Application Package

MBA Program
(One-year and Two-year programs)

Academic Year 2023-2024

Hitotsubashi University Business School
School of International Corporate Strategy
 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

The MBA Program

Applicants to the MBA program in the School of International Corporate Strategy at Hitotsubashi
University Business School (Hitotsubashi ICS) can select at the time of application from two MBA
degree options, the One-Year program and the Two-Year program. Once accepted to one program,
it is not possible to switch to the other program.

The selection criteria for admission are identical for the One-Year and the Two-Year programs
(excluding YLP applicants, the admission process for whom is NOT covered in this document). In
the first year, students in the One-Year and the Two-Year programs follow the same course of
study and same academic calendar. The key differences between the two program options are as
follows:

The One-Year program starts in mid-September with graduation in August of the following
year. Students enrolled in the One-Year program are not eligible for double-degree, exchange,
or internship programs.

The Two-Year program starts in mid-September with graduation in August of the second year.
During the first year, students must complete all required courses. For the second year,
students can custom design and build their curriculum in accordance with their interests and
goals and are required to participate in at least ONE of the following activities:
(1) A double-degree program with an affiliated MBA program
(2) A student exchange program with an affiliated MBA program
(3) An approved internship on a non-remunerative basis (Hitotsubashi ICS Internship)
(4) A project approved and supervised by an Hitotsubashi ICS faculty member
(5) Other activity approved by the Academic Performance Committee
Completion of one of the above activities is counted as part of the Seminar requirements in
the second year.

Admissions Overview
One-Year Program Two-Year Program
Number of places available 43 (excluding places for YLP students)
From September 2023
Program term
To August 2024 August 2025
Academic degree awarded Master of Business Administration (MBA)

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Student Support
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for students attending Hitotsubashi ICS, although the amount varies from
year to year. In general, the following categories of students are eligible for scholarships.
(1) Students with outstanding GMAT/GRE scores
(2) Students who have not received other scholarships
(3) Students who are self-financed and in need of financial aid
Scholarships are determined by the Admissions Committee of Hitotsubashi ICS shortly after
admissions decisions have been announced.

(For Reference Only)

2022 Admissions
Number of recipients GMAT median GRE median

Verbal Reasoning 161

20 students 710
Quantitative Reasoning 167
*Some scholarships have prerequisites such as nationality/region, experience living in Japan, etc.

For more details, please refer to http://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/admissions/mba/financing.html

■ For students with experience working in Japan

The Hitotsubashi ICS MBA program has been designated as a training and education facility by the
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). Students meeting certain conditions may be able to
obtain the Specialized Practice Training and Education Benefit.

If you have more than two years of experience working in Japan and are paying your own tuition
fees, you may apply for the benefit by submitting an application to your nearest HelloWork at least
one month before the start of the program. Please direct enquiries regarding your eligibility and
further details to HelloWork.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/jinzaikaihatsu/kyouiku.html

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Dormitories
■ Hitotsubashi University dormitories (Kunitachi and Kodaira)
Hitotsubashi University offers two dormitory options, in Kunitachi and Kodaira, for international
students. It takes about one hour by train from Hitotsubashi ICS to reach the dormitories.
Applications for dormitories are accepted from June. Dormitory selection is by lottery.
International Dormitories (Kunitachi and Kodaira):
http://international.hit-u.ac.jp/en/curr/accom/index.html

Residence Hall Keimeikan (Kunitachi):

http://www.hit-u.ac.jp/shien/campuslife/pdf/ryo/keimeikan.pdf

■ Tokyo International Exchange Center (TIEC)

TIEC is a dormitory run by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). It takes about 40
minutes by train from Hitotsubashi ICS to reach the dormitory. TIEC provides two types of single
room and two types of family room. Applications are accepted from July.
TIEC:
https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/kyoten/tiec/index.html

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Application and Admissions Procedures

Admission Requirements
Professional experience
Minimum two years’ post-university graduation full-time work experience as at September 1, 2023
is mandatory for all applicants.

Education
All applicants must meet ONE of the following qualifications:
(1) The applicant has graduated from a university or college stipulated in Article 83 of the School
Education Law of Japan.
(2) The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree under paragraph 7 of Article 104 of the School
Education Law of Japan.
(3) The applicant has completed at least 16 years of education with a bachelor’s degree or
equivalent from an accredited university or college in a country other than Japan.
(4) The applicant resides in Japan and has completed at least 16 years of education by taking
courses offered by an accredited university or college outside of Japan through
correspondence.
(5) The applicant has completed at least 16 years of education at an accredited foreign university
or college in Japan recognized by the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science
and Technology (MEXT).
(6) The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree or equivalent by completing a program of three
years or more (*) at a foreign university, college, or other school. (**)
(7) The applicant has completed specialized courses after the date specified by MEXT at a
vocational college offering programs of four years or more and recognized by MEXT.
(8) The applicant has been specially designated by MEXT.
(9) The applicant has enrolled in a graduate school through an early admission system under
paragraph 2 of Article 102 of the School Education Law of Japan and the Admissions Committee
of the Hitotsubashi University Business School, School of International Corporate Strategy
(Hitotsubashi ICS) judges the applicant to possess the academic competence to undertake
graduate studies.
(10) The applicant has been judged by the Admissions Committee of Hitotsubashi ICS to have the
academic competence equivalent to that of university graduates by individual admissions
screening and the applicant is over 22 years old or will be 22 years old before September 1,
2023.
(*) This includes programs completed by “taking courses in Japan offered by a foreign school
through correspondence” and “at schools which are accredited and designated in the preceding
item.”
(**) This is limited to schools evaluated on the entirety of their education, research and other
programs by a foreign government or accredited organizations or equivalent recognized by MEXT.

