Blog

Application Call for the 2027 Double Degree Doctoral Program (DDP) with the Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka

  • Post author:

1. Programs and Quota

In accordance with the academic exchange and Double Degree Agreement between the College of Science, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and the Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka (UOsaka), applications for the 2027 Double Degree Doctoral Program (DDP) are now open.

  • Quota: Up to 5 students for the 2027 academic year across the College.
  • Tuition Benefit: Students officially admitted to the DDP are entitled to a full waiver of the examination fee, enrollment fee, and tuition fees at UOsaka.

Eligible Programs & Research Fields:

  1. International Physics Course (IPC): Physics, Earth and Space Science, Astronomy, Planetary Science, etc.
  2. Special Integrated Science Course (SISC): Chemistry, Macromolecular Science, Biological Sciences, and Integrated Life Sciences.

2. Internal Application Deadlines (College of Science, NTNU)

  • IPC Track (Physics / Earth & Space Science):Wednesday, October 28, 2026, by 12:00 PM (Noon)
  • SISC Track (Chemistry / Biological Sciences):Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by 12:00 PM (Noon)

(Note: Applications submitted after the deadline will strictly not be accepted.)

3. Application Guidelines and Submission Policy

  • Method of Submission: All required application dossiers must be compiled and merged into a SINGLE PDF file in the prescribed order and sent via email to the program coordinator. No hard copies will be accepted.
  • File Naming & Email Subject:
    • File Name: Osaka_DDP_Application_[Department]_[Student_ID]_[Name].pdf(e.g., Osaka_DDP_Application_Physics_812345678_Ming_Wang.pdf)
    • Email Subject: [Application for 2027 Osaka DDP] [Department]_[Student ID]_[Name]
  • Disqualification & No-Modification Policy:
    • Incomplete dossiers, incorrect file naming, disordered pages, or unidentifiable documents will result in immediate disqualification without further notice.
    • Once submitted, no requests for file replacement, supplementary submission, or content updates will be accepted under any circumstances. Please carefully review all materials prior to final submission.

4. Required Dossiers for Internal Screening (Merged into a Single PDF)

  1. Official Prescribed Forms of The University of Osaka(Downloadable below):
    • Application Form【Ph.D. Program】 (Completed form corresponding to your selected course: IPC or SISC).
    • Form of the Evaluation Letter (Official UOsaka form, completed and signed/sealed by the applicant’s current NTNU thesis supervisor).
  2. Official English Academic Transcripts (Covering undergraduate and graduate study records, including GPA or grading assessment scheme).
  3. Official English Certificate of Enrollment (Issued by NTNU).
  4. Statement of Purpose / Research Proposal in English (Describing academic motivation, research plan, and its relevance to collaborative supervision; maximum 2 pages).
  5. Valid English Language Proficiency Certificate:
    • Accepted Tests: TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition), TOEIC (Listening & Reading), or IELTS (Academic).
    • Explicitly Rejected: TOEFL ITP (institutional), TOEIC IP, TOEIC Bridge, and IELTS Indicator are NOT accepted.
    • Minimum Score Requirements:
      • IPC Track: No hard minimum passing grade; scores will be comprehensively evaluated.
      • SISC Track: No hard minimum passing grade; scores will be comprehensively evaluated.
      • (Exemption: Applicants who completed a degree program where English was the official medium of instruction may submit an official EMI Certificate issued by the university instead).
  6. Proof of Preliminary Contact with Prospective Supervisor at UOsaka (e.g., email correspondences demonstrating mutual research interest or preliminary acceptance discussion).

IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, TIMELINE WARNINGS & LEGAL CLAUSES

(Please read all clauses thoroughly before applying)

1. Prospective Supervisor Contact & AAD System Timing Notice

  • Four-Week Prior Contact Requirement: UOsaka official guidelines mandate that applicants contact their prospective supervisor at least 4 weeks before the official UOsaka deadline. Applicants must initiate contact with UOsaka faculty simultaneously when submitting internal applications. Do NOT wait for the internal screening results to begin contacting prospective supervisors.
  • Critical Notice for IPC Applicants (AAD Pre-screening):Upon obtaining preliminary consent from a prospective IPC supervisor, IPC applicants must immediately register and submit documents to the UOsaka Admission Assistance Desk (AAD / Dragon Gate) for foreign qualification screening. The AAD procedure requires 3 to 4 weeks. The prospective supervisor can only issue the mandatory “Letter of Conditional Acceptance (LCA)” after AAD clearance. Failure to initiate this procedure immediately will result in missing the final UOsaka submission deadline (November 6, 2026), for which the applicant bears full responsibility.

2. Exclusive College Nomination & Refusal of Agreement Execution

  • Eligibility for the Double Degree Program and associated tuition waiver benefits are strictly contingent upon official nomination by the College of Science, NTNU.
  • NTNU supervisors are strictly prohibited from issuing official Letters of Support to students who have not been nominated by the College. Students are strictly forbidden from applying to UOsaka independently under the DDP track.
  • Sanction and Refusal Clause: If an applicant bypasses the internal screening and applies to UOsaka’s DDP independently, the Dean of the College of Science, NTNU will categorically REFUSE to execute the “Individual Agreement for Double Degree Doctoral Program”. Even if the applicant secures an admission offer from UOsaka, NTNU will not recognize their double-degree status, will not process credit transfers, will not organize joint degree examinations, and will not grant any financial subsidies. All academic and administrative liabilities shall be solely borne by the student and relevant parties.

3. Disclaimer of Admission & Non-Retainability of Nomination

  • College nomination represents institutional endorsement only and does NOT guarantee admission by The University of Osaka. Final admission decisions rest solely with UOsaka based on their examination and interview outcomes.
  • Nominated candidates who fail to complete subsequent application procedures, miss deadlines, or are rejected by UOsaka bear full responsibility and shall not claim any institutional remedy or compensation. College nomination is valid only for the 2027 entry year and cannot be deferred under any circumstances.

4. Mandatory Execution of the Individual Agreement

  • Upon receiving official nomination from NTNU and admission authorization from UOsaka, the student and supervisors must conclude an “Individual Agreement for Double Degree Doctoral Program” specifying the co-supervision scheme, residency period, IP rights, and thesis defense protocols.
  • The student’s DDP status shall only become legally valid once the Individual Agreement is duly signed and executed by both the Dean of the College of Science, NTNU and the Dean of the Graduate School of Science, UOsaka. Failure to complete this execution in due time constitutes a forfeiture of double-degree candidate status.

5. Application Resources & Contact Information