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Japanese Ph.D. Program

Specialization in linguistics.

[Note: Students interested in pursuing the PhD with a specialization in Japanese linguistics can apply for our  MA in Japanese linguistics (if they do not yet have a related MA degree), and, for the PhD, our PhD program in Asian Languages and Cultures , where they can specialize in Japanese linguistics.]

SPECIALIZATION IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE

I. admission.

Application to the Ph.D. program is recommended for those students who have already earned an M.A. in this field or are in the process of earning one. 

Students already enrolled in this department's M.A. program must submit a Petition to Proceed in order to be admitted to the Ph.D. program. See  department policy 2.5 and consult the Academic Counselor for more information.

II. Course Requirements

In addition to the minimum of 45 credits or its equivalent required for the master's program, the Ph.D. student must take at least 50 credits of course work at the graduate level, 20 of which must be at the 500 level.

The following courses and dissertation credits are required:

• Modern Japanese: JAPAN 431, 432, 433 (may be bypassed with previous training, if approved)
• Classical Japanese and kambun : JAPAN 471, 472, 505 (may be bypassed with previous training, if approved)
• 10 credits in classical Japanese literature & culture (JAPAN 571, 572, or 573)
• 10 credits in modern Japanese literature & culture (JAPAN 531, 532, or 533)
• ASIAN 800 Doctoral Dissertation (27 credits)

Additional course work may be required. Each student develops his or her individualized program of study in consultation with his or her faculty adviser.

III. Language Requirement

In addition to English and Japanese, the student must demonstrate proficiency in a third language related to his or her course of study.  Proficiency must be demonstrated in this third language to the satisfaction of the adviser before the student may proceed to the General Examination.

Students pursue advanced studies in three distinct fields, each of which is supervised by a member of the graduate faculty. At least one of those fields must be classical Japanese literature and at least one must be modern Japanese literature. Each of these fields requires a substantial research paper. The third field, which may be pursued outside the department, will be selected in consultation with the adviser and its requirements will be determined by the supervising faculty member.

V. General Examination

After the above field requirements have been fulfilled and the third language requirement has been satisfied, the student must take and pass an oral General Examination for admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The examination is administered by the Doctoral Supervisory Committee.

VI. Dissertation and Final Examination

After achieving Doctoral Candidate (Ph.C.) status, the student engages in research and the writing of the dissertation under the direction of his or her Doctoral Supervisory Committee. When the Doctoral Supervisory Committee deems the student ready, a final examination will be conducted in which the dissertation is evaluated. When the final examination has been passed and the result has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, then the requirements are complete and the degree is granted.

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Charting Your PhD Journey in Japan: Admission, Lifestyle, and Balancing Work with Study

Japan, with its unique blend of ancient culture and technological innovation, offers a compelling environment for ambitious PhD students. Whether you’re diving into cutting-edge research or exploring the bustling streets, life as a doctoral candidate here is full of potential. But to truly thrive, understanding the ins and outs of admissions, budgeting for your lifestyle, and mastering the Japanese language is key.

Advantages of Pursuing PhD in Tokyo

Application Process and Timeline for a PhD Program

Can You Apply From Overseas?

List of English PhD programs offered by Universities in Japan

Navigating financial waters: living as a phd student, working while you learn, mastering japanese: a strategic move for phd students in japan, the key to professional opportunities, advantages of pursuing a phd in tokyo.

There are many advantages to pursuing an English-speaking PhD or master’s degree in Tokyo. Here are just a few:

• High-quality education: Tokyo’s universities are renowned for their academic rigor and research excellence. Many of these universities are ranked among the top institutions in the world.
• Cultural immersion: Tokyo is a vibrant and exciting city with a rich cultural heritage. Pursuing a degree in Tokyo will give you the opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand.
• Networking opportunities : Tokyo is a global hub for business and innovation. You will have the opportunity to network with leading professionals worldwide.
• Career prospects: A degree from a prestigious university in Tokyo will give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Application Process and Timeline for PhD Programs

Embarking on a PhD in Japan starts with navigating the admissions process. Programs in English are widely available, particularly in science and technology, economics, business, and various interdisciplinary fields. Admission requires a relevant master’s degree, a well-defined research proposal, and often proficiency in English or Japanese. The admission process for PhD programs in Japan typically varies from university to university. However, the general steps involved in the application process are as follows:

• Meeting Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. Check the program website for specific admissions requirements and deadlines.
• Submitting Application Documents: Required documents may include transcripts, recommendation letters, research proposals, and language proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS).
• Participating in Entrance Examinations: Some universities conduct written examinations or interviews to assess candidates’ knowledge and aptitude for research.

The application deadlines for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs in Tokyo typically range from April to June. However, it is always best to check with the individual university for the most up-to-date information.

Can You Apply from Overseas?

Applications for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs in Tokyo can typically be submitted from overseas. The application process is usually online, and you must submit the required documents digitally. However, some universities may also require you to send a physical copy of your application materials.

Additional Considerations

• Admissions requirements: Each university will have its own admissions requirements for English-speaking PhD and Master’s programs. These requirements may vary depending on the program, but they typically include a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
• Language proficiency: While most English-speaking Ph.D. and Master’s programs in Tokyo do not require Japanese language proficiency, having some basic Japanese language skills is always a good idea. This will help you navigate daily life in Japan and make the most of your experience.
• Funding: There are a number of funding opportunities available for international PhD students in Japan, including scholarships, fellowships, and teaching assistantships. It is important to research these opportunities carefully and apply for those you are eligible for.

Scholarships

Scholarships such as MEXT, Rotary Yoneyama Foundation Scholarships, or university-specific grants are vital in supporting your academic journey. They cover everything from tuition fees to living expenses, allowing you to immerse in your studies and the rich culture of Japan. Read what each scholarship offers below!

1. The Japanese Government ( MEXT ) Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). There are scholarships available for privately financed international students, as well as those under student exchange agreements. The application for the 2024 MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship will open in January 2024 . Value of Award:

• 100% of tuition (covered by the APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship)
• 145,000 JPY per month for living expenses (amount subject to change)
• Economy class air travel between the home country and APU at the beginning and end of the program. 

2. Rotary Yoneyama Foundation Scholarships

This scholarship is provided for future students of Japanese universities and graduate schools. This program serves two different application periods. If your expected enrollment is April 2024, the deadline is March 1, 2024 . If the expected enrollment is September/October 2024, the deadline is August 1, 2024.

Value of Award:

• 100% of tuition 
• The scholarship provides a monthly stipend for the duration of time, for Doctoral students: 140,000 JPY per month for two years

3. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship

This fellowship is awarded to postdoctoral researchers who are conducting research in Japan. The JSPS offers two different programs long-term and Short-term; the application period is from mid-April to June 7, 2023 .

• 200,000 JPY per month for living expenses
• Leave for childbirth and childcare: Fellows are allowed to suspend their research for childbirth and childcare and are offered a path back into the laboratory. They can also choose to work short hours while on such leave.

4. The Fulbright Specialist Program Japan

This is a partial funding international scholarship provided by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for international students. For those candidates that met all eligibility requirements, you may apply to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster twice every 12 months . If you were not approved with your first application, you may reapply immediately and be included in the next peer review panel cycle. 

Additionally, the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) offers about 135 graduate scholarships annually for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields. 

As a PhD student in Japan, you’re allowed to work part-time up to 28 hours a week during term-time and full-time during vacations. This can supplement your scholarship and provide real-world experience, but it’s essential to balance this with your study commitments.

For PhD students aspiring to work in Japan, proficiency in the Japanese language is invaluable. It paves the way for greater job opportunities, deeper cultural integration, and successful networking. 

Get the Full Japanese Experience

– Cultural Integration: Understanding the language is the first step to truly immersing yourself in Japanese culture and society.

– Work Eligibility: Many employers prefer or require proficiency in Japanese to navigate the local business environment and workplace culture.

– Networking: Speaking Japanese opens up a wealth of networking opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible, helping you to build valuable connections for your career.

If you’re a PhD aspirant in Japan with an eye on the job market, gaining proficiency in Japanese is more than just an academic requirement—it’s a strategic career move. The ability to communicate effectively in Japanese can significantly broaden your professional horizons and make you a compelling candidate in the job market, both during and after your PhD studies.

Our Language Courses: Tailor-Made for Your Success

Recognizing the importance of Japanese language skills for PhD students in Japan, our part-time and online courses are designed to fit into a busy academic schedule:

– Part-Time Japanese Courses These are ideal for PhD students who want to balance their research with language study. With flexible class times, you can learn Japanese without compromising your academic commitments.

– Online Japanese Courses For maximum flexibility, coto’s online Japanese courses allow you to learn from anywhere, at any time. This means you can advance your language skills even during fieldwork or if you’re on a research trip.

As a PhD student in Japan, your success isn’t solely determined by your academic achievements; it also hinges on your ability to navigate the local language and culture. By integrating Coto Japanese language courses into your study routine, you’re not just preparing for your dissertation defense—you’re setting the stage for a flourishing career in Japan. So, take the first step towards unlocking your full potential in the Japanese job market with our dedicated language courses, crafted to help you excel in both your studies and your professional life.

Test your Japanese level!

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• PhD Program in Japanese

The PhD in Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Colorado offers specializations in Chinese or Japanese with concentrations in literary and/or cultural studies of either the pre-modern or modern periods. The program consists of:

• course work
• a Comprehensive Examination consisting of a written and an oral component
• a doctoral dissertation
• an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation.

The following guidelines represent the PhD procedures specific to our department; they are not intended to replace or supersede the University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog nor any other official document issued by the Graduate School. See in particular the  Graduate School Rules .

Course Work

The PhD requires a minimum of 45 credit hours in graduate courses numbered 5000 or above in Japanese and may include a focus in a related field (such as History, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Art History, Film Studies, etc.). Students who have completed an MA degree may be able to apply up to 21 hours toward this requirement.