Note: Applicants eligible under items (9) or (10) above must write beforehand to the Hitotsubashi
ICS Admissions Office ([email protected]) explaining their academic
qualifications (Deadline: August 29, 2022).

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Admissions Criteria
● Suitable academic record, including areas of strength and scholastic performance
● Appropriate background, maturity, interpersonal skills, leadership accomplishments and
potential, as indicated by employment history, essays, and references
● Acceptable performance at an interview arranged through the Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions
Office
● A GMAT score or GRE score is mandatory for all applicants
There is not a minimum score requirement for GMAT or GRE but applicants with a lower score
will need to support their application with other evidence of sufficient aptitude, demonstrated
for example in their essays or interview. Please refer below to the average scores for the most
recently-admitted class.

(For Reference Only)

GMAT/GRE Average of Accepted Applicants (Class of 2022)

GMAT GRE
Verbal Reasoning 155
666
Quantitative Reasoning 164

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Required Application Documents

All documents must be submitted via the Hitotsubashi ICS Online Application System. You can
start uploading documents once they are available. It is also possible to re-upload documentation
in the event of you needing to update contents but please note that documentation uploading/re-
uploading MUST be done by the application deadline.
Please refer to “How to apply”: https://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/admissions/mba/apply.html

Documents Details Applicants

Must be issued by the registrar of the university or college. All applicants
Applicants with a master’s or doctoral degree must submit
Degree these as well.
certificate Successful applicants must submit copies of original
documents to the Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office within
the enrollment period.
Must be issued by the registrar of the university or college.
Applicants with a master’s or doctoral degree must submit
these as well.
Official
transcript
Successful applicants must submit copies of original
documents to the Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office within
the enrollment period.
Please download the format at “How to apply”:
Essay
https://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/admissions/mba/apply.html
Official Applicants are to have GMAC/ETS send the official score report
GMAT/GRE directly to Hitotsubashi ICS.
score report - GMAT: University Code No.: F6R-Q5-29
- GRE: University Code No.: 4454
Proof of Please refer to page 10 for details.
application fee
payment
Two letters References should be from persons who have been directly
of reference responsible for assessing the applicant’s work and/or academic
performance. Of the two references, at least one reference, but
preferably both, should be from supervisors within the
applicant’s current company/employing organization.

The Hitotsubashi ICS Online Application System will send the

form to the applicant’s referees directly after online
registration has been completed.
Identity Photocopy of the relevant page(s) of the applicant’s identity
document document indicating the applicant’s name, photograph,
passport number or Japanese driver’s license number, date of
birth, etc.
TOEFL or IELTS Applicants are to have the ETS/IELTS test centre send the Optional
score report official score report directly to Hitotsubashi ICS.
- TOEFL: University Code No.: 8682
- IELTS: Department: Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office
University: Hitotsubashi University
Address: National Center of Sciences, 2-1-2
Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8439, Japan

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Haken An official letter (no set format) from the applicant’s employer Company-
Shodakusho stating that the employer will sponsor the applicant. (For sponsored
applicants from Japanese companies, Haken Shodakusho in applicants
Japanese is acceptable) only

Note:

● All documents MUST be in English, except where otherwise indicated.

● Documents written in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English
translation.
● The online application system’s ‘Submit’ button becomes available for selection ONLY when ALL
mandatory documents above have been uploaded; please note that includes the two reference
letters.
● As the online application can accept individual documents whenever they are ready and is also able
to accept uploading of the same document multiple times, please start uploading individual
documents to the online system as soon as they are available. In the case of needing to update an
already-uploaded document, you may simply upload the document again. Please be sure to upload
all documentation by the specified application deadline.
● Please check with your referees that they have received successfully an email requesting that they
provide you with a reference letter. The two reference letters must be uploaded by your referees
to complete your application submission.
● Maximum 10 items can be uploaded and stored in each section.

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Admissions Schedule
There are two application rounds for the Entering Class of 2023. Please note the following:
● Applicants may apply for either the One-Year program (excluding YLP) or the Two-Year program.
Once accepted to one program, it is not possible to switch to the other program.
● Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
● Scholarship decisions for candidates are made only after a candidate has been admitted. Since
scholarships are limited in number, applying in the first round confers an advantage with respect
to scholarships.

