Graduate
Academic
Handbook2024

（This is a blank page.)2024 Graduate Academic Handbook
Table of Contents
Declaration on the Occasion of the Opening of APU ……………………………………… ⅰ
THE RITSUMEIKAN CHARTER……………………………………………………………… ⅰ
Purposes of Education and Research ……………………………………………………… ⅱ
Diploma Policy ………………………………………………………………………………… ⅱ
Curriculum Policy (Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy) …

iv

Basic Policy on the Protection of Personal Information ……………………………………

vi

Handling of Personal Information at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University ………………

vi

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Research Code of Ethics …………………………… vii

1. Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Program (GSAM)
1-1
1-2

Outline of the Master’s Degree Programs ……………………………………………………

1

Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits …………………………………

4[GSAM Subject List] ……………………………………………………………………………

5

GSAM Curriculum Alignment Matrix (CAM) …………………………………………………

7

1-3

Reference Information on GSAM Subjects …………………………………………………

8

1-4

Seminars ………………………………………………………………………………………

9

1-5

Master’s Thesis and Research Report ……………………………………………………… 11“Procedures for the Master’s Thesis and Research Report in the Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies Master’s Program (GSAM) under the AY2014 Curriculum (Revised
January 2024)” ………………………………………………………………………………… 15

2. Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program (GSAD)
2-1

Outline of the Doctoral Degree Program …………………………………………………… 29

2-2

Course Requirements and Credit Registration Limits ……………………………………… 30

2-3

GSAD Subject Registration …………………………………………………………………… 31

2-4

Doctoral Candidacy (Registration for the Award of a Doctoral Degree) ………………… 32

2-5

Doctoral Dissertations (Application for Conferral of the Doctoral Degree) ……………… 33

2-6

Other Important Information for GSAD Students …………………………………………… 35“Procedures for the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies(Revised March 2022)” ………………………………………………………………………… 37

3. Graduate School of Management (GSM)
3-1

Outline of the Master’s Degree Program …………………………………………………… 67

3-2

Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits ………………………………… 68[GSM Subject List] …………………………………………………………………………… 70[GSM Curriculum Alignment Matrix] (All Specializations) ………………………………… 72

3-3

Reference Information on GSM Subjects. …………………………………………………… 73

3-4

Seminars ……………………………………………………………………………………… 74

3-5

Research Projects ……………………………………………………………………………… 77“Procedures for the Examination of Research Projects in the Graduate School ofManagement (GSM) under the AY2023 Curriculum (Revised January 2024)” ………… 81

4. Common Information
4-1

Length of Study: Standard Enrollment and Accelerated Completion …………………… 97

4-2

Accelerated Completion Programs…………………………………………………………… 99

4-3

Change in Major (Transfer) …………………………………………………………………… 101

4-4

Change in Division / Specialization ………………………………………………………… 101

4-5

Change in Supervisor ………………………………………………………………………… 102

4-6

Certificate Requests………………………………………………………………………… 103

5. General Information
5-1

Operation of Classes ………………………………………………………………………… 105

5-2

Class Cancellations, Changes and Emergency Contact Information …………………… 106

5-3

Class Absences Due to Illness or Bereavement / Tardiness ……………………………… 107

5-4

Course Selection and Registration …………………………………………………………… 110

5-5

Examinations, Final Reports and Other Written Assignments …………………………… 112

5-6

Grading and Assessment ……………………………………………………………………… 114

List of Abbreviations
Abbreviation

Formal Name

GSA

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies

GSAM

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Program

APS

Major in Asia Pacific Studies

ICP

Major in International Cooperation Policy

GSAD

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program

GSM

Graduate School of Management

Declaration on the Occasion of the Opening of APU
Since the beginning of human history, human beings have attempted to create their own distinctive cultures and develop
civilizations in the various regions of the world. They have also had to overcome many constraints and obstacles in order toachieve their goal of living in conditions of freedom, peace and humanity.
The twentieth century was an era of rapid progress and unprecedented advance in the political, economical and cultural
fields, as human activity increasingly took place on a global scale. Through the experience of the two World Wars, the United
Nations and other international organizations were formed to enhance cooperation in order to maintain peace and to promoteinternational understanding.
Given that the 21st century will see the emergence of a global society, we firmly believe that coexistence between mankind
and nature, as well as between diverse cultures, will be indispensable for the peaceful and sustainable development of the
Asia Pacific region. This is why we are now establishing a university here, to nurture the young talent and to create a newacademic discipline which will help shape the region’s future.
April 1, 2000 therefore marked the birth of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, based on a vision of freedom, peaceand humanity, mutual international understanding, and the future shape of the Asia Pacific region. The establishment of the
University at Jumonjibaru, in Beppu City, has been made possible through the cooperation of the people of Beppu and Oita
Prefecture, together with many others both within and outside Japan.
Our hope is that it will be a place where the young future leaders from countries and regions throughout the world will cometo study together, live together, and understand each other’s cultures and ways of life, in pursuit of goals that are common to
all mankind.
The Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is hereby declared open.
April 1, 2000

THE RITSUMEIKAN CHARTER
Ritsumeikan traces its roots to Prince Saionji’s private academy of the same name, established in 1869. It was officiallyfounded in 1900 by his protégé, Kojuro Nakagawa, as the Kyoto Hosei Gakko (Kyoto School of Law and Politics), later totake on the name “Ritsumeikan”. The name is derived from a passage in the Jinxin chapter of the Discourses of Mencius, andmeans “a place to establish one’s destiny through cultivating one’s mind.”
Ritsumeikan’s founding ideals are “freedom and innovation” and reflecting upon its wartime experience, it committed itself
to a core educational philosophy of “peace and democracy” after World War II.
Ritsumeikan has faced the challenges of the times by pursuing an independent path to rise above adversity and has become
the comprehensive private educational institution that it is today through extensive cooperation and support from both within
and outside Japan.
Ritsumeikan, as a Japanese institution located in the Asia Pacific region, is committed to sincerely reflecting upon history
and to building an institution where many cultures coexist in the spirit of international mutual understanding.
Ritsumeikan will build relationships of trust, through research and education, as well as sports and cultural activities, andestablish its roots in the local community, to create an academic institution open to international society.
Ritsumeikan will strive to strengthen links with society and promote its institutional development by fully utilizing thecharacteristics of a private academic institution, the participation of its faculty, staff and students, and the support of alumni
and parents, while respecting the principles of autonomy, democracy, transparency, non-violence and justice.
Ritsumeikan will pursue the creation of universal values based on academic freedom and search for solutions to the pressing
issues facing humankind, with its educational endeavors based on its founding spirit and educational ideals, bearing in mind “tobelieve in the future, to live for the future”.
Ritsumeikan will foster learning and the development of individual talents in order to nurture just and ethical global citizens.
Ritsumeikan, as an institute of education and research, pledges to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development inJapan and throughout the world, in keeping with the spirit of this Charter.
The Ritsumeikan Trust
July 21, 2006－i－

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Purposes of Education and Research
Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
1. Master’s Program Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable developmentof and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess specialized knowledge in administration, environment anddevelopment economics and have practical problem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
1) Master's Program in Asia Pacific Studies
The Master's Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable developmentof and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess a keen interest in research pertaining to and specialized
knowledge and skills in fields including international relations and social and cultural studies, and they will demonstrate the practicalproblem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
2) Master's Program in International Cooperation Policy
The Master's Program in International Cooperation Policy aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable
development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess a keen interest in research pertaining to andspecialized knowledge and skills in fields including administration, environmental studies, development, health science and tourism, andthey will demonstrate the practical problem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
2. Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies
The Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate advanced researchers and professionals who will contribute to thesustainable development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region and achieve an advanced capacity for pioneering new academic
disciplines required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
Graduate School of Management
The Mission of the Graduate School of Management is to cultivate creative well-rounded professionals and leaders who will play a central
role in resolving management issues at globalizing enterprises and other organizations by imparting advanced management skills, a goodunderstanding of business ethics and a deep insight into globalization.

Diploma Policy
1. Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
1) Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies
To accomplish the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, theGraduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies has defined graduation requirements as well as thefollowing three learning outcomes to be achieved by the time of graduation.
Graduation Requirements• Students are required to enroll for the designated period and to complete at least 32 credits in accordance with the following course
registration requirements.
• Complete 4 credits of Analytical Foundations Subjects, at least 4 credits of Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, at least 4 credits of
Seminars and at least 10 credits of Major Subjects in the affiliated Division. However, Optional Subjects are not included in the numberof credits required for completion.
• Successfully pass the screening for the research output, in the form of either a Master’s Thesis or a special project (Research Report).
• Detailed course registration requirements shall be stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations.
Learning Outcomes
1. Broad knowledge and understanding of the various issues facing the Asia Pacific region.
1-a. Understand important social science issues involving the Asia Pacific Region.
1-b. Understand differences between issues of the Asia Pacific Region and other regions.
2. Advanced knowledge of discipline
2-a. Understand the theories important for the discipline being studied.
2-b. Understand the current important areas for research in the discipline.
2-c. Apply theories using standard methodologies and current analytical tools.
3. Global perspectives
3-a. Understand interdisciplinary theories involving the Asia Pacific region and how the region interacts with other regions.
3-b. Understand critical perspectives of the Asia Pacific region from a global view.
2) Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy
To accomplish the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, theGraduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy has defined graduation requirements aswell as the following three learning outcomes to be achieved by the time of graduation.
Graduation Requirements• Students are required to enroll for the designated period and to complete at least 32 credits in accordance with the following course
registration requirements.
• Complete 4 credits of Analytical Foundations Subjects, at least 4 credits of Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, at least 4 credits of
Seminars, and at least 10 credits of Major Subjects in the affiliated Division. However, Optional Subjects are not included in the numberof credits required for completion.
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To Table of Contents• Produce a research output, in the form of either a Master’s Thesis or a special project (Research Report), and successfully pass thescreening.
• Detailed course registration requirements shall be stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations.
Learning Outcomes
1. Broad knowledge and understanding of the various issues facing the Asia Pacific region
1-a. Understand important social science issues involving the Asia Pacific Region.
1-b. Understand differences between issues of the Asia Pacific Region and other regions.
2. Advanced knowledge of discipline
2-a. Understand the theories important for the discipline being studied
2-b. Understand the current important areas for research in the discipline.
2-c. Apply theories using standard methodologies and current analytical tools.
3. Global perspectives
3-a. Understand interdisciplinary theories involving the Asia Pacific region and how the region interacts with other regions.
3-b. Understand critical perspectives of the Asia Pacific region from a global view.
3) Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies
To accomplish the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, theGraduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies has defined graduation requirements as well as thefollowing four learning outcomes to be achieved by the time of graduation.
Graduation Requirements• Students are required to enroll for the designated period and to complete 30 credits in accordance with the following course registration
requirements.
• Become a Doctoral Degree Candidate by completing 24 credits of required subjects for Doctoral Candidacy and by successfully passing
the screening for Doctoral Candidacy.
• Submit the Doctoral Dissertation and successfully pass the screening.
• Detailed course registration requirements shall be stipulated in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations.
Learning Outcomes
1. Broad knowledge and understanding of the various issues facing the Asia Pacific region
2. Advanced knowledge of discipline
3. Ability to perform fundamental research
4. Global perspectives
2. Graduate School of Management
To accomplish the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School of Management Graduate School Regulations, the Graduate
School of Management has defined graduation requirements as well as the following four learning outcomes to be achieved by the time ofgraduation.
Graduation Requirements• Students are required to enroll for the designated period and to complete at least 44 credits in accordance with the following course
registration requirements.
• Complete 6 credits of Analytical Foundations Subjects, 18 credits of Core Business Fundamentals Subjects, 2 credits of Capstone
Subjects, at least 8 credits of Elective Subjects, and 6 credits of Seminars. However, Optional Subjects are not included in the numberof credits required for completion.
• Complete seminar subjects and produce a research project that meets the requirements and expectations set forth by the Graduate Schoolof Management.
• Detailed course registration requirements shall be stipulated in the Graduate School of Management Graduate School Regulations.
Learning Outcomes
1. BUSINESS ETHICS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
1-a. To recognize and reflect upon complex issues on ethics and social responsibility with multi-sided understanding of global businesssociety relations.
1-b. To evaluate ethical and socially responsible implications of contemporary business issues.
2. ADVANCED MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
2-a. To demonstrate an understanding of advanced management knowledge and business concepts in a specialized field.
2-b. To apply advanced analytical tools (qualitative and/or quantitative) to examine business problems.
2-c. To integrate functional knowledge for developing sustainable business solutions.
2-d. To demonstrate an advanced level of communication skills in writing, oral presentation, and negotiation in business settings.
3. CREATIVITY & INNOVATION
3-a. To identify the opportunities and challenges of innovation in a business setting.
3-b. To design creative and innovative solutions in business and/or research projects.
4. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
4-a. To demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of businesses, economies, and societiesof the globalized world.
4-b. To diagnose problems and identify opportunities for sustainable development from an Asia Pacific perspective.
5. MULTICULTURALISM, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
5-a. To apply theories of effective leadership and team development to promote diversity and inclusion.
5-b. To demonstrate ability to leverage diversity and work productively in teams.
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Curriculum Policy (Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy)
1. Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies(1) Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies①Curriculum Design Policy
Subject Placement• The curriculum is divided into Analytical Foundation Subjects, Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, Seminar Subjects, Major
Subjects, Core Related Subjects, and Optional Subjects, and is designed for two years.
• Analytical Foundation Subjects are designed for mastering the skills needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region are designed for acquiring the knowledge needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Seminar Subjects are designed for developing the knowledge and skills in their research field of interest.
• Major Subjects are divided into International Relations Division Subjects, and Society and Culture Division Subjects. These aredesigned for acquiring the knowledge needed to deepen research in their field.
• Core Related Subjects are designed for acquiring valuable knowledge and experiences through courses, not specific to a particularfield of research.
• Optional Subjects are designed for learning the Japanese language.
Curriculum Map*Curriculum Map (or Curriculum Alignment Matrices) is available on the APU Website.
②Curriculum Implementation Policy
Subject Offerings• Subjects listed in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, with the exception of the Optional
Subjects, are offered in English.
• All subjects are offered in the semester, day and period which allow students to take full advantage of structured learning.
Subject Operation• All subjects are operated in compliance with the Standards for Establishment of Universities and the University Regulations. In
addition, based on the methods applied in the subject, factors such as the educational outcomes and necessary studies outside of theclass hours are also taken into account.
• Each subject is operated in accordance with the Curriculum Map and each syllabus is designed to guide students in achieving the
Learning Goals and Learning Objectives set for the subject.
• All subjects are aimed at achieving Multi-cultural Cooperative Learning by taking full advantage of APU’s multicultural environment
and education, and encouraging interactive collaboration between International and Domestic students.
• Instructors are required to comply with guidelines related to the subject operation including administration of Class Evaluation
Surveys, response to Grade Inquiries, and holding Make-up Classes.
(2) Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy①Curriculum Design Policy
Subject Placement• The curriculum is divided into Analytical Foundation Subjects, Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, Seminar Subjects, Major
Subjects, Core Related Subjects, and Optional Subjects, and is designed for two years.
• Analytical Foundation Subjects are designed for mastering the skills needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region are designed for acquiring the knowledge needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Seminar Subjects are designed for developing the knowledge and skills in their research field of interest.
• Major Subjects are divided into International Public Administration Division Subjects, Sustainability Science Division Subjects,
Tourism and Hospitality Division Subjects, and Development Economics Division Subjects. These are designed for acquiring theknowledge needed to deepen research in their field.
• Core Related Subjects are designed for acquiring valuable knowledge and experiences through courses, not specific to a particularfield of research.
• Optional Subjects are designed for learning the Japanese language.
Curriculum Map*Curriculum Map (or Curriculum Alignment Matrices) is available on the APU Website.
②Curriculum Implementation Policy
Subject Offerings• Subjects listed in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, with the exception of the Optional
Subjects, are offered in English.
• All subjects are offered in the semester, day and period which allow students to take full advantage of structured learning.
Subject Operation• All subjects are operated in compliance with the Standards for Establishment of Universities and the University Regulations. In
addition, based on the methods applied in the subject, factors such as the educational outcomes and necessary studies outside of theclass hours are also taken into account.
• Each subject is operated in accordance with the Curriculum Map and each syllabus is designed to guide students in achieving the
Learning Goals and Learning Objectives set for the subject.
• All subjects are aimed at achieving Multi-cultural Cooperative Learning by taking full advantage of APU’s multicultural environment
and education, and encouraging interactive collaboration between International and Domestic students.
• Instructors are required to comply with guidelines related to the subject operation including administration of Class Evaluation
Surveys, response to Grade Inquiries, and holding Make-up Classes.

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(3) Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies①Curriculum Design Policy
Subject Placement• The curriculum is divided into Lecture Subjects, Seminar Subjects, Research and Presentation Subjects, Tutorials, and Optional
Subjects, and is designed for three years.
• Lecture Subjects are designed for mastering the skills needed by APU Graduate Students at the Doctoral level.
• Seminar Subjects are designed for further deepening the research in their research field.
• Research and Presentation Subjects are designed for producing a Doctoral Dissertation in their research field.
• Tutorials are designed for acquiring and developing, through practice, skills for academic instruction at tertiary level.
• Optional Subjects are designed for learning the Japanese language.
②Curriculum Implementation Policy
Subject Offerings• Subjects listed in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Graduate School Regulations, with the exception of the Optional
Subjects, are offered in English.
• All subjects are offered in the semester, day and period which allow students to take full advantage of structured learning.
Subject Operation• All subjects are operated in compliance with the Standards for Establishment of Universities and the University Regulations. In
addition, based on the methods applied in the subject, factors such as the educational outcomes and necessary studies outside of theclass hours are also taken into account.
• All subjects are aimed at achieving Multi-cultural Cooperative Learning by taking full advantage of APU’s multicultural environment
and education, and encouraging interactive collaboration between International and Domestic students.
• Instructors are required to comply with guidelines related to the subject operation including administration of Class Evaluation
Surveys, response to Grade Inquiries, and holding Make-up Classes.
2. Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Graduate School of Management(1) Curriculum Design Policy and Curriculum Implementation Policy for Graduate School of Management①Curriculum Design Policy
Subject Placement• The curriculum is divided into Analytical Foundation Subjects, Core Business Fundamentals Subjects, Capstone Subjects, Elective
Subjects, Seminar Subjects, Core Related Subjects, Experiential Learning Subjects, and Optional Subjects, and is designed for two
years.
• Analytical Foundation Subjects are designed for mastering the skills needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Core Business Fundamentals Subjects are designed for acquiring the knowledge needed by APU Graduate Students.
• Capstone Subjects are designed for mastering and deepening the systematic understanding of the theme through studies anddiscussions.
• Optional Subjects are designed for acquiring the knowledge needed to deepen their research in each of the four specializations:Japanese Management, Accounting and Finance, Marketing and Management, and Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations
Management.
• Seminar Subjects are designed for developing the knowledge and skills in their research field of interest.
• Core Related Subjects are designed for acquiring valuable knowledge and experiences through courses, not specific to a particularfield of research.
• Optional Subjects are designed for learning the Japanese language.
• Experiential Learning Subjects are designed for students to develop their business knowledge and skills through practical andexperiential learning.
Curriculum Map*Curriculum Map (or Curriculum Alignment Matrices) is available on the APU Website.
②Curriculum Implementation Policy
Subject Offerings• Subjects listed in the Graduate School of Management Graduate School Regulations with the exception of the Optional Subjects
are offered in English.
• All subjects are offered in the semester, day, and period which allows students to take full advantage of structured learning.
Subject Operation• All subjects are operated in compliance with the Standards for Establishment of Universities and the University Regulations. In
addition, based on the methods applied in the subject, factors such as the educational outcomes and necessary studies outside of theclass hours are also taken into account.
• Each subject is operated in accordance with the Curriculum Map and each syllabus is designed to guide students in achieving the
Learning Goals and Learning Objectives set for the subject.
• All subjects are aimed at achieving Multi-cultural Cooperative Learning by taking full advantage of APU’s multicultural environment
and education and encouraging interactive collaboration between International and Domestic students.
• Instructors are required to comply with guidelines related to the subject operation including administration of Class Evaluation
Surveys, response to Grade Inquiries, and holding Make-up Classes.
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Basic Policy on the Protection of Personal Information
The Ritsumeikan Trust (hereinafter, “the Trust”) has instituted its own rules and systems to ensure that the personal information of its
students used in the course of the Trust’s educational and research activities is handled in accordance with laws, regulations and otherpersonal information protection standards. As part of this, the Trust implements and maintains the following Basic Policy on the Protectionof Personal Information. Rules for the handling of personal information for the purposes of academic research are stipulated separately tothis policy.
1. In order to implement this Basic Policy, the Trust shall establish and publicly announce the Ritsumeikan Trust Personal Information
Protection Regulations, and ensure that they are known and observed by all faculty and staff (including executives, faculty members,
administrative staff members, part-time workers and dispatched workers) and associates of the Trust.
2. The Trust shall establish appropriate information security measures against illicit access, computer viruses, etc., in order to prevent theloss, destruction, manipulation or leakage of personal information.
3. The Trust shall acquire personal information only by legal and proper means. As well as refraining from acquisition of information by
improper means, the Trust shall ensure that the subject of the personal information consents to the purposes of its use, or announce thenecessary arrangements on the Trust’s website.
4. The Trust shall ensure that personal information acquired indirectly has been acquired properly from its subject, and shall announce theintended purpose of use and other necessary arrangements on the Trust’s website.
5. The Trust shall confirm that the subject of personal information has the right to disclose, correct, suspend, or erase that information, andshall treat applications from the subject concerning such acts with due respect.
6. When sharing personal information with a third party or entrusting it to a third party under an outsourcing arrangement, the Trust shallinvestigate that party, conclude a contractual agreement, and take all other steps required by law.
7. Personal information provided for the purposes of becoming a student of any of the educational institutions of the Trust shall be handled
by the Trust with the same care as is applied to personal information provided by past and current students of those institutions.
8. The following principles shall apply to specific aspects of the acquisition and handling of personal information:• Personal information shall only be used within the scope of the purpose of its acquisition, only by persons granted authority in accordancewith the specific tasks involved, and only to the extent necessary to perform those tasks.
• Personal information shall not, in principle, be provided to any third party.
• Personal information shall not be used outside the original purpose, removed from its regular place of use, transmitted to any third party,
or otherwise leaked.
• Employees of the Trust are prohibited from recklessly disclosing personal information encountered in the course of their work to any
third party and from using such information for improper purposes. This prohibition continues to apply after employees have ceased toengage in the work in question.
• The Trust shall not acquire, use or provide personal information of the following nature:
1. Matters concerning personal thoughts, beliefs or religion
2. Matters that may be the cause of social discrimination
April 1, 2005

Handling of Personal Information at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Personal information acquired from prospective students by Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (hereinafter, “APU”) shall be handled asfollows, in observance of laws and regulations concerning personal information protection and the Ritsumeikan Trust Personal Information
Protection Regulations.
Purposes of use
Students’ personal information shall be used for the following purposes:• To provide study and learning support for students, including administration of enrollment, course registration, grades and results, andinformation relating to tuition fees.
• To provide extracurricular and living support for students, including campus life advisory services, support for extracurricular activities,
administration of scholarships, and administration of public health and hygiene.
• To provide career development and job placement assistance for students, including academic and career counseling, support for job
hunting, and administration of career and job placement information.
• To provide consultative and advisory services on courses of study, grades and career paths to students’ parents/guardians, including thesending of grade reports to parents/guardians.
• To perform work related to entrance examinations and enrollment procedures.
• To send information and documentation related to the APU and the Ritsumeikan Academy’s other universities and schools.
• To administer the use of internal facilities and equipment, and maintain the safety and security thereof.
• To issue certificates.
• To provide information required by organizations authorized by the Ritsumeikan Trust Personal Information Protection Committee, suchas scholarship providers and associations composed of alumni, parents, etc.
• To provide information to schools previously attended by students concerning students’ study progress and living circumstances.
• To conduct university evaluation (self-assessment evaluation, third party evaluation, certified evaluation) and statistical research.
• To conduct education, research and faculty development activities.
• To process other matters necessary in the administration and management of APU.
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Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Research Code of Ethics
The humanities, the social sciences and natural sciences have developed hand in hand with progress towards a more advanced, sophisticatedand diverse society.
The continued pursuit of truth in traditional academic disciplines is accompanied by relentless processes of integration between different
disciplines and generation of new fields of academic endeavor. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is aware of the turbulent
environment surrounding scientific inquiry today and the need to go beyond strict adherence to existing conventions and structures ofacademic research at universities. With this awareness, APU declares its commitment to the ideals intrinsic to academic research: pursuitof truth, conception and transmission of cultural traditions, and contribution to the welfare of humanity and advancement of human society.
APU will promote research, following the spirit of the “Ritsumeikan Charter”, the ideals and mission of which are shared by the Ritsumeikan
Trust personnel and which is widely conveyed to society.
At universities, research should be conducted freely on the basis of academic conscience. In order to guarantee this freedom and enable APU
and its researchers to fulfill their responsibilities to society in conditions of autonomy, it is critically important to develop a shared ethicalparadigm. This must encompass protection of research subjects, both individuals and organizations, and researchers themselves, from any
acts of infringement in the research process, as well as providing a concrete framework for application.
APU has established this Research Code of Ethics with the aims of facilitating the proper and smooth performance of academic research
and maintaining community confidence in this research. This Code of Ethics prescribes standards which must be routinely observed andcomplied with by all those involved in research activity at APU.
1. Academic research at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)(1) Holding ‘Freedom, Peace and Humanism’, ‘International Mutual Understanding’ and ‘Creation of the Future of the Asia Pacific’ as
its basic ideals and aiming to achieve a better future for humankind, APU will strive to identify fundamental truths and seek solutions
to problems facing humanity through activity founded on the freedom of academic inquiry. APU will use these efforts to contribute topeaceful, democratic and sustainable development throughout the world and in Japan.
(2) APU will endeavor to cultivate a hub for distinctive and world-standard research, giving emphasis to both basic research activity foundedon the free and original intellectual interests of each individual researcher, and focused research in areas of strategic significance for theuniversity.
(3) APU will promote the internationalization of research activity and the dissemination of research findings both within Japan and overseas.
It will also work to develop linkages with overseas research institutes and other organizations, and aim to become an international centerof academic research.
(4) Through research activity, APU will work to contribute to the welfare of humankind, the advancement of society, the achievement ofworld peace, and the interests of local communities.
(5) APU will enhance functions for integration of research and pedagogy, and endeavor to nurture individuals to assume active roles as justand ethical citizens of the global community.
(6) APU will actively promote research and educational exchange, working to develop linkages with individuals and organizations overseas,
public bodies at national and regional level, private enterprise, civil society organizations and other bodies.
2. Obligations and behavioral standards for researchers and staff engaged in administration of research activities
The term ‘researcher’ is a generic description which refers not only to APU faculty members but also to graduate students, undergraduate
students, visiting research fellows and others engaged in research activity at APU.
(1) Basic provisions(i)
The researcher shall behave with integrity and in accordance with good conscience and conviction, aware of the fact that academic
research is supported by the trust and mandate of wider society.
(ii) In the course of research, the researcher shall respect human dignity and fundamental human rights and endeavor to gain theunderstanding of society.
(iii) The researcher shall comply with internationally-recognized standards, agreements, treaties and other conventions, domestic laws,
regulations, this Code of Ethics, and all regulations prescribed by APU.
(iv) The researcher shall endeavor to maintain and expand his/her own specialist knowledge and skills, always aiming to achieve higher
standards through profound academic inquiry.
(v) The researcher shall respect expert research in other fields and endeavor to comprehend the cultures, customs and values entailed
in research activity conducted in other countries and regions. The researcher shall also recognize that fellow participants in joint
research activity are mutually independent researchers of equal status, and exercise respect for their academic standpoints.
(vi) In cases where undergraduate and/or graduate students participate in research activity, the researcher shall take care to ensure thatthe students do not suffer any disadvantage.
(vii) The researcher shall take responsible steps in regards to safety and environmental considerations for individuals engaged in the
research as collaborators. The researcher shall endeavor to build positive human relationships with these individuals, devoid of any
harassment or discrimination based on factors such as disability, gender or nationality. Issues relating to harassment shall be dealt
with in accordance with guidelines established separately from these provisions.
(viii) Research-related exchange and interaction with bodies outside the university shall be based on the four principles of autonomy,
democracy, disclosure and harmony.
(ix) When engaging in research and activities involving examination, evaluation or exercises of judgment, the researcher shall pay
sufficient attention to a voiding conflicts of interest and shall handle these activities appropriately and in consideration of their
public character.
(x) In the process of engaging in research activity, the researcher shall behave with integrity and in accordance with the spirit of thisCode of Ethics.
(2) Formulating research questions and proposals(i)
The researcher shall formulate research questions and proposals in a manner which enables presentation in as clear a form as
possible.
(ii) When formula ting research questions and proposals, the researcher shall obtain a full grasp of results of related research carriedout previously, and take sincere steps to confirm the originality and novelty of his/her proposed research.
(iii) In the course of performing his/her research, the researcher shall undertake self-assessment of research progress, and endeavor to－vii－