The required 45 credit hours of coursework must be passed with a grade of B or better. If a student receives a grade of B- (or a lesser grade), the course in question will not count toward the total number of credits required to graduate. Upon receiving more than one B- (or lesser grade), a student will normally be dropped from the graduate program.  In order to ensure that special circumstances are taken into account, the department Graduate Committee will review each such case and recommend appropriate action to the department chair.

In addition to superior language skills in English as well as in the classical/literary and modern form of the language, a reading knowledge of one additional language is required (typically one additional Asian language or one European language), to be decided in consultation with the main advisor.

This ability may be determined by completing a college level intermediate course (typically fourth semester) in the language with a grade of B or better (either at CU or prior to arrival on campus); passing with the current minimum acceptable score an appropriate foreign language test; or passing a test of reading knowledge set by appropriate faculty.

New PhD students will select the courses they take during their first year of study in consultation with the Graduate Director of the program. By the end of their second semester, students are required to choose their major advisor, with whom they will plan their program of study thereafter. Normally this faculty member becomes the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee as well as of the Dissertation Committee.

Comprehensive Examination

Before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, students must pass a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam will cover three fields—the chosen field of concentration and two related fields—to be decided in consultation with the student’s Comprehensive Examination Committee.  

The examination is conducted by an examining board appointed by the chair of the department and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The board shall consist of the major advisor and additional members as necessary to a minimum of five (one of whom must come from outside the department or from outside the program).

Working in consultation with the Chair (usually this will be the student’s major advisor) and other members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee, the student will formulate a dissertation topic and prepare a reading list of primary texts pertaining to that topic, and a further list of secondary materials composed of critical and theoretical texts intended to inform the student’s approach to the dissertation topic. The reading lists will be circulated to the Comprehensive Examination Committee two weeks before the written exam.

The examination itself consists of a take-home written exam in three fields (the chosen field of concentration and two related fields) followed by an oral examination lasting about 90 minutes that concentrates on the written exam, but may also address texts and topics on the reading lists that are not covered in the written exam.

For the written exam, the student will be given three groups of two or three questions in each field. Usually, the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee will set questions in the student’s chosen field of concentration; the questions for the two related fields are each set by a committee member. The questions for each group will be emailed to the student by the Graduate Program Assistant or the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee, usually in intervals of three weeks. Each time, the student will choose one question from the group and return the response to the committee members within two weeks. What form the response is going to take is decided by the Chair of the committee. Typically, the response will be a scholarly paper of 15 to 30 pages.

The oral examination will cover the student’s broad area of concentration. It takes place within two weeks after the third response is submitted. Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with primary and secondary sources as well as related issues such as social and historical context, and current theoretical trends in the field. The Comprehensive Examination is only open to the members of the Examination Committee.

The student is responsible for notifying the Graduate Program Assistant of the date of the oral examination to reserve a room.  The Exam Form  should be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant as soon as the date is confirmed.

Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, students should fill out the  Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree .

Dissertation Hours

A minimum of 30 hours of doctoral dissertation credit with no more than 10 of these hours in any one semester are required. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 dissertation hours per semester after passing the comprehensive exam and extending through the semester in which they defend their dissertation.

Dissertation Director and Committee

Students form the Dissertation Committee in consultation with the major advisor. The committee consists of the Dissertation Director (usually this will be the student’s major advisor) and four other graduate faculty members (one of whom must come from outside the department or from outside the program).

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus will be submitted within a month after the Comprehensive Examination, to be followed by its defense a week later.

The dissertation prospectus should provide a clear written outline of the dissertation, including: the major theme or themes of the dissertation; a clearly expressed thesis or argument about the topic itself; an overview of relevant secondary literature; a chapter-by-chapter outline; a timeline for its completion; an extensive bibliography. Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with their field, a thorough knowledge of primary and secondary sources, current trends in scholarship, and a clearly articulated sense of their contributions to the field. The prospectus should be roughly 4,000–5,000 words long, plus bibliography, and will be circulated to the Dissertation Committee; the Dissertation Committee will decide if a prospectus is acceptable. The prospectus defense will take place with the members of the Dissertation Committee. The defense lasts approximately an hour. If the prospectus is approved, the student begins to write the dissertation.

Dissertation

The PhD dissertation must be based upon original research and demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgment as well as familiarity with the tools and methods of research. It should be a worthwhile contribution to knowledge in the student’s special field. The dissertation is written in close consultation with the Director and Dissertation Committee.

The dissertation must meet the format requirements of the Graduate School. Students should consult the University Catalog and confer with the Graduate School for specifications and deadlines.

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense—an oral examination and discussion lasting about 90 minutes—should take place in the spring semester of the fifth year. The student should schedule the defense before the start of the spring semester. Copies of the dissertation should be delivered to the committee members at least one month prior to the defense date.  The Exam Form  should be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant as soon as the date is confirmed. A satisfactory vote from at least four committee members is required to pass the defense. The Final Examination is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Typical Timeline

• Semester 1:   3 seminars
• Semester 2: 3 seminars
• Semester 3: 3 seminars
• Semester 4: 3 seminars
• Semester 5: 2 seminars; 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; ​preparation of Comprehensive Exam
• Semester 6: 1 seminar; 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; ​Comprehensive Exam; Submission of Dissertation Prospectus
• Semester 7: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 8: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 9: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance
• Semester 10: at least 5 hours of Dissertation Guidance; Submission and Oral Defense of Dissertation
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Japan Studies (Graduate School of Global Studies Doctoral Program)

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. The degree acquired through this program is a Doctor of Philosophy.

The Doctoral Program in Japan Studies has one program.

Japan studies program.

This program trains students in the specialized knowledge needed for a broad and comprehensive understanding of Japan so that they can disseminate this knowledge to the world.

Classes: Japanese linguistics, Japanese language education theory, language education theory, Japanese literature and culture, Japanese historical sociology, Japanese politics and economics, Japan studies, etc.

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.
• Deep and specialized knowledge of 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.

Theses：Doctoral Dissertation

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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PhD Japanese Studies

Year of entry: 2025

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent) 

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  13 January 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2025 entry:  30 June 2025
• For January 2026 entry:  30 September 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• Conduct pioneering research on Japanese language, literature, film, and visual culture.
• Access extensive resources through your research including the Japanese Collection with The University of Manchester Library.
• 92% of our research activity was recognised as 'world leading' or `internationally excellent' REF2021.

To find out what studying on a postgraduate research programme at Manchester is like, visit our Open days and study fairs page and explore our virtual open week or future on-campus and international events.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out more about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 13 January 2025.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below. 

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentship In Japanese Studies
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Sasakawa Postgraduate Studentship (Japanese Studies) 2025 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies 2024 Entry
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Japanese Studies
• East Asian Studies

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview, english language.

International applicants must provide one of the following:

• IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing.
• TOEFL (internet based) test minimum score – 100 overall, 25 in all sections.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) UKVI/SELT or PTE Academic minimum score – 76 overall, 76 in writing.
• To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English speaking nation within the last 5 years.
• Other tests may be considered.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country.

The University requires you to reside within a commutable distance from Manchester during your time as a registered student, unless you are on approved fieldwork/a formal placement or are on a period of Submission pending. This is to ensure that you are able to meet attendance expectations and participate in wider research activities within your discipline area and/or School. 

Other entry requirements

Application and selection, how to apply, advice to applicants.

Before you start your application, you should:

• Develop your own research proposal and project title.
• Find a supervisor by browsing our academics’ profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research.
• Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents:

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal . Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• A copy of your Bachelor's academic transcript and certificate.
• A copy of your Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• If you have completed more than one Bachelor's or Master's degree, please provide evidence for each. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
• An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form. You may wish to notify your referees to submit their references promptly, as this is part of the review process.
• A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.

Interview requirements

As part of the offer making process applicants will be required to undertake an interview assessment. This may be in the form of an in–person interview, or video call. 

The interview is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the broad topic area, the viability of your proposed research and its intellectual contribution, alongside the fit of your project with the supervisory team. You also may be asked to identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research, and discuss how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance.

The interview panel will consist at minimum of your primary supervisor and an independent interviewer. 

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard programme entry criteria for that year of entry.  

 In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen programme. 

Programme details

Programme description.

• mass culture;
• subcultural formations and cultural production;
• contemporary and modern religious organisations and movements;
• modern medical, educational and cultural history;
• gender and women in culture;
• medicine, reproduction, and society.

Find out more about our Japanese Studies research , our staff and what our current postgraduate research students are working on.

Additional programme information

Humanities Doctoral Academy

Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high-quality services for postgraduate researchers.

We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey.

This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination, and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.

Equality, diversity and inclusion  is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. 

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. 

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. 

All appointments are made on merit. 

The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Teaching and learning

The PhD is the major postgraduate research degree. It involves three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study and the preparation of a thesis of not more than 80,000 words that makes a significant contribution to knowledge.

A satisfactory PhD topic is one that a suitably qualified and properly supervised student can bring to completion within the permitted timeframe. 

Please note that all PhD students are required to undertake research training as part of their PhD programme.

Coursework and assessment

Your research will normally be supervised by two members of staff at the University. Your supervisors will most likely be members of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, but if your research requires it, we may arrange for supervision by someone outside the School.

Supervisory arrangements at Manchester are governed by a Code of Practice which is available on the University's website.

Regular meetings will be held with the supervisors, and details of each of the meetings will be recorded.

Research panels (consisting of at least three academic staff, including the supervisors) are held once per semester to monitor progress.

Please note that the first year of the full-time programme and the first two years of the part-time programme are probationary. This means you will be required to show evidence of satisfactory progress to proceed with the programme.

Related research

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) Japanese Studies was assessed as part of The University of Manchester's 'Modern Languages and Linguistics' submission.

