Before Applying for Admission

To Those Considering Studying
at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

You can study at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (OUAVM) as an undergraduate student, graduate student, research student, special auditor, or special research student. Before applying, please make sure there is a course or program that matches the purpose and subject of your study, and which faculty the professor from whom you wish to receive instructions belongs to.

1. Definition of International Students

An international or foreign student educated at a Japanese university is defined as a student who has a “student” status of residence provided in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. A foreign national with a “dependant” status of residence can enter a university and study but is not regarded as an international student at a university and not eligible for scholarships for students who have the student status of residence (Click here for the details of status of residence).

2. Types of International Students

International students are classified by their types of enrollment and type of funding. These classifications may change during their stay in Japan.

(1) Classification of International Students (Types of Enrollment)

International students at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine are classified into the following five types according to their status of enrollment.

Degree Student	Undergraduate student	An undergraduate student aims to acquire a bachelor’s degree in a four-year program, or six-year veterinary medical program. Click here for admission information (Japanese).
Degree Student	Graduate student	A graduate student aims to acquire a master’s or doctoral degree. Click here for admission information.
Non-degree student	Research student	A research student studies a specific subject under the supervising professor. Many international students take the entrance exam while studying as a research student for 6 months to one year and enter the graduate school. It is very helpful for your study and life after entering the graduate school to spend some time studying on your specialized field and getting used to life in Japan while you are a research student. We recommend you enter as a research student before entering the graduate school. Click here for admission information.
	Special auditor	A special auditor is an exchange undergraduate or graduate student from a university outside Japan that has an exchange agreement with OUAVM who is enrolled in OUAVM for up to one year and audits specific courses. The necessary procedures are done between the staff in charge between the foreign university and OUAVM, and a direct application from a student will not be accepted. Check with your university if they have an exchange agreement with OUAVM and learn about the details of the agreement if they have one.
	Special research student	A special research student is enrolled in another graduate school and studies at the graduate school of OUAVM for up to one year under instruction of the professor of the student’s choice. The necessary procedures are done between the staff in charge between the foreign university and OUAVM, and a direct application from a student will not be accepted. If you wish to be a special research student you need to contact the professor of your choice at OUAVM through your supervising professor at your university.

(2) Classification of International Students (Scholarship)

International students at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine are classified into the following two types according to the scholarship.

Government sponsored international student	Government sponsored international students are those who receive a scholarship from the Japanese Government (Ministry of Education and Science). There are three routes to applying for the scholarship: by recommendation of an embassy, by recommendation of a university, and by domestic selection (students who have already been enrolled in our university can take this method). The former two are what you can try before coming to Japan. Click here for more details.
Privately funded international student	Privately funded students refer to all the international students except government sponsored international students. They include self-funded students, students sponsored by a foreign government, and short-term students from a university with an exchange agreement.

Government sponsored international student

Government sponsored international students are those who receive a scholarship from the Japanese Government (Ministry of Education and Science). There are three routes to applying for the scholarship: by recommendation of an embassy, by recommendation of a university, and by domestic selection (students who have already been enrolled in our university can take this method). The former two are what you can try before coming to Japan. Click here for more details.

Privately funded international student

Privately funded students refer to all the international students except government sponsored international students. They include self-funded students, students sponsored by a foreign government, and short-term students from a university with an exchange agreement.

(3) Classification of International Students (Chart)

3. Schools and Programs

Undergraduate

Schools of Animal and Agricultural Science	School of Agriculture
Schools of Animal and Agricultural Science	School of Cooperative Veterinary Medicine

Graduate

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Agriculture	Master’s program (2 year)	Animal Science and Agriculture	Veterinary Life Science
			Animal Production
			Ecology and Environmental Science
			Food Science
			Agricultural Economics
			Engineering for Agriculture
			Plant Production Science
	Doctoral Program (3 year)	Animal Science and Agriculture
	Doctoral Program (4 year)	Veterinary Science

4. Finding a Supervisor

Applicants who wish to enroll in the graduate school or be admitted as a research students at OUAVM are required to contact a prospective supervisor and obtain their informal consent in advance.

Steps to Obtain Acceptance (For International Students)

Please search for a prospective supervisor in your field of interest on the Faculty Directory page. You are also encouraged to refer to academic papers and other external sources as necessary when reviewing the supervisor’s research activities, and to select an appropriate supervisor accordingly.
Complete the Supervision Request Form and send it by email with your CV, final academic transcript, and research proposal attached.

Important points when submitting the Request Form

Before submitting your request, please make sure that the prospective supervisor’s research field matches your research interests and academic goals.
Applicants are responsible for researching scholarship opportunities on their own.
When sending your email, use the following subject line: “Supervision Request” .
The following applicants should send the form to the Student Affairs Section (rgk obihiro.ac.jp), instead of contacting a prospective supervisor directly:
・Applicants for JICA programs
・Applicants who have passed the first screening of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Embassy Recommendation) and wish to obtain a Letter of Provisional Acceptance.