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produce reports on progress as appropriate.
If at any stage, including during actual execution of research tasks, the possibility arises that the research may exert an undesirable
influence on any human, society or environment, the researcher shall give careful consideration to whether or not to continue theresearch.
(3) Informed consent(i)
The researcher shall observe and safeguard all laws, regulations, guidelines and other rules in engaging with research subjects andcollaborators.
(ii) If the researcher engages in research involving the receipt of information or data regarding personal matters such as individual
conduct, thoughts or beliefs, property or assets, environment, and physical or mental condition, the researcher shall provide theindividual(s) supplying that information or data with a thorough explanation of the aims, significance, data collection methods andother aspects of the research, and obtain the consent of the individual(s) to participate in the research.
(iii) The researcher shall endeavor as far as possible to eliminate all foreseeable risks to the individual(s) supplying the information or
data.
(iv) The above provisions also apply in cases where information or data is supplied by an organization, group or other collective body.
(4) Obtaining and managing materials, data etc.
(i)
When obtaining materials, data etc. for the purposes of his/her research, the researcher shall employ methods which are bothscientific and generally considered suitable.
(ii) The researcher shall employ appropriate methods to store all records related to materials, data etc. obtained for the purposes of his/her research, and shall preserve these records for a period sufficient to allow retrospective verification.
(5) Protection of personal information(i)
The importance of personal information shall be recognized and measures shall be instituted to ensure appropriate management of
this information, in light of the need to handle it carefully and in keeping with the principle of respect for individual personality.
(ii) The researcher and clerical staff responsible for administration of the research shall ensure that all materials, data etc. obtainedin relation to the research are managed diligently. They shall not release any personal information obtained in the course of theresearch to any third party without the permission of the person to whom the information relates.
(iii) The researcher and clerical staff responsible for administration of the research shall respond with integrity to complaints or otherinquiries regarding the handling of personal information.
(6) Managing the safety of research equipment, chemicals etc.
(i)
If the researcher uses research devices, machinery, chemicals or other materials to conduct research experiments, the researcher
shall observe all relevant laws, regulations, internal APU rules and other stipulations and endeavor to ensure the safety of theseuses.
(ii) The researcher shall take responsibility for the final disposal of all residues, waste matter, spent chemicals and other materials
generated in the course of experiments related to his/her research.
(7) Proper administration of research funds(i)
The researcher and clerical staff responsible for the research shall endeavor to administer all research funds in a proper manner,in constant awareness of the fact that these funds derive from sources including student fees, subsidies from national and regional
public entities, grants from foundations and other providers and contributions from private enterprise.
(ii) The researcher shall use research funds only for the purposes of the research for which they were granted.
(iii) When administering research funds, the researcher and clerical staff responsible for the research shall comply with all related laws
and regulations, APU accounting regulations and other standards regarding the use of the funds in question.
(8) Disseminating research findings(i)
The researcher has the right and obligation to accurately report and return to society the findings of his /her research in their
entirety, except in cases where public release is restricted on rational grounds such as the protection of rights of related parties andthe acquisition of industrial property rights.
(ii) In presentation of research findings, the researcher shall survey earlier research carefully and avoid infringing on the intellectual
property of others.
(iii) Performance of the research and presentation of its findings shall not involve any improper conduct such as fabrication (creating
data that does not exist in fact), falsification (altering data or manufacturing false data) or plagiarism (use of others’ ideas, data,
research findings etc. without appropriate citation).
(iv) In presentation of research findings, the person(s) materially involved in the research and holding responsibility for its content andfindings shall be deemed the author(s) of the presentation.
(9) Engaging in performance evaluation of third parties(i)
If by virtue of appointment to a screening committee or other arrangement the researcher is involved in evaluating the performanceof another party, the researcher shall conduct evaluation appropriately in accordance with relevant standards such as evaluation
criteria and screening guidelines, and shall not allow the evaluation to be informed by any arbitrary perspectives.
(ii) Any information which the researcher obtains in the course of evaluating the performance of other parties shall not be disclosed to
any third party or used in any improper manner.
(iv)

3. Obligations of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)(1) Maintaining the research environment and implementing ethics education(i)
APU shall maintain a research environment that enables all researchers to exercise their abilities to the full, and shall give attention
to researchers’ individual development and building capabilities in accordance with aptitude.
(ii) APU shall implement awareness programs and ethics education in order to enhance recognition of ethical issues among researchers.
(iii) APU shall inform all researchers of the need to comply with the research ethics Code of Ethics and to act with integrity.
(iv) APU shall make known to all parties the need to observe related laws and regulations, internal rules and other stipulations regarding
the implementation of research projects and the management of research funds. APU shall also institute measures necessary toensure that improper conduct does not occur.
(v) In the emergence of a matter of dispute such as a researcher conflict of interest or supposed improper intrusion on the research
activity, APU shall institute measures necessary for the resolution of this matter.
(vi) APU shall establish Investigative Committee regarding research ethics.
(2) Establishing an Investigative Committee(i)
Investigative Committee Meetings shall be held to promote the proper application of this Code of Ethics and to address matters－viii－To Table of Contents

including conduct by researchers in violation of research ethics, submissions from parties subjected to improper or unjust treatment,
and disruptive conduct encountered by researchers themselves.
(3) Dealing with conduct in violation of this Research Code of Ethics(i)
Any party who is aware of conduct which violates this Code of Ethics or is subjected to improper or unjust treatment can notify
the Investigative Committee, attaching documentation and any other evidence related to the subject matter of the notification. The
Pres ident of APU shall serve as the Chairperson. The Chairperson and committee members involved in the investigation shall givefull consideration to ensuring that the party making the notification does not suffer any disadvantage.
(ii) The Chairperson shall undertake a careful examination of the matters contained in the notification, and if necessary enlist thecooperation of APU faculty members in related research fields to undertake an investigation of these matters.

－ix－

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（This is a blank page.)To Table of Contents

Section 1

Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies
Master’s Program

GSAM
1-1 Outline of the Master’s Degree Programs ……………………………………………

1

1-2 Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits …………………………

4[GSAM Subject List] ……………………………………………………………………

5

GSAM Curriculum Alignment Matrix (CAM) ………………………………………

7

1-3 Reference Information on GSAM Subjects ……………………………………………

8

1-4 Seminars …………………………………………………………………………………

9

1-5 Master’s Thesis and Research Report ………………………………………………… 11“Procedures for the Master’s Thesis and Research Report in the Graduate
School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Program (GSAM) under the AY2014
Curriculum (Revised January 2024) ”………………………………………………… 15

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（This is a blank page.)To Table of Contents

1-1. Outline of the Master’s Degree Programs
GSAM

Degree Programs
Degrees offered in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Programs are as follows:
Degree Type

Major

Degree Awarded on Completion

MS

Asia Pacific Studies (APS)

Master of Science in Asia Pacific Studies

MS

International Cooperation Policy (ICP)

Master of Science in International Cooperation Policy

GSAD

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Master’s Programs - Structure and Outline
Master's Program in Asia Pacific Studies
1) Policy for Curriculum Structure
In light of the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School Regulations, the Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies is composed
Subjects, and Analytical Foundation Subjects and Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region will be offered jointly with the International
Cooperation Policy Major to provide students with basic research skills and knowledge on the Asia Pacific. Meanwhile, students will receive

GSMof two Divisions, International Relations and Society and Culture, each with its own curriculum. Each Division will offer its own Major

individual research supervision in the Seminars.
The International Relations (IR) division is aimed at expanding the students’ empirical knowledge base and sharpening their analytical andtheoretical thinking about social, economic, political, and security phenomena in the globalizing world. The courses in this division provide
a useful knowledge base for both academic-bound students and practitioner-bound students with an intended career in security, diplomacy,
and media. The major courses in this division include international security, international political economy, international law, and conflict
resolution and allow students to choose their subfield(s) to focus on toward their paper writing.
The Asia Pacific is one of the most rapidly developing regions in recent decades. To capture the patterns of social and cultural changes thathave occurred, the Society and Culture (SC) division is devoted to promote comparative academic research on the region. The students canacquire practical skills in formulating and conducting research using theories and methods developed in sociology, cultural anthropology,
or communication and media studies. With knowledge concerning social and cultural backgrounds of the countries in the regions, it enables
students to have greater employment opportunities in governmental, industrial, commercial and academic institutes.

General Informationb) Society and Culture (SC)Common Informationa) International Relations (IR)2) Policy for Curriculum Implementation
In their coursework, students will gain a solid understanding of research methods and basic knowledge of the Asia Pacific, upon which they
will pursue subjects primarily in their respective divisions. They may also take subjects from the International Cooperation Policy Majorand other divisions.
Based on their individual research topics, students will receive research supervision and work on a final written assignment in the seminars.
Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy
1) Policy for Curriculum Structure
In light of the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School Regulations, the Master’s Program in International Cooperation
Policy is composed of four Divisions, International Public Administration, Sustainability Science, Tourism and Hospitality, and Development
Economics, each with its own curriculum.
Each Division will offer its own Major Subjects, and Analytical Foundation Subjects and Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region will
be offered jointly with the Asia Pacific Studies Major to provide students with basic research skills and knowledge on the Asia Pacific.
Meanwhile, students will receive individual research supervision in the Seminars.
a) International Public Administration (IPA)
The International Public Administration (IPA) division is aimed at providing knowledge and skills to those who are interested in pursuing
an advancing career in national and international governmental organizations in an era of increasing globalization. The study at the division－1－

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enables students to improve professional and practical skills to manage and evaluate administrative operations and policies in national,
regional, and global settings. The major courses in this division related to international organizations, international cooperation policy, andpublic administration form the foundation, on which each student can further build more focused study depending on their intended policy
fields.
b) Sustainability Science (SS)
Sustainability Science (SS) is the application of science for achieving the goals of sustainable development. Sustainability Science is about
using science in the analysis, planning and implementation of policies and actions dealing with interactions between society and nature witha view to creating a sustainable future for all. It involves the scientific understanding of society-nature interactions; linking research with
policy and actions; generating new knowledge, tools and techniques; and enhancing scientific and institutional capability for promoting
resilience and sustainability. The students are expected to gain holistic perspective, integrative skills, and trans-disciplinary orientation as
they engage in analyzing and managing population-resource-technology-institution interactions relevant to particular problems or ecologicalsettings in both man-made and natural ecosystems.
c) Tourism and Hospitality (TH)Tourism is a fast growing economic sector that transforms societies and communities in the Asia Pacific region. The Tourism and Hospitality(TH) division looks at various aspects of tourism (both mass tourism and alternative tourism) and its economic, social, cultural andenvironmental impacts on societies and communities, mostly through the lenses of the human and social sciences. The division also studies
the theory and practice of hospitality management as it relates to the tourism, service, and health and welfare industries. The knowledge
and academic / professional skills obtained from our division will be useful to a wide variety of employment opportunities, in government
service, international organizations, and private corporations, as well as to further study in Master’s and Doctoral programs.
d) Development Economics (DE)The Development Economics (DE) division is aimed at those who are interested in the socio-economic issues of the developing world. Studyin this division enables students to improve their critical and analytical skills in development economics, including industrial development,social development, political development, rural development and poverty alleviation, as well enhancing their professional and practicalskills related to international development. This division also aims to enhance the development of research skills in this field for those
who are wishing to pursue further study. The knowledge and skills obtained will provide a wide variety of employment opportunities ininternational organizations, national and local governments, international development agencies, NGOs, and development consultancy firms.
2) Policy for Curriculum Implementation
In their coursework, students will gain a solid understanding of research methods and basic knowledge of the Asia Pacific, upon which
they will pursue subjects primarily in their respective divisions. They may also take subjects from the Asia Pacific Studies Major and otherdivisions.
Based on their individual research topics, students will receive research supervision and work on a final written assignment in the seminars.

－2－

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Conferral of Degrees
The GSA Faculty Council will review each student’s credit record and the results of the Master’s Thesis or Research Report examination. The
president will confer the Master’s Degree.

GSAM

reviewed results will be presented to the Higher Degrees Committee for approval. Following approval by the Higher Degrees Committee, theRescindment of Degrees
If it is found that a graduate has obtained their degree through improper means, or if the recipient has done anything to damage the University’s
reputation, the President may decide to rescind (cancel) a degree previously granted.

GSAD

Divisions and Programs
Graduate students must belong to one of the following Divisions that they chose when applying for the program.
GSAM Majors, Divisions and Programs
Major

GSM

Asia Pacific Studies

DivisionInternational Relations (IR)Society and Culture (SC)International Public Administration (IPA)
Sustainability Science (SS)International Material Flow Management Program (IMAT)

Common Information

International Cooperation Policy

Tourism and Hospitality (TH)Development Economics (DE)■ International Material Flow Management (IMAT) Program
Management (IfaS), University of Applied Sciences Trier, Germany. The program offers an integrated knowledge in engineering, economics,
law, natural and social sciences. In addition to the learning goals of the Sustainability Science division, the program also offers knowledge
on how to link economic development with environmental protection in the fields of energy, water, waste or other material streams, throughthe use of optimized technology management strategies. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in an internship in Germany.
At APU, the IMAT Program belongs to the Sustainability Science division. As such, completion requirements for the APU portion of theGeneral Information

IMAT Dual Degree program students spend their first year studying at APU and the second year at the Institute for Applied Material Flowprogram are the same as those for the Sustainability Science division (see p. 4-5). However, IMAT students will be expected to take somespecific subjects and participate in extra IMAT classes held throughout the year.
Due to the intense nature of this dual-degree program, students must be enrolled for the full 2 years. Students from the Sustainability Science
division who wish to participate in the program after enrolling at APU may do so by submitting the prescribed form by the last working
day of November in their first year of enrollment. For the final written outcome of their studies, IMAT students submit a Master’s Thesis or
Research Report to APU and a Master’s Thesis to IfaS in Germany.

－3－

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1-2. Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits
Basic Requirements for Completion
Students will be qualified for the degree upon completion of the following requirements:
1.

Period of Enrollment: In principle, a student must be enrolled as a regular, full-time student in the Master’s Program for 2 years. However,the degree may also be granted to outstanding students (see p. 99) in less than 2 years. In this case, the minimum period of full-timeenrollment is 1 year*. Those interested in completing in 1 or 1.5 years should consult with a supervisor upon entry to the Graduate School.
* IMAT program students are under 2-year enrollment due to program regulations.

2.

Credit Requirements: Students are required to earn 32 credits or more which must include 4 credits from Analytical Foundation Subjects, 4credits from Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region, 4 credits from Seminars, and 10 credits from Major Subjects to complete the program.

3.

Master’s Thesis and Research Report Requirements: All students must complete an extended piece of writing, which presents thefindings and conclusions of their individual research. Students from both majors, APS and ICP, must complete either a Master’s
Thesis or Research Report which must be approved in accordance with the University’s examination procedures. For further details on
requirements and examination procedures, see Section “1-5. Master’s Thesis and Research Report.”

Credit Requirements for Completion
Students must acquire at least 32 credits for program completion. In addition to the designated minimum number of credits from Analytical
Foundation Subjects (4 credits), Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region (4 credits), Seminars (4 credits) and Major Subjects within the affiliatedDivision (10 credits), students must complete at least 10 additional credits from any of the subject categories listed below. For more information
on class operations, evaluation procedures, standards, etc. see Section “5-1. Operation of Classes.” See p. 5 for a complete list of GSAM subjects.
Subject Category
Analytical Foundation
Subjects

Minimum Required
Credits

Major Subjects

Core Related Subjects

Credit Rules

4

Core Subjects on the
Asia Pacific Region
Seminars

Subject Name

4
2

Research Project2

Final Research
Project

10

Major Subjects 1_

Major Subjects 2

4

10
_

Any credits earned from Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region
exceeding the minimum required credits of 4 will count towards thecredits required for program completion.
The minimum required 4 credits include 2 credits from Final Research
Project. Any credits earned from Seminars exceeding the minimum
requirement of 4 credits will count towards the credits required forprogram completion.
Students must complete at least 10 credits from Major Subjects fromtheir affiliated Division.
Any credits earned from APS / ICP Major Subjects outside the student’s
affiliated Division will count towards the credits required for program
completion.
Credits earned from Core Related Subjects will count towards thecredits required for program completion.

TOTAL 32

Credit Registration Limits
There is a fixed maximum number of credits for which students may register each semester.
Maximum Credit Limit
1st Semester

22

2nd Semester

22

3rd Semester

22

4th Semester

22

Note: 1. Students will not be penalized or charged extra fees for earning more than 32 credits.
2. Students who are under a tuition reduction scholarship need to refer to the Student Life Guide Book for credit completion
requirements per semester.
3. Upon acquisition of 32 credits and the fulfillment of all graduation requirements, students will be awarded a Master’s degree.
Students may not register for additional subjects after completing all graduation requirements.
－4－

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Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Programs (GSAM) Subject List

Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region
Research Projects

Seminars

Final Research Project

4 Credits

4 Credits22International Relations (IR)APS

APS Major
Subjects
Society and Culture (SC)－5－

10 Credits*
International Public Administration (IPA)

Sustainability Science (SS)ICP

ICP Major
Subjects*Students must
acquire at least
10 credits fromsubjects within
their affiliatedDivision

Tourism and Hospitality (TH)Development Economics (DE)Core Related Subjects_

Total: 32 Credits

Information Resources and Data Analysis
Tourism in the Asia PacificPublic Health in the Asia Pacific
Special Studies (Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region)
Research Project III

Final Research Project
Regionalism and Globalization
Special Studies (International Relations)International Law
Conflict Resolution
International Political Economy
International Security
Comparative Politics and Government
Changing Social Landscapes
Sociology of Everyday LifeMedia and Communication
Special Studies (Society and Culture)
Migration and Trans-nationalism
Cultural Change
Social Organizations and Institutions
Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation
Project Management
Special Studies (International Public Administration)
Planning and Evaluation
International Public Administration
Community Development
International Organizations
Environment and Natural Resources Conservation
Urban Sustainability
Advanced Environmental Geosciences
Industrial Ecology
Environmental Policy, Law and Administration
Special Studies (Sustainability Science)
Environmental Economics
Tourism Economics
Health and Wellness Tourism
Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Special Studies (Tourism and Hospitality)
Environmental Tourism
Tourism Policy and Planning
Community Based Tourism
Development Economics
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Community Development
Development FinanceSpecial Studies (Development Economics)
Comparative Economic Development
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Hospitality Management
Information Technology and Operations Management
Management Information Systems
Product Development Strategy
Database Management
Marketing Strategy
Advanced Data Analysis and Statistics
Marketing Research* Any credits from Core Related Subjects as well as credits earned exceeding the minimum credits requirement for any of the above Subject
Categories will fulfill the 32-Credit Requirement for Program Completion.

General Information

APS
&
ICP

Research Methods and Academic Writing
Social and Cultural Processes in the Asia Pacific
Politics and Economics in the Asia Pacific
Environment and Sustainable Development in the Asia PacificResearch Project I
Research Project II

Common Information

APS
&
ICP

4 Credits

Subject Name

GSM

Analytical Foundation Subjects

Minimum
Required Credits

GSAD

Subject Category

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GSAM

Note: All subjects are awarded 2 credits upon completion.

Major

Subject Code051014051024051054061074061284061314061414061514071014071024071034071054051040051044051090061114061154061214061464061014061024061034061044061054061064064074061124061134061140061160061400061424061474051114051124061224061230061244061274063064061324061334061344061354061364061384061394061360061374061420061444061454061474061484061534061544062140062150062160062214062404062504062704066034066044066054066064066074066084066094

Subject Category

Division

Analytical Foundation Subjects

Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region

Seminars

APS Major Subjects

IR

APS Major Subjects

SC

ICP Major Subjects

IPA

ICP Major Subjects

SS

ICP Major Subjects

TH

ICP Major Subjects

DECore Related Subjects

Optional Subjects

Subject Name
Research Methods and Academic Writing
Information Resources and Data Analysis
Social and Cultural Processes in the Asia Pacific
Politics and Economics in the Asia Pacific
Environment and Sustainable Development in the Asia PacificTourism in the Asia PacificPublic Health in the Asia Pacific
Special Studies (Core Subjects on the Asia Pacific Region)*
Research Project I
Research Project II
Research Project III
Final Research Project
Regionalism and Globalization
International Law
International Political Economy
Comparative Politics and Government
Special Studies (International Relations)*
Conflict Resolution
International Security
Changing Social Landscapes
Media and Communication
Migration and Trans-nationalism
Social Organizations and Institutions
Sociology of Everyday Life
Special Studies (Society and Culture)*
Cultural Change
Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation
Special Studies (International Public Administration)*International Public Administration
International Organizations
Project Management
Planning and Evaluation
Community Development
Environment and Natural Resources Conservation
Advanced Environmental Geosciences
Environmental Policy, Law and Administration
Environmental Economics
Urban Sustainability
Industrial Ecology
Special Studies (Sustainability Science)*
Tourism Economics
Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Environmental Tourism
Community Based Tourism
Health and Wellness Tourism
Special Studies (Tourism and Hospitality)*
Tourism Policy and Planning
Development Economics
Macroeconomics
Development Finance
Comparative Economic Development
Microeconomics
Community Development
Special Studies (Development Economics)*
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Information Technology and Operations Management
Product Development Strategy
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Research
Hospitality Management
Management Information Systems
Database Management
Advanced Data Analysis and Statistics
Survival Japanese I
Survival Japanese II
Japanese for Communication I
Japanese for Communication II
Japanese for Communication III
Japanese for Communication IV
Special Studies (Japanese)*

Credits
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

* These courses may be taken more than once (only when course contents are different from the previous time).

－6－

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GSAM Curriculum Alignment Matrix (CAM)
GSA utilizes a Curriculum Alignment Matrix (CAM) to give an overview of the expectations for what students should learn in each subject
nine Learning Objectives and three Learning Goals they are aligned with.
The Learning Goals indicate the ideal characteristics that GSA hopes students to have acquired by the time they complete their degrees.

GSAM

within their master’s program. The left-most row of the matrix indicates the given subjects. Listed in the upper columns of the matrix are theLearning Objectives further clarify more specific abilities students should acquire. Both the Learning Goals and Objectives were developedin alignment with the Declaration of the Occasion of the Opening of APU and the Mission of GSA.

Learning Objective
Category
Subject

Analytical Foundation
Subjects

Research Methods and Academic
Writing○○○

Environment and Sustainable
Development in the Asia Pacific

○

○

○

Social and Cultural Processes in the
Asia Pacific○○Tourism in the Asia Pacific○○Public Health in the Asia Pacific○○

Cultural Change

○

○

○

○

○

Sociology of Everyday Life

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

Changing Social Landscapes(Changing Social Landscapes in the
Asia Pacific)
Media & Communication○

Migration & Trans-nationalism○○

Special Studies(Society and Culture)○○

Comparative Politics and Government

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

International Security
Regionalism and Globalization

○

○

○

○

International Organizations○○

International Public Administration

○

○

○

○

○

Project Management
Planning and Evaluation○○

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation○○

Special Studies (International Public
Administration)

○

○

○

○

○

Environment and Natural Resources
Conservation○

Industrial Ecology○

Environmental Economics○○

Urban Sustainability

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

Special Studies(Sustainability Science)○

Tourism Policy and Planning
Tourism Economics○

General Information○○

Advanced Environmental
Geosciences

Development
Economics○○

Conflict Resolution

Environmental Policy, Law andAdministration

Tourism and
Hospitality○

International Political Economy

Special Studies(International Relations)Sustainability
Science3-b. Understand criticalperspectives of the Asia
Pacific region from a
global view.

