International Joint Graduate Program in Resilience and Safety Studies (GP-RSS) Call for Admissions for Fall 2026
1. Recruitment
The International Joint Graduate Program in Resilience and Safety Studies (GP-RSS) is now accepting applications for admission in the Fall 2026 semester.
2. Admissions Prerequisites
Applicants must be enrolled in one of the participating graduate schools within the GP-RSS. (Students with a supervising faculty member affiliated with IRIDeS are also eligible to apply).
Applicants must be graduate students of Tohoku University who fall into one of the following categories by April 2026:
•Students in the first year of the Master’s course (MC) students
•Students in the first two years of Ph.D. candidacy (2nd year of the Master’s program)
•Students within the first two semesters of their medical Ph.D. (医学履修課程)
Applicants should demonstrate clear plans for international research collaboration within the scope of disaster, resilience, and safety studies, involving a counterpart researcher outside Japan. Applicants must also obtain strong recommendations from their Ph.D. supervisors, who are willing to support their internationally collaborative research plans. Only those deemed a strong fit for our program will be considered for candidacy.
For Fall 2026, the Program Board may also consider advanced DC applicants who are expected to commence the first year of their Ph.D. These applicants must indicate their application status to the GP-RSS Office via the application number registration form (see Section 3. Application Procedure). Admission is contingent upon the submission of a feasible timeline for program completion.
DC applicants in this category must demonstrate in their research plans that they can complete both their international collaborative research and doctoral studies within the standard period for degree completion.
MC students applying in the second semester of their second year (M2) will also be reviewed as equivalent to advanced DC applicants.
【Tohoku University Graduate Schools Participating in The GP-RSS】
The Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Medicine, Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Graduate School of Agriculture Science, and the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) participate in the GP-RSS.
※ Our program promotes a five-year integrated Ph.D. program (一貫教育); therefore, we do not accept applicants who do not intend to proceed to the doctoral course (DC).
※ The GP-RSS promotes applications to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1 and DC2). All GP-RSS students are expected to apply for the fellowship in conjunction with their application to the GP-RSS.
※ At the time of application, applicants may freely designate an overseas partner university or institution that is currently conducting, or is expected to conduct, joint research with the applicant's academic advisor or other faculty members in the laboratory, and that is expected to accept the applicant. However, prior to the official commencement of the GP-RSS, approval from the partner university or department must be obtained based on a request submitted by the supervising professor to the program's steering committee.
The GP-RSS maintains collaborative relationships with the following overseas affiliates:
The United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), Germany; United Nations University - Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), Japan; United Nations University - International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), Malaysia; Harvard University Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, USA; National University of Singapore, Singapore; Tsinghua University, China; Seoul National University, Korea; Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea; Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia; Brawijyaya University, Indonesia; The University of Queensland (Australia); Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands; Nankai University College of Economic and Social Development, China; and Novosibirsk State University, Russia. Etc.,
※ While our program does not prohibit applicants from concurrently applying to other degree programs within Tohoku University, dual enrollment is not permitted. To enroll in the GP-RSS, applicants must decline any other degree program offers.
For further information concerning eligibility, please attend our online student information session or contact the GP-RSS Office via email.
3. Application Procedure
Application Period: June 8, 2026 (Mon) – July 10, 2026 (Fri), 17:00
Submission Method: The GP-RSS Office via email (see 9. Contact Information)
Letters of Reference (Application Form C) must be submitted in PDF format or sent directly by the supervisor to the GP-RSS Office in order to maintain confidentiality and integrity.
※Late, incomplete, inaccurate, or plagiarised applications will not be accepted or considered for admission. All submitted information and materials must be truthful and original. Any failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification of the application, and will be reported to the University.
4. Application Format
Please prepare the following materials and submit during the designated admissions period:
(1) Application Form (Form A)
(2) Research Motivation Statement (Form B)
(3) Letter of Reference from the applicant’s Ph.D. supervisor (Form C)
(4) Academic Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate levels)
(5) Copy of an English Language Proficiency test score (official scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent)
(6) Ph.D. research proposal, equivalent to or a copy of a JSPS DC1/DC2 research proposal (Form D)
※ Application forms can be downloaded from: http://gp-rss.tohoku.ac.jp/en/admissions.html. Please use the latest format relevant to the current admissions.
※Letters of Reference (Form C) must be submitted in PDF format or sent directly by the supervisor to the GP-RSS Office to maintain confidentiality and integrity.
※ For any certificates issued in languages other than Japanese or English, a translation into Japanese or English must be provided. Translations prepared by the applicant are acceptable.
※ Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
※ Submitted documents will not be returned.
※ TOEFL, TOEL iBT, TOEFL ITP, and TOEIC are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service (ETS). GRE scores are not accepted in place of English language proficiency test. Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency.
※ If English is the applicant’s native language and a language proficiency test was not required for admission to Tohoku University, the supervisor must submit a statement to the GP-RSS Office confirming the applicant’s English proficiency.
※ If a copy of the JSPS DC1/DC2 application is not available at the time of submission, (e.g. for first-year MC students), applicants may submit a research proposal of equivalent content (Form D) .
5. Selection Process
Applicants who submit complete applications will be eligible for an interview.
Interviews will be conducted by the end of July.
※ Details regarding the interview will be provided individually to each applicant.
6. Acceptance
Successful candidates will be announced on the GP-RSS website on September 15, 2026.
7. Financial Support
We offer financial support to successful candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to international collaboration, and show potential for creative and independent research.
A Research Assistantship will be offered in accordance with the Tohoku University International Joint Degrees Support Agreement. The amount and conditions are subject to annual revision.
Applicants currently receiving other forms of financial support must clearly indicate the details in their application to the GP-RSS to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Please note that the program may offer more candidates than the number of available financial support slots; therefore, financial support is not guaranteed for all successful applicants.
8. Program Completion Requirements
GP-RSS students must fulfill the degree requirements of their respective graduate school, as well as our curriculum requirements outlined on the GP-RSS website:
http://gp-rss.tohoku.ac.jp/curriculum.html
9.Contact Information:
Inquiries regarding the application process and document submission should be addressed to the following email address:
gprss [at] grp.tohoku.ac.jp (replace [at] with @)
