For Prospective Students

If you want your thesis to end in a material you can hold and test rather than a simulation, this is that kind of laboratory. What we make from waste is described on the research page; what you would get out of working here is below.

The SusMatLab sign outside the laboratory entrance

What you get here

  • You publish. Master's and doctoral students are first authors in Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Cleaner Production, Waste Management, Bioresource Technology, and Journal of Hazardous Materials. See our publications.
  • You work internationally. English is the working language for research discussion, and students join from across Asia and Europe.
  • You collaborate. Joint projects with the Geotechnical Laboratory (Civil Engineering), the Chemical Process Engineering group, and the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute give students access to expertise and instrumentation beyond a single lab.
  • You present abroad. Our students have given oral presentations in Bangkok, Seoul, Kuching, and Tokyo, and have taken research internships overseas.
  • You are supervised directly. The group is small enough that every student discusses data with the supervisor regularly, not through a postdoc chain.

Funding routes our students use

Most of our international students are funded. The routes currently in use in the group are:

Contact us early. Scholarship applications close months before the entrance examination, and we can advise on which route fits your situation.

Who we are looking for

Our work is experimental chemistry. Applicants must have:

  • A strong background in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or a related field.
  • Solid hands-on experimental experience in a chemistry or materials science laboratory.
  • A degree from a major university in your region (or equivalent academic standing).

We are unable to supervise applicants whose academic background lacks substantial chemistry or materials science components. Priority is given to applicants who intend to enter the Master's course and continue into the Doctoral course.

To discuss your research interests, admissions, or funding by e-mail or online meeting, please write to us with your CV, academic transcript, and a short description of the research you would like to do. We reply to every serious inquiry.

The Graduate School of Environmental Studies offers multi-disciplinary programs covering environmental science, safety, and sustainability at a global scale, and the Group of Sustainable Development addresses a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues.

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Entrance Examination

There are two entrance examinations per year: the first in early August, the second in late January or early February. TOEFL or TOEIC scores are used to evaluate English proficiency and must be obtained in advance, no earlier than two years before the examination. Past written examination problems are available online for 2023, 2024, and 2025 (Japanese pages; click the links to download the PDF files). For full requirements, see the pages of the Group of Sustainable Development and the Graduate School admissions office. We strongly encourage you to contact us before applying.

Course website 
International Programs 

Self-supported international students with demonstrated academic excellence can enter through the G30 program, which accepts applications between November and January. Selection is based on document screening and online interviews, and the degree is taught entirely in English, so no Japanese language ability is required at entry.

Students admitted through the standard route may also join the Nagoya University Global Environmental Leaders Program (NUGELP), which several of our graduates have completed alongside their degree.

Admission details 
Research Students

Highly motivated students may join the group as research students before taking the entrance examination. This route suits applicants who want to start laboratory work while preparing for the examination. Applicants must:

  • Be from a major university in their region (e.g., Double First Class universities in the case of China).
  • Have a GPA higher than 3.5 (out of 4.0).
  • Demonstrate proficiency in English (TOEIC > 750 or equivalent) and/or Japanese (JLPT N1).
  • Have a strong academic background in materials science, chemical or environmental engineering, with substantial experience in chemistry or materials science laboratories.
  • Intend to proceed to the Doctoral course. Applicants targeting only a Master's degree will not be considered for this route.
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