Diploma Policy of the Graduate School of Law
Master’s Program
We aim to offer students the following three programs that provide highly specialized
knowledge in law and political science through a systematically designed educational curriculathat reflects our university’s diverse and international culture:
1. program for aspiring academics in the fields of law and political science,
2. program for prospective business people and public servants who seek advanced skills insolving a wide-array of problems in the today’s highly complex world, and,3. continuing education programs for individuals who face unique problems in this rapidlychanging world.
To achieve these aims, we provide an internationally renowned education grounded in theethics of social responsibility. We will confer degrees according to the following policies.
We offer the following three educational programs.
The aims of the three programs are as follows.
1.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The educational aim of the Aspiring Scholar Program, is to train the next generation ofacademic researchers who will be active in their respective fields across Japan and the world.
1.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The educational aim of the Advanced Businessperson Program is to train those who possess aspecialized knowledge in the field of law and political science in order to solve the variouscomplex social problems in the today’s world.
1.3. Kobe University Interdisciplinary Master Program in Global Business Law（KIMAP inGlobal Business Law）
In the field of international business, the ability to be able to function in English is a prerequisitethat goes hand in hand with possessing specialized knowledge. Therefore, the goals of thisprogram are, in addition to providing interdisciplinary knowledge in business administration andeconomics as well as specialized skills and knowledge in law, to equip students with practicalEnglish skills and to produce talented individuals that can be successful as international legal
business practitioners.
2. Degree: Master of Laws
Per the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, the degree of Master of Laws will be conferred tostudents who have fulfilled the following prerequisites:1. the student should earn credits as prescribed during one’s two academic years of residency,
which may be less than two years for distinguished students.
2. the students should acquire the following abilities depending upon the programs.
2.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The degree of Master of Laws for the Aspiring Scholar Program will be conferred to students
who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, as wellas has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
2.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The degree of Master of Laws for the Advanced Businessperson Program will be conferred tostudents who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University,
as well as has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
2.3. Kobe University Interdisciplinary Master Program in Global Business Law（KIMAP in
Global Business Law）
The degree of KIMAP in Global Business Law will be conferred on students who have acquired
all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, as well as ability to engage
in legal and business practices in English, both home and abroad, including:
1. ability to practically collaborate with others,
2. ability to read legal documents in foreign languages and to communicate verbally in English,
3. proficiency in the field of law as well as interdisciplinary knowledge, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective methodology.
3. Degree: Master of Political SciencePer the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, the degree of Master of Political Science will beconferred to students who have fulfilled the following prerequisites:
1. the student should earn credits as prescribed during one’s two academic years of residency,
which may be less than two years for distinguished students.
2. the students should acquire the following abilities depending upon the programs.
3.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The degree of Master of Laws for the Aspiring Scholar Program will be conferred to students
who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, as wellas has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
3.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The degree of Master of Laws for the Advanced Businessperson Program will be conferred tostudents who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University,
as well as has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
Doctoral Program
We aim to offer students the following three programs that provide highly specialized
knowledge in law and political science through a systematically designed educational curriculathat reflects our university’s diverse and international culture:
1. program for aspiring academics in the fields of law and political science,
2. program for prospective business people and public servants who seek advanced skills insolving a wide-array of problems in the today’s highly complex world, and,3. continuing education programs for individuals who face unique problems in this rapidlychanging world.

