Educational Policy
We aim to instill in our students a wide-ranging and deep knowledge of life science combined with practical experience. Our educational philosophy has the following aims:
- the capability to develop life sciences in new directions at the highest level in the world
- promotion of global environmental conservation and the welfare and happiness of humankind by making full use of new life sciences
- pursuing a deep and growing understanding of the various biological phenomena exhibited by living organisms as higher-order functions
Outline of Graduate Education
1. Enhancement of Graduate School Lectures
Students will have lectures on the rules of research, methods for correct interpretation of data, professionalism in science, the interface between life science and society, including how to return and share research results with society.
In the doctoral course, lectures on the expansion of career paths will be provided, while exercises in each laboratory will be the basis of the course, so that each student can acquire the ability to design and think strategically about career options.
2. English Communication for Life Science
Students will improve their science communication skills in English through lectures and training by native English-speaking faculty members. In addition, we provide comprehensive support for presentations at international conferences and stays in overseas laboratories, including not only travel and accommodation expenses, but also financial support and ongoing advice on presentation skills.
3. Data Science for Life Science
Today’s life science has entered the era of data-driven life science, which combines the acquisition and analysis of large-scale, multifaceted and comprehensive data sets. Students will develop the ability to read, understand, and analyze vast amounts of information on their own through lectures on mathematical, statistical, and computational biology, as well as exercises in bioinformatics.
4. Guidance by multiple supervisors
All students are strongly encouraged to consult with two additional supervisors belonging to different laboratories to receive detailed guidance on their research topics and daily life. This system allows students to obtain advice from faculty members with various backgrounds, thereby fostering knowledge, experience, judgment, and communication skills.
5. Support for organizing workshops by students
We encourage and financially support the students to organize and conduct workshops by themselves. Through this activity, we provide opportunities for students to make valuable contacts with other researchers and expand their scientific network.
To date, 18 “International Student Seminars” have been held, inviting doctoral students and young researchers from overseas institutes.
6. Study Abroad Credit
Students who wish to take life science-related courses offered at a foreign university may apply in advance to have them approved as credits required for completion of the program as if they were taken at the Graduate School of Biostudies.
Global Frontier in Life Science
Our graduate program has two parallel tracks. In the Global Frontier in Life Science program, students receive all instruction in English. The program aims to nurture truly internationally minded individuals who are capable of leading-edge research in the life science and pharmaceutical fields.
For admission information, please check here
Curriculum Map for the Doctoral Program “Global Frontier in Life Science”
Please click here for the class subjects and syllabus.
Requirements for completing the Doctoral program “Global Frontier in Life Science”
For graduation, the student must have enrolled for at least three years and have completed at least 10 credits. It is also required to pass the probation and the examination (thesis defense) upon completion of a doctoral thesis written under the supervision of faculty.
The ten credits are broken down as follows:
| Advanced Experiments | laboratory research; 8 credits, compulsory |
|---|---|
| Common compulsory subject | 1 credit |
| Common elective subjects | at least 1 credit |
Offered Subjects
| Frontier in Life Sciences | 1 credit: compulsory |
|---|---|
| Advanced English Discussion & Writing in Life Science I | 1 credit |
| Advanced English Discussion & Writing in Life Science II | 1 credit |
Curriculum Map for the Master’s Program in “Global Frontier in Life Science”
Please click here for the class subjects and syllabus.
Requirement for completing the Master’s program in “Global Frontier in Life Science”
For graduation, the student must have enrolled for at least two years and have completed at least 30 credits. It is also required to pass the probation and an examination upon completion of the Master’s thesis written under the supervision of faculty.
The 30 credits are broken down as follows:
| Experimental Course and Seminars | laboratory research; 20 credits, compulsory |
|---|---|
| Common compulsory subject | 1 credit |
| Common elective subjects | at least 9 credits |
Offered Subjects
| Beginning Science | 1 credit: compulsory |
|---|---|
| Life Science: From Basics to Applications, From Molecular Biology to System Biology | 1 credit |
| Global Frontier in Life Science A | 2 credits |
| Global Frontier in Life Science B | 1 credit |
| Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology I | 2 credits |
| Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology II | 2 credits |
| Cancer Biology | 2 credits |
| Basic English Discussion in Life Science I | 1 credit |
| Basic English Discussion in Life Science II | 1 credit |
| Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience | 1 credit |
Degree Application Docs
Degree Thesis Exam Application Docs
- Flow of degree application
- 2024PhD Application Schedule
- Instructions for Application
- Sample format of degree thesis
- Attention for Degree Applicants
- Registration in the Repository
- Q&A
Application Forms
- Request for Examination of Degree Thesis
- Sample format of List of Publications
- Sample format of CV
- Abstract (degree thesis)
- Procedures for Publication of Doctoral Degree Thesis
- Form14. Request for Degree Certificate in English
- Agreement (Form 1)
- Agreement (Form 2) Equal contribution
- Form15. Notification of Full Text Publication of Doctoral Thesis
To view information in Japanese, click here.