2026/1/29

1. Outline

 Targeting new students from 2025, we established the "Advanced Information Specialist Course", which added new educational programs and industry-academia collaboration schemes to our current cutting-edge education and research activities. In addition, the number of admission capacity in the Master's Course was increased from 350 to 390, and the number of admission capacity in the Doctoral Course was increased from 107 to 112. The eligible Master's Course students for the "Advanced Information Specialist Course" are as follows according to each field of study.

• All students admitted under the Information Science assigned to a laboratory within the Division of Information Science: (approximately 175 students)
• Students admitted under the Information Science or Biological Science assigned to the laboratory in the Division of Biological Science accredited for the "Advanced Information Specialist Course" (hereafter, Course-accredited Bio-laboratory): (approximately 15 students)
• Students admitted under the Information Science or Materials Science assigned to the laboratory in the Division of Materials Science accredited for the "Advanced Information Specialist Course" (hereinafter, Course-accredited Materials laboratory): (approximately 10 students)

 Please note that students wishing to enroll in the "Advanced Information Specialist Course" must select one of the following programs after admission: Information Science and Engineering Program, Data Science Program, or Digital Green Innovation Program. The same requirement applies to Doctoral course students.

2. Structure of "The Advanced Information Specialist Course"

 The "Advanced Information Specialist Course" consists of two courses: the "Research Deepening Course" and "Problem Solving Course". The Research Deepening Course aims to cultivate experts who will internationally lead their respective fields through cutting-edge research in advanced information technology. The Problem-Solving Course is designed to develop π-shaped professionals who combine advanced information technology with expertise in other fields to lead the resolution of various societal challenges.

 After enrollment, students select one of the two courses in consultation with their supervisor.

3. Educational Goals:

• Cultivate human resources capable of addressing societal challenges through the application of advanced information technology.
• Provide comprehensive education in information science that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical application.
• Develop professionals with strong practical skills through close collaboration with industry.

4. Curriculum Outline:

• Integrated study programs in Information Science and Engineering, Data Science, and Digital Green Innovation Programs.
• Hands-on learning experiences through practical projects and internships.
• Joint research and study abroad opportunities with universities abroad as part of international exchange programs.

5. Supplementary Information on the Entrance Examinations

 Further information for each field of study (Information Science, Biological Science and Materials Science) can be found below.

• Division of Information Science
• Division of Biological Science
• Division of Materials Science

6. Points Concerning Applications to the Information Science

 Candidates applying to the Information Science may select from 16 laboratories from the 22 Course accredited Bio-laboratories and 4 Course-accredited Materials-laboratories in addition to the laboratories in the Division of Information Science. For example, a candidate may select a Course-accredited Bio-laboratory as their first choice and a laboratory in the Division of Information Science as their second choice, or vice versa.

 In order to accommodate the above applications, the online application system includes 16 Course-accredited Bio-laboratories and 4 Course-accredited Materials-laboratories in the list of laboratories for the Information Science. Applicants who take and pass the Information Science examination and received a provisional placement offer from Course-accredited Bio-laboratories or Course-accredited Materials-laboratories will be officially assigned to that laboratory after completing the program transfer procedure following enrollment.

7. Course-accredited Laboratory

• Division of Information Science
  All laboratories, including Collaborative Laboratories
• Division of Biological Science
  ✔The following 16 laboratories can be selected from the Information Science or Biological Science:
  Plant Developmental Signaling, Plant Growth Regulation, Plant Stem Cell Regulation and Floral Patterning, Plant Physiology, Plant Immunity, Plant Symbiosis, Molecular Medicine and Cell Biology, RNA Molecular Medicine, Developmental Biomedical Science, Microbial Interaction, Environmental Microbiology, Structural Life Science, Gene Regulation Research, Bioengineering, Data-driven Biology, Neural Regeneration and Brain Repair
  
  ✔The following 6 laboratories may be selected only by applicants under the Biological Science:
  Plant Metabolic Regulation, Plant Secondary Metabolism, Plant Regeneration and Morphogenesis, Molecular Immunobiology, Organ Developmental Engineering, Organelle Control
• Division of Materials Science
  ✔The following 4 laboratories may be selected by applicants under the Information Science or Materials Science:
  Materials Informatics, Data Driven Chemistry, Metrology Informatics, Solid-state Information Physics.

[Contact address]

Admissions Section
Educational Affairs Division
Nara Institute of Science and Technology
8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma Nara 630-0192 Japan
TEL: +81(743)72-5083/5084
E-mail: exam[at]ad.naist.jp