○

Politics and Economics in the Asia
Pacific

International Law

International Public
Administration

3-a. Understandinterdisciplinary theories
involving the Asia Pacificregion and how the region
interacts with other regions○

Information Resources and Data
Analysis

Social Organizations and Institutions

International
Relations

3. Global perspectives

2-c. Apply theories using
standard methodologies
and current analyticaltools

Common Information

Society and Culture

2-b. Understand thecurrent important areas
for research in thediscipline.

GSM

Core Subjects on the
Asia Pacific region

2. Advanced knowledge of discipline

1-a. Understand1-b. Understand2-a. Understand theimportant social science
differences between
theories important for theissues involving the Asia issues of the Asia Pacificdiscipline being studied
Pacific Region.
Region and other regions.

GSAD

1. Broad knowledge and understanding of thevarious issues facing the Asia Pacific region

Learning Goal

○
○
○

○

Community Based Tourism○

Cultural and Heritage Tourism

○

○

○

Environmental Tourism○○

Health and Wellness Tourism○○

Special Studies(Tourism and Hospitality) (ICT)○○

Macroeconomics○○

Microeconomics○○

Development Economics○○

Development Finance○○Community Development○

Comparative Economic Development○○

Special Studies(Development Economics)

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

(Product Development Strategy)*(Marketing Strategy)*(Hospitality Management)*(Marketing Research)*
Core Related
Subjects

Management Information Systems○

Database Management○

Advanced Data Analysis and Statistics
Decision Making Under Uncertainty○

Information Technology andOperations Management○○*These subjects are jointly offered with GSM. Please refer to the GSM Curriculum Alignment Matrix on p. 72 for the specific learning goals and learning objectives.

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1-3. Reference Information on GSAM Subjects
Recommended Elective Subjects
Recommended Elective Subjects are a combination of subjects outside the Major Subjects for the student’s affiliated Division designed todeepen students’ knowledge in their respective research field. Students are recommended to take the Recommended Elective Subjects listed
under their Division in addition to the Major Subjects 1. Credits earned from these subjects will NOT fulfill the Major Subjects 1 requirement
but will count towards the credits required for program completion under the Major Subject 2 category.

Major

Division

Subject Name
Changing Social Landscapes
Migration and Trans-nationalism
Social Organization and Institution
Regionalism and Globalization
Comparative Politics and Government
Planning and Evaluation

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation
International Public Administration
International Organizations
Urban Sustainability
Comparative Economic Development
Community Development

International Public
Administration (IPA)

International Law
Comparative Politics and Government
Conflict Resolution

Environmental Policy, Law and Administration
Development Finance
Comparative Economic Development

Sustainability Science (SS)

Conflict Resolution
Cultural Change
Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation

Planning and Evaluation
Environmental Tourism

Tourism and Hospitality (TH)Project Management
Product Development Strategy
Hospitality Management

Marketing Strategy
Marketing Research

Development Economics(DE)

International Political Economy
International Public Administration
International Organizations

Project Management
Planning and Evaluation
Environmental Economics

International Relations (IR)APSSociety and Culture (SC)ICP

Special Studies
In general, Special Studies serve to supplement the content not sufficiently covered by regular subjects in the respective fields. Students may
take these Special Studies multiple times only if the contents of the lectures differ.

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1-4. Seminars
GSAM

Operation of Seminars
Seminars are subjects designed to help students with the preliminary readings and research, determination of a research topic, and to startsystematic research and data collection. These subjects also help students to strengthen their research, writing, and presentation skills
and enrich their research through comments, suggestions and guidance by their individual supervisors, other faculty members, and fellow
students.
Students will be registered for Seminars following the schedule below in accordance with their enrollment status (program completion
Seminars’ subject titles are Research Project I, II, III or Final Research Project. Research Project I refers to the seminar class in the 1st

GSAD

length, semester of enrollment, supervisor).
semester, Research Project II – to the one in the 2nd semester and Research Project III – to the 3rd semester seminar class. The Final Research
Project is registered for the final semester at APU.
1. All students must take Seminars consecutively from the first semester through the last semester of enrollment.
2. Students must complete one of the three Research Projects (Research Project I, II or III) and the Final Research Project.

GSM

3. The Master’s Thesis or the Research Report is to be submitted during the semester in which Final Research Project is registered.
※During the course of study, students must take seminars as designated below.
1st Semester

2nd Semester

3rd Semester

4th Semester

2-year Standard
Completion

Research Project I

Research Project II

Research Project III

Final Research Project

1.5-year Accelerated
Completion

Research Project I

Research Project II

Final Research Project

Program Completion1-year Accelerated
Completion

Research Project I

Final Research Project

Program Completion

Seminars consists of the following two elements.
Individual Supervision
Every student is assigned an individual supervisor from their affiliated Division. The student will meet with their supervisor on an individual
or small group basis and all meetings are scheduled individually between supervisors and students.
Joint Research Presentations

General Information

Seminar Structure

Common Information

Program Length

In principle, Joint Research Presentations will be held at least once per quarter and all faculty members and students shall attend the Joint
Research Presentation within their Division. These presentations provide students with opportunities to present their research and receive
feedback from faculty members other than their supervisors. The presentation requirements, including the timing and the number of thepresentations, differ per Division and may depend on the student’s enrollment status (1st semester, final semester, accelerated completion
program, etc.). Students should consult with their supervisor and the Division Head for their presentation schedule, and should follow otherdetails specified by their specific Division. Moreover, as a rule, all students are required to give a presentation at least once before thesubmission of their Master's Thesis / Research Report.
Joint Research Presentations Schedule
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Quarter 1

the Wednesday on or immediately before May 15

the Wednesday on or immediately before November 15

Quarter 2

the Wednesday on or immediately before July 10

the Wednesday on or immediately before January 15

First Seminar Meeting and Choosing a Seminar Supervisor
The First Seminar Meetings are organized for each Division on the 1st Wednesday after classes for the semester have begun to provide
new students with an opportunity to meet with professors from each Division and choose a supervisor. After the First Seminar Meeting, allconsecutive meetings are scheduled between supervisors and students. Please contact the Academic Office for any inquiries regarding the－9－

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GSAM Seminar Classes.

Seminar Registration for New Enrollees
New enrollees will be automatically registered for “Research Project I SA / FA” under the name of the Dean of the Graduate School of Asia
Pacific Studies. The Academic Office will update students’ seminar registration once the supervisors have been decided. Students should confirm
their registration via Campusmate during Correction Period 2.

Plan for Research Supervision
The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies requires that the supervisor prepare a yearly plan for research supervision, present it to the student
in advance, and conduct research supervision in accordance with this yearly plan. The Plan is created based on a research plan written by thestudent and presented to their supervisor. It reflects the student’s individual research and is provided to students as a tool to help lead them to thesuccessful completion of high-quality research.
The Plan establishes a guideline for students to follow to progress with their research in the subsequent year. It also serves as a reference point
the supervisor can use to monitor the progress of the student’s research.
The student prepares a research plan at the beginning of their 1st and 3rd semesters and presents it to their supervisor who will, in consultation
with the student, write and present the student with the Plan for Research Supervision for that year. Upon confirmation, both the student and thesupervisor sign the Plan, and the student submits a copy to the Academic Office for record-keeping.
Plan for Research Supervision Submission Deadline
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

1st-semester students

May 31

November 30

3rd-semester students

April 15

October 15

Submission Location

Academic Office

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.
Note 1: Students who have changed supervisors: the new supervisor will prepare and present a yearly Plan for Research Supervision. Pleaseprovide your new supervisor with your research plan so they can do so. The period of research supervision indicated in the Plan will
depend on the time left until completion.
Note 2: A new Plan for Research Supervision will need to be prepared by students who extend their graduate program, as well as reinstated /readmitted students. Please present your supervisor with an updated research plan so they can prepare a new research supervision
plan. The period of research supervision indicated in the Plan will depend on the extension period for students who are extending theirprograms and on the period until completion for reinstated / readmitted students.

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1-5. Master’s Thesis and Research Reporttheir individual research. A Master’s Thesis or a Research Report is the accumulation of work and studies done in the seminar classes during
the time enrolled at APU. Both APS and ICP students can choose between Master’s Thesis or Research Report in the process of taking the

GSAM

All students must complete an extended piece of writing (Master’s Thesis or Research Report) which presents the findings and conclusions ofseminar classes and in consultation with their supervisor.
Writing a solid research proposal is the first step towards the completion of a Master’s Thesis or Research Report.

All students must submit a research proposal approved by their supervisor for examination within the Division by the deadline set for theircompletion program. The research proposal should include the theme of the study, the research background and research question, theGSAD

Research Proposal

significance of the study, methodology, and other specific information. Students should carefully read the “Procedures for Master’s Thesis
and Research Report in GSAM” and refer to the Graduate School website for further details about research proposal submission and deadline.
Research Proposal Submission Period:

GSM

1 year completion: 1st semester (when registered for Research Project I)
1.5 and 2 year completion: 2nd semester (when registered for research Project II)

Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis / Research Report
All students in their final semester should submit a Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis or a Research Report accompanied bydeadlines. Notification of Intent and submission of a summary of the Master’s Thesis / Research Report is required to ensure that appropriate
examiners are appointed and a fair examination is conducted.
NOTE: Failure to submit this form may result in an inappropriate selection of examiners which may also affect the entire examination process
and result.

Common Information

a summary of their Master’s Thesis / Research Report. Please refer to the Graduate School webpage for the appropriate form and submission

General Information

Features and Characteristics of the Master’s Thesis / Research ReportFeatures common to both the Master’s Thesis and Research Report:
1. They require a submission and approval of a research proposal, outlining the topic, before the start of research.
2. They require presentation at the Joint Research Presentation prior to submission.
3. They are approximately 15,000 words long.
4. They are submitted and examined within the same deadline and according to the same procedures.
5. They are examined by two faculty members – the supervisor and another professor.
Characteristics:
Master’s Thesis

Research Report

1. Specific analytical frameworks with extensive literature review, researchquestions, and hypotheses as well as explicit methodology that iscommon to a given academic field.

1. Research background and research objectives are clearly
indicated. It is recommended that analytical frameworks be set up;
however, this is not compulsory.

2. The empirical findings contain originality and provide new knowledge
for academics, practitioners, or society.

2. Collecting sufficient data and evidence to attain research
objectives and analysis of this data in a logical manner towards
reaching certain conclusions is required. It is not mandatory tocontribute anything new to the existing academic field.

Procedures for the Master’s Thesis and Research Report
All students should carefully read the procedures related to the Master’s Theses and Research Reports in the Graduate School of Asia PacificStudies outlining the examination requirements and procedures (see p. 15-28 for details). This information is also summarized in the flow
chart on page 14.

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Registration Flow for GSAM Seminars
Standard Completion Program (2 years)
Semester

1

What:

When:

Notes

Registration for Research Project I

Before Course Registration Period B

Registered by the University

First Seminar MeetingFirst Wednesday of the semester

Announced at the orientation session for
new enrollees

Decide Supervisors

Within 3 weeks from the First Seminar
Meeting

Plan for Research Supervision (1st year)

By the last day of the second month of
the semester (or the preceding workday if
a holiday)

Prepared by the supervisor based on
the research plan of, and consultation
with, the student and submitted to the
Academic Office

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Registration for Research Project II

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Research Proposal Submission

Towards the end of the 2nd Quarter

Approved by the supervisor and submitted
to the Academic Office

Registration for Research Project III

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Plan for Research Supervision (2nd year)

By the 15th of the first month of thesemester (or the preceding workday if aholiday)

Prepared by the supervisor based on
the research plan of, and consultation
with, the student and submitted to the
Academic Office

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Registration for Final Research Project

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Notification of Intent to Submit

1 month before the thesis/reportsubmission

Academic Office

Master’s Thesis / Research Report
Submission and Examination

Refer to p. 14 ～ 28 for details

Academic Office

Begin research and data collection

2

3

4

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Accelerated Completion Program (1.5 years)
Semester

What:

1

Notes

Decide Supervisors

Within 3 weeks from the First Seminar
Meeting

Plan for Research Supervision (1st year)

By the last day of the second month of
the semester (or the preceding workday if
a holiday)

Prepared by the supervisor based on
the research plan of, and consultation
with, the student and submitted to the
Academic Office

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Registration for Research Project II

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Research Proposal Submission

Towards the end of the 2nd Quarter

Approved by the supervisor and submitted
to the Academic Office

Registration for Final Research Project

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Plan for Research Supervision (2nd year)

By the 15th of the first month of thesemester (or the preceding workday if aholiday)

Prepared by the supervisor based on
the research plan of, and consultation
with, the student and submitted to the
Academic Office

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Notification of Intent to Submit

1 month before the thesis/reportsubmission

Academic Office

Master’s Thesis / Research Report
Submission and Examination

Refer to p. 14 ～ 28 for details

Academic Office

Begin research and data collection

2

3

Accelerated Completion Program (1 year)
Semester

1

What:

When:

Notes

Registration for Research Project I

Before Course Registration Period B

Registered by the University

First Seminar MeetingFirst Wednesday of the semester

Announced at the orientation session for
new enrollees

Decide Supervisors

Within 3 weeks from the First Seminar
Meeting

Plan for Research Supervision

By the last day of the second month of
the semester (or the preceding workday if
a holiday)

Prepared by the supervisor based on
the research plan of, and consultation
with the student, and submitted to the
Academic Office

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Research Proposal Submission

Towards the end of the 2nd Quarter

Approved by the supervisor and submitted
to the Academic Office

Registration for Final Research Project

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Joint Research Presentations

Once every quarter

Details are decided by each Division andannounced at the beginning of every
semester

Notification of Intent to Submit

1 month before the thesis/reportsubmission

Academic Office

Master’s Thesis / Research Report
Submission and Examination

Refer to p. 14 ～ 28 for details

Academic Office

General Information

First Wednesday of the semester

Common Information

First Seminar Meeting

GSM

Registered by the University
Announced at the orientation session for
new enrollees

GSAD

Before Course Registration Period B

GSAM

Registration for Research Project I

When:

Begin research and data collection

2

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Screening and Examinat ion Flow for the GSAM Master’s Thesis / Research Report
The Division Head selects examiners for each
Master's Thesis / Research Report
Master's Thesis / Research Report Submission
Oral Examination

Supervisor

Oral Examination Pass
Re-submission of the revised Master’s Thesis /Research Report
Forwarded to the original examiners for
Screening

Examiner
Supervisor

Examiner

Mutually agree on the result
Mutually agree on the result

Pass

Fail

－14－

Pass

Fail

The Master's Thesis Committee deliberates and approves
the result

The Master's Thesis Committee deliberates and approves
the result

The Dean or the Associate Dean determines the result

The Dean or the Associate Dean determines the result

Notification of results to students

Pass

Pass

Fail

Continue to Screening

End of Assessment

Fail

Notification of results to students

A finalized copy in pdf format should be submitted to the
Academic Office for archiving in the Library.

Appeals : An appeal may be made under certain conditions.

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GSAM

Procedures for the Master’s Thesis and Research Report in the
Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Master’s Program (GSAM) under the
AY2014 Curriculum (Revised January 2024)

Table of Contents

2. Master’s Thesis Committee Structure ………………………………………………………………… 17

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1. Master’s Thesis Committee ……………………………………………………………………………… 17

3. Master’s Thesis or Research Report …………………………………………………………………… 17
4. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Language ………………………………………………………… 17

6. Research Proposal Approval …………………………………………………………………………… 17

GSM

5. Joint Research Presentations …………………………………………………………………………… 17

7. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Submission ………………………………………………………… 17

7-2. Changing type of Final Written Outcome …………………………………………………………… 17
7-3. Submission …………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
7-4. Re-submission ………………………………………………………………………………………… 18

9. Examiners ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
10. Screening and Examination Criteria of Master’s Thesis/Research Report ………………………… 18
10-1. Master’s Thesis ……………………………………………………………………………………… 18
10-2. Research Report …………………………………………………………………………………… 19

General Information

8. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Format ……………………………………………………………… 18

Common Information

7-1. Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis/Research Report …………………………… 17

10-3. Oral Examination …………………………………………………………………………………… 19
11. Screening/Examination Process ………………………………………………………………………… 19
11-1. The Oral Examination ……………………………………………………………………………… 19
11-2. Determining the Oral Examination Results ……………………………………………………… 20
11-3. Notifying Students of the Oral Examination Results ……………………………………………… 20
11-4. Screening……………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
11-5. Determining the Screening Results ………………………………………………………………… 20
11-6. Notifying Students of the Screening Results ……………………………………………………… 20
12. Overall Evaluation for the Final Research Project …………………………………………………… 21
13. Appeal Procedures ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21
14. Time Schedule for All Programs for Completion ……………………………………………………… 21
Table 1 Research Proposal Examination Schedule …………………………………………………… 21－15－

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Table 2 Master’s Thesis/Research Report Screening and Examination Schedule ………………… 21
15. Preservation and Publication of Master’s Theses and Research Reports ………………………… 22－16－

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1. Master’s Thesis Committee
A Master’s Thesis Committee is established within GSA to administer the procedures for examination andGSAMevaluation of Master’s Theses and Research Reports.
2. Master’s Thesis Committee Structure
The Master’s Thesis Committee shall consist of one chairperson and two members nominated by the Dean andapproved by the GSA Faculty Council. The Associate Dean of GSA will chair the Master’s Thesis Committee
reappointed.

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and members will be appointed from each Major. The term of appointment is one (1) year and members can be

3. Master’s Thesis or Research Report
Students are required to submit a Master’s Thesis or Research Report and pass the screening and examination
to obtain a Master’s Degree in GSA. A faculty member within the Major and Division to which the Master’s
be approximately 15,000 words long, not counting the bibliography and any appendices. However, the length

GSM

student is affiliated will become the student’s supervisor. The length of a Master’s Thesis/Research Report shallmay vary depending on the discipline and may be set by the Division. In the case of Japanese language, the length

4. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Language
The Master’s Thesis or Research Report should normally be presented in English and, as a general rule, eachsubmitted Master’s Thesis or Research Report should include an abstract in English. However, in the case that
it is to the advantage of the student to present his/her Master’s Thesis/Research Report in Japanese due to thedo so upon approval by the Dean. In such cases, an extended abstract in English must be provided.
5. Joint Research Presentations
Joint Research Presentations within each Division will be held every quarter. In these presentations, students

General Information

original data and research materials being mostly found in Japanese sources, etc., the student may be allowed toCommon Information

shall be equivalent to the standards set for English language Master’s Theses and Research Reports.

will present the main points and current progress of their research to the faculty members and students affiliatedwith their Division for feedback. As a rule, all students are required to give a presentation at least once before thesubmission of the Master’s Thesis/Research Report.
6. Research Proposal ApprovalStudents are required to submit a Research Proposal approved by their supervisor to the Academic Office for
examination by the Division as stipulated in Clause 14, Table 1.
7. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Submission
7-1. Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis/Research Report
Students must submit a Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis/Research Report, describing thetype and outline of the Master’s Thesis/Research Report, to the Academic Office at least one month before
the submission deadline specified in Clause 14, Table 2.
7-2. Changing type of Final Written Outcome
Even after submission of the Notification of Intent to Submit a Master’s Thesis/Research Report, the typeof Final Written Outcome may be changed until the submission deadline specified in Clause 14, Table
－17－

2.

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Students who wish to change the type of Final Written Outcome must apply for the change with the approvalof their supervisor, after which it will be authorized by the Dean. However, under no circumstances isa change in the type of Final Written Outcome permitted after it has been submitted for screening andexamination.
7-3. Submission
Students must submit one soft copy of their Master’s Thesis/Research Report to the Academic Office as
stipulated in Clause 14, Table 2. As a rule, all students are required to give a presentation at least once before
the submission of the Master’s Thesis/Research Report.
7-4. Re-submission
Students who have passed the oral examination as per 11-1, and have made all corrections as detailed in
the evaluation report per 11-3, must submit one soft copy of their Master’s Thesis/Research Report to the
Academic Office by the due date as stipulated in Clause 14, Table 2.
8. Master’s Thesis/Research Report Format
In principle, a Master’s Thesis/Research Report should contain the following:
1. Title Page, 2. Table of Contents (should describe the contents in sufficient detail), 3. Certification Page
(that the Master’s Thesis/Research Report contains only original and/or properly referenced material), 4.
Acknowledgements (for any support and advice given), 5. Abstract, 6. Main Text, 7. Conclusions, 8. References, 9.
Appendices (supporting material in addition to the main text)
9. Examiners(1) Two (2) faculty members will examine the Master’s Thesis/Research Report. The supervisor will be one of theexaminers and the other examiner will be appointed by the Division Head from within the Division. However,examiners from different Divisions may also be selected.
(2) If it is beneficial in light of the content of the Master’s Thesis/Research Report, and the Division Head andsupervisor propose so, the Dean may approve the appointment of a faculty member without graduate school
qualifications.
(3) In the case that the Division Head is the student’s supervisor, the Dean or the Associate Dean of GSA shallappoint the second examiner for them. The examiners will be advised of each other’s names.
10. Screening and Examination Criteria of Master’s Thesis/Research Report
The Master’s Thesis/Research Report should achieve or exceed the quality of research of peers working in thesame field at the graduate level. The research project is assessed based on the following criteria, among others.
10-1. Master’s Thesis
1) Originality
The Master’s Thesis provides original knowledge in terms of theories, methods, or empirical findings foracademics, practitioners, or society.
2) Research Question/Topic
The research question/topic is well-thought-out in its field’s standard and is defined within the discipline’s
current paradigm and context of academic literature.
3) Literature Review－18－

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The literature referenced in the Master’s Thesis is extensive, encompassing a broad range of sources andhas the context to fully cover the necessary academic and other material to define and defend the research4) Methodology
The Master’s Thesis is grounded in objectively appropriate theory and uses well-considered methodologies

GSAM

project’s originality and significance.

to determine results.
5) Structure

The Master’s Thesis provides sufficient data and reasons that lead to the findings and conclusions.

GSAD

The Master’s Thesis structure allows for precise and logical communication of information to the audience.
6) Analysis7) Implication
The Master’s Thesis has implications for academics, practitioners, or society.
8) Writing
with substantial evidence and claims. The writing adheres to standard research practices for citations and

GSM

The text is clear and concise without unnecessary repetition and is written in the format of an argument
works cited without any instances of plagiarism.

1) Research Objective/Topic
The research purpose/topic is appropriate and is defined within the relevant field’s current argument andcontext of academic literature.
2) Literature Review
3) Structure
The structure of the Research Report allows for precise and logical communication of information to theaudience.
4) Discussion

General Information

The Research Report must include a review of previous studies related to the research task.

Common Information

10-2. Research Report

The Research Report provides solid/sound reasons for its conclusions.
5) Writing
The text is clear and concise without unnecessary repetition and is written in the format of an argumentwith substantial evidence and claims. The writing adheres to standard research practices for citations andworks cited without any instances of plagiarism.
10-3. Oral Examination
1) The oral examination will be based on the content of the submitted Master’s Thesis/Research Report, andthrough questions on its content, will determine if the student’s knowledge of the subject, specialized field,
and compliance with research ethics is sufficient to award them with a Master’s Degree.
2) The oral examination is not an opportunity for the student to give a presentation. It is not permitted tosubmit new materials or request to give a presentation.
11. Screening/Examination Process
11-1. The Oral Examination
Examiners shall conduct an oral examination of the submitted Master’s Theses/Research Reports. However,examiners may deem it necessary for students to undergo an additional written, oral, or practical examination.
－19－

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The examiners shall submit only one mutually agreed upon evaluation result to the Master’s Thesis Committee
from among the following possible results:
1) Pass (Meets the standard for a Master’s Thesis/Research Report. May include points that need correction
and can be revised by the resubmission due date, such as formatting or typographical errors and requests
for small amendments or expansions of data or text).
2) Fail (Does not meet the standard for a Master’s Thesis/Research Report)
In addition to the mutually agreed upon evaluation result, each examiner shall submit an individual
evaluation report to be presented to the student.
11-2. Determining the Oral Examination Results
The examination evaluation given by the examiners shall be deliberated and approved by the Master’s Thesis
Committee. The approved results shall be reported to the Dean or the Associate Dean of GSA for determining
the examination results.
In cases where the results from the examiners are judged to be incongruent, the Master’s Thesis Committee
will deliberate on how to handle the cases individually and the final result of such cases will be determined inconsultation with the Dean.
11-3. Notifying Students of the Oral Examination Results
Students shall receive notification of the examination results, the names of the examiners, and copies of theexaminers’ evaluation reports.
11-4. Screening
The examiners will screen the Master’s Thesis/Research Report upon re-submission by the student after theOral Examination. However, examiners may deem it necessary for students to undergo an additional written,
oral, or practical examination. The examiners shall again submit only one mutually agreed upon evaluation
result to the Master’s Thesis Committee from among the following possible results:
1) Pass
2) Fail
In addition to the mutually agreed upon evaluation result, each examiner shall submit an individual evaluation
report to be presented to the student.
11-5. Determining the Screening Results
The screening evaluation given by the examiners shall be deliberated and approved by the Master’s Thesis
Committee. The approved result shall be reported to the Dean or the Associate Dean of GSA for determining
the screening results.
In cases where the results from the examiners are judged to be incongruent, the Master’s Thesis Committee
will deliberate on how to handle the cases individually and the final result of such cases will be determined inconsultation with the Dean.
11-6. Notifying Students of the Screening Results
Students shall receive notification of the screening results, the names of the examiners, and copies of theexaminers’ evaluation reports.

