Master in Earth Science and Astrophysics

The Graduate Schools of Engineering (established in 1967) and Science (established in 1978) were unified, and the Graduate School of Science and Engineering of Ehime University started in 1996. This Graduate School was reorganized in 2006.

The main educational objective is to offer opportunities for professional development and career enhancement to the students through lectures and research activities, which range widely from basic science to practical engineering fields. Interdisciplinary researches between science and technology can also be carried out easily as well as cooperative or project researches in the Graduate School.

Earth Science and Astrophysics

This division aims to nurture the researchers who have advanced knowledge and research competency through the studies on the structure and dynamics of the Earth, planets, and universe in GRC and RCSCE. The division consists of four terrains of high-pressure mineralogy, the theory of Earth and planetary materials, galaxy evolution, and X-ray astrophysics.

Research Fields

• Development of high-pressure technology and its application to the internal structure of the Earth.
• Theoretical and computational study of minerals and modeling the Earth and planetary interiors.
• Study of structure and evolution of the Universe. In particular, the study of active Universe through cosmic X-ray emission, and development of instruments for X-ray observatory.
• Study of high energy phenomena in the Universe. In particular, observational study of black holes and the structure and evolution of the Universe.
• Observational studies on the formation and evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes. Studies on the chemical evolution of the Universe.
• Mantle Dynamics; Studies on flows, deformations, and evolutions of the Earth's interior based on the computational fluid dynamics.
• Experimental study on the phase transition, crystallization, self-organization of minerals.
• Experimental study on transport properties (such as rheology) of deep Earth materials.
• Computational study of the existence and its effects of volatile elements in the Earth's interior.
• Space plasma physics, fast magnetic reconnection based on MHD and kinetic theory and numerical studies.
• Observational studies of galaxy formation and evolution. History of star formation and mass assembly of galaxies.
• Observational research on the evolution of galaxies, supermassive black holes, and the Universe.

If you want high quality education, but at almost half the cost of universities in the West, you should come to Japan. Ehime University is a national university and its labs are well-equipped. Unlike master courses in many Western countries, the education is very research-oriented. You will be in the lab or in the field working on your own projects which your supervisor will help you to design. Our graduate schools have been accepting international students and providing instruction in English for over 20 years and even locally-based research is carried out with a global perspective. We make an effort to design research projects which will teach skills that you can use when you return home to enhance the sustainbility of your countries resources.

Tuition and living expenses

Entrance fee: 282,000 JPY (about 2,800 USD)

Tuition: 535,800 JPY (about 5,300 USD)

*Over 96% of the international students who apply do not need to pay tuition.

Accommodation (rent and utilities): 20,000 to 35,000 JPY (200-350 USD) /month

Daily expenses (food, etc.): 50,000-80,000 JPY (500-800 USD)/ month

Support for International Students

Ehime University has accommodation facilities which can accommodate up to 118 international students, and bicycles are provided to these and other students. Financial support, such as scholarships and tuition exemption, is provided especially for privately funded students. About 90% of the privately funded students at Ehime University benefit from some form of financial support. To facilitate international exchanges, several friendship or volunteer associations, both in and outside the university, hold parties and events on a regular basis, providing international students with many opportunities to communicate with local citizens and learn about Japanese culture. A local NPO provides used household goods for free to Ehime University international students.