Admission information (Information on entrance examination)
Doctoral Program in Public Health
Key words: Epidemiology, Global Health, Healthy Aging, Mental Health, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Digital Health, Social Determinants of Health, Nutrition & Physical Activity, Implementation Science
How to Apply / Find Faculty / Contact
At the University of Tsukuba, you don’t just study abroad—you step into a science city built for discovery. Think deeply in a calm, green, bike-friendly environment, with Tokyo close when you want it. Your network starts global: 2,400+ international students from 110+ countries, ready to sharpen your ideas—and your future, anywhere.
Before applying, be sure to contact the research supervisor with whom you wish.
To all those considering admission to this degree program
Every year, if there are no problems, the entrance examination is scheduled to take place in August and January. If you are interested in enrolling in our degree program, please contact each faculty member in the laboratory of your choice individually to discuss your options (check the individual faculty information on the “Faculty Profiles” page for contact information). You should also check graduate school application forms and keep an eye on the latest information on how the entrance examinations are conducted.
How to get past entrance exam questions
Past entrance exam questions, along with the examiners’ explanations of the questions’ intent, are available as PDF files on the “Graduate School Entrance Exam Past Questions” website via the link below.
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/admissions/grad-exam/past-exam/
(“Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences” → “Doctoral Programs in Public Health”)
If you are considering applying, please download the files as needed and use them for your preparation.
(Note 1): Past exam questions are not distributed through any means other than this website (e.g., at service counters).
(Note 2): Please refrain from unauthorized distribution of the past exam questions, including through copying or reproduction.
(Note 3): For the 2024 academic year, past entrance exam questions for both the “Doctoral Program in Human Care Science” and the “Doctoral Program in Public Health” are posted. For the 2025 academic year and beyond, since entrance exams will be conducted under a unified program for both degree programs, only past exam questions for the “Doctoral Program in Public Health” will be posted.
Inquiries (Contact us by e-mail)
hc_ph_adm@tsukuba.ac.jp
Q&A for the applicant for admission
Q&A mentioned below is general information. For more information, please contact your academic advisor or professor you want to be supervised by in this program. Email address is available at TRIOS (a comprehensive list of researcher’s information, University of Tsukuba) linking with the professor’s name listed at「Faculty」menu,or personal or department homepage on the right side of professor’s name.
1.What kind of subjects are required? When do the classes start? Let me know the information on the period, day of the week, exact time, etc.
“Special lectures on Public Health I–VI” is held six times a year as intensive on-demand lectures on Saturdays and Sundays (some lectures may be conducted as live online sessions). These are omnibus-style courses, with each session led by a team of approximately 4–6 faculty members. Students typically take these courses during their first and second years. Since “Seminar on Public Health” and “Research in Public Health” are courses designed to support research guidance in individual laboratories, their schedules vary by laboratory. Detailed information is available at website Curriculum menu, so please refer to that as well.
2.Currently I have a job. Will I be able to write my doctoral thesis after entering university while continuing working?
Many graduate students are working at hospitals, clinics, schools, research or welfare institutions, and so on, either as full-time, part-time staff, or as a regular employee or a manager. They are making use of their limited precious time while receiving substantial consideration and cooperation from their workplaces. Besides, there are also some graduate students taking the doctoral courses here while taking care of children or other family members. Thus, the situation is different for each case, and please get in touch with your professor or advisor you want to be supervised by before taking the entrance exam by email etc.
3.Like an undergraduate student, I cannot go to school every day now. My deep concern about whether I can handle my studies at graduate school?
The required mandatory foundation subjects for major are offered on Saturday and Sunday. The electives’ optional courses are managed by each laboratory based on their independent policies. In some cases, it is possible to be even supervised using email, telephone, or video calls residing in a distant location from the University. You are advised to consult with your supervisor or professor you want to be supervised by before you take an entrance examination on these issues in detail by email etc.
4. Are there any spaces available for graduate students in a research building? Is there any desk available for student’s personal use?
Our program offers a shared common lounge as well as a personal study desk for graduate students enrolled inside the faculty building. Besides, some laboratories prepare spaces or desks for graduate students. Some spaces are surely offered for your personal use or your stay after entering school, and you don’t have to carry your belongings with you all the time. Correctly, details will be fixed and decided on the location of the common usage room, the particular desk, and bookshelves you can use only after your enrollment.
5.Please give me information such as scholarships.
There are several scholarship programs and categories available that graduate students can apply for. For the required information, please refer to website「University of Tsukuba」.
・Scholarship・Attendance support system →These sites refer to in detail on admission fee exemption, tuition fee exemption, and the explanation of various scholarships available.
・Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship Program →This site provides comprehensive information and explanation on Japan Student Services Organization’s scholarships.
Besides, information on other scholarships is available at the University website, especially at the end of a fiscal year (around February ~ March), so please pay attention to related information on the University website after enrollment regularly.
6. I want to have the information on the specific fields, subjects, current interests, academic strategic approaches of the affiliated faculties in these programs.
Some faculty members have their homepage. Please refer to the HP links at the right side of the professor’s name listed at the menu of（「Faculty」Also, information on research achievements or social activities of faculty members is available at a comprehensive list of researcher’s information (TRIOS) at the University Home page. Please start searching the website clicking on the menu bar「Faculty」.
