The Admissions Assistance Office (AAO) selection is a unique procedure conducted by Kyoto University for students who have graduated or are expected to graduate from foreign universities. This process is the first step in applying to Kyoto University and aims to verify your eligibility and assist in contacting potential academic advisors. According to Kyoto University’s official website, the AAO application should ideally be submitted 2–3 months before the application deadline.

Steps for AAO Application

• Check the Website of Your Desired Graduate School
  First, confirm whether the AAO process is required by visiting the website of your desired graduate school. Review the application procedures and deadlines carefully.

• Complete the AAO Application
  If the AAO process is required, follow the guidelines provided in the “AAO Application Procedure” and submit your application. Since the process can take time, it’s recommended to complete your application at least 2–3 months before the deadline.

• Submit Your Graduate School Application
  After completing the AAO application, you will still need to go through the formal application process for the graduate school. Note that the graduate school application is separate from the AAO process.

Required Documents

• Statement of Purpose
  Submit a statement of purpose using the designated format. Applicants to the Graduate School of Medicine may need to use a specific format.
• Certificates
  Submitted certificates may be verified with the issuing institution, so be aware of this in advance.
• Japanese Government Scholarship Students
  If you wish to obtain a letter of acceptance after passing the first round of selection for the MEXT scholarship, check the relevant procedures on Kyoto University’s website.

The research proposal is one of the most crucial documents for Japanese graduate school admissions. It must clearly communicate your research area and demonstrate its academic validity. A solid research proposal typically includes:

• Research Topic: State the theme of your research clearly.
• Research Background: Explain why you chose this topic and the academic background supporting it.
• Literature Review: Summarize past studies, highlighting their achievements and gaps.
• Research Gap: Identify unresolved issues and explain how your research will address them.
• Research Methods: Detail whether you’ll use qualitative or quantitative methods, data collection approaches, and experimental designs.
• Expected Outcomes: Briefly describe the problems your research aims to solve and the expected results.
• References: Provide a list of relevant literature to demonstrate your understanding of the field.

Ensure your proposal is well-organized and logically sound, as it plays a vital role in determining whether you’ll be accepted.

Many Japanese graduate schools include written exams as part of the admissions process. The content varies by school, but common formats include:

• Essay Writing: Writing a short essay on a given topic.
• Explanation of Technical Terms: Defining or explaining terms related to your field.
• Calculations (Economics, etc.): Solving mathematical problems in applicable disciplines.
• Translation Tasks: Translating between English and Japanese or vice versa.

Check past exam questions and familiarize yourself with the format. If you’re not in Japan, ask friends in Japan to help you obtain past papers and practice to improve your speed and accuracy.

The interview is a critical part of the admissions process. It assesses your ability to explain your research proposal and your suitability as a candidate. Common questions include:

• Why do you want to study in Japan?
• Why did you choose this school?
• What research do you plan to conduct?
• Tell us about your undergraduate thesis.
• What are your future career goals?

Prepare thoughtful answers to these questions, especially those related to your research proposal. Practicing mock interviews can also help you gain confidence.

Beyond the AAO application, research proposal, written exams, and interviews, ensure you’re prepared with the following:

• English Proficiency Scores: Submit IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC scores as required by your school.
• Japanese Proficiency Test: JLPT N1 or N2 scores may be required, especially for programs conducted in Japanese.
• Academic Transcripts: Provide official records of your previous academic performance.
• Recommendation Letters: Typically, these are written by professors or academic advisors.

Ensure all documents are ready and submitted before the deadlines.