A student will be conferred with his/her degree after attending graduate school for three or more years, earning the designated number of credits, and passing his/her doctoral dissertation defense and exam (after obtaining the necessary research guidance). However, for those who demonstrate outstanding research performance during their period of attendance, one year (or three years total for those who have completed their master’s degree or the early portion of their doctoral degree after two years or less of graduate school attendance) or more of graduate school attendance will suffice.
According to the stipulations of Article 70-2 of the School Education Law Enforcement Regulation regarding graduate school admission requirements, when a student recognized as possessing academic capabilities equivalent to or greater than a person who holds a master’s degree enrolls in a graduate program, that student is to be awarded a degree upon attending graduate school for three or more years, earning the designated number of credits, and passing his/her doctoral dissertation defense and exam (after obtaining the necessary research guidance). However, for those who demonstrate outstanding research performance during their period of attendance, one year or more of graduate school attendance will suffice.
Number of Course Credits Needed for Degree Completion
| Required Courses | Electives and Required Electives | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses Offered | Required No. Credits | ||
|
– Workshops: 2 credits – Independent research: 3 credits |
– Specialized courses: 8 credits (Required Elective) (Department of Informatics: 12 credits / Department of Environment Science and Energy System: 10 credits) |
2 credits or more |
11 credits or more |
|
– Short-term intensive seminars: 21 credits (Elective) (General topics: 10 credits / New Fields: 6 credits / Basic Common Subjects: 5 credits) – Special lectures: 1 credit |
4 credits or more |
||
Number of Published Articles Needed for Degree Completion
Determined by the student’s field of specialization
Handling of Special Cases (Early Completion)
In the event that a student rapidly achieves his/her stated research goals during the course of study, or has an article published in a highly prestigious international journal or receives international acclaim for his/her work, the student’s research will be examined by the graduate school. If it is deemed to be of a caliber worthy of a doctoral degree, the student will be recognized as having completed his/her degree early (after a shorter than standard period of study).
Upon examining the student’s progress on his/her coursework and dissertation, if the student’s senior and associate advisors determine, that the student qualifies as a candidate for early completion, approval must be obtained from an investigatory committee comprised of five or more professors, including several professors from other departments, such that subsequent guidance and handling of the student’s advisory needs will be undertaken by this investigatory committee.
The following conditions will be used to determine whether a student has demonstrated outstanding research performance:
(1) The student rapidly achieves the stated goals of his/her research during the course of study.
(2) An article by the student wins an academic society publication award, or receives high international acclaim due to being published in a highly prestigious international journal.
(3) An article by the student is published in a key journal in his/her field of study or in a journal with a high impact factor.
Degree Completion
The degree conferred shall be a doctoral degree, and the name of the department indicated on the degree shall be one of the following, depending on the nature of the student’s education and research:
- Philosophy
- Science
- Engineering
- Informatics
- Agriculture