Information Sciences

Graduate School of Information Sciences (GSIS)

The Tohoku University Graduate School of Information Sciences (GSIS) aims to develop researchers and professionals who possess advanced expertise in information science based on an interdisciplinary outlook on science that encompasses mathematics and social science. We expect researchers and professionals to be always sensitive to the demands of society, discover problems on their own, and promote concrete solutions to problems, by utilizing their expertise, which is based on the integration of the humanities and sciences. To develop persons who contribute to the creation of new value in “Information Science” that GSIS aims to achieve, we seek diverse students, including students who want to deepen their studies based on our accumulated achievements in various fields, students who want to actively pursue research in interdisciplinary fields, students who want to pursue research in new fields different from their previous research field, international students whom we expect to have different backgrounds from Japanese students, and mature students who are employed persons working at companies, institutes or other places.　Specifically, we seek students who are eager to become professionals capable of contributing to society by utilizing their expertise based on interdisciplinary and fundamental ability in mathematics and science, and students who are eager to become researchers who can contribute to further development of interdisciplinary science.　To this end, we have various types of admission options in the following categories: general selection, early graduate student selection, mature student selection, selection for international students, and special selection for recommended admission. The selection process is divided into seven “groups” according to the academic specialties within the GSIS, and in each group, the selection method is appropriately chosen and determined from written examinations, essays, and oral examinations depending on the characteristics of each group in the two-year Master’s Course and three-year Doctoral Course.

Two-Year Master’s Course

In the general selection, early graduate student selection, and selection for international students, the applicant will take a written examination that evaluates their specialized knowledge and ability to apply their knowledge to problems, and an oral examination based on the applicant’s research plans and research motivation, with special emphasis on basic academic skills.
In the mature student selection, a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s work history, research content, and basic academic skills will be conducted.
In the special selection for recommended admission, we evaluate the applicant’s ability to think logically, writing ability, research plans, and motivation for research.
Before entering the university, students are expected to have acquired basic knowledge in their major field of study and adjacent fields, as well as the skills necessary to systematically prepare presentations of their research results.

Three-Year Doctoral Course

In the general transfer-admission, advancing students from other graduate schools at Tohoku University, and transfer-admission selection for international students, we evaluate the applicant’s specialized knowledge and ability to apply their knowledge to problems, as well as research content and research plans in the Master’s Course, with particular emphasis on past research achievements and future potential as an interdisciplinary researcher.
In the selection process for transfer-admission selection for mature students, we evaluate their work history as employed persons, research content, and basic academic skills, with particular emphasis on their research plans and motivation.

Before entering the university, students are expected to have general knowledge of the field in which they intend to study, including the latest research trends; skills in researching, collecting, and organizing materials and literature necessary for their research; and the ability to develop an original academic argument based on this knowledge and information.