The Master Program of Environmental Science has three entrance exams a year: SUSTEP entrance examination (May), August term entrance exam (late August), February entrance examination entrance (late January – early February). Applicants can take one or more of these exams, and if they pass even one, they can enroll. Of course, even if you can not pass in one of the exams, you will be OK if you pass the other exam after that.

I will explain the outline here.

The SUSTEP entrance examination (May) is an entrance exam for “SUSTEP” which is a program in which you can take credits and graduate completely in English only. Japanese students can also take this exam. If you pass this entrance exam, admission will be October of that year. Those who want to start studying in October and study only in English, please challenge. This SUSTEP entrance examin is the only entrance exam for entrance in October (Applicants who passed other exam should enter in April). Those who have passed other exam are also possible to take SUSTEP, but will be enrolled in April to the last.

The August Exam and the February Exam are similar entrance exams to each other, except for the time and capacity. We will perform a general selection and a special selection which is for students who have occupations. In both cases, acceptance or rejection is decided based on both the document examination and the academic achievement examination. In the general selection there is a foreign language test and an oral exam (interview). In the special selection, there is no foreign language test but an oral exam (interview). Please submit the results of TOEIC, TOEFL-iBT, IELTS,  which you took in advance in a foreign language exam (Note).

You have two opportunities of entrance exam. You should pass either one of them. Even if you cannot pass the first exam, you can take second one again.

If you have any questions, please contact the Admission Office (admission@envr.tsukuba.ac.jp) for Environmental Studies Major.

Admissions for the Enrolment in October 2026

Program Application period Examination Result announcement current status
Master’s Program (SUSTEP) April 6-May 8 2026 June 2-June 3 2026 June 30 2026 Ready

English Application Guideline
Japanese Application Guideline
Application Forms

Admissions for the Enrolment in April

Official information [for the Enrolment in April] is found in [Application Guide here], please be sure to check it.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the SUSTEP entrance exam.
Before emailing us, please read this list carefully. You will likely find the answers you need here.

Q1. “I graduated from XXX University and work in XXX. Am I eligible to apply?”
… We cannot determine your eligibility before officially reviewing your application. Please check the Application Guidelines carefully and make your own judgment based on the criteria listed there.

Q2. “Where can I find the application forms?”
… They are on the same webpage as the Application Guidelines.

Q3. “Is it sufficient to submit XX for the required document YY?” / “Can you check my documents before I submit them?”
… We do not provide advance checks or individual advice on documents. Please read the guidelines and ensure your documents meet the requirements. If you are unsure about a specific certificate, please contact the institution that issued it.

Q4. “I have a special scholarship. Do I still need to pay the application fee?”
… Please contact your scholarship provider directly. If they do not provide specific instructions, you must follow the standard application procedure and pay the fee.

Q5. “Please tell me about scholarships.”
… No. Our office handles only matters directly related to the entrance examination. For information on scholarships or student support, please contact the relevant departments.

Q6. “I applied to University of Tsukuba in the past. Can you pick up and accept some part of the application document at that time as a part of my new application?”
… No. You must submit a complete set of all required documents for each new application.

Q7. “If I pass the August exam, can I start in October of the same year?”
… No. The August exam is for enrollment in April of the following year only.

Q8. “My certificates are not in English. Do I need to translate them?”
… No, unless the Application Guidelines specifically ask for a translation. You may submit them in your original language.

Q9. “Can I get the forms in an editable format (like MS-Word)?”
… No. We only provide the forms in the current format.

Q10. “Can I submit application documents as electronic files or via the web?”
… No. For the SUSTEP program, all application documents must be submitted as physical paper copies.

Q11. “I cannot get in touch with my preferred faculty advisor. What should I do?”
… Faculty members receive many inquiries and may take time to reply. Please be patient and ensure your communication is clear and professional. Our office cannot contact faculty members on your behalf or introduce them to you.

Q12. “Where can I find information about other (non-SUSTEP) entrance exams?”
… Please visit the University’s main admissions page : https://eng.ap-graduate.tsukuba.ac.jp/course/les /

Q13. What is the best way to ask a question to you?
… Please cite the Application Guideline and be specific. For example: “On page 5 of the guidelines, it says XXX. Does this mean Y or Z?” Clearly stating the page number and the specific point you find confusing helps us provide a faster and more accurate answer.