If you are interested in taking the program, we will provide you with a Q & A format focusing on the most frequently asked questions. Please feel free to contact us for any questions that are not here.
Q. Are you qualified to take the program?
The program is available for “A person who has graduated from university or has equivalent literacy”. Humanities and social sciences, science, age, occupation and so on do not matter. We are looking for people with a strong desire to engage in science communication activities on an ongoing basis into the future.
Q. I am an undergraduate student at a university. Can I apply for the program?
A. Yes. You are qualified to take the “A person who has graduated from university or has equivalent literacy” program. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a university graduation certificate.
Q. Can I apply for the program even if I live outside Hokkaido?
A. Yes. For students who live far away and are not able to attend Hokkaido University frequently, we recommend taking elective courses utilizing e-learning and the Hokkaido University Sapporo Campus.
Q. When does the program start and end?
A. The course is open from May to March of the following year.
Q. When do you start recruiting students for the program?
A. The application period is early April. Please check the application requirements for details.
Q. Where can I get the application form?
A. Please download the application form from this page.
Q. Is there a limit to the number of people in the program?
A. The number of applicants is 20 ~ 30 for the regular course (Base on going to school), 30 ~ 50 for the selected course, and a few for the training course.
Q. How are the students of the regular course and elective course chosen?
A. Applicants will be selected based on the application statement and the content of the assignment. Applicants for the regular course will be interviewed as a secondary selection after the document screening. Applicants for the selection course are only for the document screening and there is no interview.
Q. What is the difference between face-to-face lectures, online lectures and on-demand lectures?
A. In principle, face-to-face lectures and online lectures will be held from 13: 00 on Saturdays. Face-to-face lectures are given in classrooms at Hokkaido University’s Sapporo Campus. Online lectures are delivered in real time using Zoom. Students can ask questions directly to the instructor.
On-demand lectures are lectures that record face-to-face lectures and online lectures and deliver them later. You can watch it repeatedly at any time.
Students in the regular course basically take face-to-face lectures and online lectures. Students in elective courses can take face-to-face lectures and online lectures as well as on-demand lectures.
Q. I’d like to choose a course. What is the elective training held at Hokkaido University?
A. The elective training will be held for three days at Hokkaido University’s Sapporo Campus. Exercise A “Planning and management of science events” is scheduled to be held in late August, and Exercise B “Science writing” in early October. You have to pay the actual expenses for the class such as transportation and accommodation. Please confirm the details in the application guideline.
Q. I’d like to take a training course. What should I do?
A. Training courses are available to CoSTEP graduates. Those who wish to take the course should consult with the instructor in advance about the activity plan to be submitted for application. After that, there will be a document screening and an interview.
Q. How much does the program cost?
A. The fees are as follows:. You have to pay the actual expenses for the class such as transportation.
- Regular course: 48,000 yen (20,000 yen for students at Hokkaido University)
- Selected courses: 23,000 yen (10,000 yen for students at Hokkaido University)
- Advanced Course: 38,000 yen (20,000 yen for students at Hokkaido University)
After the announcement of successful candidates, the tuition must be paid by the date announced separately.
Q. Is a science communicator a national qualification?
A. Science communicator is not a national qualification. It is better to think of it as “Role” performed by people who have some kind of job or who are active in the community, rather than a job type. A certificate of completion will be issued to those who have completed the CoSTEP program. However, since it is not a university undergraduate or graduate course, you cannot obtain a degree (a bachelor’s or master’s degree) even if you have completed it.
Q. Will being a science communicator help me get a job?
A. In society, even researchers in science are required to have good communication skills in various situations. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Human Resources Committee, Council for Science and Technology” points out the need for human resources capable of creating an interactive society based on science and technology. Your professional skills in science communication will be highly appreciated by society.
Q. I also wanted to learn about science communication. What should I do?
A. Undergraduate and graduate students at Hokkaido University can take undergraduate and graduate courses offered by CoSTEP. CoSTEP graduates have the opportunity to learn more in the training course.
Students can also study at the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University for a master’s or doctoral degree in natural history science “Science Communication Course”, and obtain a master’s degree (physiology) or a doctoral degree (physiology).
Q. Where is the CoSTEP?
A. The CoSTEP office is located on the 1st floor of the Hokkaido University Institute for the Promotion of Higher Education, room N 163 A. Classes are conducted using classrooms of the Organization for the Promotion of Higher Education. We will also use e-learning and intensive exercises to provide learning opportunities to people living in areas far from the university. We aim to be your “CoSTEP in the immediate vicinity”.
Q. I would like to ask more questions about CoSTEP and the program. What should I do?
A. Please feel free to contact us.