Study PhD in Japan: Requirements & Universities

Japan is an island country of East Asia located in the vicinity of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Japan is known for its ability to provide a healthy all-round learning atmosphere to its students and various educational opportunities such as good quality of education, esteemed educational facilities, a high standard of living, and a peaceful environment. Saying that Japanese Universities are known to be among the best universities in the world for all-round learning will not be an understatement. Competing with other famous Universities worldwide, Japan is one of the top semi-English speaking countries where you can study abroad while also receiving a top-notch education. It houses some very prestigious universities in the world such as the University of Tokyo which is famed to have taught 15 of Japan’s Prime Ministers, Kyoto University, Osaka University, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, etc. All these factors contributed towards Japan becoming an education wonderland it is today.

A Ph.D. is a postgraduate doctoral degree, awarded to a student who completes his/her original thesis offering a significant new contribution to the knowledge in their respective subject. Ph.D. qualifications are available in all subjects and are normally one of the highest levels of academic excellence a person can achieve. This doctoral degree is a very popular choice for further studies among postgraduates all over the world. The doctoral degree in Japan enjoys an outstanding reputation for said degree and offers a variety of subjects to pick from for one’s Ph.D. Some of the best courses offered here are Business Administration, Science, and Technology, Research, etc. Being introduced to the Japanese traditions and culture, international innovation and a change from one’s previous lifestyle broadens one’s perspective of world culture. Adhering to all the above points, Japan easily becomes a great choice for international students as an international study destination.

Japan prides itself on ensuring top tier education to all of its students. Educational institutions in Japan strike a balance between all the main aspects making good students such as discipline, current affairs, overall personality, etc which ensures effectiveness in learning and creates confidence among the students in accordance with their chosen subjects. To be awarded a Ph.D., one is encouraged to have a higher education degree such as and mostly a Master’s Degree, but one can also enter a 5 year Ph.D. course after their Undergraduate Batchelor’s program. Some Universities also apply a minimum age policy, furthermore, a score in the International Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of Efficiency in Foreign Language (TOEFL) will likely be asked for your enrolment in a Ph.D. program but if you studied your Bachelors or Masters in English, this will usually be considered proof of English proficiency. You might have to sit an entrance examination in your subject area or provide a graduate entry test score such as GRE, so check what the practice is at your chosen university. Studying in Japan for a Ph.D. is not expensive at all. Most doctoral programs in Japan charge traditional tuition fees to students pursuing a Ph.D., the structure of these fees can differ if one opts for a private University but a regular fee of $5000 per year for tuition and $2000 as admission fees. The fees remain the same for the national as well as international students. The cost of living, even though minimal can be an issue and hence one should try to plan everything in advance and should check with the University of their choice for further options for accommodation and food. Additionally, all students have to register with the National Health Insurance in Japan and it requires you to pay a premium of $180 per annum. Acquiring a Ph.D. in Japan takes a minimum of 5 years. This amount of time helps students to find a deeper and applied understanding of their subject of study. An average student takes up to a time duration of 5 to 6 years depending on the breaks taken by the student to obtain a Ph.D. and it also depends on whether the student is involved in any other king of doctoral research. Mostly, students return to their respective Universities at a later time again in the future as the majority of the students prefer to take a break in between the two degrees and take a vacation. It is also advisable to have a clear understanding of what subject you are interested in and speak to your seniors or an experienced advisor who will guide you so as to give you vital information that will help you while studying for your Ph.D.

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When applying for an individual Ph.D., you will first need to find a suitable professor who is willing to be your supervisor. You should also send said professor a letter of recommendation from your current academic personnel. Professors command a great deal of authority at Japanese university and the supervisor-supervisee relationship is more akin to a master-disciple interaction. There is also a strict hierarchy within research teams which is determined by age and position, people with post-doctorates command more seniority than Ph.D. students. Also as a Ph.D. student, you will be expected to be an independent researcher and the support you receive is likely to be minimal. In this context, your graduate school will provide the training structure you need.

At the beginning of your doctoral degree, you will have to face a significant learning curve, expand your knowledge in research presentation, improve your research skills and also enhance your knowledge of the subject you have chosen as your field of study. During this, you will also be preparing for your ultimate accomplishment as a doctoral student, your dissertation.

A doctoral dissertation is a written document focused on the subject you chose and spent your time updating your knowledge through academic research in the first half of your Ph.D. In the final few years of doctoral study, you will be focused on the preparation of your dissertation or thesis. For your dissertation, you may focus on an original theory, a developed theory that contributes to the work of another theory/thesis or practical application of the research you have conducted. This dissertation will then be examined during the Defence ceremony where you will also be assessed by said Doctoral Committee who will determine whether your thesis is worthy enough for you to be awarded a Ph.D. Once you have successfully defended your thesis in front of this Doctoral Committee, then you will be awarded your well-deserved Ph.D.