Kobe Institute of Computing (KIC)

Guidelines for Fully Online Course Program
Graduate School of Information Technology
Department of Information Systems

For ICT innovator Course2023 ver3.0

Fully Online Course Program

KIC offers the Fully Online Course Program for students. With
the Program, students can take online, all the subjects requiredfor completion of KIC Regular Course Program, in order toobtain a master's degree (Master of Information Systems(Professional)). No need to commute to school.
※”Online” refers to the situation in which a terminal, such as a personal computer, is connected to the Internet.

KIC‘s online classes are interactive remote classes. Lectures and seminars areconducted by using a web conferencing application, Zoom Cloud Meetings, asstandard.
-

Normally, the term of the Regular course program is two years, but it can becompleted in three or four years in combination with the Long-Term Course Program.

-Students who live within commuting distance can also take the Full Online CourseProgram.

-Students can enroll in the Program while working.

-Interactive lectures and research guides are provided online, unlike the conventional
non-interactive "correspondence course program".

Type of Course Program
TypeDescriptions

Regular Course

A HyFlex (Hybrid-Flexible) learning system that allows students to take courses both inProgram

person and online (simultaneous broadcasting system). In some cases, video learning
may be added to the Program. The standard completion term is two years.

Full Online

The courses are delivered online. Students aim to complete the program in theCourse Program

standard completion term of two years. No need to commute to KIC.

Long-term

Students who have difficulty completing the program within the standard two-year

Course Program

study period, such as-Those who have a full-time job-

Those who are engaged in childcare, nursing care, etc.

-

Those who are engaged in overseas work or activities, such as stationing
abroad or serving in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV).

For these students, the program aims to be completed in a planned manner over a
period of 3 or 4 years, which exceeds the standard period of study.
The total amount of tuition fee will be reduced. The tuition fee is calculated by dividing
the total amount of reduction by the length of the long-term study period.

1Regular Course Program（A HyFlex learning system※）and
Fully Online Course Program
Please see below for how the Regular Course Program (A HyFlex learning system) differs from the
Fully Online Course Program.
※

Hyflex" stands for "Hybrid and Flexible. Under the Regular Course Program, students can take a combination of threemode learning: face-to-face (interactive), online (interactive), and video (reverse instruction).

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Program Schedule◇ The schedule of the two years master’s program comprises the following important events other thanlectures and seminars.
The 1st Year (M1)
Orientation

Entrance

Curriculum/CeremonyAdministration

LabAssignment

The Second Year (M2)
Research
OutcomePresentation

Research Plan

Midterm

Presentation

Presentation

Master’s

Graduation/

ThesisDegreeDefenseConferment◇ One academic year is divided into six terms. Each course, with some exceptions, is completed in oneterm.
ICT Innovator Course / Academic year starts in October

Language： English

Autumn 1stAutumn

Autumn 3rd

Spring 1st

Spring 2nd

Spring 3rdterm

2nd term

term

term

term

term

Oct, Nov

Dec, JanFeb, Mar

Apr, May

Jun, JulAug, Sep◇Weekly Schedule- Classes are offered Monday through Saturday (excluding national holidays).
- In the ICT Innovator Course (Fall enrollment), all classes are offered from 1st to 5th period.
- In the ICT Professional Course (Spring enrollment), classes after 6th period are offered online
only.
- A Specific Theme Study will be determined by consultation with each student based on his or her
availability.
MondayTuesday

WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayHyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlex

HyFlexHyFlex

HyFlexOffered Online

Offered Online

Offered Online

Offered Online

JapaneseJapaneseJapaneseJapaneseclasses Only

classes Only

classes Only

classes Only

Offered Online

Offered Online

Offered Online

Offered Online

JapaneseJapaneseJapaneseJapaneseclasses Only

classes Only

classes Only

classes Only

1st Class
09:20 to10:50
2nd Class
11:00 to12:30
3rd Class
13:30 to15:00
4th Class
15:10 to16:40
5th Class
16:50 to18:20
6th Class
18:50 to20:20
7th Class
20:30 to22:00

OfferedOnline
Japaneseclasses Only
OfferedOnline
Japaneseclasses Only

3No ClassNotes on Full Online Course Program
Students who are going to apply for the Full Online Course Program should note the following information
for registering lectures, seminars and so on.
〇Applicable

Classes△Negotiable

Interactive Online

In-person

Learning

Learning（Live）（Real）＜Compulsory＞Tankyu Practice〇×＜Compulsory＞Engineering Ethics

〇×〇

×〇

×

Elective Subjects〇

×Examination of Subject〇

×

Observation-cum-study

△△

Class

＜Compulsory＞Specific Theme
Study A（seminar）＜Compulsory＞Specific Theme
Study B（seminar）

Events×Not applicable〇Applicable△Negotiable

×Not applicable

Interactive Online

In-person

Learning（Real）（Live）

Learning〇〇

Curriculum Orientation〇〇

Administration Orientation〇△Presentation of Research Outcome〇〇

Presentation of Research Plan〇〇Midterm Presentation〇〇

Master’s Thesis Defense〇〇〇〇Events
Entrance Ceremony(ICT Innovator Course)

Graduation Ceremony/Degree Conferment- Lectures are held according to the teaching schedule based on Japan Standard Time(From 9:30 to22:00). The same applies to research guidance such as Specific Thema Study (seminars). Pleasebe careful if you are going to take classes from overseas where there is a time difference fromJapan.
- In some cases, research guidance may be held other than the specified class periods of KIC. Pleaseconsult your research supervisor about that.
- Please be reminded that students enrolled in the Fully Online Course Program are not allowed to use KIC

school facilities regularly, except for KIC library. If students wish to attend classes in KIC facilities or use
4KIC laboratories, they will be considered Regular Course Program students, and therefore be required toreturn the tuition fee that they were exempted from paying as a Fully Online Course student.
- In principle, students enrolled in Regular Course Program are not allowed to switch to Fully Online CourseProgram after filing.
- Students may borrow books from the KIC library. But, KIC does not accept postal borrowing/returning.