The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK in terms (by grade point average) among the 47 departments assessed under Unit of Assessment 26. 92% of our research was judged to be in the highest two categories (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'. Our research environment was also judged to be strong, with 100% judged to be (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.

Find out more about our Modern Languages research at Manchester.

What our students say

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes.

Find out more about facilities for Modern Languages and Cultures students.

Disability support

Career opportunities.

Many of PhD graduates in Modern Languages and Translation and Interpreting Studies have gone on to academic positions at leading universities in the UK, Europe, USA, East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Our graduates have been also successful with receiving prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, including the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship and the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The interdisciplinarity nature of PhD programmes in Modern Languages and Cultures and Translation and Interpreting Studies prepares our graduates successfully to apply to a wide range of academic posts. In addition to those in European and Middle Eastern Languages and Translation/Interpreting, our graduates have been appointed to permanent academic positions in Film Studies; History; Journalism and Political Communication; and Sociology. Recent examples include:

• Dr Abi Bharat (PhD French Studies), tenure-track assistant professorship, the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, USA
• Dr Ignacio Aguiló (PhD Latin American Studies), lectureship in Latin American Cultural Studies, University of Manchester
• Dr Ibrahim Alfraih (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), lectureship, King Saud University, Saudi Araba
• Dr Liwen Chang (PhD Translation Studies), senior lectureship, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Dr Chonglong Gu (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation and Interpreting, the University of Liverpool
• Dr Leanne Dawson (PhD German Studies), lectureship in German and Film, the University of Edinburgh
• Dr Melanie Foedisch (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation Studies, the University of Manchester
• Dr Eleanor Jones (PhD Portuguese Studies), lectureship in Portuguese and World Literatures, University of Southampton
• Dr Sue-Ann Harding (PhD Russian Studies), senior lectureship in Translation and Intercultural Studies, Queen's University, Belfast
• Dr Emma Heywood (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Journalism, Politics and Communication, University of Sheffield
• Dr Paulina Henry-Tierney (PhD French Studies), lectureship in French Translation, Newcastle University
• Dr Mila Milani (PhD Italian Studies), senior lectureship in Italian Studies, Warwick University
• Dr Gozde Naiboglu (PhD German Studies), lectureship in Film Studies, University of Leicester
• Dr Bryan Roby (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), assistant professorship at the Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, University of Michigan
• Dr Neil Sadler (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation Studies, Queen's University, Belfast
• Dr Elisabeth Schimpfoessl (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Sociology, Aston University
• Dr Ewa Stanczyk (PhD Polish Studies), lectureship in East European Studies, University of Amsterdam
• Dr Joseph Twist (PhD German Studies), lectureship in German Studies, University College Dublin
• Dr Denis Volkov (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), associate professorship in Iranian Studies and Middle Eastern history, Higher School of Economics, Moscow
• Dr Ilya Yablokov (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Russian Studies, University of Leeds

Research and communication skills which our PhD programmes help developing also position our graduates to get highly competitive posts outside academia, including in civil service, media and business.

Japanese Language PhD

Contact Info

[email protected]

3413 Dwinelle Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

East Asian Language & Culture

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 3, 2024

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

• Living in Japan – A Guide for PhD Students

Written by Mike Davies

Japan is a truly unique destination for adventurous PhD students, combining tradition and technology like few other countries. Also boasting the world’s third-largest economy, Japan makes for an exciting place in which to pursue a career in research.

This page will give you an introduction to student life in Japan, covering everything from culture and living costs to transport and accommodation.

On this page

Student life.

PhD students in Japan will have plenty of opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of this fascinating country. Hosting over 200,000 international students, it’s one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world – and with good reason.

Culture and tourism

Visitors to Japan are spoilt for choice when it comes to cultural attractions. In Tokyo– one of the world’s great megacities – you have such contrasting sights as the futuristic, neon-drenched neighbourhood of Shibuya, the ancient Buddhist temple of Sensō-ji and Tokyo Disneyland.

Elsewhere in Japan, the former capital of Kyoto is a major higher education centre and is home to many sacred shrines and temples and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The gritty port city of Osaka is nationally famous for its cuisine and also the presence of a Universal Studios theme park.

Sport and leisure

There are many opportunities for nature-loving and sporty research students in Japan. The country’s mountainous terrain makes it a haven for winter sports enthusiasts, particularly in the northern region of Hokkaido. Down south, the tropical Okinawa Islands are perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Food and drink

Getting to experience authentic Japanese cuisine will likely be one of the highlights of your time in Japan. The supermarket sushi that you may have sampled back home will pale in comparison to the ultra-fresh sushi you’ll be able to try all over Japan. Other staples include ramen, tempura and unagi river eel.

In terms of drink, the rice-based liquor sake is popular across the country, as well as beer produced by one of Japan’s main breweries. Tea-drinkers are well catered for in Japan, with green and matcha varieties widely available.

Accommodation

When looking for student accommodation in Japan, the main choice you’ll make is between university accommodation and the private sector.

University accommodation

Most universities in Japan will have a stock of rooms and flats reserved for international students. Rents are lower but availability can be limited. PhD students will often have access to accommodation which is reserved for international graduate students and (visiting) researchers, which can be great for networking. You may also find yourself in residences where Japanese and international students live side-by-side, a good way to find out more about Japanese culture. Whatever your university, make sure that you apply as soon as possible (and before the deadline).

Monthly rent is an average of ¥38,000 (USD $255), but will vary depending on the type of room (the lowest being for dormitory-type accommodation) and your university.

En-suite or shared facilities are available. Accommodation for couples can be found in some of the largest universities such as Tokyo but university accommodation for families is rare.

There will be additional costs to take into account such as a monthly maintenance fees, internet access and utilities.

Residency is generally limited to one year so you will have to look at other options for the remainder of your PhD.

Private sector accommodation

Private accommodation means private student accommodation, guesthouses, shared flats or renting on your own. Each type of accommodation will offer different packages to suit your own preferences. When renting through an estate agent, you will be required to have a guarantor, a person who takes financial and moral responsibility for you and the payment of your rent.

If you do not know anyone in Japan, then your international office may provide a guarantor system (generally the Head of the international office). In turn, they may require that you have a renters insurance policy such as the Comprehensive Renters Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan provided by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) to cover risks such as fires and other damages. A deposit of up to five times your monthly rent may also be required by estate agents.

• Private student accommodation – Rental costs are often higher than for university-owned accommodation but they can include everything (even meals) so aren't always a bad option. Some student accommodation companies also offer a housemate service to help you find other people to live with in shared apartments owned by those companies.
• Guesthouses – These are an inexpensive option for long-term stays. Most guesthouses are managed by individual owners, although there are companies operating in this area (with some having a foreigner-only policy). Guesthouses are fully furnished and generally ready to move into, although they may not be the most modern and well-equipped. The traditional guesthouses come as shared accommodation (where kitchen and bathroom are shared) but more and more are available as private flats. They are a good way to experience Japanese everyday life.
• Renting on your own – This is the most variable option and also one that will require a guarantor. Private rented apartments can cost an average of anything between ¥24,000 (USD $161) and ¥50,000 (USD $335) per month depending on the area.

Living costs

Japan can be an expensive place in which to live and study – especially in central areas of Tokyo – but if you budget carefully and learn the best places to find a bargain you should be able to live comfortably during your time there. Tokyo is indeed one of the most expensive cities in the world, but places outside the capital can be relatively affordable.The Japanese government estimates that the average monthly living cost of an international student in Japan is ¥93,000 (USD $624).

Prices in Japan

This table should give you an idea of some typical student expenses in Japan.

Working during your PhD

The ‘Student’ status of residence is granted for the sole purpose of studying and as such does not permit work. If you would like to work part-time you must apply for a ‘Permission to Engage in Activities other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted’ through your Regional Immigration Bureau (exceptions apply if you are working as a research assistant or teaching assistant at your university, which are activities regarded as part of your studies).

International students are allowed to undertake a maximum of 28 hours a week . Realistically, it would be difficult to do more than a few hours of part-time work a week without compromising your doctoral research. If it is a financial imperative, make sure you speak to your supervisor or international office, who may be able to suggest on-campus alternatives.

Foreigners in Japan can open an account in most Japanese banks. All you need is your passport and your residency card. You may also be asked to show evidence that you are enrolled at a Japanese institution. The main things to know about banking in Japan are as follows:

• On opening an account you will receive an account booklet where all your banking transactions will be recorded. Japanese banks do not send statements. You can check your balance online or by updating your booklet at automatic bank tellers (where you can also do bank transfers).
• After opening an account you will receive a bank card which may only allow withdrawals at your bank’s ATMs.
• Banks are normally open from 9.00am-3.00pm and closed at the weekend. Cash dispensers may be accessible only at set times (not necessarily 24 hours) so make sure you know the opening times. In large cities, it should be relatively easy to find a cash dispenser.

Getting around Japan is convenient and fast, thanks to the country’s well-developed network of high-speed trains. Japanese metro systems are famously efficient, while bikes are a popular method of travel for people from all walks of life.

Rail travel

Japan is well-known for its shinkansen bullet trains that reach up to 320 km/h and connect most major cities. There are also many slower private train companies linking smaller towns and cities across the country. Please note that the famous Japan Rail Pass is only available to foreigners who are in Japan on a tourist visa, so international PhD students won’t be eligible for one.

There are several airlines offering domestic flights between Japan’s islands and cities, and these are sometimes cheaper – not to mention faster – than the equivalent train service.

Inner-city travel

Large cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto have very efficient and relatively cheap metro systems, the use of which is no more complicated than in Paris or London. Ticket machines can display the information in English. The ticket you get is only available on that day from that station and will remain valid as long you don’t leave the metro system (which means you can change metro lines until your final destination). The only difficulty in Tokyo is that there are two metro networks which run in parallel but for which basic tickets are not interchangeable – make sure you get the right ticket (or separate tickets for each network). Monthly passes are also available and worth it if you travel a lot around the city.