－20－

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12. Overall Evaluation for the Final Research ProjectSupervisors shall evaluate the overall grade for the Final Research Project based on the Master’s Thesis
GSAM

Committee’s final decision regarding the Master’s Thesis/Research Report.
13. Appeal Procedures
A student whose result as determined by the Master’s Thesis Committee is “Fail” may appeal that decision.
A student who wishes to appeal must submit a written appeal to the Academic Office addressed to the Master’s
clearly [in a detailed and precise manner] state the grounds on which the appeal is based. The Master’s Thesis
Committee in consultation with the Dean will review the submission and decide whether or not to accept the

GSAD

Thesis Committee within one (1) week of the announcement of the examination results. The submission must

appeal for evaluation. If an appeal has been accepted for evaluation, an Appeals Committee shall be establishedconsisting of the Chair of the Master’s Thesis Committee, the Dean, and one other person who has recognizedexpertise in the area of the student’s Master’s Thesis/Research Report, but who has neither previously examined
Committee and/or the Dean is the student’s supervisor, a third person shall be appointed as a member of thisGSM

the Master’s Thesis/Research Report nor supervised the student. In the case that the Chair of the Master’s Thesis
Committee instead. The Appeals Committee will decide how to conduct the appeal and whether to require theoriginal submission. After review and careful consideration of all related materials and documents, the Appeals
Committee will determine the final evaluation of the case as follows:
1) Reject the appeal, the result originally announced to the student remains unchanged.
2) Accept the appeal, the result originally announced to the students will be changed to “Pass”.
However, if in the process of evaluating the appeal new evidence of plagiarism, research misconduct, etc. is
The final result of the appeal accompanied by appropriate feedback will be announced to the student, barring
any unavoidable circumstances, by the day of the Graduation Ceremony for that semester.
14. Time Schedule for All Programs for Completion

General Information

uncovered, the Master’s Thesis/Research Report will be failed.

Common Information

student to present further evidence in written or oral form to substantiate the grounds of the appeal as stated in the

Table 1 Research Proposal Examination Schedule
Submission
Notification of the Examination Results

Spring Semester

Fall Semester

June 30January 10

August 5

February 10

st※Submission period: 1-year program completion: 1 semester of enrollment
1.5 & 2-year program completion: 2nd semester of enrollment
Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately
preceding working day.

Table 2 Master’s Thesis/Research Report Screening and Examination Schedule
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Submission

June 5

December 5

Notification of the Oral Examination Results

June 25

December 25

Resubmission

July 15January 15

Notification of the Screening Results

July 31January 31

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately
preceding working day.

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15. Preservation and Publication of Master’s Theses and Research Reports
After successful examination, students are required to submit a finalized soft copy of their Master’s Thesis or
Research Report for permanent binding by the University. Bound Master’s Theses and Research Reports will be
forwarded to the University Library, where they will be catalogued for APU Library users.
The University does not normally publish Master’s Theses or Research Reports; however, if desired, students
may undertake publication at their own expense.

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2014年度カリキュラム

アジア太平洋研究科博士前期課程（GSAM）論文審査の手続き（2024 年 1 月改訂）
GSAM

目次
1. 修士学位論文委員会 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 24
3. 修士論文・研究レポート ………………………………………………………………………………… 24

GSAD

2. 修士学位論文委員会の構成 ……………………………………………………………………………… 24
4. 修士論文・研究レポートの言語 ………………………………………………………………………… 24
5. 合同発表会 ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
6. 研究計画書の承認 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
7-1. 提出意向届（Notification of Intent to Submit a Master's Thesis / Research Report）……… 24

GSM

7. 修士論文・研究レポート提出 …………………………………………………………………………… 24
7-2. 最終成果物の種別変更 ……………………………………………………………………………… 24
7-4. 再提出 ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
8. 修士論文・研究レポートの形式 ………………………………………………………………………… 25
9. 審査員 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
10. 修士論文 / 研究レポートの審査・試験基準 …………………………………………………………… 25
10-2. 研究レポート ………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
10-3. 口頭試問 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
11. 審査・試験の手順 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
11-1. 口頭試問 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 26

General Information

10-1. 修士論文 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 25

Common Information

7-3. 提出 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25

11-2. 口頭試問結果の決定 ………………………………………………………………………………… 26
11-3. 口頭試問結果の通知 ………………………………………………………………………………… 26
11-4. 審査 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
11-5. 審査結果の決定 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 27
11-6. 審査結果の通知 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 27
12. ファイナル・リサーチ・プロジェクトの成績評価 …………………………………………………… 27
13. 不服申し立て ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
14. 審査・試験日程 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 28
表 1 リサーチ・プロポーザル審査日程 ………………………………………………………………… 28
表 2 修士論文・研究レポート審査・試験日程 ………………………………………………………… 28
15. 修士論文・研究レポートの保存と出版 ………………………………………………………………… 28－23－

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1. 修士学位論文委員会
本研究科内に、修士学位論文委員会を設け、修士論文・研究レポートの審査及び評価の管理を行う。
2. 修士学位論文委員会の構成
修士学位論文委員会は、
1 名の委員長と 2 名の委員からなり、アジア太平洋学部副学部長（大学院担当）が委員長を務め、研究科長が各専攻から 1 名ずつ委員を選出し、研究科委員会にて承認を行う。任期は 1 年とし、再任を妨げない。
3. 修士論文・研究レポート
アジア太平洋研究科博士前期課程における修士学位取得のためには、修士論文・研究レポートを提出し、審査及び試験に合格しなければならない。学生の所属する専攻（Major）、研究分野内の教員 1
名が指導教員となる。修士論文・研究レポートは、文献目録、付録を除いた本文が、約 15,000 語を目安とする。ただし、文字数はディシプリンによって異なる場合があるため、各研究分野で別途定める場合がある。日本語の場合は、英語の修士論文・研究レポートに見合う長さとする。
4. 修士論文・研究レポートの言語
英語を原則とし、英語の要約をつける。しかし、論文の根拠となるデータや研究記録の大半が日本語による場合など、日本語による執筆が学生にとってより有意義である場合には、研究科長による承認を条件とし、日本語での修士論文・研究レポートを認めることがある。そのような場合でも、長文の英語要約の提出は求められる。
5. 合同発表会
クォーター毎に各研究分野内にて合同発表会を実施する。この発表会では、各研究分野の所属教員と他の学生から研究主旨および修士論文・研究レポートの執筆状況に対するフィードバックを得ることを目的として、学生がプレゼンテーションを行うものである。原則として、すべての学生が修士論文・研究レポートを提出する前に研究内容の発表を行うことを義務付ける。
6. 研究計画書の承認
指導教員の承認を受けた上で、研究計画書を第 14 項の表 1 に定める期日までにアカデミック・オフィ
スへ提出し、研究分野内で審査を受けなければならない。
7. 修士論文・研究レポート提出
7-1. 提出意向届（Notification of Intent to Submit a Master's Thesis / Research Report）
修士論文 / 研究レポートの種別及び概要を記述した Notification of Intent to Submit a Master's
Thesis / Research Report を第 14 項の表 2 に定める提出締切日の 1 カ月前までにアカデミック・オ
フィスへ提出しなければならない。
7-2. 最終成果物の種別変更
Notification of Intent to Submit a Master's Thesis / Research Report を提出した後であっても、第 14 項の表 2 に定める提出締切日までであれば最終成果物の種別を変更することができる。最終成
果物の種別変更を希望する学生は指導教員の承認のもとで変更を申請し、その申請は研究科長によって承認される。しかし、審査及び試験のために提出された後の最終成果物の種別変更はいかなる場合であっても認められない。

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7-3. 提出

7-4. 再提出
11-1 で合格の結果を受けた者は、11-3 で通知される審査員の評価レポートに基づく修正を行った

8. 修士論文・研究レポートの形式
修士論文・研究レポートは、基本的に以下の項目を含む。

（2）論文内容に鑑み有益であって、指導教員及び研究分野長から審査員への提案があった場合に限り、大学院資格を持たない学部教員の選任を研究科長が認めることがある。
（3）研究分野長が指導教員の場合、研究科長またはアジア太平洋学部副学部長（大学院担当）が第二

10. 修士論文 / 研究レポートの審査・試験基準
修士論文・研究レポートの質は、同分野における修士レベルの他の研究者の研究の質と同程度もしくはそれを上回るものでなければならない。研究結果は特に以下の基準に基づき評価される。

General Information

審査員を指名する。審査員の氏名は互いに開示される。

Common Information

9. 審査員（1）2 名の学内教員が修士論文・研究レポートの審査を行う。審査員のうち 1 名は指導教員とし、1 名は同一の研究分野の教員から研究分野長が指名する。ただし、異なる研究分野から審査員を選任することもできる。

GSM

1. 表紙、2. 目次（内容の詳細を十分に記述していること）、3. 宣誓（データの偽造、剽窃のないこと）、
4. 謝辞（サポートや指導を受けた対象に対して）、5. 要約、6. 本文、7. 結語、8. 参考文献、9. 付録（本文に添えて補強する資料）

GSAD

修士論文・研究レポートのソフト・コピー 1 部を第 14 項の表 2 に定める再提出締切日までにアカデ
ミック・オフィスへ提出しなければならない。

GSAM

修士論文・研究レポートのソフト・コピー 1 部を第 14 項の表 2 に定める提出締切日までにアカ
デミック・オフィスへ提出しなければならない。

10-1. 修士論文
1）独創性
理論、方法、実証的知見などの面で、学術的、実務的、または社会的に独創的な知見を提供するものであること。
2）研究課題
研究上の問いがその分野の標準からみて考え抜かれており、既存の理論的枠組みと学術文献に裏付けられたものであること。
3）文献レビュー
関連分野における既存の学術的成果を幅広く参照・引用しながら考察し、論文の独創性と重要性を立証できるものであること。
4）方法論
研究結果を客観的に適切な理論や十分に検討された方法論を用いていること。
5）構成
読者にとって正確かつ論理的に情報を伝達できる構成であること。
6）分析
研究発見や結論が十分なデータや根拠を用いて導かれていること。
7）意義
－25－

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学術、実務ならびに社会に対しての意義を有すること。
8）ライティング
文章に不必要な重複がなく、明快かつ簡潔であり、確かな証拠と具体的な主張を伴う議論が展開されていること。また、学術論文としてふさわしい書式規範に従い、剽窃の疑いのないこと。
10-2. 研究レポート
1）研究目的研究の目的が適切であり、関連分野における現行の議論や学術文献の文脈の中で定義されていること。
2）文献レビュー
研究課題に関連する先行研究のレビューが含まれていること。
3）構成
読者にとって正確かつ論理的に情報を伝達できる構成であること。
4）考察
結論の根拠となる確かな理由が示されていること。
5）ライティング
文章に不必要な重複がなく、明快かつ簡潔であり、確かな証拠と具体的な主張を伴う議論が展開されていること。また、学術論文としてふさわしい書式規範に従い、剽窃の疑いのないこと。
10-3. 口頭試問
1）口頭試問における議題は提出された修士論文・研究レポートの内容に関するものとし、その内容
に関する質問を通じて、学生の専門分野における知識の獲得及び修士号授与にふさわしい研究倫理の順守等を審査する。
2）口頭試問は、学生のプレゼンテーションの機会ではない。学生による新たな資料の提出や口頭発表の申し出は、認められない。
11. 審査・試験の手順

11-1. 口頭試問
審査員は提出された修士論文・研究レポートに基づき口頭による試問を行う。
審査員は合議を経て下記の評価結果のいずれかを選択し、修士学位論文委員会に提出する。
1）合格（修士論文・研究レポートは合格水準に達している。誤植、体裁あるいは少量の文章もしく
はデータや説明の追加等、修正すべき箇所は確認されるものの、期日までの修正が可能であると認められるものを含む）
2）不合格（修士論文・研究レポートとしての水準を満たしていない）
合議による評価結果に加え、各審査員は評価レポートを一部ずつ提出する。
11-2. 口頭試問結果の決定
審査員が判定した評価は、修士学位論文委員会で審議、承認され、研究科長もしくはアジア太平
洋学部副学部長（大学院担当）に報告し、最終確定される。
適切な評価結果が得られない場合は、対応策を審議し、研究科長に報告の上、最終的な評価結果が確定される。
11-3. 口頭試問結果の通知
審査結果、審査員名、審査員の評価レポートは学生に通知される。

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11-4. 審査

果のいずれかを選択し、修士学位論文委員会に提出する。
1）合格
2）不合格

GSAM

審査員は口頭試問後に再提出された修士論文・研究レポートに基づき審査を行う。ただし、提出者に対し、追加の審査を筆記、口頭、実技によって要求できる。審査員は合議を経て下記の評価結合議による評価結果に加え、各審査員は評価レポートを一部ずつ提出する。

審査員が判定した審査評価は修士学位論文委員会で審議、承認され、研究科長もしくはアジア太平洋学部副学部長（大学院担当）に報告し、最終確定される。

GSAD

11-5. 審査結果の決定

適切な評価結果が得られない場合は、対応策を審議し、研究科長に報告の上、最終的な評価結果が確定される。
GSM

11-6. 審査結果の通知
審査結果、審査員名、審査員の評価レポートは学生に通知される。

評価を行う。
13. 不服申し立て

修士学位論文委員会委員長、研究科長、ならびに提出された修士論文・研究レポートの分野に関連し、かつ、極力審査および研究指導に関わったことのない教員 1 名の、計 3 名から不服審査委員会が組織される。修士学位論文委員会委員長または研究科長が不服申し立てを行った学生の指導教員である場

General Information

修士学位論文委員会の判定が“不合格”である学生は、その判定に対し不服申し立てを行うことができる。不服申し立てを行う場合、審査結果の通知ののち 1 週間以内に修士学位論文委員会宛に申立書を作成の上、アカデミック・オフィスに提出しなければならない。その申立書では、不服申し立てを行う理由が正確かつ明瞭に述べられていなければならない。不服申し立て審査の実施の可否は修士
学位論文委員会と研究科長による検討の上、決定される。不服申し立て審査の実施が承認された場合、Common Information

12. ファイナル・リサーチ・プロジェクトの成績評価
指導教員は修士学位論文委員会の最終結果に基づき、ファイナル ･ リサーチ・プロジェクトの成績

合、第三者がこの委員会の一員として任命される。不服審査委員会は不服申し立ての進行手順および、学生に書面または口頭で不服申し立てを裏付ける更なる根拠を要求するかを決定する。不服申し立てのすべての関連資料および書類の内容を検討したのち、不服審査委員会はその申し立てを評価し、以下の審査結果のいずれかに決定する。
（1） 申し立てを棄却し、学生に通知した結果を変更しない。
（2） 申し立てを認容し、学生に通知した結果を「合格」に変更する。
ただし、申し立てを審議する過程において、剽窃や不正行為等に関わる新たな証拠が発見された場
合などには、その審査結果は不合格とする。
やむを得ない事情がない限り、そのセメスターの卒業式までに、学生は適切なフィードバックと共に、審査結果の通知を受け取る。

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14．審査・試験日程
表 1 リサーチ・プロポーザル審査日程
春セメスター

秋セメスター

提出締切日

6月30日

1月10日

審査結果通知日

8月5日

2月10日

※提出時期 : 1 年修了 – 1 セメスター目
1.5 年と 2 年修了 – 2 セメスター目
注意：締切日は土日・祝日のオフィスの閉室日の場合、直前の開室日が締切日となる。

表 2 修士論文・研究レポート審査・試験日程
春セメスター

秋セメスター

提出締切日

6月5日

12月5日

審査結果通知日

6月25日

12月25日

再提出締切日

7月15日

1月15日

再審査結果通知日

7月31日

1月31日

注意：締切日は土日・祝日のオフィスの閉室日の場合、直前の開室日が締切日となる。

15. 修士論文・研究レポートの保存と出版合格とされた修士論文・研究レポートは、学生による最終版のソフト・コピー提出ののち、大学が恒久的な装丁を行う。装丁された修士論文・研究レポートは大学図書館に保存され、本学図書館利用者に閲覧を認める。大学としては修士論文・研究レポートを出版することはしないが、学生においてその費用を負担し、出版することができる。

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Section 2

Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies
Doctoral Program

GSAD
2-1 Outline of the Doctoral Degree Program ……………………………………………… 29
2-2 Course Requirements and Credit Registration Limits ……………………………… 30
2-3 GSAD Subject Registration …………………………………………………………… 31
2-4 Doctoral Candidacy (Registration for the Award of a Doctoral Degree) …………… 32
2-5 Doctoral Dissertations (Application for Conferral of the Doctoral Degree) ………… 33
2-6 Other Important Information for GSAD Students …………………………………… 35“Procedures for the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies (Revised March 2022)” ………………………………………… 37

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（This is a blank page.)To Table of Contents

2-1. Outline of the Doctoral Degree Program
GSAM

Degree Program
The degree offered in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Doctoral Program is as follows:
Degree type

Major

Degree awarded on completion

Ph.D.

Asia Pacific Studies (APS)Doctor of Philosophy in Asia Pacific Studies

1) Policy for Curriculum Structure

GSAD

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Doctoral Program - Structure and Outline
The Program offers common coursework on theories and perspectives of Asia Pacific Studies, upon which students receive researchsupervision based on their individual research topics in seminars. Students also write research papers and take coursework on presentations.
2) Policy for Curriculum Implementation
completion of at least 24 credits and the submission of dissertation chapters for screening) before submitting their doctoral dissertation.

GSM

After completing their coursework and seminars, students must pass the doctoral candidacy process (which requires among others the
Degrees are awarded to those candidates who pass the dissertation screening.

the Higher Degrees Committee for approval. Following approval by the Higher Degrees Committee, the president will confer the Doctoral
Degrees to successful candidates.

Rescindment of Degrees
reputation, the President may decide to rescind (cancel) a degree previously granted.

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General Information

If it is found that a graduate has obtained their degree through improper means, or if the recipient does anything to damage the University’s

Common Information

Conferral of Degrees
The GSA Faculty Council will review the results of each student’s Doctoral Dissertation screening. The reviewed results will be presented to

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2-2. Course Requirements and Credit Registration Limits
Basic Requirements for Completion
Students will be qualified for the degree upon completion of the following requirements:
1. Period of Enrollment: In principle, a student must be enrolled as a regular, full-time student in the Doctoral Program for 3 years. However,the degree may also be granted to outstanding students who have completed credit requirements in less than 3 years. In this case, theminimum period of full-time enrollment is 2 years. The period of enrollment (2 or 3 years) must be decided upon entry to the Doctoral
Program.
2. Credit Requirements: Students must obtain 30 credits to complete the program.
3. Doctoral Dissertation: Doctoral students must complete a Doctoral Dissertation presenting the findings and conclusions of theirindividual research. The Doctoral Dissertation may be submitted once candidacy is achieved. The Doctoral Dissertation will be approvedin accordance with the University’s screening procedures. For further details of the screening procedures, see Section “2-5. Doctoral
Dissertations”.

List of GSAD Subjects and Credits
Subject Category
Lecture Subjects

Seminar Subjects

Presentations
Research Papers
Tutorials

Subjects

No. of Credits

Perspectives on Asia Pacific Studies*

2 credits

Theories for Asia Pacific Studies*

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies I*

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies II*

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies III*

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies IV*

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies V

2 credits

Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies VI

2 credits

Research Presentation*

2 credits

Research Paper I*

4 credits

Research Paper II*

4 credits

Tutorial I*

2 credits

Tutorial II

Notes

Conducted by students' individual supervisors

2 credits
Total:

30 credits*required for Candidacy (24 credits in total)

Credit Limits
Doctoral students cannot register for more than the maximum credit limit each semester. Credit limits are as follows:Standard 3-year Completion2-year Completion

Credit Limit

Credit Limit

1st Semester

6

14

2nd Semester

10

14

3rd Semester

66

4th Semester

10

4

5th Semester

6_

6th Semester

4

_

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2-3. GSAD Subject Registration
conducted by students’ supervisors) are designed to assist students in their individual research leading to the production and completionof a dissertation. These subjects also help students strengthen their research, writing, and presentation skills. Students will meet with their

GSAM

All students must register for subjects following the schedules below in accordance with their semester of enrollment. Seminars (subjects

supervisor on an individual or small group basis and all meetings are scheduled individually between supervisors and students.
Spring Entry Registration ScheduleSemester

2-year Completion

--

--

1st
Semester(Perspectives
on Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research I&II

ResearchPresentation

Research
Paper I

(Theories for
Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research II

Research
Paper I--

2nd
Semester(Theories for
Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research
III&IV

Tutorial I

Research
Paper II

--

--

--

--

--

--

Advanced
Research III

ResearchPresentation--

3rd Semester--

Advanced
Research V

Tutorial II_--

Advanced
Research IV

Tutorial I

Research
Paper II

4th Semester--

Advanced
Research VI----

Students have completed 24 credits and are now eligible toapply for candidacy.

Students have completed 24 credits and are now eligible toapply for candidacy.

--

Advanced
Research V

Tutorial II--

5th Semester--

Advanced
Research VI----

6th Semester

Program Completion

Fall Entry Registration ScheduleStandard 3-year Completion

Semester

2-year Completion(Theories for
Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research I

--

--

1st
Semester(Theories for
Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research I&II

ResearchPresentation

Research
Paper I

(Perspectives
on Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research II

Research
Paper I--

2nd
Semester(Perspectives
on Asia PacificStudies)Advanced
Research
III&IV

Tutorial I

Research
Paper II

--

--

--

--

--

--

Advanced
Research III

ResearchPresentation_

3rd Semester--

Advanced
Research V

Tutorial II----

Advanced
Research IV

Tutorial I

Research
Paper II

4th Semester--

Advanced
Research VI----

Students have completed 24 credits and are now eligible toapply for candidacy.

General Information--

Common Information

Advanced
Research I

GSM(Perspectives
on Asia PacificStudies)

GSAD

Standard 3-year Completion

Students have completed 24 credits and are now eligible toapply for candidacy.

----

Advanced
Research V

Tutorial II--

5th Semester--

Advanced
Research VI----

6th Semester

Program Completion

Subjects in ( ) indicate lecture subjects.
Note: “Advanced Research” is the shortened title of the subject “Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies”.

－31－

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2-4. Doctoral Candidacy (Registration for the Award of a Doctoral Degree)
At APU, Doctoral Candidacy is defined as a condition for students to be eligible to submit their dissertation for examination, by showing theircapacity and vigor in conducting their research independently. To become a doctoral ‘candidate’, a student must apply to the Dissertation
Committee by meeting the following requirements. Once candidacy is achieved, the student is registered as a candidate for the award ofDoctoral degree and is eligible to submit their dissertation for examination, having the other completion requirements fulfilled.

Candidacy Submission Requirements
The requirements for applying for Doctoral Candidacy are as follows.
- Passing the Dissertation Proposal Defense- Passing the Pre-candidacy Oral Examination- Acquisition of 24 credits- Submission of the dissertation chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings/Results, and Discussion)- Submission of the designated application form
N.B. Applicants may be asked, upon request by the Dissertation Committee in the process of screening, to submit other works to supplement
their deliberations.
Students enrolled in the 3-year standard completion program are expected to complete the credits required for candidacy application by theend of their 4th semester while those enrolled in the 2-year accelerated completion program – by the end of their 2nd semester. See the “Listof GSAD Subjects and Credits” for details.
Students are encouraged to submit additional papers to show that they have the potential to advance in their field.
● Published journal articles● Conference papers● Papers written as part of the classes Research Paper I and II

Candidacy Screening Schedule
Students can apply for Candidacy at any given time within the semester if they fulfill the requirements. If aiming for notification of result
within the same semester, students are advised to follow the below deadlines.
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

By July 5

By January 10

Submission
Notification of Result

Within 6 weeks of submission

Note 1: The screening period may be extended upon decision by the Dissertation Committee.
Note 2: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.
Note 3: The screening of applications submitted during summer/winter break may take up to 3 months.

Candidacy Screening Process
Candidacy applications will be screened by the Dissertation Committee and students will be notified of the screening result.
Students who pass Doctoral Candidacy screening may continue working toward the completion of their dissertation and are eligible tosubmit their dissertation once it is ready and approved by their supervisor.
Students who fail screening should revise and resubmit their dissertation chapters in accordance with the Dissertation Committee’s
recommendations. Students should bear in mind that they cannot submit their dissertations until they have successfully achieved candidacy.

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2-5. Doctoral Dissertations (Application for Conferral of the Doctoral Degree)
Features of Doctoral Dissertations
1. Dissertations should be the result of original investigation and / or should embody a critical appraisal or analysis of a primary or secondary
source.
2. Dissertations should be deemed a contribution to a body of knowledge and be worthy of publication.

GSAD

Dissertation Format
Regarding the dissertation format, please see Clause 7 of the “Procedures for the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School ofAsia Pacific Studies”.

GSAM

Doctoral dissertations are the final piece of work required to complete the Doctoral Program.

Submission of Doctoral Dissertations

Doctoral Dissertation Submission Deadlines

The Handling of Dissertations after Program Completion
Once candidates have successfully completed their oral defense they will be asked to submit the final version of their dissertation to the
Academic Office for preservation. A hard copy of the dissertation will be printed and stored in the APU library. The soft copy will be
uploaded to the APU Library / R-Cube and the National Diet Library in accordance with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT) requirements that all doctoral dissertations be made publicly available online.

General Information

Candidates must apply for conferral of a doctoral degree at least 6 months before their desired program completion date. The screening of
applications submitted during summer/winter breaks may take up to 3 months.

Common Information

Required Documents (all forms are available on the Graduate School website)● Completed dissertation● Abstract of the dissertation● Dissertation Register● Curriculum Vitae (candidates may submit their CV in their format of choice)● Doctoral Dissertation Screening Application and Certificate of Authority (signed by both the candidate and their supervisor)● Declaration Form Regarding Making My Doctoral Dissertation Available Online (signed by both the candidate and supervisor)

GSM

Submission Requirements
Doctoral candidates may submit a completed dissertation and the following required documents after obtaining candidacy. Since theexamination process cannot be canceled or reversed once it has begun, candidates must consult closely with their supervisor before submitting
their dissertation.

Candidates are asked to submit a consent form confirming that they agree to make their dissertation available via the APU Library / R-Cubeand the National Diet Library of Japan. If the candidate does not agree to immediate uploading, they can request a deferral of the date ofmaking the dissertation publicly available online for up to 5 years (see the application form).
Points to be aware of:1) Candidates retain the copyrights of their dissertation even after they are made publicly available online.
2) If the copyright of the candidate’s work is held by a third party (e.g. a publisher or academic society) the candidate must obtain permission
to upload the dissertation by the copyright holder.
3) If information from interviews or surveys is included in the dissertation, candidates should make sure they handle all personal information
appropriately and gain informed consent in writing regarding information used.
Note: For more information on research ethics and correct research practices please refer to the information on the Academic Information for
Graduate Students Website, under "Research and Writing - Research Support".

