Diploma Policy of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies
Master’s Program
The Kobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) aims tocultivate talented persons who are qualified for occupations that require a high degree ofspecialization and able to play an active role in the international community.
GSICS will award master’s degrees in accordance with the policy as specified below.
Degree: Master of International Studies
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Master of International Studies in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a master’s thesis or research paper, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in international studies inorder to take on leadership roles in professional and academic fields;- The ability to use international studies as a base to engage in logical analysis in order toprovide appropriate responses to various social matters;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Degree: Master of Economics
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Master of Economics in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a master’s thesis or research paper, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in economics in order totake on leadership roles in professional and academic fields;- The ability to use economics as a base to engage in logical analysis in order to provide
appropriate responses to various social matters;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.

Degree: Master of Laws
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Master of Laws in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a master’s thesis or research paper, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in law in order to take onleadership roles in professional and academic fields;- The ability to use legal principles as a base to engage in logical analysis in order to provide
appropriate responses to various social matters;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Degree: Master of Political Science
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Master of Political Science in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a master’s thesis or research paper, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in political science in orderto take on leadership roles in professional and academic fields;- The ability to use political science as a base to engage in logical analysis in order to provide
appropriate responses to various social matters;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Doctoral Program
The Kobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) aims tocultivate talented persons able to carry out research with a high degree of specialization in anautonomous and independent manner, and by so doing make significant contributions to theinternational community.
GSICS will award degrees in accordance with the policy as specified below.
Dgree: Doctor of Philosophy
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS will

award the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a doctoral dissertation, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in the interdisciplinary fields
of international studies, economics, law, and political science in order to take on leadershiproles in professional and academic fields;- The ability to discover highly creative research topics that surpass current research andcarry out these projects independently;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Economics
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a doctoral dissertation, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in economics, especiallydevelopment economics, in order to take on leadership roles in professional and academic
fields;- The ability to discover highly creative research topics that surpass current research andcarry out these projects independently;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Degree: Doctor of Laws
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Doctor of Laws in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a doctoral dissertation, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in theories and applications

of law and other social sciences in order to take on leadership roles in professional andacademic fields;- The ability to discover highly creative research topics that surpass current research andcarry out these projects independently;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
Based upon the degree awarding policy (diploma policy) of Kobe University, GSICS willaward the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science in accordance with the points below.
・Students shall study at GSICS for the designated period, obtain the required credits forcompletion, complete a doctoral dissertation, and pass a final examination.
・GSICS students will attain the following competencies in addition to those specified in theUniversity’s diploma policy:- Extensive intellectual understanding, knowledge and expertise in theories and applicationsof political and other social sciences in order to take on leadership roles in professional
and academic fields;- The ability to discover highly creative research topics that surpass current research andcarry out these projects independently;- The ability to respect diverse cultures and values and demonstrate a wide range ofinternational communication skills.