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Admissions
Diversity in admissions process
The Graduate School of Arts and Letters invites applications for general admission and special admission for working adults in 28 majors
(in spring and autumn for the master's and doctoral programs, except for those applying for general admission into the doctoral program who are accepted only in the spring).
Special admission for working adults is comprised of two programs: "Working Adult Refresh Course" (master's program) and "Working Adult Research Course" (doctoral program). For the master's program, the entrance examination has been considerably modified since autumn of 2012. For some majors, the number of subjects for the entrance examination has been reduced. Check website for details.
Admission of applicants who have completed courses at other graduate schools
The Graduate School of Arts and Letters admits persons into the doctoral program who have acquired a master's degree at other graduate schools. The School provides education and guidance for students so that they can acquire a Ph.D. in Literature.
Admission of working adults
and international students
The Graduate School of Arts and Letters welcomes applicants who have jobs, with a view to supporting them to acquire advanced expertise.
The "Working Adult Research Course" is a doctoral program designed to help working adults who have conducted research activities in their jobs so that they can acquire a Ph.D. in Literature without giving up their jobs.
The School also welcomes international students. There are students from many countries who have been studying to acquire a master's or doctoral degree.
Improvements have been made in the master's program since the 2011 academic year so that students find it easier to learn.
The curriculum of the master's program was considerably revised to provide a broader range of basic to advanced classes for students. The Graduate School now gives students a choice of completing their master's program with either a research project or by writing a master's thesis in the traditional way.
In the research project, a student tackles an academic subject under the guidance of his/her adviser, and obtains tangible results in some form such as translation of a specific work, construction of a database, or creation of a video. Advisers discuss the project or thesis with their students and give them appropriate advice and guidance until they complete their research.
Support systems to help students learn and conduct research
Early completion of the doctoral program
If a student in the "Working Adult Research Course" has some background as a researcher and has shown excellent results in research activities, he or she may be allowed to complete the course in a minimum of one year.
Research students at the Institute for International Advanced Research and Education
The Institute for International Advanced Research and Education is a new organization designed to support young researchers to do interdisciplinary research. Students in the Graduate School of Arts and Letters may also be master's or doctoral program students of this institute and receive scholarships or other forms of support if they meet certain prescribed conditions and pass the examination.
Long-term Program for Students
Students who need to take a longer period to complete the courses because of work, giving birth, child rearing, or caring for aged family members, may make a request take a longer period to complete their program than the usual number of years. "Long-term Program Students" who are granted such a request are allowed to take up to a maximum of four years in the master's program and six years in the doctoral program, without additional tuition, so that they can plan their education/research for a longer period.