# Non-degree Research Student
**Source**: https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/
**Parent**: https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/admissions/
Academics
# Non-degree Research Student
- [Home](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/index.html)
- [Academics](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/index.html)
- [Non-Degree Research Student](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/index.html)
## International Student Admission Guide Non-Degree Research Student
Non-degree research students are those persons who conduct research about a specific research topic under the guidance of an academic advisor. Upon receiving permission from their academic advisor or the instructor(s) in charge of courses, Non-degree research students are allowed to attend courses related to the research topic, but they cannot earn credits nor are they eligible to receive Master's or Doctoral degrees.
\
Prior to application, applicants must obtain the informal consent of the prospective academic advisor to supervise the research activities during the period of non-degree research student. The applicant is not required to come to Japan for selection process because it only proceed through a document screening process. Eligibility criteria clarifies that Non-degree research students must have bachelor's degree, and it is defined that the major purpose for being a Non-degree research student is to prepare for the graduate school admission.
### Application Guide etc.
Please make sure to read following Application Guide carefully before getting ready with your application.
- [Application Process Overview Chart](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/Application_Process_Overview_Chart.pdf)
- [Application Guide for International Non-Degree Students for AY 2026 Admission](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/ApplicationGuidelines.pdf)
- [Graduate Course Websites/Contact Information](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/contact.pdf)
### Application Process
#### 1) Procedures:
Proceed with the application process in accordance with following steps. For more details, please refer to the "application Guide etc." above.
\
- Step1. - Obtain an informal consent from your prospective academic advisor and get the reference number from him/her that is required for web application process.
- \* You need to submit a "Self-Declaration on Specific Categories" filled in necessary items with your resume or research proposal to your supervisor when you request for consent.\
Click here to download the form.\
<https://coi-sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/export_control/specific-categories/>
- Step2. - Complete web entries for Non-degree research student.
- Step3. - Submit required documents by post.
\
[Link to WEB ENTRY](https://kenkyusei-entry.ap-graduate.tsukuba.ac.jp/)
\
\*The Web application system will be updated in late August.
\
#### 2) University Prescribed Forms
- Letter of Recommendation([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/Letter_Recom.pdf)/[WORD](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/Letter_Recom.doc))
- Application Checklist for International Non-Degree Research Students for AY 2026([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/Application_Checklist.pdf))
### Application Schedule
#### April 2026 Enrollment
- **Web application Period**
: September 16 (Tue) to October 3 (Fri) 15:00 JST, 2025
- **Submission period of application documents (Must reach us)**
: September 16 (Tue) to October 14 (Tue) , 2025
- **Announcement of selection results**
: Early December 2025
#### October 2026 Enrollment
- **Web application Period**
: March 11 (Wed) to March 27 (Fri) 15:00 JST, 2026
- **Submission period of application documents (Must reach us)**
: March 11 (Wed) to April 6 (Mon) , 2026
- **Announcement of selection results**
: Early July 2026
#### December 2026 Enrollment
- **Web application Period**
: May 25 (Mon) to June 5 (Fri) 15:00 JST, 2026
- **Submission period of application documents (Must reach us)**
: May 25 (Mon) to June 15 (Mon) , 2026
- **Announcement of selection results**
: Early August 2026
### Application Fee
Applicants can make a payment for application fee (9,800yen) only by credit card, or at convenience stores in Japan. Please check the following payment guide and proceed from either payment site.
\
[Payment guide](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/payment-guide.pdf)\
[To payment website (credit card)](https://e-shiharai.net/english/)
\
[To payment website (convenience store)](https://e-shiharai.net/Syuno/Index1.html)\
\
\*With regard to the payment period, please refer to 4. (3) in University of Tsukuba Application Guide. Application will be invalid unless payment is made within the required time period.
### Applicants Who Need to Obtain a Student Visa
Together with the application form and other required documents, the submission of application documents for the "Certificate of Eligibility" (COE) is needed to obtain a student visa you will be required if you pass. COE application documents must be sent by post during the application period together with other application documents.
\
#### Documents required for COE application
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and procedures for obtaining visas (English)([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/COE_visa_V2.pdf))
- Checklist at the filing of COE application([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students-coe-2.pdf))
- Application for certificate of eligibility (4 sheets in total, 3 pages of application forms + 1 page of confirmation form) ([EXCEL](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students-coe-3.xlsx))\
\* Handwritten applications will not be accepted.
- Application for certificate of eligibility (Entry example)([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students_coe_6.pdf))
- Request form for proxy for application for the certificate of eligibility([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/COE_App_proxy.pdf)/[WORD](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/COE_App_proxy-1.doc))
- Written oath for defraying expenses([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/COE_oath.pdf)/[WORD](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/COE_oath.doc))
- Written oath for defraying expenses (Entry example)([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students_coe_9.pdf))
- COE FAQs for non-degree research students([PDF](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students_coe_FAQ.pdf))
### Selection Result
[Click here](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/result-en.pdf)
\
- **Contact Information**
- Division of Student Exchange (International Student Exchange), Department of Student Affairs, University of Tsukuba
- Email: isc#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp
- (Remove "#" from the above e-mail address before sending email.)
- \*Our [FAQ](https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/academics/international-research-students/research-students_faq.pdf)provides answers to the inquiries we often receive from applicants.
- Please check it before making an inquiry.