In cities with a metro system, buses can be useful but are secondary means of transportation, while in smaller cities they are the main transport system.

Find a PhD in Japan

Ready to start browsing some current PhD opportunities in Japan ? Alternatively, you can look at our other guides to PhD study abroad .

Japan is a fantastic place for PhD study, offering many financial incentives for international students. This guide will take you through the cost of studying a PhD in Japan and all the key funding opportunities.

A PhD in Japan represents an excellent opportunity to hone your research skills in a safe, stable society that values education very highly. Our guide explains fees, funding, visas and more.

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Ph.D. in Japanese Linguistics

The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for a doctoral degree in Japanese linguistics.

Students should consult the most up-to-date version of the degree plan on the  Stanford Bulletin  as well as the  EALC Graduate Handbook . Each student should meet with their faculty advisor at least once per quarter to discuss the degree requirements and their progress.

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy is the most important University milestone on the way to the Ph.D. degree. Admission to candidacy rests both on the fulfillment of department requirements and on an assessment by department faculty that the student has the potential to successfully complete the Ph.D.

Following University policy ( GAP 4.6.1 ), students are expected to complete the candidacy requirements by Spring Quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Pre-Candidacy Requirements

• JAPANLNG 213  - Fourth-Year Japanese, Third Quarter (2-4 units)
• JAPAN 264  - Introduction to Premodern Japanese (3-5 units)
• JAPAN 265  - Readings in Premodern Japanese (2-5 units)
• EALC 201  - Proseminar in East Asian Humanities I: Skills and Methodologies (3 units)
• JAPAN 279  - Research in Japanese Linguistics (2-5 unit)
• Complete six advisor-approved courses numbered above 200 from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. At least one of these six courses must be an advanced seminar numbered above 300. At least one of these six courses must deal with Japanese literature.

All Doctoral students must complete an MA qualifying paper. An MA thesis is accepted instead of a qualifying paper for students initially admitted as EALC MA students. Students seeking an MA en route to the PhD must secure approval from the primary advisor and submit an MA thesis.

A graded MA qualifying paper or thesis must be submitted to the DGS and SSO with an accompanying note from the student’s primary advisor by week five of spring quarter of the second year of study for the annual review and candidacy decision.

During the quarter when students complete the MA qualifying paper or thesis (25-30 pages), they must enroll in  EALC 299 .

Teaching Requirement

• DLCL 301  - The Learning and Teaching of Second Languages (3 units)

Demonstrate pedagogical proficiency by serving as a teaching assistant for at least three quarters, starting no later than autumn quarter of the third year of graduate study. The department may approve exceptions to the timing of the language teaching requirement.

Post-Candidacy Requirements

Demonstrate proficiency in at least one supporting language to be chosen in consultation with the primary advisor according to the candidate’s specific research goals. For the second language, students must be proficient at the second-year level, at the minimum; a higher level of proficiency may be required depending on the advisor’s recommendation. Reading proficiency must be certified through a written examination or an appropriate amount of coursework to be determined on a case-by-case basis. When deemed necessary by the student’s advisor(s), working knowledge of a third language may also be required.

Complete five upper-division or graduate-level courses in linguistics and other supporting fields. To be determined in consultation with the student’s primary advisor, these may include applied linguistics, Chinese linguistics, psychology, education, anthropology, or sociology.

• Complete JAPAN 279 - Research in Japanese Linguistics (2-5 units); this course should be taken in the first or second year at Stanford.
• Submit two qualifying papers (QPs) that present each student’s original research in two different subfields of linguistics discussing Japanese linguistic topics and data. The length of the paper depends on the topic but generally should be about 25-30 pages. However, the paper must be evaluated by quality, not length. It should contain a clear statement of the issue in question, the motivation for the inquiry about the existing body of work, persuasive arguments supported by compelling analyses of relevant data, and theoretical implications of the findings. The quality is expected to be equivalent to a paper accepted for presentation at a professional conference and/or publishable in conference proceedings or a journal in linguistics. A QP can be an extension of a term paper, but its topic should be discussed with the student’s advisor before writing. It is strongly recommended that the student should seek at least two faculty members to be on the QP committee who will guide research and writing in the process and who will evaluate the paper. If circumstances do not permit obtaining multiple members, consult the advisor. Students are encouraged to plan and consult advising faculty members early in the second year. The first qualifying paper (QP1) should be approved by the spring quarter of the second year. To obtain approval of QP1 in time, a draft should be provided to the committee members in the winter quarter, if not earlier. The second qualifying paper (QP2) should be approved by the beginning of the autumn quarter of the fourth year. To obtain approval of QP2 in time, a draft should be provided to the committee members in the spring quarter of the third year, if not earlier. Failure to receive approval for QPs in time may lead to dismissal from the program. Students are urged to start planning for QPs and complete their QP requirements as early as possible to maximize the time to prepare their dissertation proposal and write the dissertation.

Submit a dissertation proposal (10-15 pages) accompanied by an annotated bibliography about the dissertation topic and have it approved by the dissertation reading committee after an oral presentation/examination, which is recognized as one of the milestones. A proposal should specify the theoretical and empirical significance of the proposed topic of inquiry situated in the existing scholarship, the relevant data (or plans for data collection), the theoretical approach, methods of investigation, and hypotheses. It should present a planned timeline for completing the dissertation. The annotated bibliography is cumulative and should include, but would not be limited to, the references given in the dissertation proposal. The annotation can be a paragraph (or more, if needed) for each reference. This process should be completed by the spring quarter of the fourth year before TGR.

Pass the University Oral Examination (dissertation defense). General regulations governing the oral examination are found in Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures ( GAP 4.7.1 ). The candidate is examined on questions related to the dissertation after acceptable parts have been completed in draft form.

Following university policy ( GAP 4.8.1 ), submit a dissertation demonstrating the ability to undertake original research based on primary and secondary materials in Japanese.

Submit two qualifying papers (QPs) that present each student’s original research in two different subfields of linguistics discussing Japanese linguistic topics and data. The length of the paper depends on the topic but generally should be about 25-30 pages. It is important, however, that the paper is not evaluated by its length but by its quality. It should contain a clear statement of the issue in question, the motivation for the inquiry in relation to the existing body of work, cogent arguments supported by compelling analyses of relevant data and theoretical implications of the findings. The quality is expected to be equivalent to a paper accepted for presentation at a professional conference and/or publishable in conference proceedings or in a journal in linguistics. A QP can be an extension of a term paper, but its topic should be discussed with the student’s advisor prior to writing. It is strongly recommended that the student should seek at least two faculty members to be on the QP committee who will provide guidance for research and writing in the process, and who will evaluate the paper. If circumstances do not permit obtaining multiple members, consult the advisor. Students are encouraged to start planning and consulting advising faculty members early in the second year.

The first qualifying paper (QP1) should be approved by Spring quarter of the second year. To obtain approval of QP1 in time, a completed draft should be provided to the committee members at the beginning of Autumn quarter, if not earlier.

The second qualifying paper (QP2) should be approved by the Winter Quarter of the fourth year. To obtain approval of QP2 in time, a completed draft should be provided to the committee members at the beginning of Autumn quarter, if not earlier.

Failure to receive approval for QPs in time may lead to dismissal from the program. These relatively late dates for approval are given in case the full-year TA duties during the second year may affect students’ writing progress. Students are urged to start planning for QPs and complete their QP requirements as early as possible to maximize the time to prepare their dissertation proposals and their dissertations.

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Japanese Literature and Cultural Studies

EALAC has long been known for its leadership in Japanese literature and culture, beginning with Donald Keene (university professor emeritus), Ivan Morris, and then Edward Seidensticker, who pioneered the field; today it continues to produce many leading scholars of Japanese literature and visual culture. The program is outstanding both in modern and in premodern studies, enabling the students to receive extensive training both linguistically and across different periods and disciplines. The program is well known for teaching various levels and styles, from advanced modern Japanese to classical Japanese, kanbun, and calligraphic script, all of which is supplemented by strong programs in Chinese and Korean. The program promotes critical methodologies and interdisciplinary or comparative studies, combining, for example, literature with film, visual culture, gender studies, cultural history, and religion, often working across one or more countries in Asia.

A major characteristic of the program is the interface of the studies of literature, cultural history, and media. Haruo Shirane is an expert in classical, medieval and early modern Japanese literature and cultural history, with special interest in poetry and prose fiction, intermedial relations (oral storytelling, painting/print culture, dance, and theater in relationship to literary texts), and the role of popular culture in canon formation. David Lurie, teaching both literature and history, is a leading authority in ancient Japanese history and literature, script and writing systems, linguistic thought, and Japanese myths. In premodern studies, they are aided by Wei Shang (premodern Chinese literature), Michael Como, Bernard Faure, and Max Moerman (early and medieval Japanese religion), and Matthew McKelway (medieval and Edo painting).

Paul Anderer is an authority on 20th century Japanese literature, particularly fiction, literary criticism, and film. Tomi Suzuki is an expert in 19th and 20th century fiction, literary and cultural criticism, and intellectual history. They are complemented by Carol Gluck, Greg Pflugfelder, and Paul Kreitman (19th and 20th c. Japanese history), Jonathan Reynolds (modern Japanese visual culture and architecture), and Marilyn Ivy (anthropology), not to mention those in other modern East Asian literatures and cultural studies, particularly Theodore Hughes (modern Korean literature) and Lydia Liu (modern Chinese and literature).

