For prospective students

About the laboratory

The laboratory covers topics ranging from low-level software and real-time operating systems (RTOS) to middleware, IoT, Web3, and mobility services. Students have opportunities to join joint research with companies and international projects.

Applicants should enroll in the Information Systems area of the Department of Computer Science, School of Informatics, Nagoya University, and indicate Takada-Matsubara Laboratory as a preference during the laboratory assignment process.

Questions and chats before the laboratory assignment are always welcome — see the section on online meetings and lab visits below.

Research students (Kenkyusei, 研究生 — a non-degree status for receiving research guidance without enrolling in a regular program; available at both undergraduate and graduate levels) are, in principle, not accepted at either the undergraduate or master's level. If you are interested in joining from outside Nagoya University, please apply through the regular entrance examination at the appropriate level.

Apply to the Department of Information Systems, Graduate School of Informatics, and indicate Takada-Matsubara Laboratory as your preference.

Before applying or contacting us, please read the research theme pages on this website and some of our papers, and think about which fields and topics you want to work on (see the section "Preparing to get in touch" below).

Japanese proficiency equivalent to at least JLPT N2 is expected before taking the entrance examination for the master's program. The entrance examination is, in principle, conducted in Japanese, and at present the interview is also conducted in Japanese. Specifically, you are expected to be able to read and understand the past examination questions linked below in Japanese and answer them. Research guidance itself can also be given in English.

Research students (Kenkyusei, 研究生) are, in principle, not accepted at the master's level. Prospective master's students should not assume that they can first join the laboratory as a research student in order to study Japanese or prepare for the entrance examination.

Exceptional cases may be considered individually when there are specific scholarship or institutional circumstances, such as certain MEXT scholarship arrangements.

Past entrance examination questions (Graduate School of Informatics, in Japanese)

Apply to the doctoral course of the Department of Information Systems, Graduate School of Informatics. Japanese proficiency is not mandatory for the doctoral program: both the entrance examination and research guidance can be completed in English. That said, some Japanese ability is desirable for daily life and for communicating with other students.

Working professionals are welcome. Because doctoral research is a multi-year commitment tied to a specific topic, please contact us in advance to discuss your research interests, timeline, and any arrangements with your current employer.

When you get in touch, please share your own thoughts on the topic you hope to work on, after reading the research theme pages and papers on this website.

If you are interested in joining the laboratory, please first contact us by email with the information and documents listed in "Preparing to get in touch" below. After reviewing them, we may arrange an online meeting if your background and research interests appear to be a good match for the laboratory.

Nagoya University undergraduates approaching laboratory assignment are welcome to ask for a chat or a visit directly by email with your name and a few candidate dates. We especially recommend visiting the lab and talking with current students before making your choice.

To get in touch:

If you are considering the master's or doctoral program, please read the research theme pages on this website and some of the papers on the themes that interest you before contacting us, and take the time to form your own view of which fields and topics you want to work on. When a research plan shows little connection to what the laboratory actually works on, it is difficult for us to give a meaningful reply.

Building on that, it helps greatly if your message explains which papers or research themes caught your interest and how they connect to your own background and research ideas. This allows us to respond with much more concrete and useful guidance.

When contacting us about admission to the master's or doctoral program, please include:

• Your CV
• Academic transcript(s)
• The program you wish to apply for (Master's / Doctoral)
• Your intended enrollment date
• Your current Japanese proficiency, including JLPT level if applicable
• A brief description of your previous research or major project
• The specific research area in our laboratory that interests you
• Why you think your background and research interests fit our laboratory
• Publications or research papers, if available

For information on the application process, please read the admissions page linked below.

Graduate School of Informatics admissions page

To reach us directly:

Note: An online meeting is intended to discuss research interests and suitability. It does not constitute an offer of admission, acceptance as a research student, or a commitment to provide a letter of acceptance/recommendation.