phd study in japan

Doctoral Programs

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is one of Japan’s few educational programs for both discrete and comprehensive research on the languages, cultures and societies of the world and serves as an international center in these fields.

TUFS has more than a century of tradition in research and education in the languages, cultures and societies of countries and regions with which Japan has had close ties in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Over the years, TUFS has expanded its curriculum to become an international center for research and education on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it has also become a center for research on Japan and education in the Japanese language. The TUFS Graduate School endeavors to train advanced professionals including researchers in all of these areas.

As modern society becomes increasingly globalized, there is a growing need for human resources with deep knowledge and advanced skills in specialized fields. The TUFS Graduate School welcomes those who seek to challenge themselves by acquiring the comprehensive ability, practical skills, and Japanese language ability needed to become globally active in both the world and Japan while also enhancing their research skills.

TUFS currently offers two doctoral programs, the Doctoral Program in Global Studies and the Doctoral Program in Japan Studies. In the spring of 2019, there will be an additional Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research to bring the total to three doctoral programs.

(In fiscal 2018, the Language and Culture Studies and International Area Studies programs were reorganized into the Global Studies and Japan Studies programs.)

Doctoral Program in Global Studies

For an integrated and comprehensive worldview.

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies encompasses integrated and comprehensive research and education in global languages, cultures, and societies. The program is directed at training people with expert knowledge and research capability who can be both globally focused and flexible in their approach to multifaceted problems.

This program has four clearly delineated programs of study. Students undertake systematic studies in one of these programs under the oversight of their main academic supervisor. They will also be able to take classes in a broad area of related fields so as to acquire a cross-disciplinary perspective.

Language and Culture Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research on individual or comparative languages and cultures of the various regions of the world with an emphasis on fostering multi-lingual and multi-cultural perspectives. Details

International and Area Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research and analyses of the specific history, society and culture of various world regions to develop a foundation for tackling international problems. Details

Asian and African Field Science Research Program

This program uses field science research methods to foster researchers in Asian and African linguistics, anthropology and area studies. Details

Peace and Conflict Studies Program (October admissions)

This program accepts students from countries embroiled in conflicts to train international leaders in peacebuilding. Classes are conducted in English. Details

Doctoral Program in Global Studies Students in this program will acquire:

• A high level of skill in regional languages with the appropriate knowledge and expertise in the culture and society of those regions and the capability to take an integrated and comprehensive approach to solving the diverse problems of modern society.
• Expert knowledge in such research areas as linguistics, literature and culture, regional studies, international relations, and peace and conflict studies.
• The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional in an international institute or equivalent organization.

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies

Studying japan from an international perspective.

The Doctoral Program in Japan Studies encompasses systematic study of the Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature and culture, and Japanese history and society for comprehensive Japan research. The program is directed at developing an objective perspective of Japan within a global context. Given the urgent need for human resources capable of conveying Japan to the world, this program is focused on training Japanese and foreign students who can meet this need.

Japan Studies Program

This program fosters specialized knowledge of Japan while also training students in the skills they will need to explain Japan to the world. Details

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies Students in this program will acquire:

• Specialized knowledge in fields related to Japan and the deep comprehensive understanding of the country required to speak of Japan within a global context. Foreign students in particular will acquire a high level of Japanese language ability and understanding of Japanese society.
• A deep and specialized knowledge of the Japanese language, Japanese education, Japanese literature and culture, Japanese historical sociology, Japanese politics and economics, etc.
• The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional teacher of Japanese language in an international institute of higher education or equivalent organization.

Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research (from April 2019)

For detailed infomation here

Creating innovation

The Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research is an integrated program jointly offered by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), and TUFS, and will be launched in April 2019. 　 Details

Admission Information

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Reasons to Choose Japan

The cultural heritage of mt. fuji, japanese cuisine, and much more; the spirit of omotenashi (hospitality).

Japan’s rich natural environments, from mountain forests to beaches and coastlines, offer all-new sights with the coming of each season. The country consists of eight major regions that each have their own distinct culture, traditions, and natural scenery. When selecting where you want to study in Japan, it would also be interesting to know about the regional uniqueness of each school’s location.