EALAC created almost the entire first generation of Japanese literature scholars after World War II. The Japanese literature and visual culture program at Columbia has continued its leadership role, training and placing, in just the last two decades, more than forty PhDs graduates in institutions of higher learning throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, more than any other program by far. Graduates of the program occupy positions of leadership both in the field and at many of the leading universities such as UCLA, Stanford, Columbia, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, Washington University at St. Louis, Boston University, University of British Columbia, Oxford, SOAS, and University of Hong Kong, among others.

The Japanese literature and cultural studies program also has a MA double degree program with Waseda University which allows PhD students to study and train in Japan for a year, earning a MA as they work toward a PhD at Columbia. Visiting scholars from various Japanese universities also offer workshops and courses on a regular basis.

The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture, affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, regularly sponsors lectures, workshops, performances, and other events that bring prominent scholars, artists, musicians, and other cultural figures to campus from elsewhere in North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia.

With the C.V. Starr East Asian Library, Columbia University has one of the strongest library collections in the world for Japanese literature and culture. It has particularly extensive holdings of books and journals in premodern and modern literature, history, and religion.  Its Makino Mamoru Collection on the History of East Asian Film is an important resource for scholarship not only on cinema and popular culture, but also on many other aspects of modern Japanese history.

Our location in New York City also creates close connections to the Japan Society, Asia Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and New York Public Library, as well as providing exposure to a wide variety of Japan-related film screenings, gallery shows, talks by writers, and live performances by both traditional and contemporary artists throughout the year.

EALAC Japanese Literature and Cultural Studies – List of Alumni 

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EALAC – Columbia University 407 Kent Hall 1140 Amsterdam Ave. MC 3907  New York, NY 10027 tel:212.854.5027

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• Study in Kobe

Graduate School Admissions - Doctoral programmes

In order to enter Degree programs, students have to take and pass the entrance examinations and an interview conducted by Kobe University. Following are the general information on eligibility, selection method, and admission information for each Graduate School.

Eligibility

Applicants must be foreign nationals who do not hold Japanese nationality and have successfully completed 16 years of school education or the equivalent. Those who are expected to graduate by March 31 of the year they are entering are also eligible.

• For detailed information on each Graduate School’s eligibility requirements, please refer to each School’s website.

Selection Method

Students are selected by academic records and the result of the paper based and oral examinations conducted by each Graduate School. The types of examinations vary according to each Graduate School.

• Many international students choose to enter Kobe University as a Research Student non-degree seeking student conduct research while improving their Japanese language ability for about 1 year, and then move on to a degree-seeking program after passing the entrance examination.

How to Apply

1. find your future supervisor.

Graduate Schools either do or do not require students Graduate School, but it is always better to decide the faculty member by whom you wish to be supervised, considering your own research topic. Check the information about the faculty members at Master’s Programs and Doctoral Programs and contact the faculty member directly.

How to find the future academic supervisor?

• Make use of our Directory of Researchers in Kobe University .
• When contact information is not available on the website of Graduate School, contact the Student Affairs Section of relevant Graduate School .

2. Obtain Application Information and Application Forms

When to request.

Application information is usually available on the Graduate School website and also on the website of Japan Study Support. However in order to apply, applicants have to obtain the original application forms. Each Graduate School distributes application forms at certain period usually once a year or twice a year.

Where and How to request

Applicants can obtain application forms either by visiting the office of each Graduate School directly or requesting by post. When requesting by post, be sure to enclose a return envelop with the necessary stamp attached to the Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School.

• The return envelop should be a size that can enclose an A4-size Legal size without folding the forms.
• Please attach the necessary amount of stamp to the return envelop.
• For detailed information, please check the website of the relevant Graduate School.

When to apply

Each Graduate School has certain application period usually once a year or twice a year.

Where and how to apply

Send the Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School the necessary application materials by post. Must reach by the deadline, late arrival would not be considered for admission.

• Students who have different educational background than that of shown on page 59 need to be pre-assessed before application. Please inquire Student Affairs Section of respective Graduate School for detailed information.

4. Take the Examination

Each Graduate School has its own examination schedule. All examinations are conducted at Kobe University. Applicants should make arrangement to come to Kobe at this time.

5. Acceptance

How to find out the result.

In early March, applicants will receive an admission notice and other information by post if they passed the examination. Applicants who failed the examination will not receive the notice. If accepted, applicants must make the payment of admission fee by bank transfer, and submit the necessary documents.

6. Prepare for Coming to Japan

Prepare passport and visa (when applicants reside overseas).

In order to enter Japan, international students must have a passport and a “College Student Visa”. Please refer to “Procedure for Entering Japan” for details on how to apply for the visa.

Secure Accommodation

There are University housings and other accommodation that students can apply for through the university, but these rooms are limited. Please use the “Kobe University Student Apartment Search System” to look for private apartment. This system has been established with Nasic National Student Information Center for Kobe University international students. Students can also use this search system to reserve an apartment from overseas. It is available in 4 languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean) and will also support students with lease agreement. For more information please refer to “Housing information”.

Students can also search apartment through Kobe University Co-op Service Center after arrival in Kobe.

Reserve an airplane ticket and purchase a traveler’s insurance. (Recommended but optional) (when applicants resides overseas)

7. after arriving in japan, come to kobe university during the designated period to complete the necessary entrance procedures., participate in new student orientation, classes begin, make payment of tuition fees, for more information.

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Guide to Studying PhD in Japan for International Students

Want to study for a PhD in Japan but not sure where to start? This article introduces all you need to know about PhD in Japan, from what programs are like, admission requirements, and what English PhD programs in Japan there are. 

First Published: 2021-05-17 Updated: 2024-05-31

Table of Contents

Why should you study for a PhD in Japan?

• Program Types, Durations, and Admission Requirements

PhD in Japan for International Students

Phd programs in japan in english, what is the applicable visa to study in japan, what is the cost to study for a phd in japan, are there scholarships for phds in japan.

Japanese graduate schools are called 大学院 (Daigakuin) . They consists of Master’s courses, 修士 (Shuushi Katei), to obtain a Master’s Degree, “修士号 (Shuushigo)” and PhD courses, 博士課程 (Hakushi Katei) to obtain a PhD, 博士号 (Hakushigo) . 

In this article, we will focus on PhD Programs in Japan, what they are like, and what English PhD programs are there for international students. A person who has graduated from a PhD course is called 先生 (Sensei) or 博士 (Hakase) - Dr. in Japan. 

The reasons for why you should study for a PhD in Japan are pretty much the same reasons for choosing Japan to study abroad , whether it’s for undergraduate studies, Japanese language studies, or graduate school studies. The reasons include:

• World-Ranked Universities in Japan like University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and Nagoya University that rank among the Top 100 globally.
• Japanese universities excel at research and technology. Many universities are research-intensive which makes for a great study environment, especially for post-graduate education and post-doc. 
• There are Japanese graduate schools offering English PhD programs. Many universities offer Japanese classes (in many cases mandatory, but higher levels optional) to help international students integrate into life in Japan. 
• Scholarships for international students, including for PhD courses.
• Helpful if you are planning to continue working in Japan after completing your PhD. Also good for career prospects outside Japan.
• Endless opportunities to expose yourself to Japanese culture and tradition. There’s no better way to learn about Japan than being at the source. On weekends and holidays, take the chance to explore. 

Are you convinced to study for a PhD in Japan yet? From hereon, we will introduce in detail PhD programs in Japan. 

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What are phd programs in japan like .

The doctoral program, better known as PhD, is the highest level of education to exist. A PhD is an advanced degree earned in various fields after successfully completing a research thesis. An individual can generally opt to study for a PhD after completion of a Master’s program. 

In Japan, PhD is called 博士号 (Hakushigo) . PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy”, and graduates are bestowed the title of “Doctor (Dr.)”. In Japan, Doctor (Dr.) is called 博士 (Hakase), though most people go by 先生 (Sensei) . 

Program Types, Their Durations, and Admission Requirements

The duration of a PhD program depends on your choice of subject and research thesis. Typically, a PhD program takes around 5 years to complete for those who graduated from a 4 years long undergraduate program. Specialized fields like medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and dental have 6 years long Bachelor’s degree programs and no Master’s program, and therefore their PhD programs are 4 years long. 

In Japan, PhD programs are commonly split into 2 phases. Depending on their highest level of education (Master’s or Bachelor’s), students have an option of starting from the first phase or skipping to the second phase. 

First Phase is called First Half of a PhD Program (2 Years)

Called 博士前期課程 (Hakushi Zenki Katei) , the first phase’s curriculum includes studies to obtain a Master’s degree , which is a prerequisite requirement for most PhD programs. The first phase is a 2 Years long program.

According to JASSO , one of the following admission requirements must be satisfied to be eligible to join this program:

• Graduates from 4 Years long university program (Japanese university)
• Graduates with Bachelor’s degree from at least 3 Years long foreign university program; 5 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Graduates of Bachelor’s degree from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education
• Graduates from National Defense Academy of Japan, Japan Coast Guard Academy, Meteorological College, or any ministry or agency established academy or college
• Graduates from international schools in Japan that are officially recognised as being equivalent to an overseas university
• Those who have completed specialized coursework at designated vocational schools
• Those who have completed 16 Years of formal study in their home country; 18 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Those who have completed 16 Years of formal study in Japan via online curriculum offered by an overseas institution; 18 Years for medical, dental, pharmaceutical or veterinary 
• Those who have completed studies at school under Japan’s old education system
• Those aged above 22 who are admitted based on individual admission qualification selection

Second Phase is called Second Half of a PhD Program

Master’s degree holders can skip the first phase to join the second phase. Called 博士後期課程 (Hakushi Kouki Katei) , the second phase is typically 3 Years long , but 4 Years for medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and dental fields. 

