In October 1926, the Institute for Chemical Research (ICR) became  the first research institute at Kyoto University. Since first accepting graduate students in 1963, the Institute also has made graduate education a priority, which has resulted in fostering excellent talent for over 50 years. Currently, the ICR accepts about 200 graduate students in its cooperating chairs  across its 11 departments  in six graduate schools, namely, the Graduate Schools of Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, and Informatics.
Students wishing to become part of the ICR must pass the entrance tests of the graduate school for their desired affiliated laboratory. (Note that the application period and dates of the entrance tests vary by graduate school. Please refer to the guidance of the specific graduate school or department that you are interested in.) Interested students may attend an open house of  the desired Graduate School by inquiring with the school of interest.

Divisions and Departments of the Graduate Schools (in Japanese)

About admission to graduate schools of Kyoto University

Summary of the Graduate Education at the ICR

　Kyoto University has 14 graduate schools, nine of which are science-related. The ICR has 30 laboratories, and all affiliated with either the Graduate School of Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, or Informatics. Each laboratory provides “cooperating chairs”, which together with the relevant graduate school, push forward pioneering research projects and deliver an unparalleled graduate education. Currently, about 200 graduate students from master and doctoral programs enjoy learning, conducting research activities, and cultivating wider visions in a research environment that allows easy access to interdisciplinary cooperation while be surrounding by abundant cutting-edge  research equipment and the rich nature of the Uji Campus.
　To date, the ICR’s graduate students have made great contribution to the Institute’s research activities as young researchers. Participating in frontier research projects has effectively developed students’ research capabilities. In addition, the ICR offers a highly enriched research environment to its students. Due to the small student population, ICR students not only have more access to research equipment compared to students not affiliated with the ICR, ICR students also have personal and in-depth interactions with the teaching staff. Other benefits of studying at the ICR include relatively easy communications with experts in different research fields, resulting in more mentorship and network building opportunities, which should be a valuable asset in the future, especially when ICR students are beginning their careers.
　In an administrative context, the ICR does not have control of its graduate students. ICR graduate students are under the control of each faculty admission office. Therefore, if you wish to study and conduct research at the ICR as a graduate student, you must take the entrance exam according to the guidance from the graduate school of interest.