No more than 3 SSP students can be enrolled concurrently for each project leader. See the SSP project list for details of which projects currently have places available for SSP students.
Requirements and Eligibility for Admission
Applicants are required to meet all of the following conditions:
- To have permission from the leader of the applicant’s preferred SSP project to apply for that project
- To hold a degree from an accredited institution comparable to the master’s degree offered at KUT after 18 years of education, or to be scheduled to acquire such a degree before the KUT enrollment date
- To be 35 years old or under at the time of enrollment
- To have an excellent academic record and strong bachelor’s and master’s degrees from reputable universities
- To have the intention, adequate knowledge and research skill to work in the research project
- To have high English proficieny
Fields of Research Projects
- Environmental Systems Engineering (Kami Campus)
- Intelligent Mechanical Systems Engineering (Kami Campus)
- Electronic and Photonic Systems Engineering (Kami Campus)
- Information Systems Engineering (Kami Campus)
- Infrastructure Systems Engineering (Kami Campus)
- Economics and Management (Eikokuji Campus)
SSP Research Project List is here
Completion Requirements
- 3 years’ enrollment in a doctoral program at KUT
- 10 or more doctoral course credits earned
- Successful completion of the doctoral dissertation defense after receiving a preliminary assessment more than one year in advance of the defense.
- Two or more papers in high level peer-reviewed journals, published at least two months before completion of the program; this is the basic requirement for holding a dissertation defense.
Scholarship Coverage
- Exemption from 30,000 yen entrance examination fee, 300,000 yen enrollment fee and 535,800 yen/year tuition fee
- To support living expenses, 150,000 yen/month is paid as salary for research project work.
*You must pay some amount of taxes from this salary. See the details below. - 150,000 yen is provided for travel and initial living costs (given only to international applicants who are living outside Japan).
ADMISSION SCHEDULE
April 2021 Enrollment: (The Second Deadline)
| Application Deadline | Screening | Notification of Admission Decision | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| *September 18, 2020 | Between October to November (Interview and written exams are scheduled individually after the due consultation, if necessary) | Mid of December, 2020 (To be notified individually) | *January 8, 2021 |
*note 1: The applicants are encouraged to send a
pre-application request to the leader of his/her preferred project at
least 6 weeks prior to the formal application deadline.
*note 2: All the required documents must arrive at KUT by each deadline.
Ocotober 2021 Enrollment: (The First Deadline)
| Application Deadline | Screening | Notification of Admission Decision | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| *September 18, 2020 | Between October to November (Interview and written exams are scheduled individually after the due consultation, if necessary) | Mid of December, 2020 (To be notified individually) | *January 8, 2021 |
*note 1: The applicants are encouraged to send a
pre-application request to the leader of his/her preferred project at
least 6 weeks prior to the formal application deadline.
*note 2: All the required documents must arrive at KUT by each deadline.
October 2021 Enrollment: (The Second Deadline)
| Application Deadline | Screening | Notification of Admission Decision | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| *March 12, 2021 | Between April to May (Interview and written exams are scheduled individually after the due consultation, if necessary) | Mid of June, 2021 (To be notified individually) | *July 9, 2021 |
*note 1: The applicants are encouraged to send a pre-application request to the leader of his/her preferred project at least 6 weeks prior to the formal application deadline.
*note 2: All the required documents must arrive at KUT by each deadline.
For more information, please visit Official Website.