• Graduates with a Master’s, professional degree, or equivalent foreign degree
• Graduates with a Master’s or professional degree from an overseas institution done via online curriculum while living in Japan
• Graduates with degrees equivalent to a Master’s or professional degree from international schools in Japan recognised as being equivalent to an overseas graduate school
• Graduates with Bachelor’s or equivalent degree who have completed minimum 2 Years research at university or research facility having the same academic prowess as a Master’s degree holder
• Those with a degree equivalent to a Master’s degree from United Nations University 
• Those aged 24 or above who are admitted based on individual admission qualification selection

Most graduate school programs in Japan are taught entirely in Japanese. For international students seeking to join these programs, demonstration of a high level of Japanese proficiency, at least N1, is required. This is to ensure that you are able to understand the curriculum in order to complete the course. 

Fortunately, with the increasing number of international students in Japan, many universities have started internationalizing their programs with English-taught courses , including for PhD. There are programs taught mostly in English with supplementary Japanese, as well as programs taught completely in English. 

For English-taught PhD programs, students may be asked to demonstrate their English language proficiency with English proficiency certifications like IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC. This requirement may be exempt for individuals whose undergraduate or Master’s degree shows high mastery in English.

Different universities offer PhD programs in different fields of study, so you will need to do a thorough search to find one that matches your interest. JASSO’s Search for Schools tool is incredibly helpful for this. You can search for educational institutions that accept international students by degree (undergraduate, Master’s, PhD), school type (public, national, private), school location, field of study, medium of instruction, etc. 

To further help you, we have curated a list of 6 PhD programs in Japan which are popular, along with the names of universities offering these programs. 

Visa, Tuition Fees and Scholarships for PhD in Japan

The applicable status of residence for international students in Japan is 留学 (Ryuugaku), aka “Study Abroad”. 

Coming from Overseas

If you are coming from overseas to study for a PhD in Japan, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through your university in order to obtain a Visa to enter the country. Upon entering Japan, you will be bestowed a status of residence and a residence card, which acts as your identity card.

Read more about Japan Visa, Status of Residence, and Residence Card here .

Existing Resident in Japan

If you are an existing resident in Japan, you will not need a Visa or a Certificate of Eligibility, which are required for first entry into Japan. 

If you are already an international student in Japan, and planning to advance your studies to Master’s or PhD, then you may need to apply for “Extension of Period of Stay”, which can be done easily online now. Learn how to do it step by step here .

If you are a resident in Japan, but on a different type of status of residence, say the most common “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” or some other type of work visa, then you will need to apply for a “Change of Status of Residence”. This can also be done online now with a My Number Card and IC card reader. 

In Japan, universities and graduate schools can be divided into 3 types of institutions - national, public and private. The admission and tuition fees for each type of institution is different with national schools having the lowest cost. 

In Japan, the first year’s cost for university and graduate schools is higher than the subsequent years. This is because applicants need to pay an admission fee in addition to the year’s tuition fee. 

The first year, aka admission year, cost for PhD that consists of that year’s tuition fee and an admission fee is:

• Approx. 820,000 Yen for National Institution
• Approx. 900,000 Yen for Public Institution
• Approx. 850,000 Yen (medical studies) or 1,100,000 Yen (non-medical studies for Private Institutions

Tuition fees will vary between universities so be sure to check the particulars when applying. 

【Helpful Reading】

• For differences between national, public and private universities in Japan.
• For the cost breakdown of studying abroad in Japan, including tuition fees and living costs.

Yes, there are scholarships for PhDs in Japan. According to JASSO , there are altogether 119 PhD program scholarships for international students for 2023 - 2024. Among the 119, 12 are available to apply before coming to Japan, and the remaining 107 can only be applied for after coming to Japan. 

Read more about Japanese scholarships and how to apply for them here . 

Education plays a crucial role in personal, social, and economic development. Achieving a PhD is sure to improve your confidence, greatly enhance your knowledge, and will make some higher level jobs available to you. After obtaining a PhD, many people choose to continue their research in universities or research centers as post-doc researchers. There are also many other consultation jobs available that requires your expertise. 

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Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

East Asian Languages and Cultures

Phd in chinese or japanese.

The PhD in Chinese or Japanese is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching and research at the college and university level. Students in the PhD program will attain a deeper and broader understanding of East Asian languages (practical fluency in two is required in some cases). They will receive specialized training in the research skills and theoretical constructs of a particular field. They will also become acquainted with the unique demands and joys of teaching, which requires breadth and inventiveness as well as expertise.

Admission Requirement

MA degree in a relevant discipline.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 30 credit hours beyond those taken for the MA, in departmental courses, as follows: five courses (15 credit hours) at the 400 and 500 levels, of which a minimum of two courses must be at the 500 level; one course (3 credit hours) in research methods/bibliography; and four seminar courses (16 credit hours), including the seminar in East Asian Studies scholarship. Please note that fourth-year language courses do not count toward the five required 400-500-level courses. A dissertation is required.

A minimum of 12 to 15 credit hours of course work in an outside (non-EALC) field, such as comparative literature, fine arts, folklore, history, political science, religious studies, or other approved departments. Examination in the minor if prescribed by the department or program concerned.

Language Requirements

Before the qualifying examination, students must demonstrate proficiency, both oral and reading, in the student's major language, as well as reading proficiency in French, German, or another European language relevant to their research area.  For some areas of research, proficiency in a second modern East Asian language or a classical East Asian language is necessary.  Specific program requirements will be determined in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s Advisory Committee, according to departmental guidelines.

Qualifying Examinations

Upon completion of course work, two written examinations in subject fields (one in the major field of specialization, one in a historical period of the major cultural area), and one oral exam.

Dissertation

On an approved subject in the major language or culture. Up to 15 credit hours may be taken for the dissertation. Following approval by the research committee, the dissertation proposal is presented orally to the department.

Final Examination

Upon completion of the dissertation, a final oral examination on the dissertation and major area.

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UCLA Japanese Studies

Within the past decade ucla has significantly expanded its programs in japanese studies. it now provides graduate students with a multi-faceted approach to japan that includes language study, departmental specializations, and programmatic approaches that cut across departments..

For undergraduates the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers a program leading to the B.A. degree in Japanese, in which the emphasis is on the language and culture of Japan.

Departments

Anthropology, as a member of our small graduate cohort admitted each year, you will join a tight-knit and dynamic research community with research projects that span the globe and incorporate diverse media and methods in their work..

Departmental interest groups provide a rallying point for research that cross cuts not only the four fields of anthropology, but also many other domains in the physical and social sciences and humanities. Each interest group hosts a diverse selection of speakers from nationally and internationally acclaimed institutions each year creating a vibrant opportunity to participate in and shape the debate in issues critical to contemporary anthropology.

Mariko Tamanoi

Mariko Tamanoi, Professor in the Anthropology Department, is author of Under the Shadow of Nationalism: Politics and Poetics of Rural Japanese Women (1998) and Memory Maps: The State and Manchuria in Postwar Japan (2009) as well as editor of Crossed Histories: Manchuria in the Age of Empire, which has been translated to Japanese. Her publications also include articles in the Journal of Asian Studies, Ethnology, Annual Review of Anthropology, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Critical Asian Studies, Japan Focus, and American Ethnologist. She is currently a member of the Editorial Board for Positions: East Asian Cultures Critique, and an associate of the e-journal Japan Focus: The Asia Pacific Journal.

Architecture and Urban Design

Redefining architectural education in a major research university, we emphasize interaction among the components of our program, design, technology, and critical studies (history and theory), along with the other departments in the school of the arts and architecture and the larger university..

We are especially strong in examining the theory and impact of computerized technology on design, and the latest developments in robotics, and the fabrication of building components. Critical studies at UCLA makes a crucial contribution to the evaluation of new directions in design and issues of contemporary practice, including pressing environmental concerns. We are increasing our interest in cross-cultural studies, exchange programs, and cross industry research. Our undergraduate major allows us to further expand and enrich both our faculty and student body.

Hitoshi Abe

Hitoshi Abe, Professor and Chair in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at the School of Arts and Architecture and Chair in the Study of Contemporary Japan and the Director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies. Since 1992, when Dr. Hitoshi Abe won first prize in the Miyagi Stadium Competition and established Atelier Hitoshi Abe, he has maintained an active international design practice based in Sendai, Japan, as well as a schedule of lecturing and publishing, which place him among the leaders in his field. Some of his most recent publications include Hitoshi Abe (Phaidon, 2009), Hitoshi Abe Flicker (Toto shuppan, 2005) and Project Book (Shokokusha, 2005). Known for architecture that is spatially complex and structurally innovative, the work of Atelier Hitoshi Abe has been published internationally and received numerous awards in Japan. His most recent works in progress include a departmental building on the New Campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).

The Department of Art is committed to a professional art training within the context of a liberal arts university. Visual artists are responsible for some of the most provocative and enduring expressions of culture.

At UCLA, emerging artists are provided with the tools they need to express themselves in ways that are meaningful in the social context in which they live and work. The department attracts gifted and motivated students who thrive in an environment that encourages autonomy. They are drawn not only to the outstanding creative faculty, the University's resources, and its location in one of the world's leading art centers, but also to a program that encourages them to develop as artists. The result is a distinguished list of graduates who have made significant contributions in their field.

Russell Ferguson

Russell Ferguson joined the Department of Art in January 2007, and was chair until 2013. From 2001, he was Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs, and Chief Curator, at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, where he remains an adjunct curator. From 1991 to 2001, he was at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, first as Editor, then as Associate Curator. He has organized many exhibitions. At the Hammer, these included The Undiscovered Country (2004), a survey of various approaches to representation in painting, as well as solo exhibitions by Larry Johnson (2009), Francis Alÿs (2007), Wolfgang Tillmans (2006), Patty Chang (2005), and Christian Marclay (2003). At the Museum of Contemporary Art, he organized In Memory of My Feelings: Frank O’Hara and American Art(1999), an exploration of the circle of artists that revolved around the poet, as well as survey exhibitions of the work of Liz Larner and Douglas Gordon (both 2001). With Kerry Brougher, he organized Open City: Street Photographs Since 1950 (2001) for The Museum of Modern Art, Oxford. Also with Brougher, he is the organizer of Damage Control: Art and Destruction since 1950 (2013) for the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington. He is the editor of two collections of critical writing: Discourses: Conversations in Postmodern Art and Culture, and Out There: Marginalization and Contemporary Cultures, both published by the MIT Press. He has written about the work of many contemporary artists, including Thomas Eggerer, Olafur Eliasson, Tony Feher, Rodney Graham, Cristina Iglesias, Damian Ortega, Laura Owens, and Gillian Wearing.