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• Graduate Admissions

Doctoral Program Admissions

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List of Graduate Schools

• → Graduate School of Letters
• → Graduate School of Economics*
• → Graduate School of Law
• → Graduate School of Human Relations
• → Graduate School of Business and Commerce
• → Graduate School of Medicine* Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Science and Technology* Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Media and Governance* Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Health Management* Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Business Administration (KBS) Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of System Design and Management (SDM)* Links to external sites
• → Graduate School of Media Design (KMD)* Links to external sites

*Graduate school which has a degree program offered in English For details

Past Examination Papers

• → Past Examination Papers

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Apply to PhD

The Graduate School accepts about 60 full-time graduate students per year. This ensures low numbers of students for each faculty member so that we can deliver best-in-the-world teaching to our graduate students. The basic requirement for the OIST Graduate Program is completion of a Bachelors, Masters, or equivalent degree prior to the admission date. Students may submit an application at any time. Your application will be considered at the next admissions committee meeting. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Admissions Selection , held on-campus twice a year, as part of the selection process.

OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. For more details, please refer to the OIST Graduate School Three Policies.

Selection Schedule

*The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Number of Accepting Students

The Graduate School accepts 60 students. To conduct education and research tailored to the wishes and aptitude of each students, we accept a small number of students.

Eligibility

Those who have graduated with a Bachelor's or Master's degree or expect to complete their degree before the date of enrollment into the PhD Program at OIST are eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

We accept application documents only online. Please prepare all necessary documents written below in English and in a PDF file and upload all necessary documents at the application website .

Note: We recommend using a computer when preparing the online application. If you prefer using a mobile device, please make sure to have the latest operating system for the application to work properly.

Required Documents

Scanned copies of your current academic transcript and any other transcript from your past degree  (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format

Completed diploma (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format.

• A scan of an unofficial transcript or other record of grades may be uploaded to the application website.
• English explanation is required for transcripts that are not written in English.
• If you have not graduated and do not have a diploma yet, please upload a certificate of enrolment from your institution (which preferably indicates your expected graduation date)

This should be not more than 400 words (2500 characters) and should address the following points:

• The applicant’s scientific interests and aspirations.
• What the applicant hopes to gain from undertaking graduate studies at OIST.

The application system requires applicants to submit a passport number and upload a scan of their passport photo page. It is essential that applicants from outside Japan have a valid passport for travel to Japan. You must supply your passport details in the application process.

If you do not have a passport at the time of application, you can upload other government-issued identification documents instead. However, if you receive an offer after the Admissions Selection, OIST will need a copy of your valid passport immediately to prepare your visa application and travel arrangement to relocate to Okinawa.

Each applicant is required to have at least two and no more than five letters of recommendation from appropriate academic referees. Two is the minimum requirement, but as a rule, it is very helpful for the admissions committee to have three or more letters. In the online application system, the applicant will enter the name and email of each recommender. The system will then contact the referee directly for their letter.

• OIST strongly recommends that applicants ask academic referees in advance for permission to list them as recommenders. Recommendation letters needs to be submitted by the deadline. Referee comments are a very important part of the selection process, and it is the applicant's responsibility to first ensure that referees are willing to submit such a letter, and then that they do submit before the deadline.
• Recommender’s letters will be treated as confidential material and will not be available to applicants or parties other than OIST faculty members assessing the application. In registering a recommender the applicant acknowledges that there is no right to read the recommender’s letter.
• You can only submit your application after at least two recommendation letters are received in the application system.

An applicant who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university for which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English is required to provide a TOEFL iBT or IELTS score obtained within the last 2 years. Please upload a digital copy of your official score report to the application website.

• There is no minimum score required but the information is necessary in determining preparatory course requirements.

Optional Documents

The following documents may be submitted optionally, and will be taken into consideration by the selection committee if available:

• Additional evidence of academic ability such as GRE general or specific test scores obtained within the last 2 years.
• Additional material such as the title and abstract of publications and oral presentations, and other evidence of achievement.

Note: The OIST Graduate School reserves the right to request an external evaluation of academic qualifications from any applicant.

Application Fee

There is no application fee to apply for the OIST Graduate Program.