〈About Application〉
Q1. Is this the last chance for the enrollees in April 2024 to apply for the program?
A. This is the only chance.
Q2. I didn’t join WINGS-PES application guidance session. Can I apply for the program?
A. Yes, you can.
Q3. Can I apply for WINGS-PES while I am applying for another WINGS program?
A. We do not prohibit the students from applying for WINGS-PES and other WINGS programs at the same time. However, you can only join one WINGS program.
Q4. I cannot find a WINGS-PES faculty who’s major is the same as mine. Does this have any impact on my application or its review?
A. WINGS-PES covers a wide range of academic fields. WINGS-PES faculty is used to reviewing application from research fields that they are not specifically specialized in. We would advise you to make your application persuasive to faculty from diverse field.
Q5. Do you have age limit in this activity?
A. No.
Q6. What are the evaluation criteria and acceptance criteria for the selection process?
A. We cannot answer the question.
Q7. I am interested in WINGS-PES, but I am worried if I can continue as a program student for five years.
A. The program selects students in the screening process who fully intend to continue for five years and endeavor to support program students’ efforts to complete their doctoral degree. Since you have just entered graduate school, you may wonder if you can continue as a program student for five years. If you are considering participating in the program, please consult with your supervisor first.
〈About Financial Support〉
Q8. What kind of tasks do the program students do as WINGS-PES Research Assistant (RA)? Are they asked to assist in classes?
A. They consult with their supervisors and decide the details of research activities, which can be similar to their research. “WINGS-PES Plan for Research Duties for Research Assistant” is included in the required documents for the application. Please discuss with your supervisor about the research activities before you apply for the program. The program students are requested to submit the completion report at the end of the appointed period, and the research activities will be evaluated by the Program Steering Committee.
Q9. Regarding the WINGS-PES RA Fee (180,000 yen per month), will it be paid after the program students are enrolled in the doctoral course?
A. WINGS-PES RA Fee will be paid when the students are admitted as the program students at the master course. The April 2024 enrollee can be appointed as WINGS-PES RA in October 2024 after they are admitted to the program.
Q10. Is it possible to receive the Type 1 Scholarship (interest-free loan) from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) or private scholarships in addition to the WINGS-PES RA Fee?
A. JASSO Loan-based scholarship can be received with the WINGS-PES RA Fee. As for private scholarships, some private scholarships may allow WINGS-PES Fees to be received. Please confirm with your scholarship provider that a WINGS-PES RA Fee does not violate the conditions of their scholarship.
Q11. As program students are obligated to apply for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)’s Research Fellowship for Young Scientist, if admitted to JSPS Special Researcher (DC1 or DC2), can they continue as WINGS-PES RA? If the students are admitted to JSPS in the second year of doctoral course (DC2), until when can they continue as WINGS-PES RA?
A. When program students are admitted to JSPS as Special Researcher, they no longer receive the WINGS-PES RA Fee; however, they receive JSPS stipend and are expected to continue participating as a WINGS-PES program student. If they are admitted to JSPS as DC2, they can continue to receive the WINGS-PES RA Fee until the end of their first year of the doctoral course.
Q12. Is it forbidden for program students to work part-time?
A. The program may approve a TA position or an on-campus job, but WINGS-PES Research Assistant positions and financial support provided by the program is sufficient so that program students can concentrate on their research.
〈About Credits〉
Q13. Can credits earned in WINGS-PES be counted for master’s or doctoral degree requirements?
A. Credits approval for completion requirements differ depending on the major you are enrolled in, so please ask to your department.
〈About Activities〉
Q14. I have read in the application guidelines that the program provides each student with a co-supervisor. How will they be selected?
A. The program will determine a suitable faculty member after the document screening and the interview test. Whereas students are responsible for asking their supervisors for guidance on their specific research, the WINGS-PES co-supervisor provides advice that broadens the scope of research from the perspective of proactive environmental studies. We expect students to approach their WINGS-PES co-supervisor, especially when they need opinions for the Qualifying Examination (QE), and when they want to gain insights into alternative research methods such as those used by their co-supervisor.
Q15. I was interested in the pictures on the program website of past WINGS-PES Salons of Excellence which show students having discussions with faculty members from a wide variety of research fields. In general, how many faculty members participate?
A. As a key component of proactive participation, all program students are expected to help organize and participate in the WINGS-PES Salons of Excellence. All program faculty members are encouraged to participate and some salons have had more than 10 faculty participants.
Q16. Did I miss any Salon of Excellence?
A. No, because April 2024 enrollees’ studentship in WINGS-PES starts in October 2024.
Q17. The program provides its students with opportunities for practical training and internships abroad. How do they decide the timing and the destination?
A. The program students decide the place and time of overseas opportunities in consultation with their supervisors. The Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) supports such overseas activities by providing WINGS-PES Activity Promotion Grant.
Q18. What exactly are the obligations that program students need to fulfill as mentioned under “activities designated by the Program’s Steering Committee”?
A. As representatives of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) we foresee opportunities to request program students to make presentations and/or provide explanations about the program activities to audiences on and off campus.