Asian Languages and Cultures

The department of asian languages and cultures (alc) at ucla offers an undergraduate major and minor in japanese and three different phd programs in japanese studies: the phd program in japanese literary and cultural studies, with specializations in classical and medieval literary culture, early modern literary and visual culture, and modern and contemporary literature and film; the phd in cultural and comparative studies with an interdisciplinary and comparative focus on japan; and the phd in buddhist studies with a focus on japanese buddhism..

For more information please visit the ALC department website at https://anthro.ucla.edu/academics/graduate/

William M. Bodiford

William M. Bodiford teaches courses on religion in the cultures of Japan and East Asia, and Buddhist Studies. His research spans the medieval, early modern, and contemporary periods of Japanese history. Currently he is investigating religion during the Tokugawa period, especially those aspects of Japanese culture associated with manuscripts, printing, secrecy, education, and proselytizing. Although many of his publications focus on Zen Buddhism (especially Soto Zen), he also researches Tendai and Vinaya Buddhist traditions, Shinto, folklore and popular religions, as well as Japanese martial arts and traditional approaches to health and physical culture. He is the author of Soto Zen in Medieval Japan (University of Hawai’i Press, 1993), of numerous articles on Dōgen and medieval Buddhism, and editor of several books on Buddhism including Going Forth: Visions of Buddhist Vinaya (University of Hawai’i Press, 2005).

Torquil Duthie

Torquil Duthie’s main area of specialization is the literature and cultural history of the Asuka and Nara periods. His research interests include early and classical Japanese poetry, myth, and historical writing, narrative theory and the representation of subjectivity in premodern Japanese literature, the role of literary culture in the representation of the state, and seventeenth and eighteenth century kokugaku (“native learning”) and its relationship to modern and contemporary philology and theory. He teaches classical Japanese and kanbun, and undergraduate classes and graduate seminars on a variety of premodern topics. He is the author of Man’yōshū and the Imperial Imagination in Early Japan (Brill, 2014), of a book of translated selections from the Kokinshū into Spanish, and of research articles in English and Japanese. He is currently working on a book on literary writing, ritual, and historiography in Early Japan, and on a translation into English of selections from the Kokinshū.

Michael Emmerich

Michael Emmerich’s scholarly interests in Japanese literature range from the classical, court-centered prose and poetry of the Heian period to the popular printed fiction of the early modern age, and on from there to the prose fiction of modern and contemporary times. His book The Tale of Genji: Translation, Canonization, and World Literature (Columbia University Press, 2013) examines the role that translations of Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) into early-modern and modern Japanese, and into English and other languages, have played in creating images of the tale over the past two centuries—reinventing it as a classic of both national and world literature. In addition to his many publications in English and Japanese on early modern, modern, and contemporary Japanese literature, Emmerich is the author of more than a dozen book-length translations of works by writers such as Kawabata Yasunari, Yoshimoto Banana, Takahashi Gen’ichiro, Akasaka Mari, Yamada Taichi, Matsuura Rieko, Kawakami Hiromi, Furukawa Hideo, and Inoue Yasushi.

Seiji M. Lippit

Seiji M. Lippit teaches courses on modern literature and film. His research interests include modernism, mass culture, urban space, minority literature, as well as representations of decolonization, occupation, and the transformation of national consciousness in postwar Japan. His publications include Topographies of Japanese Modernism (Columbia UP, 2002), an examination of modernist fiction in 1920s and 30s Japan, as well as the edited volume The Essential Akutagawa (Marsilio, 1999), an anthology of writings by the celebrated writer Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. He also edited the translation of contemporary philosopher and cultural critic Kojin Karatani's History and Repetition (Columbia UP, 2011). He is currently working on a book project entitled Postwar Tokyo: Capital of a Ruined Empire that examines the cultures of decolonization in Tokyo in the wake of empire’s collapse. Lippit received his A.B. in Literature from Harvard University and his PhD in Japanese literature from Columbia University.

Gender Studies

Gender studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary department that provides the unique opportunity to study culture and society from multiple intersecting perspectives that would not be possible within any single discipline..

Our interdisciplinary UCLA Gender Studies Department faculty and graduate students are engaged in theoretical and methodological innovations in a wide range of studies about gender around the world including indigenous, intersectional, legal, masculinity, media, post-colonial, queer, settler colonial, sexuality, and technoscience studies. We focus on these issues in Africa, Americas, Europe, and the Pacific region, as well as east, south, and west Asia. Our disciplinary affiliations include anthropology, ethnic studies, history, literature, and political science. As of July 2014 we have 11 core and 51 affiliated faculty members, plus 24 graduate students.

Other resources include the UCLA Center for the Study of Women and the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Program plus 17 departments, centers, and programs at other UC campuses .

Sharon Traweek

Sharon Traweek teaches and conducts research on 20th and 21st century “technosciences,” attending to their embodied gendered performance of subject formation of expertise, knowledge crafting, migration, and narrative practices, including their strategic engagements with the global political economies in which they are embedded. She is active is studies of the aftermath of the 3.11 quake, tsunami, and reactor failures. Her ethnographic, archival, and theoretical work is informed by feminist epistemology and science studies, plus debates about affect, governmentalitym intersectionality, performance, and practice. She is now engaged in or advising research collaborations based in Denmark, Japan, Sweden, UK, and the US. She has worked with graduate students engaged in studies of how media, public health, reproduction, science, sex work, and technology are part of Japanese nation-state formation from the 17th to 20th centuries. Former students and postdoctoral researchers with whom she has worked are now faculty members, researchers, and administrators at colleges and universities in Brazil, Ireland, Japan, Qatar, South Africa, Sweden, and the US.

The UCLA History Department is acknowledged as one of the great centers for the study of history in the world.

The Japan field constitutes a vital and respected part of the department, with a long history of distinguished scholarly activity, and dozens of graduates teaching at prestigious institutions throughout the country. Its current faculty (Hirano and Marotti) offer complementary approaches and cutting-edge research and instruction across the early modern and modern periods. Our highly selective graduate students form a collegial and energetic cohort, with a diversity of research interests and backgrounds, and receive flexible and comprehensive training facilitating innovative new work. Beyond the resources within the department, students avail themselves of research, instructional, and collaborative activities across the university and the region through a variety of interdisciplinary, regional and intercollegial institutes and exchanges.

Katsuya Hirano

Katsuya Hirano’s teaching and research explore the intersection between history and critical theory with a focus on questions of ideology, political economy, and subject/subjectivity. His first book, The Politics of Dialogic Imagination: Power and Popular Culture in Early Modern Japan, (Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 2013) outlines a general theory of the transformation in modes of subject-formation from the Tokugawa regime (1603-1868) to Japan’s first modern state, the early Meiji government, through an analysis centered on the regulation of popular culture. His current book project examines, through the prism of biopolitics, the correlative operations of capitalism and racism in the making of the Japanese empire. Taking the colonization of the Ainu people as the locus of analysis, the project explores the relation between the state’s drive for primitive accumulation (deterritorialization and reterritorialization of Ainu lands) and the construction and implementation of racial categories through academic (linguistic, economic, and anthropological) and legal discourse. The project ultimately seeks to deepen our understanding of the history of Ainu experiences through the perspectives of global histories of empire, capitalism, and colonialism. Hirano is also co-editing a translation volume with Professor Gavin Walker, entitled The Archive of Revolution: Marxist Historiography in Modern Japan. This volume will be the first major introduction of the rich yet long neglected Japanese Marxist historiography that played the decisive role in the formation of critical social science in modern Japan from the late 1920s to the 1970s. Lastly, Hirano has been conducting a series of interviews with the people who have been vocal about the seriousness of Fukushima nuclear disaster and calling for the abolition of nuclear power plants in Japan. He plans to publish them in English translation in the near future.

William Marotti

William Marotti, Assistant Professor in the Department of History. His publications include several journal articles, book chapters, reviews, commentaries and translations. He is currently working on two projects: Money, Trains, and Guillotines: Art and Revolution in 1960s Japan, which is a manuscript based on his dissertation due to be published by Duke University Press in Spring 2012. It is a historical investigation of the politics of culture in postwar Japan, viewed through an analysis centered on movements in avant-garde artistic production and performance; and “The Politics of Violence: Protest, Voice, and the Police in late-1960s Japan”, which is a second, complementary book project exploring the distinctive forms of activism which arose toward the end of the 1960s, and their complex struggles with the state over political recognition and legitimacy.

Established in 1911, the Department of Geography consistently ranks among the top departments in the United States.

Recognized internationally as a leader in research and education in both physical and human geo­graphy, the Department offers under­graduate degrees (B.A.) in Geography and Environ­mental Studies, and graduate degrees (M.A., Ph.D.) in Geography.

Lieba Faier

Lieba Faier is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her first book, Intimate Encounters: Filipina Women and the Remaking of Rural Japan (University of California Press, 2009) is an ethnography of cultural encounters among Filipina migrants and their Japanese families and communities in rural Nagano. She is working on a second book, currently entitled, The Work of Freedom: Bureaucratic Collaborations to Fight Human Trafficking to Japan, that focuses on ongoing efforts among NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations to fight the trafficking of migrant women to Japan. She is also part of The Matsutake Worlds Research Group, a collaborative research team studying matsutake commodity chains across the globe. She has published articles in the Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, American Ethnologist, Cultural Anthropology, Environment and Planning A, and Gender, Place, and Culture.