Round 1 Round 2 Note

Application period
Applications must be submitted via the
Hitotsubashi ICS Online Application
Monday, August 1, Monday, November 14,
System.
2022 2022
An application is regarded as officially
to to
received if the applicant has pressed the
Wednesday, October 19, Wednesday, February 15,
‘Submit’ button on the system no later
2022 2023
than 14:59 JST on the respective deadline
date.
Announcement of first screening result
The first screening is based on uploaded
application documentation only.
Applicants will be notified by email of the
Thursday, November 10, Thursday, March 9, interview decision (i.e., whether they have
2022 2023 passed the first screening and are eligible
for the interview stage) and, in the event of
passing the first screening, the exact time of
the interview on one of the below dates.
Second screening (interview)
For all applicants, the second screening is
Thursday, November 24, Thursday, March 23,
based on an individual video interview. In-
2022 2023
person interviews will not be conducted.
Announcement of final result
Applicants will be notified of the admissions
Thursday, December 8, Thursday, April 6, decision by email and by post on the above
2022 2023 dates. Decisions will not be communicated
by telephone or fax.
Periods for completion of enrollment
Successful applicants must submit original
Friday, December 9, Friday, April 7, documents in accordance with instructions
2022 2023 from the Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office
to to and remit the non-refundable
Thursday, December 22, Thursday, April 20, matriculation fee of JPY282,000
2022 2023 (preliminary estimate) by bank transfer
within the relevant enrollment period.

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Notes:
● Inquiries about admissions should be made by email ([email protected]) or
fax (03-4212-3006).
● Please check the Hitotsubashi ICS website for the latest course calendar:
http://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/programs/mba/academics/
● The annual tuition fee is JPY642,960, payable in two installments of JPY321,480 each in October
2023 and April 2024.
● The above tuition fee is a preliminary estimate. Should the actual amount become subject to
revision at the time of admissions or during enrollment, the new revised amount shall be
applicable, coming into effect from the time of revision.
● Applicants who have disabilities or special needs that require accommodating in the application
process and/or once they start their program at Hitotsubashi ICS should notify the Hitotsubashi
ICS Admissions Office by Wednesday, September 28, 2022 prior to submitting their MBA
Program application documents. Although the Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office will accept
such notifications after this date, it may not be able to make arrangements necessary to
accommodate disabilities/special needs in time for the screening and/or the program starting
date.
● Requesting accommodation for the application process as per the above does not constitute an
obligation to apply to Hitotsubashi ICS. A person who is undecided about whether to apply for
the MBA Program may still submit accommodation requests.
Note: Depending on the type(s) of accommodation requested, it may take some time for the
Hitotsubashi ICS Admissions Office to respond.
● Please be aware that a health examination taken at the Chiyoda Campus or submission of a
certificate (copy) of a health examination taken within one year from October 2022 is
mandatory for all students newly enrolled at Hitotsubashi ICS in the autumn term of 2023.
● Please read through information at the link below from the Hitotsubashi University Health
Center regarding medical requirements during your stay in Japan:
http://www.hit-u.ac.jp/hoken/healthexam.html

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Application Fee

Please pay the application fee of JPY30,000 during the application period.

Applicants in Japan
■ Payment at a convenience store/by Pay-easy, internet banking or credit card
Instructions can be found at the following link:
https://www.hit-u.ac.jp/faculties/graduate/examfee.html
*Please select “経営管理研究科” > “専門職学位課程” > “国際企業戦略専攻” when selecting the category.

■ Payment by bank transfer

Payment can be made by bank transfer to the account below.

Bank name: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Branch: Kunitachi Branch
Account name: Hitotsubashi University
Savings A/C no.: 7761795

Applicants outside Japan

■ Payment by credit card
Instructions can be found at the following link:
https://www.hit-u.ac.jp/faculties/graduate/examfee.html
*Please select “Graduate School of Business Administration” > “Professional School Programs”
> “School of International Corporate Strategy” when selecting the category.

Notes:
● The application fee of JPY30,000 is non-refundable.
● Japanese government-sponsored students (Kenkyusei) are not required to pay an application
fee; please submit the government scholarship certificate issued by the enrolled university.
● Bank checks are not an acceptable form of payment.

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 MBA Program 2023 - 2024

Contact Us
Email address: [email protected]

Location and address

Hitotsubashi ICS is housed within the
Gakujutsu Sogo Center (National Center of
Sciences).

Hitotsubashi University Business School

School of International Corporate Strategy
National Center of Sciences
2-1-2 Hitotsubashi Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 101-8439 JAPAN
Admissions Office: 5th Floor

Getting to Hitotsubashi ICS by Train

From Takebashi Station
Take the Tokyo Metro Tozai line to
Takebashi Station. Approximately a four-
minute walk from Exit B1.

From Jimbocho Station

Take the Tokyo Metro (Hanzomon line) or
Toei subway (Shinjuku or Mita lines) to
Jimbocho Station. Approximately a three-
minute walk from Exit A8.

International Arrival
From Narita Airport
Take the Narita Express train to
Tokyo Station (approx. 60 minutes),
walk to Otemachi Station (approx.
5 minutes), then take the Tozai line to
Takebashi Station.
Alternatively, take the Mita line
from Otemachi Station to Jimbocho
Station.

From Haneda Airport

Take the Keihin Kyuko line to
Mita Station (approx. 28 minutes),
then change to the Toei Mita line
and get off at Jimbocho Station.