About
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) is a unique, research-intensive national university in Japan, exclusively dedicated to graduate education. It is best known for its innovative "distributed campus" model, where its departments are embedded within various national research institutes across Japan, providing students direct access to world-class facilities and leading scientists. SOKENDAI excels in interdisciplinary fields such as physical sciences, life sciences, cultural studies, and informatics, leveraging the specialized expertise of its partner institutes. For international students, SOKENDAI offers a highly supportive and English-friendly environment, with many programs conducted entirely in English and dedicated support services to facilitate their academic and daily life. Its distinctive characteristic is its structure, allowing students to conduct cutting-edge research at the forefront of their fields alongside top researchers.
Background
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI (総合研究大学院大学, Sōgō kenkyū daigakuin daigaku) is one of the national universities of Japan, headquartered in Shonan Village in the town of Hayama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Sōkendai (総研大), as it is generally called in its abbreviated form, was established in 1988, with Dr. Saburo Nagakura as its president. SOKENDAI is the first national university in Japan having offered exclusively graduate programs. Graduate students are trained at affiliated research institutes distributed around Japan and the world. It has both five-year doctoral programs for students with a bachelor's degree and three-year programs for those with a master's degree.
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Quick facts
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SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.