Procedures for the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
All students should carefully read the procedures related to the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
outlining the examination standards, requirements and procedures in details (p. 37-66). This information is summarized in the flow chart on
the following page.

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Examination Flow for the GSAD Dissertations
Research Plan submitted upon enrollment.
Supervisor appointed.

Application for Doctoral Candidacy

If Doctoral Candidacy is not awarded, students can reapply
after revising the submitted documents in accordance with theDissertation Committee’s recommendations.

Award of
Doctoral Candidacy

Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation(Application for Conferral of Doctoral Degree)

The Dissertation Committee decides whether toaccept the dissertation.

Formation of an Examination Committee

Pass

Minor Revisions

Major Revisions

Rewrite andResubmit

Rewrite andResubmit

Re-examination

Pass
Oral Examination

Pass

Ph.D. Research Presentation

Fail

If the dissertation is rejected, there will be noopportunity for further correction/resubmission.

It takes 4 to 12
months from the datethat the dissertationis endorsed for
examination tocomplete theexamination of thedissertation.

Appeal Process

Under certain
conditions, an appeal
may be made.

Conferral of Doctoral
DegreeReport to MEXT and register to the National Diet Library online database.

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2-6. Other Important Information for GSAD Students
GSAM

Plan for Research Supervision

GSAD

The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies requires that the supervisor prepare a yearly plan for research supervision, present it to thestudent in advance, and conduct research supervision in accordance with this yearly plan. The Plan is created based on a research plan writtenby the student and presented to their supervisor. It reflects the student's individual research and is provided to students as a tool to help leadthem to the successful completion of high-quality research.
The Plan establishes a guideline for students to follow to progress with their research in the subsequent year. It also serves as a reference point
the supervisor can use to monitor the progress of the student's research.
The student prepares a research plan at the beginning of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th semesters and presents it to their supervisor who will, in
consultation with the student, write and present the student with the Plan for Research Supervision for that year. Upon confirmation, both thestudent and supervisor sign the Plan, and the student submits a copy to the Academic Office for record-keeping.
Plan for Research Supervision Submission Deadline
Spring Semester

Fall Semester
November 30

3rd-semester students and above

April 15

October 15

Submission Location

Academic Office

Graduate Research in Progress Seminars (GRiPS)
The Graduate Research in Progress Seminars (GRiPS) provide students with an opportunity to gain presentation experience, receive
constructive feedback, and get a formal report on their progress from GSA faculty. GRiPS also prepares them for the difficulty of the oralpresentation and defense of their dissertation, which is required for obtaining a doctoral degree.
GRiPS is not only beneficial to Ph.D. students currently working on their research, but also to graduate students who wish to learn more about
the Ph.D. program and the research involved. Presenters are expected to discuss the progress of their research and respond to questions andcomments from the audience.
Students are required to present twice while enrolled in the program as follows:
1) By the end of the 2nd semester (Dissertation Proposal Defense)
2) Before applying for Doctoral Candidacy (Pre-candidacy Oral Examination)

General Information

Note 1: Students who have changed their supervisor: the new supervisor will prepare and present a yearly Plan for Research Supervision.
Please provide your new supervisor with your research plan so they can do so. The period of research supervision in the Plan will
depend on the time left until graduation.
Note 2: A Plan for Research Supervision will need to be prepared by students who extend their graduate program, as well as reinstated /readmitted students. Please present your supervisor with an updated research plan so they can prepare a new research supervision
plan. The period of research supervision indicated in the Plan will depend on the extension period for students who are extending
their programs and on the period until graduation for reinstated / readmitted students.

Common Information

May 31GSM

1st-semester students

Please refer to the Graduate School website for more details on GRiPS.

Options for Students Unable to Complete the Program within 3 Years
As the standard Doctoral Program length at APU is 3 years (6 semesters), students entering their 7th semester or above need to consider
whether to extend their enrollment in the Doctoral Program, to take a Leave of Absence, or to withdraw from the University. Enrollment
options for students in their 6th semester and beyond are explained in more detail below.
Extension of Period of Enrollment
Students wishing to stay enrolled in the Doctoral Program must submit an application for extension to the Academic Office each semester
they wish to continue their enrollment after their 6th semester. Students should carefully consult with their supervisors before submitting theapplication. Once an application is received, it shall be reviewed by the GSA Faculty Council for approval.

－35－

To Table of ContentsDocuments to Submit:
1. Application for Extension of Period of Enrollment to Complete Doctoral Dissertation (please include an abstract / overview of yourresearch and a list of your past research achievements).
2. Doctoral Dissertation Composition Schedule (please ask your supervisor to add their signature and a comment).
Submission Deadlines● The last working day on or before January 10 (for extension in the Spring Semester)● The last working day on or before July 10 (for extension in the Fall Semester).
Withdrawal or Leave of AbsenceStudents who need more time before they are ready to submit their dissertation for screening may consider withdrawing from the program or
taking a Leave of Absence. The period of withdrawal is counted towards the 6 year maximum enrollment period, while the Leave of Absence
period is NOT as shown in the example below. Students nearing the end of their eligibility period or wishing to be re-admitted or reinstatedare strongly encouraged to discuss possible alternatives with their supervisors, the Student Office and the Academic Office.
Example: Enrollment Options
Enrollment

All Program Requirements Must
Be Completed By:

Options2024
Spring Semester➡

Withdrawal for 1 year➡

2029
Fall Semester

2024
Spring Semester➡

Leave of Absence for 1 year*➡

2030
Fall Semester*Maximum Leave of Absence period is four consecutive semesters (2 years).
Please note that the student’s enrollment must be valid at the following times:
1. when applying for candidacy
2. during the screening of the candidacy application
3. when submitting their Doctoral Dissertation
4. during the screening of the Doctoral Dissertation
Notes regarding Withdrawal and Leave of Absence:
1. Students must be reinstated into the Graduate School before applying for candidacy and submitting their dissertation and must be enrolled
in the Graduate School during the screening process.
2. International student visas shall no longer be valid upon Withdraw or Leave of Absence from APU. International students who choose
this option must leave Japan. Students should bear this in mind when deciding whether to extend or withdraw from the program.
3. If a student withdraws from APU for a certain period, his / her enrollment status after re-admission as shown on Campusmate etc. will
not match with the number of semesters left for program completion.
4. Procedures for Withdrawal and Leave of Absence are carried out at the Student Office.
※Students should consult with their supervisor and the Academic / Student Offices for any questions or concerns regarding the Extension /Withdrawal / Leave of Absence options.

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Procedures for the Conferral of Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
GSAM(Revised March 2022)

Table of Contents
1. The Doctoral Degree ……………………………………………………………………………………… 40

2-1. Selection and Term of Appointment ………………………………………………………………… 40

GSAD

2. The Dissertation Committee …………………………………………………………………………… 40

2-2. Duties of the Dissertation Committee ……………………………………………………………… 40
3. Supervision ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40

3-2. Responsibilities of the Student ……………………………………………………………………… 41

GSM

3-1. Selection of a Supervisor …………………………………………………………………………… 40

3-3. Responsibilities of the Supervisor …………………………………………………………………… 41(Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation) ………………………………………………………… 41
4-1. Dissertation Proposal Defense ……………………………………………………………………… 41
4-2. Preliminary Verification Before Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award

4-3. Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award (Doctoral Candidacy) ……………………………… 41
5. Graduate Research in Progress Seminars (GRiPS) ………………………………………………… 42
6. Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award (Doctoral Candidacy) ………………………………… 42

General Information(Pre-Candidacy Examination) …………………………………………………………………… 41

Common Information

4. Requirements for the Application for Conferral of a Doctoral Degree

6-1. Doctoral Candidacy Requirements ………………………………………………………………… 42
6-2. Screening of the Application for Doctoral Candidacy ……………………………………………… 42
6-3. Period for Registration for Doctoral Candidacy …………………………………………………… 42
7. Doctoral Dissertation ……………………………………………………………………………………… 42
7-1. Structure of the Dissertation ………………………………………………………………………… 42
7-2. Language ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 43
7-3. Length ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 43
8. Application for Conferral of a Doctoral Degree (Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation) ……… 43
8-1. Application Period……………………………………………………………………………………… 43
8-2. Application Requirements …………………………………………………………………………… 43
8-3. Application Screening ………………………………………………………………………………… 43
8-4. Endorsement Standards ……………………………………………………………………………… 43
8-5. Proceedings After the Application Screening ……………………………………………………… 43－37－

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9. Examination Period ……………………………………………………………………………………… 43
9-1. Examination Period …………………………………………………………………………………… 43
9-2. Examination Schedule ………………………………………………………………………………… 43
10. Doctoral Dissertation Examination Committee ………………………………………………………… 44
10-1. Structure of the Examination Committee ………………………………………………………… 44
10-2. Eligibility Criteria for Appointing Examiners ……………………………………………………… 44
10-2-1. Internal Examiners ……………………………………………………………………………… 44
10-2-2. External Examiners …………………………………………………………………………… 44
10-3. Appointment of the Examination Committee ……………………………………………………… 44
10-4. Role of the Examination Committee ……………………………………………………………… 44
10-5. Duties of the Examination Committee …………………………………………………………… 44
10-6. Changes to the Examination Committee ………………………………………………………… 45
11. Examination of Doctoral Dissertations ………………………………………………………………… 45
11-1. The Examination Process …………………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2. Examination Criteria ………………………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2-1. Originality ………………………………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2-2. Research Question/Topic ……………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2-3. Literature Review ……………………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2-4. Methodology …………………………………………………………………………………… 45
11-2-5. Structure ………………………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-2-6. Analysis ………………………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-2-7. Implication ……………………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-2-8. Writing …………………………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-3. Examiner Evaluations ……………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-4. Non-disclosure of Examiner Identity ……………………………………………………………… 46
11-5. Examination Results ………………………………………………………………………………… 46
11-6. Discrepancies in the Evaluations …………………………………………………………………… 47
11-7. Notifying Candidates of the Examination Results ………………………………………………… 47
12. Revision Process ………………………………………………………………………………………… 47
12-1. Coordination of the Process ………………………………………………………………………… 47
12-2. Minor Revisions ……………………………………………………………………………………… 47
12-3. Major Revisions ……………………………………………………………………………………… 47
12-4. Submission of the Revised Dissertation …………………………………………………………… 47
13. Re-examination of the Doctoral Dissertation ………………………………………………………… 47
13-1. The Re-examination Process ……………………………………………………………………… 47－38－

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13-2. Examiner Re-evaluations …………………………………………………………………………… 47

13-4. Re-examination Result ……………………………………………………………………………… 48
13-5. Discrepancies in the Evaluations ………………………………………………………………… 48

GSAM

13-3. Non-disclosure of Examiner Identity ……………………………………………………………… 48

13-6. Notifying Candidates of the Re-examination Results …………………………………………… 48
14. Oral Defense ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 48

14-2. Attendance at the Oral Defense …………………………………………………………………… 48

GSAD

14-1. Objectives of the Oral Defense …………………………………………………………………… 48

14-3. Structure of the Oral Defense ……………………………………………………………………… 48
14-4. Examiner Evaluations ……………………………………………………………………………… 48

15. Final Examination Results ……………………………………………………………………………… 49

GSM

14-5. Timeline for the Oral Defense ……………………………………………………………………… 49

16. PhD Research Presentations …………………………………………………………………………… 49

18. Research Misconduct …………………………………………………………………………………… 49
19. Appeal Procedures ……………………………………………………………………………………… 50
19-1. Submission of an Appeal Statement ……………………………………………………………… 50

19-3. Appeals Committee ………………………………………………………………………………… 50
19-3-1. Members of the Appeals Committee ………………………………………………………… 50
19-3-2. Duties of the Appeals Committee …………………………………………………………… 50
19-3-3. Result of the Investigation ……………………………………………………………………… 50

General Information

19-2. Decision to Conduct an Appeal Investigation …………………………………………………… 50

Common Information

17. In the Case the Final Examination Result is Fail ……………………………………………………… 49

19-4. Finalizing the Result of the Appeal and Notifying the Candidate ……………………………… 50
20. Conferral of a Doctoral Degree ………………………………………………………………………… 50
21. Cancellation of/Disqualification from Conferral of a Degree ………………………………………… 51
22. Archiving Dissertations and Registering Dissertations to the National Diet Library
Online Database (Handling of Dissertations After Graduation) ………………………………… 51
22-1. Archiving Doctoral Dissertations …………………………………………………………………… 51
22-2. Registering Doctoral Dissertations to the National Diet Library Online Database(Making Dissertations Publicly Available Online) ……………………………………………… 51
22-3. Exemptions from Registering Doctoral Dissertations
to the National Diet Library Online Database …………………………………………………… 51
22-4. Declaration from the Candidate …………………………………………………………………… 52
22-5. Confirmation by Examiners ………………………………………………………………………… 52－39－

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1. The Doctoral Degree
The doctoral degree is an academic degree certifying the completion of an academic program incorporating original
research on a topic of the candidate's choice. This degree is conferred on those who satisfy the requirements for thecompletion of the doctoral program in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (hereinafter referred to as GSA).
The key conditions for the doctoral degree are as follows:a) A distinct contribution to a body of knowledge through an original investigation or testing of ideas that is worthy of
publication.
b) Competence in research processes (techniques and reporting).
c) Mastery of a body of knowledge, including previous works, and keen understanding of their relationship to wider
fields.
2. The Dissertation Committee
A Dissertation Committee is established within GSA to administer the procedures for the conferral of a doctoral
degree.
2-1. Selection and Term of Appointment
The Dissertation Committee consists of a chairperson and two members who are recommended by the
Dean of GSA and then appointed by the GSA Faculty Council. The term of appointment is one (1) year andmembers can be reappointed. The Dean cannot be a member.
2-2. Duties of the Dissertation Committee
The duties of the Dissertation Committee are as follows:a) Ensure the impartiality and rigor of the examination process.
b) Review applications for doctoral candidacy and decide whether to accept/approve the applications.
c) Review submitted dissertations and decide whether to endorse them for examination.
d) Form an Examination Committee upon endorsement of an application for conferral of a doctoral
degree.
e) Review the recommended outcomes and the evaluation reports from the Examination Committee anddecide the examination result.
f) Review the recommended outcomes and the evaluation reports from the Examination Committee andthe examination standards, and decide the re-examination result.
g) In the case of minor revisions, examine to confirm if the recommended changes have been made.
h) Review the recommended outcomes and the evaluation reports from the Examination Committee after
the oral defense and decide the final examination result.
i) Determine if there are any grounds for plagiarism or other forms of research misconduct and report theconclusion to the Dean.
3. Supervision
Each student enrolled in the doctoral program must have a supervisor who is a GSA member approved for PhD
supervision, to support the student in the development of a research topic, formulating ideas and structuring them, andguiding the progress of the dissertation while the student is enrolled in the program. Students and supervisors should
work together to sustain a supportive and collegial environment.
3-1. Selection of a Supervisor
Students shall choose a GSA faculty member approved for PhD supervision who will accept them forsupervision of their research activities through the completion of the doctoral program.

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3-2. Responsibilities of the Student
Students are expected to have the capacity and enthusiasm to organize their own research and to work on
Students should meet with their supervisors regularly to discuss research and academic progress andto receive feedback, comments, and critical reviews concerning their research project. They are expected

GSAM

their own initiative. Students are responsible for their own work.

to submit written work at regular intervals for discussion with their supervisor. Students should meet all
deadlines as agreed with their supervisor. Students should confirm with their supervisor that their researchfrom their supervisor regarding the content and structure of their dissertation before submitting it for
examination.

GSAD

is conducted in line with research ethics and rules for conducting research. They must receive approval

3-3. Responsibilities of the Supervisor
The supervisor provides support, guidance, and timely feedback to facilitate successful completion of thedissertation. The supervisor encourages the student to seek advice from other experts on- and off-campus
confirms that the dissertation is written in line with the established standards. The supervisor should verify

GSM

and ensures that the student observes the requisite ethics and rules for conducting research. The supervisor
the student’s progress annually and inform them of the extent of their progress and the prospects for them
The supervisor helps the student prepare for their dissertation examination, oral defense, and recommends
appropriate examiners for the student’s dissertation. The supervisor shall be a member of the Examination
Committee and chair the oral defense.
4. Requirements for the Application for Conferral of a Doctoral Degree
Completion of all the following requirements is compulsory for the application for conferral of a doctoral degree(submission of the doctoral dissertation).
4-1. Dissertation Proposal Defense
Doctoral students must defend their dissertation proposal at the end of the second semester before GSA

General Information(Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation)

Common Information

completing the program.

faculty at a Graduate Research in Progress Seminar (GRiPS). The proposal defense is open for GSA faculty
and doctoral students to attend. The proposal may be evaluated by one or two other GSA faculty members
recommended by the supervisor to help verify the proposal meets the level normally expected of a GSA
student and thus these faculty can advise students whether they should continue with the doctoral program.
4-2. Preliminary Verification Before Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award (Pre-Candidacy
Examination)
Doctoral students must make a preliminary oral presentation before registering for the doctoral degree
award (Doctoral Candidacy). The oral presentation is conducted at a Graduate Research in Progress
Seminar (GRiPS), open to GSA faculty and doctoral students to attend, and is assessed by one or two other
GSA faculty members recommended by the supervisor. Students must satisfy the expectations of theirsupervisor in order to be allowed to apply for doctoral candidacy.
4-3. Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award (Doctoral Candidacy)
Doctoral Candidacy (hereinafter referred to as candidacy) is defined as a condition of eligibility forstudents to submit their dissertations for examination, and is demonstrated by showing their capacity andvigor in conducting their research independently. To become a doctoral candidate, a student must apply to
the Dissertation Committee. Once candidacy is achieved, the student is registered as a candidate for the
doctoral degree award and, having fulfilled the other requirements for completion, is eligible to submit－41－

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their dissertation for examination. The details of the requirements for Doctoral Candidacy are outlined in
Section 6.
5. Graduate Research in Progress Seminars (GRiPS)
The Graduate Research in Progress Seminars (GRiPS) provide students with an opportunity to gain presentation
experience, receive constructive feedback, and get a formal report on their progress from GSA faculty. GRiPS also
prepares them for the difficulty of the oral presentation and defense of their dissertation, which is required for obtaining
a doctoral degree.
Students are required to present at GRiPS at least two (2) times: for their dissertation proposal defense and for theirpre-candidacy oral examination.
6. Registration for the Doctoral Degree Award (Doctoral Candidacy)
6-1. Doctoral Candidacy Requirements
Students who want to apply for candidacy must satisfy all the following:a) Must be enrolled in the doctoral program (students taking a leave of absence are not eligible to apply
for candidacy).
b) Must have passed the dissertation proposal defense.
c) Must have passed the pre-candidacy oral examination.
d) Must have acquired twenty-four (24) credits from among the prescribed subjects.
e) Must submit all the appropriate application forms.
f) Must submit a soft copy of their doctoral dissertation that includes the Introduction, Literature Review,
and Research Methods chapters as well as chapters on Findings/Results and at least some of their
discussion.
6-2. Screening of the Application for Doctoral Candidacy
Candidacy applications are reviewed by the Dissertation Committee and the results are announced to
students within six (6) weeks of the application date. Doctoral students who pass the screening are referred
to as candidates.
6-3. Period for Registration for Doctoral Candidacy
Students can apply for doctoral candidacy throughout the academic year. Screening takes up to six (6)weeks for applications submitted April–June and October–December. Screening of applications submitted
during summer/winter breaks may take up to three (3) months.
7. Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is the final written original outcome of the research conducted by the student while
studying in the GSA doctoral program and is required for completion of the program and the acquisition of a doctoral
degree.
7-1. Structure of the Dissertation
In principle, a dissertation should contain the following:
1.Title Page (dissertation title, name of the candidate, date of completion), 2. Certification Page (apledge that the dissertation is the student’s work, with only original or properly referenced material), 3.
Acknowledgements (of support and advice received), 4. List of Abbreviations used, 5. List of Figures/
Tables, 6. Table of Contents (listing the chapters, the main titles, and subtitles within), 7. Abstract (summaryof the work in 500–700 words), 8. Introduction (including background information, research area andfocus, research questions and objectives, value/significance/original contribution of research), 9. Literature－42－

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Review, 10. Research Methods (including ethical considerations, framework of analysis, limitations andpotential problems),11. Findings/Results and Discussion, 12. Conclusions, 13. References, 14. Appendices
GSAM(supporting material in addition to the main text)
7-2. Language
The dissertation should be presented in English and should include a summary in English.
7-3. Length
The dissertation is a major piece of original work, and its length will normally be between 60,000 and

8. Application for Conferral of a Doctoral Degree (Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation)

GSAD

80,000 words. However, the length may vary with the research topic and the form of presentation.

8-1. Application Period
All candidates must apply for conferral of a doctoral degree at least six (6) months before their desired
program completion date. Screening of applications submitted during summer/winter breaks may take up
GSM

to three (3) months.
8-2. Application Requirements
Candidates who want to apply for conferral of a doctoral degree must satisfy all the following:
for candidacy).
b) Must submit a soft copy of their completed dissertation, including an abstract of the dissertation, andthe appropriate application form.
8-3. Application Screening
The Dissertation Committee screens the application and decides whether to endorse it for examination.
date the application was submitted. However, screening of applications submitted during summer/winterbreaks may take up to three (3) months.
8-4. Endorsement Standards
The Dissertation Committee screens the format of the dissertation to ensure it follows the structure

General Information

Candidates will be informed of the decision of the Dissertation Committee within two (2) weeks of theCommon Informationa) Must be enrolled in the doctoral program (students taking a leave of absence are not eligible to apply

outlined in 7-1.
8-5. Proceedings After the Application Screening
Endorsed dissertations are forwarded to the Doctoral Dissertation Examination Committee for
examination.
9. Examination Period
9-1. Examination Period
It takes from four (4) to twelve (12) months from the date the dissertation was endorsed for examination
to complete the examination of the dissertation. Examination of dissertations given minor revisions isusually completed within four (4) months, while examination of dissertations given major revisions iscompleted in the range of four (4) to twelve (12) months. Candidates must be enrolled in the doctoral
program throughout the duration of the examination.
However, under certain circumstances, the examination may be extended upon approval of theDissertation Committee and GSA Faculty Council.
9-2. Examination Schedule
A specific examination schedule is arranged for each dissertation after it is endorsed for examination.

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10. Doctoral Dissertation Examination Committee
10-1. Structure of the Examination Committee
An Examination Committee shall be formed by the Dissertation Committee upon endorsement of theapplication for conferral of a doctoral degree. The Examination Committee shall consist of the principal
supervisor, one internal examiner, and one external examiner.
If it is deemed necessary by the Dissertation Committee, the number of examiners may be increased.
10-2. Eligibility Criteria for Appointing Examiners
10-2-1. Internal Examiners
Internal examiners should be affiliated to one of the APU graduate schools and should normallyhold doctoral-level supervising qualification status (D+). However, if deemed necessary based on
the content of the dissertation, faculty who do not fit this profile may be appointed. In this case, theDissertation Committee shall review the proposed faculty’s CV and research accomplishments, anddecide on the appropriateness of the selection accordingly.
10-2-2. External Examiners
External examiners should have competence in the field of the dissertation research. They must befrom outside the university, hold a doctoral or equivalent degree, and have significant experience inexamining doctoral dissertations or significant publishing or practical experience in the relevant field.
The Dissertation Committee shall review the proposed examiner’s CV and supporting statement as towhy they are considered appropriate, and decide on the appropriateness of the selection accordingly.
Former faculty members are not eligible to act as external examiners until a period of at least four (4)years has passed. Professors emeriti of the university are also ineligible to act as external examiners.
10-3. Appointment of the Examination Committee
The supervisor of the candidate shall recommend suitable examiners with appropriate expertise andexperience. The Dissertation Committee will review the recommendations and appoint the examiners ofthe dissertation.
The examiner appointments will last for the duration of the examination process, including reexamination and oral defense, unless exceptional circumstances arise.
10-4. Role of the Examination Committee
The Examination Committee should ensure that the information, arguments, and results of the candidate’s
research work as presented in the dissertation and as defended at the oral defense (if appropriate) meet theacademic standards relevant to the degree.
The examiners shall be experts in the field of the dissertation but not necessarily in all parts of the precise
topic. The aim should be to appoint a team of examiners who together can cover all aspects of the work to
be presented by the candidate and who demonstrate experience with GSA’s examination procedures.
The supervisor should coordinate the examination process, provide the necessary orientation regarding
the research work, and chair the oral defense.
The internal examiner should reach a viewpoint on whether the candidate’s research work and knowledge
meet the standards normally expected of a GSA student and the university's criteria for awarding thedegree.
The external examiner should reach a viewpoint on whether the candidate’s research work andknowledge are of a standard comparable to that of students being examined in the same field at otherinstitutions for the same degree.
10-5. Duties of the Examination Committee
The duties of the Examination Committee are as follows:－44－

To Table of Contentsa) Examine the dissertation submitted.
b) Ensure that the dissertation is of acceptable quality and meets the examination standards and criteria.
the examination.
d) Examine the revised dissertation (if needed).

GSAMc) Provide individual recommendations for the examination result and independent evaluation reports fore) Provide individual recommendations for the re-examination result for the revised dissertation andindependent evaluation reports for the re-examination.
and make an individual recommendation for the final examination result.
g) Confirm during the examination process that there are no problems with regard to confidential

GSADf) Attend the oral defense and provide feedback to the candidate on their presentation of the dissertation

information, personal information, copyrights, patents, etc. and submit individual reports to theDissertation Committee.
10-6. Changes to the Examination Committee
examination process, including re-examination and oral defense. However, if exceptional circumstances

GSM

As a rule, the appointment of the members of the Examination Committee will last for the duration of thearise (e.g., an examiner retires, an examiner no longer wishes to participate in the examination, an examiner
case, the decision of the remaining examiners will hold.
If all examiners choose not to re-examine the revised dissertation, the Dissertation Committee will
appoint a new set of examiners to conduct the re-examination.
11. Examination of Doctoral Dissertations
The Dissertation Committee shall coordinate the examination process and ensure that it has been
conducted rigorously. The Dissertation Committee should ensure that checks for plagiarism or other formsof research misconduct have been conducted and that there are no problems with regard to copyright,
patents, confidential information, or personal information.

