The Third Cluster of Colleges involves fields directly related to industry. On the other hand, the First Cluster of Colleges involves fundamental and academic studies, and the Second Cluster of Colleges covers cultural studies.

Students learn how to apply microsciences, which is based on physics and chemistry, for the development of new technologies and materials. In this sense, the College of Engineering Sciences is a place to widely learn applied physics and applied chemistry.

There are four majors: Applied Physics, Quantum and Electronic Engineering, Applied Condensed Matter Physics, and Materials and Molecular Engineering. You will select one of these fields of major when you go on to Year 3, but there are many common courses in Years 3 and 4 as well.

The College of Engineering Sciences focuses on technology at the micro-level of atoms and molecules, while the College of Engineering Systems looks at technology at the macro level, such as in robots and architecture.

Both Colleges teach the basics of physics and chemistry, so that is a common point. The difference is that the College of Engineering Sciences focuses then on the details of its application, whereas the College of Natural Sciences goes deeper in the basic sciences.

You can apply to the "zenki" or "koki" general entrance examination or through the "application with recommendation" system. You will be tested how well you understand the basics of math, physics, and chemistry, both in the general entrance exams and exams for applicants with recommendations.

You will study basic math, physics, and chemistry in Years 1 and 2 (the Basic subjects). In Years 3 and 4, you will go on to study the application to microscience technology (the Specialist subjects).

The chemistry course which is part of the Basic Courses is designed to help you understand quantum mechanics, the rules governing the micro-world of materials, in an easy-to-follow manner. Based on this course, you will go on to study the basics of non-organic and organic chemistry, and chemical reaction.

Yes, you can. You can take biology as one of your selected courses in Year 1, and take a more specialized course called biological engineering in Year 2. You will join one of the laboratories to work on your graduation thesis later on, and there are laboratories involved in biology-related research.

In many universities, math and other basic courses are often taught by lecturers unrelated to the main specialist field, but at the College of Engineering Sciences, both specialized and basic courses are taught by academic staff specializing in microsciences. This allows the courses to be closely coordinated.

In other universities, the main lectures and the courses involving experiments or exercises are often taught by different lecturers in separate time slots. At the College of Engineering Sciences, main lecturers and exercises are treated as one and held by the same lecturer, who will be able to follow the progress of the students and adapt the best teaching flow.

Derivatives, integrals, linear algebra, mechanics, and electromagnetics are extremely important subjects, so classes are kept small at around 40 students, making detailed tutoring possible. Other lectures normally have around 60 students each.

You will have physics and chemical experiments in Year 1, and basic engineering experiments in Year 2. You will also conduct experiments in your chosen field of major in Year 3. All experiments are very safe, so you do not have to worry.

Please make sure you study math, physics, and chemistry well. Don't just memorize formulae, but try to understand the meaning in a systematic manner. You will not be able to keep up with the courses at university if your studying is based on rote memory.

In Year 1, you will begin by reviewing what you learned at high school in math, physics, chemistry, and other important fields, and gradually be introduced to university knowledge. If you have a good understanding of the basics from your classes in high school, you will have no problem.

Math will become more abstract. Physics will involve differential equations and become more mathematical. In chemistry, you will use statistical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics to understand and present the micro world more accurately.

Students are not evaluated based on how much they understand compared to other students, ie comparative assessment, but by absolute assessment based on the standards clarified in the syllabus. You will be graded A, B, C, or D based on how well you have understood the basic criteria.

Classes are held Monday through Friday. The number of classes per day depends on the year you are in, and average around four to five. One class lasts 75 minutes, followed by a 15 minute break. The lunch break is 50 minutes.

There is a wide range of physical education courses that you can take, thanks to the School of Health and Physical Education at Tsukuba University. The teaching staff and facilities are very advanced, training Olympic competitors as well.

The University Hall is our main auditorium where Nobel laureate Professor Hideki Shirakawa and other famous scholars have lectured. Movies, "rakugo" Japanese comedy and other shows are also held here.

More than 80% go to graduate school. Others find jobs in the electronics, information technology, and chemistry industries. Almost all students are successful in finding a job or research positions beginning right after graduation.

You can select your optional courses so that you have the credits to qualify for a teaching certificate in upper secondary school science, but your timetable will become quite tight and challenging.

Students mainly join the Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences at Tsukuba University. This graduate school is linked with the College of Engineering Sciences and has been selected as a 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) school, so you will find the research programs and facilities very satisfactory.

If you are selected for the Research Assistant (RA) program, for example, you will receive a monthly salary of around 50,000 yen. Significant research funding becomes available, and your travel expenses for participating in international conferences can be subsidized.

You don't need to buy your own computer. The College computer room for undergraduates is open until 12:00 every night, and you are free to use the computers here.

There is a computer course in Year 2 for students at the College and you will have many opportunities to write course reports on the computer, so you will gradually learn to be computer-literate, even if you are unfamiliar at first.

You can access the Internet from computers at the College computer room, or the computers in the University Library. If you live in the university resident halls and have a computer, you can access the Internet from the telephone line in your room.

A combined drugstore and convenience store is in the University Hall. There is also a travel agency to book and buy train and plan tickets.

There are five or six each of restaurants and bars around the University, where you will see many of our students. It becomes especially lively in spring, when many welcome parties are held for new students.

If you are not feeling well, you can visit the University Health Center for a quick checkup. If you need treatment, you can go to the University Hospital or the Medical Center, which is also close by.

Tsukuba city has nice pedestrian and bicycle paths, so it is handy to have a bicycle. The foreign language and physical education classes are held in a separate part of the campus, so it's also convenient to be able to ride over there.

If you have a car your range of activity becomes wider, but it s not something you need. Also note that you will not get a parking permit at the University unless you live at least 2.5 km away, so basically you can't come to classes by car.

People usually take the highway express bus from Tsukuba Center. It takes about an hour to Tokyo. They run from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and it is quite convenient. The only disadvantage is that you may end up in a traffic jam.

The Tsukuba Express Train is planned for 2005, and that will be 45 minutes to Tokyo. Otherwise, you can take the bus (40 minutes) to one of the Joban line train stations (Hitachino Ushiku station, etc.), and take the train.

There are quite a few apartment buildings for students around the University, for an average of 35,000 yen a month. Many students who lived in the student residences in the first year start looking for an apartment around November to January of that year, and move into their new rooms by the end of the first year or beginning of the second.

There are a number of festivals, including the Campus Festival, Kiriko Festival, Residence Hall Festival, and Sports Day. The Kiriko Festival is sponsored by the College of Engineering Sciences. We also have many active sports players, and we are a very strong team at the University Sports Day games.

The official extracurricular sports clubs at Tsukuba University are very competitive, thanks to the University's School of Health and Physical Education, which has had Olympic competitors numerous times. Even if you become very involved in the sports activities of your club, you can keep up with classes if you work very hard.

If you like the city, you might go to Tokyo, and if you like nature, you can climb Mount Tsukuba or go to Oarai beach. Tsukuba city has good tennis courts and other sports facilities, so many people also enjoy sports on their days off.

Home tutoring (1,500-3,000 yen), cram school instructors (1,500-2,000 yen), research center assistant (1,000 yen), gas station attendant (900 yen), waitering (800 yen), and convenience store clerk (800 yen) are some of the jobs available.