My PhD (Doctoral) Experience at University of Tsukuba, Japan

Three years, three first-author journals, and one PhD. My doctoral program at University of Tsukuba — Materials Science & Engineering — ran from April 2022 to March 2025.

On this page I’ve collected the whole PhD journey in chronological order, from the application process all the way to graduation day. Pick the part that’s most relevant to you:

📝 Preparation & Application (2021)

Before officially becoming a doctoral student, there was an application process to get through — from the English certificate to the entrance exam itself.

• 👉 TOEFL iBT for My PhD Application in Japan
• 👉 How to Apply for NIMS-GRA for a Doctoral Program
• 👉 PhD Entrance Exam at University of Tsukuba
• 👉 PhD Entrance Exam and NIMS-GRA Results

🎤 Three Years as a Doctoral Student

Every year came with a mandatory student seminar to report research progress — from presenting in years one and two, to being trusted as moderator in year three.

• 👉 Student Seminar December 2022 — Presenter
• 👉 Student Seminar November 2023 — Presenter
• 👉 Student Seminar November 2024 — Chairman / Moderator

🎓 Final Exams & Graduation (2024–2025)

Two doctoral defenses and one graduation moment that closed out this three-year journey.

• 👉 First Doctoral Defense (December 2024)
• 👉 Second Doctoral Defense (February 2025)
• 👉 PhD Graduation (March 2025)

If you have specific questions about doing a PhD in Japan, feel free to get in touch.