General Information

11-1. The Examination Process

Common Information

chooses not to re-examine, etc.), a new examiner shall be appointed by the Dissertation Committee. In that

11-2. Examination Criteria
The doctoral dissertation should achieve or exceed the quality of doctoral research of peers working inthe same field at the doctoral level. The research project is assessed based on the following criteria, among
others.
11-2-1. Originality
The dissertation provides original and important knowledge for academics, practitioners, or society.
11-2-2. Research Question/Topic
The research question/topic is appropriate and is defined within the current paradigm and context ofacademic literature in the discipline.
11-2-3. Literature Review
The literature referenced in the dissertation is both extensive and deep, encompassing a broad rangeof sources and has the context to fully cover the necessary academic and other material to define anddefend the research project’s originality and significance.
11-2-4. Methodology
The dissertation is grounded in appropriate theory and uses appropriate methodologies to determine
results.

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11-2-5. Structure
The structure of the dissertation allows for clear and logical communication of information to theaudience.
11-2-6. Analysis
The dissertation provides sufficient data and reasons that lead to the findings and conclusions.
11-2-7. Implication
The dissertation has implications for academics, practitioners, or society.
11-2-8. Writing
The text is clear and concise without unnecessary repetition and is written in the format of anargument with substantial evidence and claims. The writing adheres to standard research practices forcitations and works cited without any instances of plagiarism.
11-3. Examiner Evaluations
Each examiner must recommend to the Dissertation Committee a possible result for the examinationfrom the options below and submit an individual evaluation report to be presented to the candidate withinsix (6) weeks of receipt of the dissertation for examination.
a) Pass: the candidate may proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense, without any
revision. The dissertation fulfills the examination criteria and meets the degree requirements.
b) Minor Revisions: the candidate may proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense,
after making minor revisions. The dissertation is generally acceptable, but typos and text formatting,minor changes in phraseology, clarification of arguments and explanations, improvements ofdescriptions, corrections of subsidiary arguments, and the rewriting of sections are required. It is
expected that once these minor revisions have been made the dissertation will meet the required
standards for the degree. The amount of time allocated for these revisions is up to one (1) month.
c) Major Revisions: the candidate may proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense,
only after the dissertation is revised and has been re-examined and accepted by the Examination
Committee. Major revisions involve, for example, adding data or explanations, extensive changesof entire sections or rewriting one or more sections or the introduction of significant new material or
further experiments, calculations or research, or profound correction of an argument, and are estimatedto take from one (1) to six (6) months.
d) Fail: the dissertation is rejected. There will be no opportunity for (further) correction/ resubmission.
11-4. Non-disclosure of Examiner Identity
An examiner may request that their name not be disclosed to the candidate and/or other examiners.
11-5. Examination Results
The Dissertation Committee shall decide the examination result choosing from the following after
deliberating the results recommended by the examiners and their assessments. If the Dissertation
Committee cannot come to a decision regarding the result, the Dean shall determine the examination result.
a) Pass: approved to proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense, without any
revisions.
b) Minor Revisions: approved to proceed to the oral defense after making the appropriate minor changes
to the dissertation.
c) Major Revisions: approved to proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense, only
after the dissertation has been extensively revised and re-examined by the Examination Committee.
d) Fail: the dissertation is rejected.
If an examiner is a member of the Dissertation Committee, this member may be excluded from－46－

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deliberation of the candidate’s case and may not take part when the decision on the result is made.
The Dissertation Committee and the Dean are responsible for administering a result of “fail.”
In case of conflicting examiner evaluations, i.e., when contradictory revisions are recommended,
the Dissertation Committee will resolve the conflict. The Dissertation Committee's comments will be

GSAM

11-6. Discrepancies in the Evaluations

forwarded to the examiners.
11-7. Notifying Candidates of the Examination Results
GSAD

Candidates shall receive notification of the examination results and copies of the examiners’ evaluation
reports within ten (10) weeks of the date the dissertation was endorsed for examination.
12. Revision Process
12-1. Coordination of the Process
When a candidate is required by the Dissertation Committee to rewrite their dissertation, the supervisor
another person(s) to assist in coordinating the corrections.

GSM

shall coordinate the process unless the Dean and/or the Chair of the Dissertation Committee require12-2. Minor Revisions
submission and to submit a detailed summary of the changes they made to the dissertation in order toassist the examiners in the checking process. The Dissertation Committee will examine the dissertation tocertify that the recommended changes have been made. The results will be shared with the Examination
Committee before the oral defense.
12-3. Major Revisions
examiners will re-examine the dissertation upon re-submission by the candidate. The candidate is required
to obtain their supervisor’s approval before submission and to submit a detailed summary of the revisions
they made to assist the examiners in the re-examination process. There is no guarantee the revised
dissertation will meet the standards required for a degree to be awarded.

General Information

In the case of major revisions, the revised dissertation will be subject to re-examination and the original

Common Information

In the case of minor revisions, the candidate is required to obtain their supervisor’s approval before

12-4. Submission of the Revised Dissertation
The revised dissertation shall be submitted as instructed by the Dissertation Committee.
13. Re-examination of the Doctoral Dissertation
13-1. The Re-examination Process
The Dissertation Committee shall coordinate the re-examination process and ensure that it has been
conducted rigorously. The Dissertation Committee should ensure that checks for plagiarism or other formsof research misconduct have been conducted and there are no problems with regard to copyright, patents,
confidential information, or personal information.
13-2. Examiner Re-evaluations
Each examiner must recommend to the Dissertation Committee a possible result for the examinationfrom the options below and submit an individual evaluation report to be presented to the candidate withinfour (4) weeks of the date of receipt of the dissertation for re-examination.
a) Pass: the candidate may proceed to the final stage of the examination, the oral defense, without any
revision. The dissertation fulfills the examination criteria and meets the degree requirements.
b) Fail: the dissertation is rejected. There will be no opportunity for (further) correction/ resubmission.

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13-3. Non-disclosure of Examiner Identity
An examiner may request that their name not be disclosed to the candidate and/or other examiners.
13-4. Re-examination Result
The Dissertation Committee shall decide the re-examination result after deliberation upon the results
recommended by the examiners and their assessments. If the Dissertation Committee cannot come to adecision regarding the result, the Dean shall determine the re-examination result.
If an examiner is a member of the Dissertation Committee, this member may be excluded from thedeliberation of the candidate’s case and may not take part when the decision on the result is made.
The Dissertation Committee and the Dean are responsible for administering a result of “fail.”
13-5. Discrepancies in the Evaluations
In the case of conflicting examiner evaluations, that is, if contradictory revisions are recommended,
the Dissertation Committee will resolve the conflict. The Dissertation Committee’s comments will be
forwarded to the examiners.
13-6. Notifying Candidates of the Re-examination Results
Candidates shall receive notification of the re-examination results and copies of the examiners’ evaluation
reports within six (6) weeks of the date the revised dissertation was submitted for re-examination.
14. Oral Defense
An oral defense on the candidate’s knowledge of the content of the dissertation is scheduled for candidates who
have been granted permission to proceed to the final stage of the examination.
14-1. Objectives of the Oral Defense
The main objectives of the oral defense are to:a) Provide the candidate with an opportunity to defend their dissertation and clarify any issues/mattersraised by the examiners.
b) Provide the candidate with an opportunity to discuss their work in depth with their examiners and tointeract directly and in person with leaders in the same field of study.
c) Allow the examiners to confirm the work presented is the candidate’s own as well as the candidate’sknowledge of the content of the dissertation and related fields, evaluate their presentation ability, andclarify any issues/matters; andd) Allow the examiners to come to a conclusion regarding the final result of the examination.
14-2. Attendance at the Oral Defense
The candidate and all members of the Examination Committee must be present at the oral defense. If
deemed necessary, member(s) of the Examination Committee may be allowed to participate in (attend) theoral defense remotely. In cases of exceptional circumstances, remote participation by all parties may beallowed with the permission of the Dissertation Committee.
14-3. Structure of the Oral Defense
The oral defense will consist of a 45-minute presentation which summarizes the research and an
examination by the Examination Committee expected to last at least 45 minutes where the candidate
responds to questions from the Examination Committee.
14-4. Examiner Evaluations
The examiners must submit individual recommendations for the result of the oral defense to theDissertation Committee, choosing from the options below, immediately after the oral defense. The
evaluation reports will be presented to the candidate within one (1) week of the oral defense.
a) Pass: the dissertation fulfills the examination criteria and meets the degree requirements. The－48－

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candidate can be awarded a doctoral degree.
b) Fail: the dissertation is rejected. There will be no opportunity for (further) correction/ resubmission.
In principle, the oral defense will be conducted in June or July for degree conferral in September, and in
December or January for degree conferral in March.

GSAM

14-5. Timeline for the Oral Defense

15. Final Examination Results

Committee cannot come to a decision regarding the result, the Dean shall determine the final examination result.

GSAD

The Dissertation Committee shall decide the final examination result from the following after deliberation upon
the conclusion recommended by the examiners and their assessments after the oral defense. If the Dissertationa) Pass: the dissertation achieved the quality of doctoral research and the candidate can be awarded a doctoral
degree.
b) Fail: the dissertation did not achieve the quality of doctoral research and is rejected. There will be no
If an examiner is a member of the Dissertation Committee, this member may be excluded from deliberation ofGSM

opportunity for (further) correction/ resubmission.
the candidate’s case and may not take part when the decision on the result is made.
The Dissertation Committee and the Dean are responsible for administering a result of “fail.”
Candidates shall receive notification of the final examination result and copies of the examiners’ evaluation
reports within two (2) weeks of the date of the oral defense.
16. PhD Research Presentations
PhD Research Presentation. These presentations are open to all students, faculty, friends, and family to attend.
17. In the Case the Final Examination Result is FailIn the case the final examination result is “fail,” the candidate will not be allowed to re-submit their dissertation

General Information

Doctoral candidates completing their program should present the results of their research conducted at APU at a

Common Information

The final result shall be approved by the GSA Faculty Council.

for examination.
18. Research Misconduct
At APU’s graduate schools, doctoral students are required to observe the highest standards of integrity in theirresearch. Copying, translating, or close paraphrasing of another person’s work constitutes plagiarism and isdeemed a serious offense, equated with cheating in examinations. The fabrication or falsification of data and useof another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement are examples of other forms of unethical research
conduct.
A dissertation involving plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of data may be failed outright and the candidate
may be dismissed from the program.
In cases of suspected or alleged plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification, or any other form of research
misconduct, the Dissertation Committee determines whether the suspicions/allegations have any grounds. Cases
will be presented to the Dean and the GSA Faculty Council, and if it is confirmed that there are such grounds,
cases will be handled in accordance with the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Regulations for Prevention of
Misconduct in Research Activities.

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19. Appeal Procedures
A candidate who fails the dissertation examination may appeal the result if at least one of the members of the
Examination Committee judged the dissertation “Pass” or “Minor Rewrite.”
19-1. Submission of an Appeal Statement
A candidate who wishes to appeal must submit an appeal statement addressed to the Dean to the
Academic Office within fourteen (14) days of the date of the written notification of the result. The
statement must present clear and accurate arguments supporting the candidate’s appeal.
19-2. Decision to Conduct an Appeal Investigation
The Dean will decide whether or not to conduct an investigation into the appeal and should provide a
detailed report justifying their decision. An investigation will be conducted if the appeal statement provides
reasonable evidence to defend the grounds of the appeal.
19-3. Appeals Committee
19-3-1. Members of the Appeals Committee
An Appeals Committee shall be formed in the case it has been decided to conduct an investigation
into the appeal.
The Appeals Committee will consist of three (3) members appointed by the Dean as follows:a) The Chair of the Dissertation Committee.
b) The Dean.
c) Another person who has recognized expertise in the area of the candidate’s dissertation, but who
ideally has neither previously examined nor supervised the dissertation. This third member canchoose whether to disclose any identifying information to the student and other faculty members.
In the case the Chair of the Dissertation Committee is the candidate’s supervisor, another memberof the Dissertation Committee shall be appointed, and if the Dean is the candidate’s supervisor, athird person shall be appointed as a member of this Committee instead.
19-3-2. Duties of the Appeals Committee
The Appeals Committee will decide how to conduct the investigation of the appeal and if deemednecessary, may require the candidate to present further evidence in written or oral form to substantiate
the grounds of their appeal. The Appeals Committee will carefully investigate all documents related
to the appeal during the investigation.
19-3-3. Result of the Investigation
The Appeals Committee will decide the final result of the appeal as follows and will provide anevaluation report to explain the rationale behind their decision, which may be:a) Reject the appeal, in which case the result originally announced to the candidate remains
unchanged.
b) Accept the appeal, in which case the dissertation is returned to the Dissertation Committee
for a new examination by the Examination Committee whose members will be decided by theDissertation Committee.
19-4. Finalizing the Result of the Appeal and Notifying the Candidate
The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be reported to the Dissertation Committee.
The decision of the Appeals Committee accompanied by appropriate feedback will be announced to thecandidate by the Dean of GSA with details about what follows.
20. Conferral of a Doctoral Degree
Conferral of a doctoral degree shall be determined by the president following deliberations by the GSA Faculty－50－

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Council and Higher Degrees Committee as laid out in Article 15 of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Degree Regulations.

If the candidate is found to have obtained their degree through improper means or to have done anything to

GSAM

21. Cancellation of/Disqualification from Conferral of a Degree
damage the university's good reputation, the president of the university may, after thorough screening by the GSA
Faculty Council and the Higher Degrees Committee, rescind the degree.

tabase (Handling of Dissertations After Graduation)

GSAD

22. Archiving Dissertations and Registering Dissertations to the National Diet Library Online Da22-1. Archiving Doctoral Dissertations
A soft copy of dissertations that pass examination and an abstract of said dissertations must be submitted
by the student’s date of completion of the doctoral program.
22-2. Registering Doctoral Dissertations to the National Diet Library Online Database (Making

GSM

Dissertations in their entirety will be permanently bound and archived with the APU Library.
Dissertations Publicly Available Online)
examination results shall be made publicly available online within three (3) months of the conferral of thedoctoral degree.
All doctoral dissertations that pass examination must be registered to the National Diet Library online
database within one (1) year of the conferral of the doctoral degree. The registration is completed throughuploading the dissertations in their entirety to the university online repository.
In the case that any of the reasons stipulated below disallow a dissertation from being made publicly
available online for more than one (1) year from the date of conferral of the doctoral degree, it will bepossible to submit an extended summary of the content in place of the entire dissertation upon approval of
the Dissertation Committee and GSA Faculty Council. However, in the case the reasons stipulated below

General Information

22-3. Exemptions from Registering Doctoral Dissertations to the National Diet Library Online Database

Common Information

An abstract outlining the content of the dissertation and a summary of the doctoral dissertationcease to apply, the entire dissertation shall be made publicly available online.
a) The doctoral dissertation cannot be made publicly available online for more than one (1) year from thedate of degree conferral due to copyright or the protection of personal information.
b) The doctoral dissertation cannot be made publicly available for more than one (1) year from the dateof degree conferral because it would clearly be disadvantageous to the graduate as they are planningto publish their dissertation or part thereof, and making it publicly available online may infringe
academic journal publication rules against multiple publications, or due to applications for patents
pending approval. If the application is approved, the graduate may be granted an exemption fromtheir dissertation being made publicly available online for a period of up to five (5) years from thedate of degree conferral. After that time, if there are no other circumstances impeding the dissertationfrom being made publicly available online, then the dissertation will be automatically made publicly
available online.
c) Making the doctoral dissertation publicly available online for more than one (1) year from the date ofdegree conferral would clearly be disadvantageous to graduates who have published their dissertationor part thereof, and making it publicly available online infringes academic journal publication rules
against multiple publications, or due to patents.
d) The doctoral dissertation cannot be made publicly available online because it includes material that is－51－

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in a three-dimensional format.
22-4. Declaration from the Candidate
In line with the regulations stipulated in Articles 21-2 and 21-3, upon application for conferral of a
doctoral degree candidates must confirm (using the prescribed form) to the Dissertation Committee that
there are no problems with regard to copyright, patents, confidential information, or personal information
which would impede making the dissertation public. Supervisors (or other faculty involved in the degreeapplicant’s instruction) shall coordinate and assist during the process of confirmation.
22-5. Confirmation by Examiners
The examiners will confirm in writing whether it is appropriate for the entire dissertation to be madepublicly available online. The Dissertation Committee will deliberate on the documents submitted by thecandidate and examiners regarding the doctoral dissertation being made publicly available online anddetermine the process to be followed for each dissertation. Their decision will be presented to the GSA
Faculty Council for approval.

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アジア太平洋研究科博士後期課程（GSAD）学位授与に関する諸手続き（2022 年 3 月改訂）
GSAM

目次
1. 博士学位 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 56
2-1. 委員の選考と任期 …………………………………………………………………………………… 56

GSAD

2. 博士学位論文委員会 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 56
2-2. 博士学位論文委員会の責務 ………………………………………………………………………… 56
3. 指導について ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 56
3-1. 指導教員の選択 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 56
3-3. 指導教員の責任 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 57

GSM

3-2. 学生の責任 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 56
4. 博士学位授与申請要件（博士論文の提出） …………………………………………………………… 57
4-2. 博士学位候補生資格取得申請のための予備審査（博士学位候補生予備試験）………………… 57
4-3. 博士学位授与登録（博士学位候補生資格）………………………………………………………… 57
5. 大学院合同研究発表会（GRiPS）………………………………………………………………………… 57
6. 博士学位候補生資格取得申請（博士学位候補生資格） ……………………………………………… 57
6-2. 候補生資格申請の審査 ……………………………………………………………………………… 58
6-3. 候補生資格登録期間 ………………………………………………………………………………… 58
7. 博士論文 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
7-1. 博士論文の構成 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 58

General Information

6-1. 候補生資格要件 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 57

Common Information

4-1. 研究計画試問 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 57

7-2. 言語 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
7-3. 長さ …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
8. 博士学位の授与申請（博士論文の提出） ……………………………………………………………… 58
8-1. 申請期間 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
8-2. 申請要件 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
8-3. 審査 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
8-4. 承認基準 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
8-5. 審査後の手続き ……………………………………………………………………………………… 59
9. 審査期間 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
9-1. 審査期間 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
9-2. 審査日程 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10. 博士論文審査委員会 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-1. 審査委員会の構成 …………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-2. 審査員選任の資格基準 ……………………………………………………………………………… 59－53－

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10-2-1. 学内審査員 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-2-2. 外部審査員 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-3. 審査員の任命 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-4. 審査委員会の役割 …………………………………………………………………………………… 59
10-5. 審査委員会の責務 …………………………………………………………………………………… 60
10-6. 審査員の変更 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11. 博士論文の審査 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11-1. 審査プロセス ………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11-2. 審査基準 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11-2-1. 独創性 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11-2-2. 研究課題 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
11-2-3. 文献レビュー …………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-2-4. 方法論 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-2-5. 構成 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-2-6. 分析 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-2-7. 意義 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-2-8. ライティング …………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-3. 審査員による評価 …………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-4. 審査員に関する情報の非開示 ……………………………………………………………………… 61
11-5. 審査結果 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
11-6. 評価における相違 …………………………………………………………………………………… 62
11-7. 候補生に対する審査結果の通知 …………………………………………………………………… 62
12. 修正プロセス ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 62
12-1. 修正作業の指導 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 62
12-2. 軽微な修正 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 62
12-3. 大幅な修正 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 62
12-4. 修正後の論文の再提出 ……………………………………………………………………………… 62
13. 博士論文の再審査 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 62
13-1. 再審査プロセス ……………………………………………………………………………………… 62
13-2. 審査員による再評価 ………………………………………………………………………………… 62
13-3. 審査員に関する情報の非開示 ……………………………………………………………………… 62
13-4. 再審査の結果 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 63
13-5. 評価における相違 …………………………………………………………………………………… 63
13-6. 候補生に対する再審査結果の通知 ………………………………………………………………… 63
14. 口頭試問 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 63
14-1. 口頭試問の目的 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 63
14-2. 口頭試問への参加 …………………………………………………………………………………… 63
14-3. 口頭試問の構成 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 63
14-4. 審査員による評価 …………………………………………………………………………………… 63－54－

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14-5. 口頭試問日程 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 63
15. 最終審査結果 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 64
17. 最終審査が不合格の場合 ………………………………………………………………………………… 64

GSAM

16. 博士学位研究発表会 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 64
18. 研究上の不正行為 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 64
19. 不服申立手続き …………………………………………………………………………………………… 64
19-2. 不服申立調査の実施判断 …………………………………………………………………………… 64
19-3. 不服審査委員会 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 65

GSAD

19-1. 不服申立書の提出 …………………………………………………………………………………… 64

19-3-1. 不服審査委員会 ………………………………………………………………………………… 65
19-3-2. 不服審査委員会の役割 ………………………………………………………………………… 65
19-4. 不服申立の最終決定および候補生への通知 ……………………………………………………… 65

GSM

19-3-3. 調査結果 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 65
20. 博士学位の授与 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 65
21. 学位の取り消し …………………………………………………………………………………………… 65
22-1. 博士論文の保存 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 65
22-2. 博士論文の国立国会図書館オンラインデータベース登録（オンラインでの公開）…………… 66
22-3. 博士論文の国立国会図書館オンラインデータベース登録の免除 ……………………………… 66
22-5. 審査員による確認 …………………………………………………………………………………… 66－55－

General Information

22-4. 博士学位候補生による申告 ………………………………………………………………………… 66

Common Information

22. 博士論文の保存と国立国会図書館オンラインデータベースへの登録（修了後の博士論文の扱い）… 65

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1. 博士学位
博士学位は、博士学位候補生が、自ら選択した課題について独自の研究を行い、学術プログラムを修了したことを証明する学位であり、アジア太平洋研究科（以下、GSA という）博士後期課程を修了したものに授与される。
博士学位の主要な条件は以下の通りである。
a）独自のアイデアに基づいた調査または検証により、一連の知識に対し顕著な貢献をしたもので、出版に値するもの。
b）研究能力（研究手法および成果発表）を有すること。
c）先行研究を含む関連分野の既往の知識に精通し、周辺分野との関連性を十分に理解していること。
2. 博士学位論文委員会
博士学位論文委員会は博士学位の授与に関する手続きを行うために GSA に設置される。
2-1. 委員の選考と任期
博士学位論文委員会は 1 名の委員長と 2 名の委員からなり、研究科長の推薦を受け、研究科委員会で承認される。任期は 1 年とし、再任することができる。研究科長は委員となることができない。
2-2. 博士学位論文委員会の責務
博士学位論文委員会は以下の責を負う。
a ）審査の過程における公平性と厳密性を確保する。
b）博士学位候補生資格取得の為の申請を審査し、申請の受理／承認を決定する。
c ）提出された博士論文を審査し、受理の可否を判断する。
d）博士学位の申請を受理した場合、審査委員会を設置する。
e ）審査委員会の審査結果および評価報告書を確認し、審査結果を決定する。
f ）審査委員会の審査結果および評価報告書、ならびに審査基準を確認し、再審査結果を決定する。
g）軽微な修正の場合、勧告した変更がなされているかどうかを確認する。
h）口頭試問後の、審査委員会による審査結果および評価報告書を確認し、最終審査結果を決定する。
i ）剽窃またはその他の研究不正の有無を判断し、その結論を研究科長に報告する。
3. 指導について
博士後期課程の学生は、博士後期課程研究指導資格を持つ GSA 教員の指導を受けなければならない。
指導において指導教員は、学生が博士後期課程在籍中に、自身の研究課題の発見、研究に関するアイデアの形成および構築をサポートし、博士論文執筆の指針を示す。学生と指導教員は協力的かつ対等な環境を維持するため協働するものとする。
3-1. 指導教員の選択
学生は、博士後期課程修了まで研究活動の指導を受けるため、博士後期課程研究指導資格を持つ
GSA 教員から 1 名を選択する。
3-2. 学生の責任
学生は、自ら研究をまとめ、主体的に取り組む能力と熱意が求められる。学生は自らの論文に責任を負う。
学生は、定期的に指導教員と面談し、研究および学業の進捗状況について話し合い、研究に関するフィードバック、意見、批評的評価を受ける必要がある。また、一定期間ごとに論文を提出し、指導教員と議論することに加え、指導教員と合意したすべての締め切りを守る必要がある。学生は、自らの研究が研究倫理および研究を行う上での規則に沿って行われているか指導教員に確認しなけ－56－

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ればならない。博士論文の内容および構成について、審査に付す前に指導教員の承認を得なければならない。
指導教員は、博士論文の執筆を促すために、学生を支援し、指導し、適宜フィードバックを行う。

GSAM

3-3. 指導教員の責任
指導教員は、学生が学内外の他の専門家に助言を求めることを奨励し、研究を行う上で必要な倫理や規則を遵守させ、博士論文が定められた基準に沿って執筆されていることを確認する。
指導教員は、毎年、学生の進捗状況を確認し、進捗状況と課程修了の見込みを学生に伝える必要が指導教員は、学生の博士論文審査、口頭試問の準備を助け、博士論文審査に適切な審査員を推薦する。指導教員は、審査委員会の委員となり、口頭試問の議長を務めるものとする。

GSAD

ある。

4. 博士学位授与申請要件（博士論文の提出）
4-1. 研究計画試問
博士後期課程の学生は第 2 セメスター終了時に大学院合同研究発表会 GRiPS において GSA 教員

