Frequently Asked Questions

Early Completion Program

What is the difference between a three-year doctoral program and a doctoral program? Also, is it possible to obtain a doctoral degree in a master’s program?

In general, a graduate school consists of a master’s program and a doctoral program, and a doctoral program is one that students enter after completing a master’s program. The “Early Completion Program of the Three-Year Doctoral Program” is a so-called doctoral program for those who have completed a master’s program.
The master’s program and the doctoral program were established by dividing the five years of graduate school into two years in the first half and three years in the second half, and are the names of the divisions in terms of establishment. For the master’s program, it is not possible to obtain a doctoral degree.

Isn’t a doctoral degree obtained in one year evaluated as being of low quality?

The degree awarded in this program is a doctoral degree, which is equivalent to the degree awarded to students who have completed a regular doctoral program.
In addition, the University periodically verifies whether each student has reached the level appropriate for a doctoral degree in the “Achievement Assessment” and the doctoral program itself is evaluated in the program review conducted by the Office of Managerial Position for Teaching and Learning to ensure the quality of the doctoral degree and its evaluation by society. It is considered to have earned a reputation as possessing equal or better quality (level).

Enrollment in the Early Completion Program

At what stage does the program review process take place?

It is held after passing the Graduate Entrance Examination. For more information, please click here.

I don’t have a master’s degree, can I still take this program?

Applicants who do not hold a master’s degree are required to take the “Eligibility Screening” of the relevant degree program before applying. If you are recognized as equivalent to or higher than a master’s degree in this qualification review, you can take the entrance examination for the three-year doctoral program. After passing the entrance examination for the three-year doctoral program, you can take the qualification review for this program.
Please refer to this page for details about the “Eligibility Screening”.

I completed my master’s degree equivalent in one year, can I still apply for this program?

In order to complete the doctoral program, a minimum of three years of study is required, including the years of study in the master’s degree equivalent. If you have completed your master’s degree equivalent in one year, you are not eligible for this program. For details, please contact the Early Completion Program Office.

The candidates are “those with a certain level of research achievement”. How much achievement is necessary?

The required achievements (Early Completion Program Selection Requirements) vary by doctoral program, so please check this page.
If you have any questions about the content of the academic paper, please contact the academic service office corresponding to the degree program of your choice.

How often do I need to go to school if I want to take the Early Completion Program?

Students are expected to attend the school once a week, but please consult with the academic advisor of your choice for details.
However, since we do not accept prior notification to the academic advisor of your choice for the Degree Programs in Business Sciences, please contact the Academic Service Office for the Business Sciences.

Can I take the course from far away or overseas?

It is possible to take the course from far away or overseas if you can ensure the frequency of commuting to the school for each achievement assessment and guidance. For details, please contact the academic advisor of your choice.

If I can’t complete the program in one year due to work commitments, etc., can I continue my studies?

You will be required to continue your studies to complete the program. In this case, it is possible to complete the program in less than three years. It is also possible to take a leave of absence.

Where can I inquire about the degree program and academic advisor of my choice?

On this page, you will find links to the websites of each degree program. Please check if there is a faculty member in your research field on the “Research Fields and Faculty Members” page. The faculty member’s affiliation is with the degree program of your choice.
If you have more than one academic advisor of your choice or only one academic advisor in an adjacent field, please contact one of the faculty members in question. Contact information for faculty members is posted on each degree program’s website, which can be found this page.

I can’t find a faculty member who matches my research field (academic advisor of your choice).

If you are unable to find a faculty member in your research field, please first consult a faculty member in an adjacent research field or a research field that you think is close to yours.
If there is no faculty member whose research field is close to yours, or if it is difficult to make a decision, please contact the Early Completion Program Office. In any of the above cases, please provide or attach an outline of your research field when consulting with us.

Do I need to contact the faculty member I wish to receive course guidance from in advance?
Some degree programs require you to contact the academic advisor of your choice in advance before applying for the Graduate Entrance Examination. Please be sure to check the application guidelines before applying to see if advance contact is required.
Even for degree programs that do not require prior contact, we recommend that you contact them in advance (except for the Degree Programs in Business Sciences*). Please refer to each degree program’s website for faculty member contact information and contact methods (links are provided on this page).
- Please note that the Degree Programs in Business Sciences do not accept prior contact with the academic advisor of your choice.

Do the papers I have in my possession correspond to the number of papers required for selection in the Early Completion Program?

Early Completion Program Selection Requirements vary by degree program. For details, please contact the academic advisor of your choice or the academic service office corresponding to the degree program of your choice.

Are tuition waivers, scholarships, and other programs available?

Students enrolled in the Early Completion Program become regular students (three-year doctoral program) and can apply for admission fees and tuition exemptions in the same way as students of regular programs. For more information, please refer to the University of Tsukuba’s website “News on Scholarship and Tuition Fees”.
For more information about scholarships, please contact the organization directly.

I would like to attend a information session.

Details of the Early Completion Program Information Session can be found on this page.
Please refer to this page for information sessions for each degree program (Note: Japanese Only).

Are there any requirements to attend the Early Completion Program Information Session?

There is no requirement to participate. Please feel free to join us.

Is there anything I need to bring to the Early Completion Program Information Session?

There is nothing in particular that you need to bring, but please bring a bag or something if necessary, as there will be materials distributed.
If you wish to consult with us regarding your research field, please bring your own research results and other materials as necessary.

Graduate Entrance Examination

What is the schedule for the Graduate Entrance Examination this year?

Please refer to the University of Tsukuba website “Graduate Entrance Examination Schedule”.

I would like to obtain the Application Guidelines.

The application form is available on the “Graduate Admissions Website”. Please note that we cannot accept requests by mail, telephone or e-mail.

Are the past entrance exam questions available to the public?

The release status of past entrance examinations is listed within each application guidelines. Please check the application guidelines. The application guidelines are available on the ”Graduate admissions Website”.