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Is DAAS good for you to learn?
Are you suitable to study at DAAS?

Please make sure that DAAS is a good place for you to learn and that you are suitable to study at DAAS with reference to the features of DAAS below.

International students who enter DAAS have had different academic backgrounds as undergraduates. They can decide upon the direction of their Ph.D. research by communicating with DAAS academic staff over the Internet. If you are interested in studying African Studies at DAAS, Japan, please continue reading the text the website, below.

With whom can you communicate before admission?

All faculty members and graduate students are assigned to one of the departments: Livelihoods & Ecology, Society & Culture, and Development & Sustainability. When you wish to enroll in DAAS, please contact a faculty member by e-mail before you apply for the entrance examination[below]. If you cannot decide upon whom to send your email on your study interests at the very beginning from the academic staff at DAAS, please send your queries on the email address below [Will be updated soon]. You will be introduced to some academic staff to start communication.

 Please include the following in your email:

  • 1. Name and affiliation
  • 2. Your CV [any format will be accepted at the first stage]
  • 3. Research proposal [any format will be accepted at the first stage]
  • 4. The current status of your application(s) for scholarship program(s) [the name(s) of the scholarship program(s) for which you are applying]
    *If you are not applying for any scholarship, please mention this in the email.
  • 5. How did you develop an interest in the research topic/approach of the academic staff at DAAS with whom you started consulting?

How to apply

ASAFAS offers examinations for entrance to the 5-year doctoral program and for transfer to the third year of the program. The division of African Area Studies (hereinafter DAAS) strongly recommends those interested in the program to obtain a scholarship through the program, which is implemented annually by the Japanese government, or a private scholarship. At the time of application for one of these scholarships, please contact the academic staff of the division, providing the following information via email.

Entrance examinations are held in September and February every year. The application period for the September exam is open for approximately 10 days at the end of August; the application period for the February exam is open for about 7 days in January.

– Although MEXT scholarship students do not need to take the uniform entrance examination in either September or February at ASAFAS, Japan, they need to take an oral examination in English.
There is no system at DAAS to accept anyone prior to admission as a research student.

Scholarships Program [MEXT]

Although the deadline for receiving the application form for the MEXT [Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology] scholarship program is usually from May to June every year, you need to check the deadline and the documents required at the Japanese embassy in your country. If you are to be accepted as a scholarship student (MEXT student) sponsored by Japanese government after your screening in Japan embassy of each foreign country, you need to find someone who would be your supervisor at a Japanese university. Please communicate with our faculty members by email if your research interests are close to DAAS.

– The websites of Japan Embassies and consulates in African countries[A part of a list]

For Self-supporting International Student

After your admission, DAAS can provide opportunities for a small amount of financial support, such as by working as a teaching assistant or research assistant. These opportunities are competition-based and there are limitations on the available salary, in line with the regulations for a student visa at Japan. This support cannot cover all expenses, such as university entrance fee, tuition fees for each year, and cost of living, during your stay in Japan. Although you can find some opportunities to apply for private scholarship programs after your admission, you would usually receive such chances an academic year later. Information regarding the scholarship programs for international students is provided below

Self-supporting applicants from abroad need to take the first written examination in Japanese; on passing this, they undertake an interview examination. Applicants who are transfer students only have the interview examination. For further details, visit the ASAFAS admission page.