How to Enroll in Fully Online Course Program
Please fill out the "Application Form for Fully Online Course Program” attached to the Application
Guidelines and submit the Form along with your other application documents.
*Please be reminded that KIC does NOT accept- applying for the Full Online Course Program after filing the Entrance Application Form, and- changing to the Full Online Course Program after enrollment.

School Expenses
For those students who have taken the Fully Online Course Program, in total for two years, 400,000 JPY
will be reduced from the tuition fee.
School Expenses for Full Online Couse Program

Fully Online Course Program

FullyOnline

CourseProgramFirst

1,600,000

Entrance

Year

JPY

Tuition Fee(1,400,000 JPY)

Second1,400,000

Tuition Fee (1,400,000 JPY)

Year

JPY

in First

Fee

1,400,000

Entrance

JPY

Tuition Fee(1,200,000 JPY)

Second1,200,000

Tuition Fee (1,200,000 JPY)

Year

JPY

conjunction with the Tuition Exemption YearFee(200,000(200,000Comparison of Total School Expenses

Program

YearSchool

Descriptions

Expenses
1Regular Course Program

First
Second1,800,000

Entrance

Fee＋TuitionFee＋

JPY

Facility expenses

1,600,000

Tuition Fee＋Facility Expenses

JPY2

Regular Course Program

Total sum of

3,400,000

two years

JPY

First

1,600,000

Entrance

JPY

Facility expenses

1,400,000

Tuition Fee＋Facility Expenses

in conjunction with theTuition Exemption※1

SecondJPY
5Fee＋Tuition

Fee＋JPY)＋

JPY)＋

3

Fully

OnlineCourseTotal of two

3,000,000years

JPY

First

1,600,000

Program

Entrance Fee＋Tuition Fee

JPYSecond1,400,000

Tuition Fee

JPY4

FullyOnline

CourseTotal of two

3,000,000years

JPYFirst

1,400,000Program, if the Tuition
Exemption is granted

Entrance Fee＋Tuition Fee

JPYSecond

1,200,000

Tuition Fee

JPY5FullyOnline

Total of two

2,600,000years

JPY

CourseEligible students (International students are NOT permitted)

Program, if the Tuition

may apply for benefits up to 1,120,000 JPY for two-year period.

Exemption

That means the total school expenses could cost 1,480,000 JPYandtheBenefit (専 門 実 践 教 育for two years.

訓 練 給 付 金)※2 aregranted※1Tuition Exemption is a scholarship of 200,000 yen per year granted to privately-funded applicants of Japanesenationality who have completed the prescribed procedures. For foreign students, other 留学生支援奨学金 maybe available.
※2 Students who wish to apply for the Benefit(専門実践教育訓練給付金) must satisfy the required conditions.
For details, please ask the nearest "Hello Work” (Public employment security office).

FAQ
Q.

Can I complete all of the courses only online?

A.

Yes, you can. Some elective courses require face-to-face attendance, but it is possible tofulfill the requirements for graduation without selecting or registering for these courses.
Q.

Is there any difference between a degree earned through the Fully Online CourseProgram and a degree earned through the Regular Course Program?
A. No difference. In both Programs, the same Master of Science in Information Systems will
be earned.
Q.

Is this a “Correspondence Course Program”?

A. No, it isn’t. KIC’s Fully Online Course Program allows students to take online, lecturesand seminars (research guidance) of the Regular Course Program. It is not a "Correspondence
Course Program," but a program referred to in the Standards for the Establishment of6Universities, Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools, and Standards for the
Establishment of Professional Graduate Schools as consisting of "classes to be conducted inplaces other than classrooms/laboratories, using a variety of media at a high level which is.
Instead of one-way education, lectures, and research guidance are provided in an interactivemanner.
Q.

Can I take lectures whenever I want?

A.

Classes are conducted in accordance with the Japan-time schedule (From 9:30 to 22:00).

For details, please refer to Page 3 of the Guidelines. If you are taking an interactive online
class, you must attend the class at a designated time.
Q.

What are the requirements to complete the program (for the purpose of obtaining adegree)?
A.

Completion requirements are the same as for the Regular Course Program.

Q. Can I enroll from abroad?
A.

You can enroll from abroad. All entrance exams are also conducted online.

Courses and seminars (Specific Theme Study) are held according to the Japan-time schedule.
If you are planning to enroll from a country with a time difference, please confirm in advance(before enrolling) whether you can take classes at a designated Japan time.
Q.

Can I switch from the Regular Course Program to the Fully Online Course Program andvice versa?
A.

Application for the Fully Online Course Program must be made at the time of filing theentrance application. In principle, students are not allowed to change from the Regular
Course Program to the Fully Online Course Program after enrollment.
In some cases, a student may be permitted to change the Program with the approval of thePresident of KIC. However, the student will be required to return the tuition fee exemptedfrom paying for the Fully Online Course Program.

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