PhD in Space and Astronautical Science Program(five-year doctoral program)

Tuition comes to 3,372 USD per year.

The Space and Astronautical Science Program, offered as a five-year doctoral program at The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, is conducted in English, with admission each October, based at the university's Kanagawa location. SOKENDAI was established in 1988 to train first-class researchers through doctoral course programs that draw on the research environment of Japan's Inter-University Research Institutes. This five-year track covers the same field as the university's three-year Space and Astronautical Science Program, spanning spacecraft systems, orbital mechanics, planetary science, and space-based astronomical observation, but follows an extended timeline suited to applicants entering directly from an undergraduate degree. Kanagawa hosts major Japanese space research institutions, giving doctoral candidates access to satellite and spacecraft infrastructure tied to the national space program. The early years of the program build a foundation in space science and engineering coursework before students move into independent dissertation research on a specific problem in spacecraft design, planetary science, orbital dynamics, or space-based observation. Students work alongside mission scientists and engineers involved in ongoing space research and exploration projects. Graduates of this doctoral track commonly pursue research and engineering roles at national space agencies, academic positions at universities, technical positions at aerospace companies, and postdoctoral research building on their specialization. The Kanagawa location places doctoral students at the center of Japan's space research infrastructure, supporting direct engagement with active mission work. With a single annual intake each October, applicants plan around one entry point per year for the extended five-year doctoral track. Instruction delivered in English, together with a required English proficiency test, makes the program accessible to international applicants without first needing Japanese language proficiency.