I. Program Summary and Eligibility
This program is conducted under the MOU on Student Exchange between the NTNU College of Science and the Tohoku University Graduate School of Science, providing graduate students with the opportunity to undertake laboratory research training.
- Program Name: Cooperative Laboratory Study Program (COLABS)
- Exchange Period: Starting from the 2026 Fall Semester (Exchange for one semester or one academic year)
- Target Applicants: Currently enrolled Master’s and Doctoral students within the College of Science only (Graduate Students only).
- Student Status: Non-degree seeking exchange student, eligible for a tuition fee waiver.
- Program Core: Students must join a laboratory at Tohoku University for Individual Research Training (IRTLab), aiming to provide substantive contribution to their thesis research.
II. Internal Selection and External Application Timeline
This program is a nomination-based exchange channel under the bilateral agreement. Students must complete a two-step screening process: obtaining professor consent followed by a College recommendation.
- Tohoku University Final Application Deadline: January 30, 2026 (JST)
- NTNU College of Science Internal Submission Deadline: December 20, 2025 (Friday) by 5:00 PM
All applicants must submit the complete documentation in hard copy format to Mr. Chen at the College of Science Dean’s Office before the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
III. Required Documents for Internal Recommendation and Important Reminders
Students must complete the following two prerequisites and submit the necessary documents to the College Office for internal review and recommendation:
- Obtain Prior Consent from Host Professor: Applicants must first contact a professor in the relevant field at Tohoku University and secure a Consent of Acceptance Letter or Email Proof (Consent of Acceptance Request Form).
- Prepare Internal Review Materials: Students must submit a formal application for recommendation to the College, including:
- College of Science Personal Data Form (Please use the College of Science Admission/Exchange Application Form, available for download on the College website).
- Research Outline (Must elaborate on the overseas research plan and its relevance to the NTNU thesis).
- Proof of Consent from Host Professor (As mentioned above).
- Other relevant documents (English proficiency scores, transcripts, etc.).
[Reminder on Host University Application Process] Students nominated by the College must still complete the final application process by filling out all necessary information and uploading documents through its online application system within the Tohoku University specified deadline. Please be sure to pay attention to the timeline.
[Credit Transfer Limitations] According to the University’s credit transfer regulations, there is a maximum limit on the credits that exchange students can transfer back (Please check with your department/institute). Students are advised to realistically evaluate the transferable credit amount to avoid over-enrolling in uncertifiable courses.
[Tuition Waiver and Self-Funding Risk] The tuition fee waiver provided under this program is an exclusive right guaranteed by the bilateral exchange agreement. Students must be formally nominated by the College to receive exchange student status and enjoy this right. If a student applies directly to the host university, the application may be treated as that of a general international student. The College may be unable to provide assistance if the student is subsequently required by the host university to pay full tuition fees.
Please note that interested students should initiate the process of contacting professors immediately and submit all required documents before the internal deadline.
