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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
【English Test Scores】
Q. What is the validity period for English test scores?
A. Scores taken within the last two years are considered valid. If you do not have a valid score, we recommend
taking the TOEFL ITP® Test administered by the Global Learning Center on January 8, 2026. Score reports are
expected to arrive in late January. Please submit your score as soon as it becomes available (and inform us at
the time of application if you plan to submit it later).
If you are unable to provide any English proficiency test score, please contact the GP-Chem Office for
consultation.
【Recommendation Letters】
Q. My supervisor for the doctoral program will be different from my supervisor for the master’s program. Whose
recommendation letter should I submit?
A. The letter should be written by the supervisor with whom you have conducted your research. Therefore,
please obtain the recommendation from your current supervisor.
【Financial Support】
Q. If I am selected as a JSPS Research Fellow, GP-Chem provides an incentive. Since my current
scholarship cannot be held concurrently, may I decline the GP-Chem incentive?
A. Yes. You may decline the incentive for any reason, including restrictions related to multiple scholarships.
Q. If I receive financial support from GP-Chem, may I also work as a TA/RA outside GP-Chem? What is the
maximum number of working hours per week?
A. For M2 students, you will be employed as an RA through GP-Chem (approx. 130,000 JPY/month).
Total working hours, including any other jobs, must not exceed 30 hours per week. For FY2025, GP-Chem RA
work is limited to 12 hours per week (48 hours per month).
*The exact limit may vary depending on the RA hourly rate.
For doctoral (DC) students, JSPS Research Fellows receive financial support from JSPS, and their working-
hour limits follow JSPS regulations.
Students not supported by JSPS will receive 200,000 JPY per month from the AGS RISE Program. According to
the FY2025 rulebook, up to 19 hours of work per week is permitted.
Q. What happens to financial support if I cannot complete the doctoral program within the standard three
years?
A. Support from the AGS RISE Program is limited to the standard three-year doctoral program. If you exceed the
standard period of study, financial support will not be provided.
JSPS Research Fellows will follow the JSPS regulations regarding financial support.
【Application Eligibility】
Q. I entered the doctoral program (3-year course) in October 2025. Am I eligible to apply for the April 2026
recruitment exam?
A. No. Applicants must be in the first year of the 3-year doctoral program at the time of appointment and have at
least three years of expected enrollment remaining. Therefore, you are not eligible to apply.