GSM

博士学位授与申請（博士論文の提出）には、以下のすべての要件を満たす必要がある。

による博士論文研究計画について試問を受けなければならない。研究計画試問には GSA 教員と博士員が評価し、研究計画が GSAD 学生に通常期待されている水準に達していることを確認する。また、これらの教員は博士後期課程を継続すべきか否かについて助言することができる。
4-2. 博士学位候補生資格取得申請のための予備審査（博士学位候補生予備試験）
博士後期課程の学生は、博士学位授与登録を行う前に、予備的な口頭発表を行う必要がある。口
指導教員が推薦した他の GSA 教員 1 名ないし 2 名が評価する。博士学位候補生資格取得の為の申請には、指導教員が求める基準に達していなければならない。
4-3. 博士学位授与登録（博士学位候補生資格）
博士学位候補生資格（以下、候補生資格という）とは、博士論文を審査に付すための資格条件と定義され、学生が自立して研究を遂行する能力と活力を有することを示すものである。博士学位候General Information

頭発表は、GSA 教員と博士後期課程の学生が参加できる大学院論文中間報告会 GRiPS）で行われ、Common Information

後期課程の学生が参加できるものとする。研究計画は指導教員が推薦した 1 名ないし 2 名の GSA 教補生となるには、博士学位論文委員会に申請する必要がある。候補生資格が与えられた場合、博士学位授与の候補として登録され、その他の修了要件を満たせば、論文を審査に付すことができる。
候補生資格の詳細は、第 6 章で述べる。
5. 大学院合同研究発表会（GRiPS）
大学院合同研究発表会（GRiPS）は、学生が発表の経験を積み、建設的なフィードバックを受け、GSA の教員から進捗について指導を受ける機会を提供するものである。また、博士学位取得のために必要な博士論文の口頭発表・試問に備えて、GRiPS を開催している。
学生は、研究計画試問および博士学位候補生資格取得のため口頭試問の少なくとも 2 回の発表を義務付ける。
6. 博士学位候補生資格取得申請（博士学位候補生資格）
6-1. 候補生資格要件
候補生資格の申請を希望する学生は以下の要件をすべて満たさなければならない。
a ）博士後期課程に在籍すること（休学中の者は申請することができない）。
－57－

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b）研究計画試問に合格すること。
c ）候補生となる前の口頭試問に合格すること。
d）所定の科目の中から 24 単位を修得すること。
e ）必要な申請書類をすべて提出すること。
f ）序論、文献レビュー、研究方法、結果・考察の章の少なくとも一部を含む博士論文のソフトコ
ピーを提出すること。
6-2. 候補生資格申請の審査
候補生資格申請書は、博士学位論文委員会で審査され、申請日から 6 週間以内に結果が学生に通知される。審査に合格した博士後期課程の学生を候補生と呼ぶ。
6-3. 候補生資格登録期間
学生は候補生資格に年間を通じて申請することができる。審査は、4 月～ 6 月および 10 月～ 12
月の申請の場合、最長で 6 週間を要する。夏期・冬期休暇中に提出された申請書の審査には、最長で 3 ヶ月を要する場合がある。
7. 博士論文
博士論文は、GSA 博士後期課程在籍中の研究成果の最終成果物であり、課程修了と博士学位取得のために必要なものである。
7-1. 博士論文の構成原則として、博士論文には以下の内容を含めるものとする。
1. 表紙（論文のタイトル、候補生氏名、完成日）、2. 宣誓（論文が当該候補生の作品であり、オリジナルまたは適切に参照した資料のみであることの誓約）、3. 謝辞（サポートや指導を受けた対象に対して）、4. 使用略語一覧、5. 図 / 表一覧、6. 目次（各章および節、項を記載）、7. 要旨（500-700 語のまとめ）、8. 序論（背景情報、研究領域と焦点、研究課題と目的、研究の価値・意義・独自の貢献等）、
9. 文献レビュー、10. 研究方法（倫理的配慮、分析の枠組み、限界と潜在的問題等）、11. 研究成果および議論 12. 結論、13. 参考文献、14. 添付資料（本文以外の補助的資料）
7-2. 言語
論文は英文で執筆し、英文の要旨を作成する。
7-3. 長さ
博士論文は学生独自の研究成果であり、その長さは通常 60,000 ～ 80,000 語とする。ただし、研究
課題や公表形式によって長さは異なることがある。
8. 博士学位の授与申請（博士論文の提出）
8-1. 申請期間
すべての候補生は、希望する課程修了日の少なくとも 6 ヶ月前に博士学位の授与申請をしなければならない。夏期・冬期休暇中の申請については、審査に最長 3 ヶ月を要する場合がある。
8-2. 申請要件
博士学位の授与申請を希望する候補生は、以下の要件をすべて満たさなければならない。
a）博士後期課程に在籍すること（休学中の者は申請することができない）。
b）論文の要旨を含む完成した論文のソフトコピーおよび所定の申請書を提出すること。
8-3. 審査
博士学位論文委員会は、申請書を審査し、論文審査に付すか否かを決定する。博士学位論文委員会による審査結果は、申請日から 2 週間以内に候補生へ通知される。ただし、夏期・冬期休暇中に－58－

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提出された申請書については、審査に 3 ヶ月程度を要することがある。
8-4. 承認基準
GSAM

博士学位論文委員会は、博士論文の形式が 7-1 に示した構成に則っているかどうかを審査する。
8-5. 審査後の手続き承認された博士論文は、博士論文審査委員会に回付され、審査が行われる。
9. 審査期間
学位論文の審査は、審査承認日から 4 ヶ月～ 12 ヶ月の期間で行う。軽微な修正の場合は通常 4 ヶ月、大幅な修正の場合は 4 ヶ月から 12 ヶ月で審査を行う。候補生は審査期間中、博士後期課程に在GSAD

9-1. 審査期間

籍していなければならない。
ただし、特段の理由があるときは、博士学位論文委員会および研究科委員会の承認により、審査GSMを延長することができる。
9-2. 審査日程
審査日程は、審査承認後に各学位論文ごとに設定される。

10-1. 審査委員会の構成
審査委員会は、博士の学位授与の申請が承認された時点で、博士学位論文委員会によって構成される。審査委員会は、指導教員、学内審査員 1 名、外部審査員 1 名で構成される。
博士学位論文委員会が必要と認める場合は、審査員を追加することができる。
10-2-1. 学内審査員
学内審査員は、APU 大学院のいずれかの研究科に所属し、通常、博士後期課程研究指導資格（D〇合）を有していることが必要である。ただし、論文の内容から必要と判断される場合は、これに該当しない教員を指名することがある。この場合、博士学位論文委員会は、推薦された教員の履歴書や研究業績などを確認し、適宜、審査員選出の妥当性を判断するものとする。

General Information

10-2. 審査員選任の資格基準

Common Information

10. 博士論文審査委員会

10-2-2. 外部審査員
外部審査員は、学位論文の研究分野において能力を有していなければならない。本学の教員以外で、博士学位またはそれに相当する学位を有し、博士論文の審査に顕著な経験を有するか、関連分野において顕著な出版・実務経験を有する者でなければならない。博士学位論文委員会は、審査員候補者の履歴書および審査員に適任であると思われる理由の裏付けを検討し、それに基づいて審査員選出の妥当性を決定する。
本学の教員であった者は、少なくとも 4 年の期間が経過するまでは、外部審査員となることができない。また、本学の名誉教授も外部審査員となることができない。
10-3. 審査員の任命
候補生の指導教員は、適切な専門知識と経験を有する審査員を推薦するものとする。博士学位論
文委員会は、その推薦を検討し、学位論文の審査員を任命する。
審査員の任命は、例外的な状況が発生しない限り、再審査および口頭試問を含む審査期間中継続されるものとする。
10-4. 審査委員会の役割
審査委員会は、学位論文に記載された候補生の研究活動の情報、主張、結果、および（適切な場合）－59－

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口頭試問が、学位に関連する学術的基準を満たすことを確認する必要がある。
審査員は、学位論文の分野の専門家でなければならないが、必ずしも各テーマのすべての部分について専門性を有する必要はない。候補生が提出する論文のあらゆる側面を審査でき、APU の審査
手続きに精通した一つの審査員チームを選任することを目標とする。
指導教員は、審査プロセスの調整、研究成果に関する必要なオリエンテーション、口頭試問の議長を務める。
学内審査員は、候補生の研究成果や知識が、GSA の学生として通常期待される水準、および本学の学位授与基準に合致しているかどうかの視点を持たなければならない。
外部審査員は、候補生の研究業績と知識が、他の教育機関で同分野の学位審査を受ける学生の水準と同等であるかどうかの視点を持つことが求められる。
10-5. 審査委員会の責務
審査委員会の責務は以下の通りである。
a ）提出された学位論文を審査する。
b）学位論文が許容できる品質であり、審査基準を満たすことを確認する。
c ）審査結果に対する個別勧告、および審査に対する第三者評価報告書を提出する。
d）修正された学位論文を審査する（必要な場合）。
e ）修正された学位論文の再審査結果に対する個別の提言書および再審査に対する第三者評価報告書を提出する。
f ）口頭試問に出席し、学位論文の発表について候補生にフィードバックを行い、最終審査結果について個別の提言を行う。
g）秘密情報、個人情報、著作権、特許等に関して問題がないことを審査過程で確認し、博士学位
論文委員会に個別に報告する。
10-6. 審査員の変更原則として、審査委員会の委員の任命は再審査および口頭試問を含む審査期間とする。ただし、例外的な状況（審査員が退職した場合、審査員が試験への参加を希望しなくなった場合、審査員が再審査を行わないことを選択した場合等）が生じた場合には、博士学位論文委員会が新たな審査員を任命するものとする。この場合、残りの審査員の決定が有効となる。
審査員全員が修正された論文の再審査を行わないことを選択した場合、博士学位論文委員会は新
たな審査員を任命し、再審査を実施する。
11. 博士論文の審査
11-1. 審査プロセス
博士学位論文委員会は、審査プロセスを調整し、審査が厳格に実施されていることを確認するものとする。博士学位論文委員会は、剽窃等の研究不正が行われていないか、著作権、特許、機密情報、個人情報に関して問題がないかを確認しなければならない。
11-2. 審査基準
博士論文は、博士学位のレベルにおいて、当該分野における他の研究と同等またはそれ以上の質を有するものでなければならない。よって、博士論文は以下に示す審査基準に基づいて評価されるものとする。
11-2-1. 独創性
研究分野、実務あるいは社会に対し、独創的かつ重要な知見を提供するものであること。
11-2-2. 研究課題

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研究上の問いが適切に立てられており、既存の理論的枠組みと学術文献に裏付けられたものであること。
関連分野における既存の学術的成果を幅広く参照・引用しながら深く考察し、論文の独創性とGSAM

11-2-3. 文献レビュー
重要性を立証できるものであること。
11-2-4. 方法論
研究結果を基づけられる適切な理論や手法を用いていること。

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11-2-5. 構成
読者にとって明瞭かつ論理的に情報を伝達できる構成であること。
11-2-6. 分析
研究発見や結論が十分なデータや根拠を用いて導かれていること。
11-2-7. 意義

文章に不必要な重複がなく、明快かつ簡潔であり、確かな証拠と具体的な主張を伴う議論が展

GSM

学術、実務ならびに社会に対しての意義を有すること。
11-2-8. ライティング
開されていること。また、学術論文としてふさわしい書式規範に従い、剽窃の疑いのないこと。
各審査員は、審査用の論文を受領してから 6 週間以内に候補生へ提示するための個別の評価報告書を作成し、次の各号から適切と思われる審査結果を博士学位論文委員会へ提出しなければならな
い。
a）合格：候補生は、論文を修正することなく、試験の最終段階である口頭試問に進むことができb）軽微な修正：候補生は、若干の修正を加えた上で、最終段階である口頭試問に進むことができる。学位論文の内容は概ね問題ないが、誤字脱字や文章のフォーマット、言い回しの若干の変更、論点や説明の明確化、記述の改善、補助的論点の修正、一部分の書き直しなどが必要である。これらの軽微な修正がなされれば、学位取得に必要な水準を満たす論文となるものと思われる。これらの修正に割り当てられる時間は、最長で 1 ヶ月である。

General Information

る。学位論文は、審査基準を満たし、学位取得の要件を満たしている。

Common Information

11-3. 審査員による評価

c）大幅な修正：候補生は、学位論文を修正し、審査委員会の再審査を経て、受理された場合には最終段階である口頭試問に進むことができる。大幅な修正とは、例えば、データや説明の追加、
章全体の大幅な変更、1 つ以上の章の書き直し、重要な新しい資料の追加、さらなる実験・計算・
調査、議論の大幅な修正などを指し、1 ヶ月から 6 ヶ月かかると推定される。
d）不合格：論文は不合格となる。また、更なる修正・再提出の機会は与えられない。
11-4. 審査員に関する情報の非開示
審査員は、候補生または他の審査員に自分の氏名を公表しないよう要求することができる。
11-5. 審査結果
博士学位論文委員会は、審査員により提出された審査結果及びその評価を審議し、次の各号のいずれかに該当する審査結果を決定する。博士学位論文委員会が審査結果を決定できない場合は、研究科長が審査結果を決定する。
a）合格：修正なしで審査の最終段階である口頭試問に進むことを承認する。
b）軽微な修正：論文に適切な軽微な修正を加えた後、口頭試問に進むことを承認する。
c）大幅な修正：論文が大幅に修正され、審査委員会によって再審査された後にのみ、審査の最終段階である口頭試問に進むことを承認する。
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d）不合格：論文は不合格となる。
審査員が博士学位論文委員会の委員である場合、当該委員は候補生の審査結果決定プロセスからは除外され、結果の決定に参加することができない。
「不合格」の場合の通知等管理は、博士学位論文委員会および研究科長の責任で行う。
11-6. 評価における相違
審査員の評価に相違があり、相違を解消すべき場合は、博士学位論文委員会がその解決を行う。
また博士学位論文委員会によるコメントは審査員に通知される。
11-7. 候補生に対する審査結果の通知
学位論文の審査が承認された日から 10 週間以内に、候補生に審査結果が通知され、審査員の評価報告書が共有される。
12. 修正プロセス
12-1. 修正作業の指導
博士学位論文委員会によって修正が必要とされた場合、指導教員がその作業を指導するのが通常であるが、研究科長または博士学位論文委員会委員長が必要と認める場合、その他の教員に修正作業の指導補助を依頼することもある。
12-2. 軽微な修正
軽微な修正の場合、候補生は提出前に指導教員の承認を得て、審査員が確認を容易に行えるように、論文に加えた変更の詳細な一覧を提出する必要がある。博士学位論文委員会は、論文を審査し、指示通りの修正が行われたことを確認する。その結果は口頭試問の前に審査委員会へ共有される。
12-3. 大幅な修正
大幅な修正の場合、修正された論文は再審査の対象となり、候補生が再提出した後、最初の審査
員が論文を再審査する。候補生は、論文提出前に指導教員の承認を得るとともに、再審査の際に審査員の助けとなるよう、修正内容の詳細一覧を提出する必要がある。修正後においても、学位授与に必要な基準に到達していないと判断される場合もある。
12-4. 修正後の論文の再提出
修正後の論文は、博士学位論文委員会の指示に従って提出する。
13. 博士論文の再審査
13-1. 再審査プロセス
博士学位論文委員会は、再審査プロセスを調整し、厳密に行われたことを確認するものとする。
博士学位論文委員会は、剽窃やその他の研究不正がないこと、および著作権、特許、機密情報、個人情報に関して問題がないことを確認しなければならない。
13-2. 審査員による再評価
各審査員は、再審査用の論文を受領してから 4 週間以内に候補生へ提示するための個別の評価報
告書を作成し、次の各号から適切と思われる審査結果を博士学位論文委員会へ提出しなければならない。
a）合格：修正なしで審査の最終段階である口頭試問に進むことを承認する。論文は審査基準および博士学位の水準に到達している。
b）不合格：論文は不合格となる。また、更なる修正・再提出の機会は与えられない。
13-3. 審査員に関する情報の非開示
審査員は、候補生または他の審査員に自分の氏名を公表しないよう要求することができる。
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13-4. 再審査の結果
博士学位論文委員会は、審査員により提出された結果及びその評価を審議した上で、再審査の結
する。

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果を決定する。博士学位論文委員会が結果を決定できない場合は、研究科長が再審査の結果を決定
審査員が博士学位論文委員会の委員である場合、当該委員は候補生の審査結果決定プロセスからは除外され、結果の決定に参加することができない。
「不合格」の場合の通知等管理は、博士学位論文委員会および研究科長の責任で行う。
審査員の評価に相違があり、相違を解消すべき場合は、博士学位論文委員会がその解決を行う。
また博士学位論文委員会によるコメントは審査員に通知される。

GSAD

13-5. 評価における相違

13-6. 候補生に対する再審査結果の通知
修正済みの論文が再審査のために提出された日から 6 週間以内に、候補生に審査結果が通知され、GSM審査員の評価報告書が共有される。
14. 口頭試問
最終段階の審査に進むことが認められた候補生には、論文の内容についての口頭試問が実施される。
口頭試問の主な目的は以下の通り。
a）論文を発表し、審査員から指摘された問題点を明らかにする機会を提供する。
b）候補生に、自らの研究について審査員と深く議論し、同じ研究分野の指導者と直接交流する機会を与える。
野に関する知識を有することを確認し、候補生の発表能力を評価し、あらゆる問題・事項を明らかにする。
d）審査員が、審査の最終結果について結論を出す。
14-2. 口頭試問への参加
口頭試問には、候補生と審査委員会の委員全員が出席しなければならない。必要と判断された場

General Informationc）審査員は、発表された研究が候補生自身のものであること、また候補生が論文の内容や関連分

Common Information

14-1. 口頭試問の目的

合には、審査委員会のメンバーが遠隔地から口頭試問に参加することができる。また、特別な事情がある場合には、博士学位論文委員会の許可を得て、当事者全員の遠隔参加を認めることができる。
14-3. 口頭試問の構成
口頭試問は、研究内容を要約した 45 分間の発表と、審査委員会からの質疑に応答する 45 分以上の審査で構成される。
14-4. 審査員による評価
審査員は、口頭試問の結果について、以下のいずれかの結果を口頭試問の直後に博士学位論文委
員会に提出しなければならない。評価報告書は、口頭試問後 1 週間以内に候補生に提示される。
a）合格：論文は審査基準および博士学位の水準に到達しており、候補生には博士の学位を授与することができる。
b）不合格：論文は不合格となる。また、更なる修正・再提出の機会は与えられない。
14-5. 口頭試問日程
口頭試問は原則として、9 月の学位授与の場合は 6 月または 7 月、3 月の学位授与の場合は 12 月
または 1 月に行う。

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15. 最終審査結果
博士学位論文委員会は、審査員の提言する結論と口頭試問の評価をもとに審議し、以下から最終審
査の結果を決定する。博士学位論文委員会が結果を決定できない場合は、研究科長が最終審査の結果を決定する。
a）合格：論文は博士学位の水準に到達しており、候補生には博士の学位を授与することができる。
b）不合格：論文は、博士後期課程の研究としての質に到達しておらず、不合格となる。
審査員が博士学位論文委員会の委員である場合、当該委員は候補生の案件の審議結果決定プロセスからは除外され、結果の決定に参加することができない。
最終結果は、研究科委員会で承認される。
「不合格」の場合の通知等管理は、博士学位論文委員会および研究科長の責任で行う。
口頭試問の日から 2 週間以内に、候補生に最終審査結果と審査員の評価報告が共有される。
16. 博士学位研究発表会
博士後期課程を修了した学生は、APU で行った研究の成果を博士学位研究発表会で公表しなければならない。この発表会には、学生、教員、友人、家族など誰でも参加することができる。
17. 最終審査が不合格の場合
最終試験の結果が「不合格」の場合、論文の再提出は認められない。
18. 研究上の不正行為
APU 大学院では、博士後期課程の学生は、研究において最高水準の学術的誠実さを求められる。他者の著作物をコピー、翻訳、類似表現での言い換えは盗作であり、試験での不正行為と同等の重大な犯罪とみなされる。また、データの捏造や改ざん、適切な許可なしに他人のアイデアを使用することも、倫理に反する研究行為の一例である。
剽窃、データの捏造、改ざんが行われた論文は不合格となり、候補生は退学処分を受ける可能性がある。
剽窃、捏造、改ざん、またはその他の研究不正行為が疑われる場合、博士学位論文委員会は、その疑惑や申し立てに根拠があるかどうかを判断する。当該事例は研究科長ならびに GSA 研究科委員会へ報告され、根拠があることが確認された場合は、「立命館アジア太平洋大学研究活動不正行為防止規程」に基づいて取り扱われる。
19. 不服申立手続き
論文審査で不合格となった候補生は、審査委員会の委員のうち少なくとも 1 名の審査結果が「合格」
または「軽微な修正」である場合、その結果を不服として申し立てることができる。
19-1. 不服申立書の提出
不服申し立てを希望する候補生は、結果の通知を受けた日から 14 日以内に、研究科長宛ての不服申立書をアカデミックオフィスへ提出しなければならない。申立書には、候補生の異議申し立てを裏付ける明確かつ正確な論拠を示さなければならない。
19-2. 不服申立調査の実施判断
研究科長は、不服申し立ての調査を行うかどうかを決定し、その決定を示す詳細な報告書を提出する必要がある。不服申立調査は、不服申立書が審査結果を覆すに足る合理的な証拠である場合に実施される。
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19-3. 不服審査委員会
19-3-1. 不服審査委員会
GSAM

不服申立審査の実施が決定した場合、不服審査委員会を設置する。不服審査委員会は、以下の通り研究科長が任命する 3 名の委員で構成される。
a）博士学位論文委員会委員長b）研究科長c）候補生の博士論文の分野で専門性を認められた人物で、指導教員または審査員を務めたことかどうか選択ができる。
博士学位論文委員会委員長が候補生の指導教員である場合は、別の論文委員が任命されるもの

GSADがない者が望ましい。この 3 番目の委員は他の教員および学生に自身の個人情報を開示するとし、研究科長が候補生の指導教員である場合は、代わりに第三者が本委員会の委員として任命されるものとする。
不服審査委員会は、不服申し立ての調査方法を決定し、必要と判断された場合は、不服申し立ての理由を立証するために、候補生へ書面または口頭でさらなる証拠の提示を求めることができGSM

19-3-2. 不服審査委員会の役割る。不服審査委員会は、調査の際に不服申し立てに関連するすべての文書を慎重に調査する。
不服審査委員会は、不服申し立ての最終結果を以下の通り決定し、その決定の根拠を説明する
評価報告書を提出する。
a）申し立てを棄却する。この場合、候補生に最初に通知された結果は変更されない。
b）申し立てを受理する。この場合、論文は博士学位論文委員会に戻され、博士学位論文委員会
19-4. 不服申立の最終決定および候補生への通知
不服審査委員会の決定は、博士学位論文委員会に報告される。
不服審査委員会の決定は、適切なフィードバックとともに GSA 研究科長から候補生に通知され、その後の手続きの詳細が説明される。

General Informationが決定する審査委員会による新たな審査が行われる。

Common Information

19-3-3. 調査結果

20. 博士学位の授与
博士学位の授与は、立命館アジア太平洋大学学位規程第 15 条の定めに則り、GSA 研究科委員会及び学位委員会の議を経て、学長が決定する。
21. 学位の取り消し
学位を授与された者が不正行為により学位を取得したことが確認された場合、または大学の名誉を傷つける行為があった場合、GSA 研究科委員会および学位委員会の議を経て、学長は学位を取り消すことができる。
22. 博士論文の保存と国立国会図書館オンラインデータベースへの登録（修了後の博士論文の扱い）
22-1. 博士論文の保存審査に合格した論文および要旨のソフトコピーは、博士後期課程修了日までに提出しなければならない。
学位論文の全文は、APU ライブラリーで永久保存される。

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22-2. 博士論文の国立国会図書館オンラインデータベース登録（オンラインでの公開）
博士学位の授与後 3 ヶ月以内に、博士論文の内容をまとめた要旨及び審査結果の概要をインター
ネットで公表する。
審査に合格した博士論文は、博士学位の授与から 1 年以内に、国立国会図書館のオンラインデー
タベースに登録されなければならない。登録は、本学所定のオンラインリポジトリに論文の全文をアップロードすることで行われる。
22-3. 博士論文の国立国会図書館オンラインデータベース登録の免除
次の各号に定める事由により、博士学位の授与日から 1 年を超えて論文がインターネットの利用による公開ができない場合には、博士学位論文委員会および GSA 研究科委員会の承認を受けて、博士学位授与に係る論文の全文に代えてその内容を要約したものを公表することができる。なお、次の各号に定める事由に該当しなくなった場合には、博士論文の全文をインターネットで公表するものとする。
a）博士論文が著作権および個人情報保護の観点から、博士学位授与日から 1 年を超えてインター
ネットの利用により公表することができない場合。
b）博士学位の授与日より 1 年を超えて博士学位候補生が、論文の全文またはその一部の出版を予定しており、インターネットの利用による公表が学術雑誌の複数公表禁止規程に抵触する可能性がある場合、および特許申請中のため論文の公表により博士学位候補生にとって明らかな不利益が将来的に生じる場合。
この申請が承認された場合、学位授与日から最長 5 年間の全文公開を免除することができる。
その後、インターネットの利用による公開によって問題となる他の事由がない限り、論文は自動的に公表される。
c）博士学位候補生が、論文の全文または一部を、出版または投稿しており、インターネット公表
が多重公表などの学術誌の公表規程に違反する場合や、特許の関係により論文の公表によって博士学位候補生に明らかな不利益が博士学位の授与日より 1 年を超えて生じる場合。
d）博士論文が、立体形状による表現を含む等の事由により、インターネットの利用による公表が不可能である場合。
22-4. 博士学位候補生による申告
22-2 および 22-3 の定めに基づき、博士学位の授与を申請する者は、博士学位論文委員会に対し、著作権、特許、秘密情報、個人情報等について、論文の公表に支障がないことを所定の書式で報告しなければならない。指導教員（または学位申請者の指導に携わる他の教員）は、確認作業を指導し、支援する。
22-5. 審査員による確認
審査員は、博士論文の全文をインターネットで公表することが適切かどうかを確認し、文書で報告する。博士学位論文委員会は、候補生ならびに審査員から提出された博士論文のインターネット
による公表に関する書類を審議し、個別の論文についての手順を決定する。その決定は GSA 研究科
委員会に諮られ、承認をされる。

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Section 3

Graduate School ofManagement

GSM
3-1 Outline of the Master’s Degree Program ……………………………………………… 67
3-2 Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits ………………………… 68[GSM Subject List] ……………………………………………………………………… 70[GSM Curriculum Alignment Matrix] (All Specializations) ………………………… 72
3-3 Reference Information on GSM Subjects……………………………………………… 73
3-4 Seminars ………………………………………………………………………………… 74
3-5 Research Projects ……………………………………………………………………… 77“Procedures for the Examination of Research Projects in the Graduate School ofManagement (GSM) under the AY2023 Curriculum (Revised January 2024)” …… 81

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（This is a blank page.)To Table of Contents

3-1. Outline of the Master’s Degree Program
GSAM

Degree Program
The degree program offered in the Graduate School of Management is as follows:
Degree type

Major

Degree Awarded on Completion

MBA

Management

Master of Business Administration

GSAD

Graduate School of Management - Structure and Outline

GSM
Common Information
General Information

1) Policy for Curriculum Structure
In light of the educational objectives stipulated in the Graduate School Regulations, the Graduate School of Management is composed offour Specializations—Japanese Management, Accounting and Finance, Marketing and Management, and Entrepreneurship, Innovation andOperations Management—each with its own curriculum.
Required Subjects are offered to provide students with basic research skills and a fundamental knowledge of management, and students will
receive further knowledge of their specializations by taking Elective Subjects offered by each specialization. In addition to these lecture
subjects, students receive individual research supervision in the Seminars.
a) Japanese Management (JM)
The Japanese Management (JM) specialization focuses on the philosophy and practices of Japanese corporations. Japan is the first Asian
country that successfully industrialized supported by its world class corporations. Japanese corporations with their emphases on quality,
innovation, customer service, unique style of human resource management and stakeholder model of governance provide an alternative tothat of the shareholder model practiced mostly in the English speaking countries including the USA. This specialization focuses on issues ascases of success and failure of Japanese corporations and provides a model of corporate management in the Asia Pacific Region.
b) Accounting and Finance (AF)The Accounting and Finance (AF) specialization discusses theories and concepts of corporate finance, financial engineering and financial
institutions, financial accounting and managerial accounting providing students with skills to understand and interpret financial andaccounting information. The aim of the specialization is to provide students with tools in the areas of accounting and finance to formulate
strategies, design control systems and evaluate the impact of cooperate strategies on various stakeholders.
c) Marketing and Management (MM)The Marketing and Management (MM) specialization focuses on understanding and managing the human dimensions of organizations. For
business organizations, some of the most important stakeholders are managers, employees and customers. Their decisions and actions are
guided by a whole range of factors, from very ‘rational’ aspects to subjective perceptions, emotions and (moral) values. Thus, market conditions
are in constant flux that necessitate adaptation as well as provide opportunities for creating new market and social values. Consequently, thisspecialization emphasizes the need of organizations to develop multi-dimensional and differentiated strategies, and sustainable competences
and capabilities not only to cope with the changing business environment but also to lead innovatively and responsibly.
d) Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management (EIM)The Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management specialization focuses on how businesses and product ideas emerge, develop
and realize through entrepreneurship and innovation. This specialization also puts emphasis on the need for effective management oftechnology, production planning, operations management, supply chain management and creation and operation of new business models. It
highlights the importance of innovation and creativity in launching and running a business. This specialization also addresses the issues thatmight arise when managing a venture through the periods of its life cycle, such as pre-establishment period, start-up period, growth period,and business expansion period.
2) Policy for Curriculum Implementation
In their coursework, students will gain a solid understanding of research methods and a basic knowledge of management, upon which they
will pursue subjects primarily in their respective specializations. They may also take subjects from the other specializations.
Based on their individual research topics, students will receive research supervision and work on a final written assignment in the Seminars.