To achieve these aims, we provide an internationally renowned education grounded in theethics of social responsibility. We will confer degrees according to the following policies.
We offer the following three educational programs.
The aims of the three programs are as follows.
1.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The educational aim of the Aspiring Scholar Program is to train the next generation of academic
researchers who already possess a Master’s or J.D. degree. The program emphasizes the pursuitadvanced and original research by offering comprehensive knowledge of law and politicalsciences, as well as basic problem-solving skills.
1.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The educational aim of the Advanced Businessperson Program is to train those who havealready obtained a master’s or a J.D. degree with a specialized knowledge of law and politicalsciences and who possess the skills and initiative to actively solve a wide range of complex social
problems in the today’s world.
1.3. Top Lawyers’ Program
The educational aim of the Top Lawyers’ Program is to train internationally prominent lawyers
specializing in a field of business law by taking coursework taught by actual practitioners as wellas tutorial sessions by our highly qualified faculty members.
2. Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Law
Per the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, the degree of Doctor of Laws will be conferred tostudents who have fulfilled the following prerequisites:
1. the student should earn credits as prescribed during one’s three academic years of residency,
which may be less than three years for distinguished students.
2. the students should acquire the following abilities depending upon the programs.
2.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The degree of Doctor of Laws for the Aspiring Scholar Program will be conferred to students
who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, as wellas has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
2.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The degree of Doctor of Laws for the Advanced Businessperson Program will be conferred tostudents who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University,
as well as has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
2.3. Top Lawyers’ Program
The degree of Doctor of Laws for the Top Lawyers’ Program will be conferred to students who
have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, as well as has
gained the basic knowledge in field of law, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law around the world,
3. obtaining the necessary specialized and advanced knowledge required as a top legal
professional, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
3. Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
Per the Diploma Policy of Kobe University, the degree of Doctor of Political Science will be
conferred to students who have fulfilled the following prerequisites:
1. the student should earn credits as prescribed during one’s three academic years of residency,
which may be less than three years for distinguished students.
2. the students should acquire the following abilities depending upon the programs.
3.1. Aspiring Scholar Program
The degree of Doctor of Political Science for the Aspiring Scholar Program will be conferredto students who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe University,
as well as has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science, including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of social

sciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
3.2. Advanced Businessperson Program
The degree of Doctor of Political Science for the Advanced Businessperson Program will be
conferred to students who have acquired all the abilities stipulated in the Diploma Policy of Kobe
University, as well as has gained the basic knowledge in field of law and political science,
including:
1. ability to grasp and solve various problems in our society through the perspective of socialsciences,
2. ability to comprehend the research subjects in the field of law and political science aroundthe world,
3. obtain proficiency in the field of law and political science, and,4. ability to solve social problems through a logical and multi-perspective examinations.
Professional Degree Programs
Without a doubt, professional legal education in Japan not only needs quantitative expansion
but also qualitative improvement. Our society requires many highly capable legal professionals,
especially in the face of increasing diversity, technological advancements, rapid globalization andmarketization. With this in mind, the Kobe University Graduate School Law’s Professional Legal
Studies Program sets forth the following two principle educational objectives.
The first objective of the program is to train legal professionals who will acquire the basic
knowledge and advanced practical skills that all legal professionals must have. There istremendous amount of fundamental knowledge that is sine qua non for all legal professionals. TheLaw School at Kobe University aims to cultivate such professionals so that they gain the requiredknowledge, along with the ability to appropriately apply it to an increasingly diversified society.
The second objective of the program is to train legal professionals that have, in addition to theknowledge on the basic legal fields described above, an in-depth knowledge as well as applicableskills in the advanced field of corporate transactions in the broadest sense (so-called “BusinessLaw”). Business transactions are becoming increasingly complex as a result of technologicaladvances and society’s increased marketization. Consquently legal disputes have also become
more complex and sophisticated. The Law School at Kobe University aims to train professionals
with the skills necessary to settle such legal disputes, by offering high quality education on a wide
range of legal fields.

In order to cultivate legal professionals with extensive professional skills and the know-how
necessary to achieve these goals, the program offers an internationally competitive education
based on advanced research and awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (Professional) / Juris Doctor(Professional) degrees according to the following policies.
Degree: Juris Doctor
Japan’s society will require many more capable legal professionals as diversification,technological advances, internationalization, and society’s rapid marketization progress. In order
to meet this demand, the Graduate School Law’s

Professional Legal Studies Program will

confer degrees in accordance with the following policies, based on the Kobe University Diploma
Policy.
・Students will be enrolled in the program for a designated duration and obtain all the necessary
credits required for graduation.
・Prior to completion of this program, students will achieve the following academic goals inorder to become legal professionals, in addition to those required by the Kobe University
Diploma Policy.
・The necessary basic knowledge and practical skills for all legal professions.
・Knowledge and practical skills in advanced legal fields that deal with business law.
・The high ethical standards required as a legal professional.
・Competency to solve new problems by examining as well as a critically and creatively
advancing the approaches of legal thinking .
・The ability to solve problems while respecting and acknowledging diverse ideas anddifferent cultures in society.