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About the PEARL

  • Q

    Will you have a PEARL information session? If so, when will it be held and how will the details of the session be announced?

    A

    Please visit the following link for the latest information:

  • Q

    Am I able to transfer to the PEARL?

    A

    There is no transfer system in place at the PEARL, so all students are required to start from the first year of the programme.

  • Q

    Can I transfer credits earned from another academic institution to the PEARL?

    A

    No. The PEARL does not accept credits from another institution.

About the Admissions Procedures

  • Q

    What classes should I take in high school?

    A

    The PEARL does not require the completion of any specific secondary school courses in order to be considered for admission. For information on eligibility requirements, please check the Application Guidebook from the following link:

  • Q

    Which factors are considered in the admissions process?

    A

    Admissions decisions are never based on a single factor. It is important to remember that we review the applications holistically.

  • Q

    Do you accept other test scores in lieu of IB, SAT, and/or ACT scores?

    A

    No other test scores, qualifications, diplomas, or certificates are accepted in lieu of IB, SAT, and/or ACT scores.

  • Q

    Do you favor IB scores over scores for the SAT or ACT tests?

    A

    No. The IB, the SAT, and the ACT are treated equally.

  • Q

    Which IB subjects should I choose in order to be considered for admission?

    A

    There are no subject or subject level requirements for IB grades. Your IB grades are acceptable as long as you are an IB Diploma candidate or an IB Diploma holder.

  • Q

    For applicants submitting ACT scores, will the optional writing component of the ACT test be required?

    A

    No. The optional writing component will not be required.

  • Q

    I have graduated/will graduate from a high school where English is the language of instruction. Do I still need to submit TOEFL® or IELTS scores?

    A

    Yes. All applicants, including native English speakers, are required to submit TOEFL iBT® and/or IELTS Scores.

  • Q

    Are there minimum required IB, SAT, ACT, TOEFL®, and/or IELTS scores?

    A

    No. There are no "cut-off" scores.

  • Q

    Do you accept IELTS One Skill Retake?

    A

    No. IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted.

  • Q

    I have done the SAT, the ACT, the TOEFL, or the IELTS test more than once. Can I combine the best section scores from all of my test scores (superscoring)?

    A

    Superscoring is not accepted, and you cannot combine the section scores from different tests.

  • Q

    My IB, SAT, ACT, TOEFL®, and/or IELTS scores may be transmitted to Keio before the start of the application period. Will they still be accepted?

    A

    Yes. We will match your scores to your application after it is submitted.

  • Q

    Should my high school academic transcript cover all classes taken in high school?

    A

    Yes. The transcript should be a final transcript, listing the classes you have taken every year in high school (e.g. grades 9 to 12 for US, 11 and 12 for IB, and 10 to 12 for local Japanese students) and your final grades for each class. For applicants who have not yet graduated, you must send a transcript up to the most recently completed school term.

  • Q

    I attended more than one high school. Do I need to submit an official transcript from each school?

    A

    If the grades from the earlier school(s) do not appear on your final transcript, then an official transcript issued by each high school will be required.

  • Q

    Do I need to sit an interview?

    A

    No. Interviews are not part of the PEARL admissions/selection process. However, the submission of a two-minute video is mandatory for all applicants.

  • Q

    If I apply multiple times for the same year of entry, do I need to submit all my application documents each time I apply?

    A

    You will be required to submit all items online each time, but certain items are reusable. For details, please check the Application Guidebook from the following link:

  • Q

    Do I need to be 18 years of age or above by September 21, 2025 in order to be eligible for applying for September 2025 entry?

    A

    You must be 18 years of age or above by September 21, 2025 if you apply under the eligibility requirement (5) or (6). Age does not matter when applying under the eligibility requirement (1), (2), (3), or (4).

  • Q

    I'm still a high school student at the time of submitting my application, how should I prepare a high school graduation certificate?

    A

    If you are expected to graduate from a high school, a document certifying your expected graduation needs to be issued and submitted by your high school. Your school may use the “Template of Certificate of Graduation, Expected Graduation” downloadable from the link below.

  • Q

    Is there any difference between each of three application periods?

    A

    No. The admission quota is approximately 100 students through all three application periods. A selection ratio of each period is not fixed.

About the Curriculum

  • Q

    What subjects can I study in the PEARL?

    A

    We offer a world-class education in advanced economics and liberal arts in the PEARL. Here is the page explaining our curriculum in details:

  • Q

    I am an international student. Can I also study Japanese language in the PEARL?

    A

    The answer is included in the following link: You will have the opportunity to develop employment-ready Japanese proficiency, if you choose to register for such classes and succeed in completing them.

  • Q

    I am a Japanese student studying at an international school. Can I take the Japanese language class as a foreign language?

    A

    Japanese language courses are offered for non-native Japanese speakers only.

  • Q

    How can I apply to the PEARL and the Double Degree program with Sciences Po?

    A

    Once an applicant is admitted to the PEARL, he/she can apply to the Double Degree program with Sciences Po. To join the Double Degree program in the same year as entering PEARL, applicants must apply during the first and second application periods. Applicants who are admitted to the PEARL during the third application period can apply to the Double Degree program in the following year.

  • Q

    Can PEARL students register for classes taught in Japanese, including Research Seminars, offered by Faculty of Economics?

    A

    Yes they can. Credits for Research Seminars and Independent Research Projects (Kenkyu Project), whether they are taught in English or Japanese, will be counted towards graduation. In contrast, credits for all other types of classes taught in Japanese will not be counted towards the PEARL students' degree.

  • Q

    Can PEARL students register for classes (including Research Seminars) taught in Japanese offered by other faculties and/or institutions at Keio?

    A

    Yes, but the credits will not be counted towards graduation.

  • Q

    Can PEARL students register for classes (including Research Seminars) taught in English offered by other faculties and/or institutions at Keio?

    A

    Yes, and for some of them, the credits will be counted towards graduation.

About the Campus Life

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