Flexibility

We try to make it easy for people to pursue the master’s or doctoral research of their choice regardless of their specific circumstances. All classes are offered in the daytime (often preferred by full-time students) and in the evenings (preferred by those with fulltime jobs). It may also be possible to arrange weekend classes in consultation with your supervisor. Spurred by the current COVID-19 crisis, we have also recently been offering remote learning and blended learning to some current students.

Students who wish to study full-time will typically spend 2 years on a master’s degree and 3 years on a doctoral degree. Those studying while pursuing a career can use the long-term study option, taking up to 4 years and 6 years, respectively, to finish their coursework and research. Total fees over the program are the same, the 2- or 3-year cost being divided over the length of the program. (Contact the Academic Affairs Division for details.)

Typically, supervision is offered in Japanese. However, supervision can also be offered in English for students with low proficiency in Japanese or who express a preference. Prospective students should contact the head of the graduate school or the professor whose supervision is sought to make arrangements.

Teachers in the Japanese education system with a regular teacher’s certificate who successfully complete a master’s program can receive a Junior High School Specialized Teacher’s Certificate (English) or High School Specialized Teacher’s Certificate (English) on application to the relevant government body. Contact our Academic Affairs Division for details of the procedures.

More details

English Linguistics

We offer supervision in a wide range of topics researched from a cognitive linguistic perspective.

British Literature

Students can research poetry, drama, or novels, especially those of the 19th century and later. This research will typically encompass historical, cultural, and social aspects.

American Literature

Students can research modern literary works, especially novels but also including cinema, poetry, or drama. Such research may include historical, social, cultural, and ideological backgrounds to literary works.

English Education

In recent years, this is a popular choice among practicing teachers wishing to advance their career as well as among students who have recently graduated from a Bachelor’s program. Depending on academic background, students can study the basics of second language acquisition and applied linguistics, learning what is known or believed about how learners learn additional languages and how that learning differs from first language acquisition. Supervision is offered in a range of areas, including vocabulary acquisition, formulaic sequences, motivation, computer-assisted language learning, sociocultural theory, and topics related to intensive learning experiences and self-access.

Multiple Supervisor System

In addition to their main supervisor (usually agreed in consultation with the supervisor prior to entry), each student has a second supervisor. They meet with the supervisor periodically. The second supervisor can provide a different point of view from the main supervisor, perhaps suggesting some different literature to read or an alternative or additional angle to take on a research problem.

1. Masters degrees are usually completed in two years of full-time study or its equivalent. Students must in principle be enrolled for a minimum of two years and gain the required credits.
2. Students must, under the guidance of their supervisor, complete a Master’s thesis and submit it by the specified deadline, and pass an examination of the thesis.
3. Currently, students are required to take courses as follows:
   1. At least 30 credits from the provided list of courses, of which 8 must be taught by the student’s supervisor.

Master’s degree program: A standard schedule

1. Doctoral degrees are usually completed in three years of full-time study. Students must in principle be enrolled for a minimum of two years and gain the required credits.
2.  Students must gain 16 or more credits from the list of courses offered, including any required courses (see below).
3. The required courses mentioned in 2 above are 12 credits’ worth of Tokubetsu Kenkyuu (特別研究), to be gained over the length of the program.
4. Students must, under the guidance of their supervisor, complete a doctoral thesis and submit it by the stipulated deadline, and pass an examination of the thesis.

Doctoral degree program: A standard schedule