Founded in the depth of the Great Depression, UCLA Anderson School of Management now ranks among the top-tier business schools in the world.

An award-winning faculty renowned for research and teaching, highly selective admissions, successful alumni and world-class facilities combine to provide an extraordinary learning environment in the heart of Southern California. UCLA Anderson's faculty comprises outstanding educators and researchers who share their scholarship and expertise in areas such as accounting, decisions, operations and technology management, finance, global economics and management and organizations, marketing, and strategy. Leadership themes permeate the curriculum at UCLA Anderson. MBA students have many opportunities to develop leadership skills in safe surroundings. This includes working in teams on real world management challenges through the Applied Management Research and the Global Access Programs. There are also a multitude of leadership experiences available through the school's many student associations and activities.

George Abe is a lecturer and Faculty Director of the Strategic Management Research (SMR) Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. His teaching responsibilities include entrepreneurship, business plan development and field study program advisories. SMR is the field study program, required of all Executive MBA students. He was Business Development Manager for the UCLA Office of Intellectual Property, which is responsible for patent protection and commercialization of UCLA research. Previously, he was a venture partner with Palomar Ventures, a VC firm in Santa Monica, California. Before Palomar, he was a Business Development Manager at Cisco Systems. Prior to that he was with Infonet Services Corporation (NYSE:IN, now BT) where he designed Infonet's IP data service. From 1998 until 2006, he was a member of the board of directors of Switchcore AB, a publicly traded fabless semiconductor designer in Sweden. He has also held board of director positions with various startup companies and not-for-profit organizations. He is the author of Residential Broadband, which presents an analysis of high-speed residential networking, published by Cisco Press.

Mariko Sakakibara

Mariko Sakakibara, Professor of Management at the Anderson School of Management specializing in Strategy. Her book, Can Japan Compete?, 224 pp., (Perseus Publishing, 2001) was selected as one of the “Books of the Year” by The Economist (2000), featured on the front page of The New York Times (Feb. 2001), and was a finalist at the WH Smith Book Awards in the business category (April 2001). It was also translated into Chinese, Japanese and Korean. She focuses her research on alliances, innovation, entrepreneurship, and multinational corporate strategy. She teaches business strategy, international business and innovation, and initiated a study-trip progam to Japan for the student in all management programs, She is also currently on the Faculty Advisory Committee for the International Institute and the Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies at UCLA, and Area Editor for Journal of International Business Studies and on the Editorial Board of Research Policy

Political Science

Michael thies.

Michael Thies, Associate Professor in the Political Science Department. His most recent book publication is Japan Transformed: Political Change and Economic Restructuring. (Princeton University Press, 2010). He is currently the Chair of the International Institute Undergraduate Area Studies Interdepartmental Programs (East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle East &North African Studies, Southeast Asian Studies) at UCLA and is Chair of the Gabriel Almond Prize Committee for the Best Dissertation in Comparative Politics at the American Political Science Association.

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• Graduate Studies in A&S

Japanese Graduate Programs

Requirements for students who matriculated in fl22 or earlier.

The Japanese section of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures provides a limited number of highly qualified graduate students with the opportunity to pursue intensive programs of study leading to the MA in Japanese, the PhD in Japanese language and literature, and the joint PhD in Japanese and comparative literature.

The goal of these programs is to produce scholars well-trained in Japanese language, firmly grounded in the linguistic and literary traditions, and thoroughly conversant with critical discourses (indigenous and western) relevant to their fields. Students who complete the program at the PhD level have extended first-hand exposure to the modern societies whose languages, literatures, and cultures they study and significant teaching experience in both the language and the literature classroom.

PhD in Japanese Language and Literature

The PhD in Japanese Language and Literature at Washington University provides students with a solid foundation in all periods and forms of Japanese literature while requiring expertise in one’s research concentration. Students select a complementary minor field in a second Asian literary tradition or another area of Japanese Studies as appropriate. Given present faculty strengths, students are encouraged to focus on Japanese literature of the twentieth century, while appreciating the strong “traditionalist” current that marks much of this literature.

Joint PhD with Comparative Literature

A PhD in Japanese and Comparative Literature is offered jointly with the Program in Comparative Literature. The focus of this program is comparison of the contents, theoretical bases, and methodologies of Japanese literature and a second literature (Western or non-Western), within the context of a familiarity of the cultural context and historical background of the literatures, and the critical and historical methodology of modern literary study.

Which program is for me?

Students who are primarily interested in literature as a general field of study, which includes the study of critical theory and methodology and at least one literature in addition to Japanese, should choose our highly successful PhD Program in Japanese and Comparative Literature. In addition, the department now offers the option of deep training in Japanese literature with a second field in another East Asian literature or in Japanese studies in another discipline: history, anthropology, art history, or film and media studies. Students whose interests are less comparative and more focused on Japan should choose this PhD Program in Japanese Language and Literature.

Students in both doctoral programs will have a variety of teaching experiences, including language teaching at several levels, grading essays in English, leading discussion sections, and giving lectures. When available, students will also have the opportunity to teach or to team-teach a course under the supervision of a faculty member.

Preference will be given to applicants who have the MA degree in a relevant discipline and area and have native or advanced competence in the language of their major literature and reading competence in at least one other research language. However, students who have unusually rich undergraduate backgrounds may apply for these programs after completing the BA in Japanese or in a related field.

Application process for joint program with Comparative Literature

Prospective students interested in pursuing a joint program with Comparative Literature should apply through the pertinent home department. On your application you will be able to find a degree program for all of the joint degrees, with the home department listed first and Comparative Literature listed second. When you go to "Select A Program," you will first choose "Office of Graduate Studies in Arts and Sciences" as the Academic Division from the top drop-down menu, then under the department of East Asian Languages and Cultures you will see options for Chinese or Japanese. You should send your application materials to East Asian Languages and Cultures. It will, however, be vetted by both the home department and Comparative Literature.

Graduate Resources

See commonly used resources here, or SEE ALL EALC RESOURCES .

PhD in Japanese Requirements

learn about the requirements for completing an PhD in Japanese

PhD in Japanese and Comparative Literature

learn about the requirements for completing an PhD in Japanese and comparative literature

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Study Abroad

Exchange program at tsukuba university.

Thanks to a long-standing academic exchange agreement with the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsukuba University ( http://www.hass.tsukuba.ac.jp/en ), we are able to nominate one graduate student annually for a period of up to a year of advanced study at one of Japan's finest universities, located approximately an hour north of Tokyo.

The student, who will typically be completing his/her MA program here at Washington University, will be able to enroll in appropriate courses and engage in independent study under the mentorship of Tsukuba faculty and graduate students. The exchange affords an unparalleled opportunity to advance one's Japan-related studies while improving language skills across the spectrum.

Tuition will be waived, and the nominated student may apply for funding administered through Tsukuba that will help defray travel and living expenses.

Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (Yokohama, Japan)

The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) offers an intensive, 10-month program of study in advanced spoken and written Japanese. A 7-week summer session is also available.  For more information, click here .

The graduate program at WashU is small in terms of its student numbers, but large in terms of the wealth of knowledge that can be gleaned there. While at WashU, I was able to gain teaching experience in literature under the guidance of both Professors Copeland and Marcus, which allowed me to enter my current teaching assignment in East Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with relative ease and confidence.

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Plan your course

Graduate orientation.

Find out more about graduate orientation at the Faculty of Arts and register to attend your graduate welcome and reception.

The University's official source of course and subject information – consult handbook to learn about course details, prerequisites, assessment information, contact hours and timetable details.

Scholarships and prizes

The Faculty of Arts offers a unique range of scholarships to provide scholars with opportunities for development and research in the humanities, social sciences and languages.

Course planning tool

Explore your study options and decide which subjects and major(s), minors and/or specialisations are right for you.

Need help planning your course?

If you're having any trouble, get in touch with Stop 1 for a course planning appointment or to access the full range of student services. You're welcome to call, visit or chat online.

View the academic calendar and important dates throughout semesters.

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A central resource with everything you need to support your studies, admin and uni life.

Postgraduate Funding Search

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Hiroyuki Nakagawa Cambridge Graduate Scholarship in Japanese Studies

This scholarship is available to PhD applicants of any nationality pursuing a PhD in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (Japanese Studies) at the University of Cambridge. It is tenable at any College.

This scholarship is offered in partnership with Nakagawa General Association.

Award details

Trust scholarships do not automatically fund the optional writing-up period (if applicable). Scholars will be able to apply for a brief period of extension funding, should it be required at the end of their scholarship.

Eligibility

Subject area is Japanese Studies

Application Process

The Trust’s awards period runs from March to July and is an ongoing process throughout that period. We aim to make our awards as early as possible, but some of our partner funded awards can take time, and sometimes when offers are declined we may be able to offer them elsewhere. Applicants will remain under consideration until the end of the awards period. We are not able to contact unsuccessful applicants. If you have not been contacted by the Trust by the end of the awards period, you should assume that your application has not been successful.

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Administrative affairs   |   UW News blog

September 6, 2024

Statement from UW President Cauce on killing of recent UW graduate in West Bank

The following is a statement from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce on the killing of recent UW graduate Aysenur Eygi in the West Bank:

“This morning brought the awful news that recent UW graduate Aysenur Eygi was reportedly killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank. My heart goes out to Aysenur’s family, friends and loved ones. Aysenur was a peer mentor in psychology who helped welcome new students to the department and provided a positive influence in their lives. This is the second time over the past year that violence in the region has taken the life of a member of our UW community and I again join with our government and so many who are working and calling for a ceasefire and resolution to the crisis.”

Contact Victor Balta at [email protected]

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