Education and Admission Policy

　The field of life sciences is transforming and evolving into an advanced branch of science that will build a future for humans. With this global trend as a backdrop, the Graduate School of Biostudies was established in 1999 as Japan’s first independent graduate school of biostudies, with the aim of creating one of the world’s top research institutions and developing human resources who will lead the next generation in the biostudies field.
With a set of such basic units of life as "cells," "molecules," and "genes" as a common language, the Graduate School of Biostudies is home to innovative research and educational activities, where concepts about diverse organisms and the environments that comprise them are integrated to create new values concerning the future and respect for life.
　In response to diverse, social demands that call for an increasingly sophisticated and complex life sciences field, the Graduate School of Biostudies strives to develop the following human resources:
1) Researchers who explore and discover the basics of life, pursuing the cutting-edge field of biostudies at the highest level in the world;
2) Researchers and highly skilled engineers who contribute to society at public and private research institutions, endeavoring to protect the global environment and maintain human health, well-being, and happiness; and
3) Educators and highly skilled practitioners who possess broad knowledge of diverse vital phenomena of living organisms and who contribute to society through education, industry, mass media, and the public sector.

Curriculum Policy

1. In Master’s programs, basic knowledge of life science and research competency are acquired.
2. In Doctoral programs, advanced knowledge and research competency in life science are acquired. Moreover, each student is trained to become a researcher who plays an active role internationally as a group leader.
3. All students are trained to become mature and highly capable researchers who can collaborate actively with foreign partners.
4. We offer a variety of educational curriculums including biology, medicine, and related areas.
5. We cultivate students with life ethics and a strong sense of responsibility for the world where humanity and nature must be harmonized.

Diploma policy

1. In the two-year Master’s program, students must take 1 credit from essential subjects and at least 9 credits from elective subjects offered by the school. In addition, students are required to complete 20 credits of lab experiments and practice. The degree must be accredited through the examination of a master’s thesis.
2. In the Master’s program, it is necessary for students to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and capability required for professional researchers in the field.
3. In the Doctoral program, students who take the lectures offered by the school and perform the research for a Doctoral thesis must be enrolled for 3 years (or less by way of exception). Students must take 1 credit from essential subjects and more than 1 credit from elective subjects. For lab experiments and practices, 8 credits are required. Doctoral students must submit a Doctoral thesis and pass the relevant examinations for the degree.
4. In the Doctoral program, each student must demonstrate that he/she has the ability to work as an independent researcher for successful completion of the program.
5. We expect that students will graduate with a shared ethical obligation to advance science in the best interests of mankind in harmony with nature.