Conferral of Degrees
The GSM Faculty Council will review each student's credit record and results of the Research Project examinations. The reviewed results will bepresented to the Higher Degrees Committee for approval. Following approval by the Higher Degrees Committee, the president will confer
the Master’s Degree.

Rescindment of Degrees
If it is found that a graduate has obtained their degree through improper means, or if the recipient has done anything to damage the University’s
reputation, the President may decide to rescind (cancel) a degree previously granted.
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3-2. Completion Requirements and Credit Registration Limits
Basic Requirements for Completion
Students will be qualified for the degree upon successful completion of the following requirements:
1. Period of Enrollment: In principle, a student must be enrolled as a regular, full-time student in the Master’s Program for 2 years. However,the degree may also be granted to outstanding students (see p. 99) in less than two years. In this case, the minimum period of full-timeenrollment is 1.5 years.
2. Credit Requirements: Students are required to earn 44 credits or more which must include all credits from Required Subjects and
Seminars and 8 credits from Elective Subjects to complete the program.
3. Research Project (Master’s Thesis / Independent Final Report / Internship-based Case Study / Business Plan) Requirements: All students
must complete an extended piece of writing (Research Project), which presents the findings and conclusions of their individual research.
GSM students may choose between 4 types of Research Projects: Master’s Thesis, Independent Final Report, Internship-based Case
Study and Business Plan. All Research Projects must be approved in accordance with the University’s examination procedures. For
further details on requirements and examination procedures, see Section “3-5. Research Projects”.

Credit Requirements for Completion
Students must acquire at least 44 credits for program completion. In addition to the designated minimum number of credits from Required
Subjects (26 credits), Elective Subjects (8 credits) and Seminars (6 credits), students must complete at least additional 4 credits from any of
the subject categories listed below. For more information on evaluation procedures, standards, etc. see Section “5-1. Operation of Classes.”
The GSM Subject List can be found on p. 70.
Subject Type

Minimum Required
Credits

Required Subjects

26

Elective Subjects

8

Seminars

6

Core Related
Subjects
Experiential
Learning

_

TOTAL

44

_

Credit Rules_Students should register for subjects related to their chosen Specialization*.
Any credits earned from Elective Subjects exceeding the minimum required credits will counttowards the credits required for program completion.
_
Credits earned from Core Related Subjects will count towards the credits required for program
completion**.
Credits earned from Experiential Learning will count towards the credits required for program
completion.
*See below for a list of Specializations.
**Subjects from the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies will also be counted towards the
44-credit requirement for Program Completion.

Requirements for Specializations
Students may specialize in one of the four fields (see below table) if the following requirements are fulfilled:
1. Completed at least 4 Elective Subjects (8 credits) in the field (see Subject List on page 70)
2. The supervisor must be affiliated in the field. (see 3-4 Seminars for more information)
Specialization
Japanese Management (JM)
Accounting and Finance (AF)Marketing and Management (MM)
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management (EIM)
In addition, students whose primary specialization is AF, MM, or EIM (meaning they have fulfilled the requirements above for any of thesethree specializations), and who have completed more than 4 Elective Subjects (8 credits) from JM, can apply for a Double Specialization.
Students whose primary specialization is JM cannot apply for a Double Specialization. Please see the table on the next page for a visualizationof the possible Double Specializations.

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Possible Double Specializations
Primary Specialization

Secondary Specialization

GSAM

Accounting and Finance (AF)Japanese Management (JM)

Marketing and Management (MM)Japanese Management (JM)

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management (EIM)

Japanese Management (JM)

Please note that students can also complete the MBA degree without a Specialization.

GSAD

Credit Registration Limits
There is a fixed maximum number of credits for which students may register each semester.
Maximum Credit Limit22

2nd Semester

22

3rd Semester

22

4th Semester

22

GSM

1st Semester

2. Students who are under a tuition reduction scholarship need to refer to the Student Life Guide Book for credit completion requirements
per semester.
3. Upon acquisition of 44 credits and fulfillment of all graduation requirements, students will be awarded a Master’s degree. Students
may not register for additional subjects after completing all graduation requirements.

Common Information

Note: 1. Students will not be penalized or charged extra fees for earning more than 44 credits.

General Information－69－

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Graduate School of Management (GSM) Subject List
Subject Category

Specialization / Field

Requirement

Subject Name
Data Analytics

Analytical Foundations

Managerial Economics
Advanced Research Methods
Marketing
Finance
Leadership and Organization Behavior

Required
Subjects

Core Business
Fundamentals

26 Credits

Technology Management
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Legal Strategy and Corporate Governance
Political Economy of Institutions
Accounting
Global Strategy for Impact

Capstone

Strategic Management
Japanese Corporations and Asia PacificFinancial Institutions and Markets

JapaneseManagement(JM)

Japanese Management and Entrepreneurship
Sustainable Business in Asia Pacific
Hospitality Management
Quality and Operations Management
Financial Institutions and Markets
Project Analysis and Financing

Accounting and
Finance(AF)
Specialization

Elective
Subjects

Corporate Finance
Financial Engineering and Risk Management
Managerial Accounting
Special Studies (Accounting and Finance)
Sustainable Business in Asia Pacific
8 Credits or more

Marketing andManagement(MM)

Japanese Management and Entrepreneurship
Hospitality Management
Human Resource Management
Agile Product Development and Design Thinking
Marketing Strategy in Emerging Economies with Simulation
Marketing ResearchSpecial Studies (Marketing and Management)
Quality and Operations Management
Innovation Systems and Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship,
Innovation andOperations
Management(EIM)

Supply Chain Management
Startups and Business Development
Digital Business Strategy
Project Management
Special Studies (Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management)
Special Studies (Management)
MBA Research Seminar I

Seminar

6 Credits

Experiential Learning_

MBA Research Seminar II
MBA Research Seminar III
Glocal Immersion
Internship
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Management Information Systems
Database Management

Core Related
Subjects_

Negotiation for Value Creation
Japanese for Communication I
Japanese for Communication II

Japanese Language
Subjects

Japanese for Communication III
Japanese for Communication IV
Any credits earned exceeding the minimum requirement for any of the above Subjects Categories
Total: 44 Credits oras well as credits from subjects in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSA) will also countmore
towards the 44-Credit Requirement for Program Completion.

Note 1: Some Elective Subjects may require completion of a Required Subject before taking that particular Elective Subject. Please read the course syllabus for details.
Note 2: All subjects are awarded 2 credits upon completion.

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Subject Code

Subject Category

Specialization / Field

052039Subject Name

Credits2062604

Advanced Research Methods

2052040Marketing2052050Finance

2052074

Leadership and Organization Behavior

2

Technology Management

2

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

2052059Legal Strategy and Corporate Governance2052049

Political Economy of Institutions

2062144

Accounting

2052029Global Strategy for Impact

2052094

Required Subjects

052019Core Business Fundamentals

2062184

JM

Japanese Corporations and Asia Pacific2062080

JM / AF

Financial Institutions and Markets

2

Japanese Management and Entrepreneurship

2

Sustainable Business in Asia Pacific2

Hospitality Management

2

Quality and Operations Management2062029Project Analysis and Financing

2062060

Corporate Finance2

Financial Engineering and Risk Management2062120Managerial Accounting

2062124

Special Studies (Accounting and Finance)*2

Human Resource Management

2

Agile Product Development and Design Thinking

2Marketing Strategy in Emerging Economies with Simulation

2

062160Marketing Research

2062164

Special Studies (Marketing and Management)*

2062079Innovation Systems and Entrepreneurship

2062231

Supply Chain Management2062019Startups and Business Development

2

Digital Business Strategy

2062303

Project Management2062099Special Studies (Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Operations Management)*

2062324

Special Studies (Management)*

2072019MBA Research Seminar I

2

MBA Research Seminar II

2072039MBA Research Seminar III

2062109Glocal Immersion

2

Internship2061534

Decision Making Under Uncertainty

2062404

Management Information Systems

2062504

Database Management2062129Negotiation for Value Creation

2

Japanese for Communication I

2066064

Japanese for Communication II

2066074

Japanese for Communication III

2

Japanese for Communication IV

2Survival Japanese I

2Survival Japanese II

2Special Studies (Japanese)*2062059062049JM / MM

062214062204

JM / EIM

062070062030AF

Elective Subjects

062089062069MM

EIM062039072029062119066054

Seminars

Experiential LearningCore Related Subjects

066084

Japanese Language Subjects

066034066044066094

Optional Subjects

General Information

Strategic Management

Common Information

CapstoneGSM

052060GSAD

2Managerial Economics

Analytical Foundations

GSAM

Data Analytics

052020* These courses may be taken more than once (only when course contents are different from the previous time).

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GSM Curriculum Alignment Matrix (All Specializations)
The Curriculum Alignment Matrix (CAM) is a list that enables students to overview their own expected learning for each course in the
broader context of the GSM’s Master’s program. It has been developed for the purposes of “Assurance of Learning” - a process which
involves assessing how sufficiently the academic missions stated by a university, its undergraduate college and graduate school are achieved
and also improving student’s learning according to the assessment results.
Listed in the upper columns of the CAM are the four learning goals and several learning objectives aligned with each learning goal. They
were both developed in accordance with the Declaration on the Occasion of the Opening of APU and the GSM Mission. The learning goals
indicate the ideal conditions that APU expects GSM Master’s program students to achieve by the time they complete their degrees. The
learning objectives further clarify more specific abilities that the APU business unit (APM / GSM) expects students to acquire.
GSM’s Master’s program as a whole assures that all students are exposed to and have accomplished all the learning objectives through both
required and elective subjects in two years.
Learning Goal

1. Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
a. To recognize
and reflect uponcomplex issues on
ethics and social
responsibility
with multi-sided
understanding of
global businesssociety relations.

Specialization/
Classificationb. To evaluate
ethical and socially
responsible
implications ofcontemporary
business issues.

Data Analytics
Analytical Foundations

Core Business
Fundamentals

Managerial
Economics
Advanced Research
Methods

I
I&A
R

JM
JM / AF

JM / MMJM / EIM

MM

Seminars
Experiential
Learning

Core Related Subjects

I

I

I&A

I

I&A

I

I&A

I

I

I

I

R&A

R

R

R

R&A

I

R&A

R&A

I

I

Global Strategy for
ImpactStrategic Management
Japanese Corporations and Asia
Pacific
Financial Institutions
and Markets
Japanese Management and Entrepreneurship
Sustainable
Business in Asia
Pacific
Hospitality
Management
Quality and Operations Management
Project Analysis andFinancing

M

M

M

M

R

FinancialEngineering and
Risk Management
Managerial
Accounting
Human Resource
Management
Agile ProductDevelopment and
Design Thinking
Marketing Strategy
in Emerging
Economies with
Simulation

R

Innovation
Systems andEntrepreneurship
Supply Chain
Management
Startups andBusiness
Development
Digital Business
Strategy
Project
Management

R

R

R

MBA Research
Seminar

I

I

I

I

R

R

R

R

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

M

M

M

M

M&A (Qualitative)

M&A

M

R&A

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

M

M

M

R

R

R

R
R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

I

I
M&A

M&A

M

M

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

M
R

R

R

R

R

R

M

M&A

M

M

M

M

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R&A

R

M

M

M

M

M

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

M&A

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

M

M

M

M

R

R
R

I

R

R

R

R

I

R
R

M

R

I

R

R

R

R
R

M

R

R

I

R

M

R

R

R

b. To demonstrateability to leverage
diversity and work
productively inteams.

I

R

I&A (Quantitative)

R

I
I

R

M

R

a. To apply theories
of effective leadership and teamdevelopment topromote diversity
and inclusion.

I

I

I&A

R

I&A

R

M

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R
M&A (PresentationWIP) (WritingResearch Project)

M&A (Research
Project)
R

Internship

5. Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion

R

I

Glocal Immersion
Database Management
Decision Making
Under Uncertainty
Negotiation for
Value Creation
Management
Information
Systems

I

I

I

R

M

I

I

R

M

4.Global Perspectives
a. To demonstratecomprehensiveb. To diagnose
understanding of
problems andthe complexity and identify opportuniinterconnectedness ties for sustainableof businesses,
development from
economies, andan Asia Pacificsocieties of theperspective.
globalized world.
I

R

I

Marketing Research

EIM

I

FinanceIb. To design
creative and innovative solutions
in business and/or
research projects.

I

Marketing
Leadership andOrganization
Behavior
Technology
Management
Business Ethics andCorporate Social
Responsibility
Legal Strategy
and Corporate
Governance
Political Economy
of Institutions

Corporate FinanceAF

3. Creativity and Innovation

R

Accounting

Capstone

2.Key Management Knowledge and Skills

a. To demonstrated. To demonstrate
an understandingb. To applyc. To integrate
an advanced levela. To identify theof advanced
advanced analytical
functionalof communication
opportunities andmanagement
tools (qualitativeknowledge forskills in writing, oral challenges of innoknowledge andand/or quantitative)
developing
presentation, and vation in a businessbusiness concepts to examine businesssustainablenegotiation in busisetting.
in a specialized
problems.
business solutions.
ness settings.
field.

M

M

R
M

R

R&A (Negotiation)

M

M

R

R

M

M

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

IRMA model of learning:“I” indicates where students are introduced to the learning objective“R” indicates where the learning objective is reinforced, and students have opportunities to practice on that learning objective“M” indicates where students are given opportunities to deepen and master their learning and demonstrate their achievement of learning objective“A” indicates where evidence is planned to be collected and evaluated for program-level assessment－72－

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3-3. Reference Information on GSM Subjects
Required Subjects provide a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge so that students are able to move seamlessly into specialized studies.

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Required Subjects
Required Subjects are further divided into 3 categories: Analytical Foundations, Core Business Fundamentals and Capstone.
1. Analytical Foundations provide qualitative and quantitative tools to analyze, understand and apply to actual business situations.
2. Core Business Fundamentals include courses that spread across all the major areas of business.

Strategic Management (Capstone)

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3. Capstone helps students integrate all the functional knowledge to develop effective strategies to deal with actual business situations.

All students, regardless of their completion program, must take the “Strategic Management” subject in their 3rd semester of enrollment orlater.

Students are requested to complete the recommended subjects before taking other specified subjects. They are set to encourage the systematic
study of material in GSM.

[R] Marketing

Subjects with Recommendations[E] Marketing Strategy in Emerging Economies with Simulation[E] Agile Product Development and Design Thinking[E] Marketing Research[R] Accounting[R] Finance[E] Managerial Accounting[E] Corporate Finance[R] Finance[E] Corporate Finance[E] Financial Engineering and Risk Management[R] Quantitative Analysis and Statistics[E] Financial Engineering and Risk Management[R]: Recommended Subject[E]: Elective Subject－73－

General Information[E] Project Analysis and Financing

Common Information

Recommended Subjects

GSM

Recommended Subject Registration OrderTo Table of Contents

3-4. Seminars
Purpose of Seminars
The Seminars help develop an inquiring mind in students and inform them that issues, research questions or hypotheses that they addressneed substantiation based on evidence and argument. They train students about the method of collecting, synthesizing and drawing defensible
conclusions based on data.

Operation of Seminars
All students are registered for Seminars in accordance with their length of study, semester of enrollment, supervisor, etc. as designated in thechart below. The Seminars are designed to assist students with their individual research, leading to the production of the Master’s Thesis,
Independent Final Report, Internship-based Case Study, or Business Plan. Seminars’ subject titles are MBA Research Seminar I, II and III
and completion of all three seminar subjects is required for program completion.
Seminar Registration Schedule
Program
Length

1st Semester

2nd Semester

3rd Semester

4th Semester

2-year Standard
Completion_

MBA Research Seminar I

MBA Research Seminar II

MBA Research Seminar III

1.5-year Accelerated
Completion

MBA Research Seminar I

MBA Research Seminar II

MBA Research Seminar III

Program Completion*Note: Please carefully read the detailed seminar registration flow on page 76.

Choosing a Seminar Supervisor
Students should choose a supervisor from within their Specialization and report selection of supervisors at the end of their first semester bysubmission of a Plan for Research Supervision. After the selection of a supervisor is approved, students will be registered for their chosen
supervisor’s seminar subject during the designated Course Registration periods. Students enrolled in the Accelerated Completion Program
should choose their supervisors soon after the classes of the first semester begin.
To help first semester students select their seminar supervisor, a Seminar Orientation is held during Quarter 1 of each semester to provide
details about the structure of the seminars, characteristics of Research Projects, and tips on how to search / select a supervisor. Details about
the orientation session are separately announced at the beginning of every semester.
Note: Students planning to apply for accelerated program completion should consult the Academic Office regarding selection of seminarsupervisors and MBA Research Seminar registration.

Plan for Research Supervision
The Graduate School of Management requires that the supervisor prepare a yearly plan for research supervision, present it to the student inadvance, and conduct research supervision in accordance with this yearly plan. The Plan is created based on a research plan written by thestudent and presented to their supervisor. It reflects the student’s individual research and is provided to students as a tool to help lead themto the successful completion of high-quality research.
The Plan establishes a guideline for students to follow to progress with their research in the subsequent year. It also serves as a reference
point the supervisor can use to monitor the progress of the student’s research. The student prepares a research plan at the beginning of the
1st and 3rd semester and presents it to their supervisor, who will, on consultation with the student write and present the student with the Plan
for Research Supervision for that year. Upon confirmation, both student and supervisor sign the Plan, and the student submits a copy to the
Academic Office for record-keeping.

－74－

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Plan for Research Supervision Submission Deadline
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

July 5January 10

3rd-semester students

April 30

October 31

Submission Location

MoodleGSAM

1st-semester students

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately

Note 1: Students who have changed supervisors: the new supervisor will prepare and present a yearly Plan for Research Supervision.

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preceding working day.

Please provide your new supervisor with your research plan so they can do so. The period of research supervision in the Plan will
depend on the time left until graduation.
Note 2: A Plan for Research Supervision will be prepared for students who extend their graduate program, and reinstated / readmitted

students. Please present your supervisor with an updated research plan so a research supervision plan can be prepared. The period
extending their programs and on the period until graduation for reinstated / readmitted students.

Individual Supervision
After students have found a supervisor and their selection of supervisor has been approved, students will be registered for seminars as
designated in the table above. In these seminars, students will meet with their supervisors on an individual or small group basis once a week
and all meetings are scheduled individually between supervisors and students.

In these seminars, students will present their research proposal and the current progress of their Research Project to GSM faculty members
within the field of their research topic. All students registered for MBA Research Seminar II should give a presentation. Work in Progress
Seminars are open to all students and faculty members to attend and will be organized on Wednesday of the exam period in the 2nd quarter.
The presentation given at the Work in Progress Seminars should include the following elements:

General Information

Work in Progress Seminars

Common Information

Seminars

GSM

of research supervision indicated in the Plan for Research Supervision will depend on the extension period for students who are- Type of the Research Project- Research topic- Hypothesis and research questions- Importance of the research- Review of relevant literature- Methods of data collection- Research schedule until the submission of the Research Project－75－

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Registration Flow for Management Seminars
Standard Completion Program (2 years)
Semester

What:

2

3

4

Notes

By the end of the 1st Quarter

Announced at the orientation
session for new enrollees

Plan for Research Supervision (1st year)

Towards the end of the 2nd Quarter

Prepared by the supervisor basedon the research plan of, andconsultation with the student,and
submitted to the Academic Office

Registration for MBA Research Seminar I

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Registration for MBA Research Seminar II

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Work in Progress Seminar Presentation

Wednesday of the 2nd Quarter exam period.

Details are decided by thesupervisor and announced at the
beginning of every semester

Plan for Research Supervision (2nd year)

By the end of the first month of the semester.

Prepared by the supervisor basedon the research plan of, andconsultation with the student,and
submitted to the Academic Office

Registration for MBA Research Seminar III

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Summary Submission

Within 1 month of the start of the semester

Academic Office

Research Project Submission and Examination

Refer to p. 80-95 for details

Academic Office

Seminar Orientation
1

When:

Selection of Supervisors

Begin research and data collection

Accelerated Completion Program (1.5 years)
Semester

What:
Registration for MBA Research Seminar I(under the name of the Associate Dean)

When:

Notes

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Within 3 weeks of the start of the semester

Prepared by the supervisor basedon the research plan of, andconsultation with the student,and
submitted to the Academic Office

Registration for MBA Research Seminar II

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Work in Progress Seminar Presentation

Wednesday of the 2nd Quarter exam period.

Details are decided by thesupervisor and announced at the
beginning of every semester

Plan for Research Supervision (2nd year)

By the end of the first month of the semester.

Prepared by the supervisor basedon the research plan of, andconsultation with the student,and
submitted to the Academic Office

Registration for MBA Research Seminar III

Before Course Registration Periods

Registered by the University

Summary Submission

Within 1 month of the start of the semester

Academic Office

Research Project Submission and Examination

Refer to p. 80-95 for details

Academic Office

Selection of Supervisors
1

Plan for Research Supervision (1st year)
Begin research and data collection

2

3

－76－

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3-5. Research Projects
There are four types of Research Projects: Master’s Thesis, Independent Final Report, Internship-based Case Study and Business Plan. The

GSAM

Types of Research Projects
Research Projects are “capstone” experiences and thus should draw on and integrate the knowledge students gained in all the courses they
have completed.

All students in their final semester must submit a notice approved by their supervisor for the type of Research Project they are writing by thedesignated deadline. The notice should be submitted together with the Research Project Summary. The appropriate form may be found on

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Submission of Research Projects Summary

the Graduate School website. Please refer to the Graduate School website and to the Procedures for the Examination of Research Projects
in the Graduate School of Management for details about submission deadlines.

All students need to conduct research under the direction of a supervisor and prepare an extended piece of writing (Research Project) that
follows formal standards of research. All Research Projects must be based on real data, be accurate and clear, and include completely

GSM

Types of Research Projects

all sources of quotations, citations and the use of other materials. There are four types of Research Projects: Master Thesis, Independent
different methods and must satisfy formal requirements. The different types Research Projects offer the opportunity for students to pursue
a variety of research topics and methods of inquiry. They allow students to conduct academic research as well as to respond to recent
developments in corporate or market behavior and the international economy without narrow formal restrictions. All Research Projects mustabide to principles and standards of research set by the University. The four types of Research Projects differ in their degree of abstraction,
generalization and practical applicability.

The Master’s Thesis is an original scholarly research project that is narrowly focused on an abstract topic or theoretical argument linked to areal-world problem in business and addressing a gap in understanding of a business situation.
Students writing a Master’s thesis will respond to a debate in the management or economic literature and will bring new evidence orarguments to bear upon the topic. The Master’s Thesis topic is a scholarly issue anchored in or linked to an academic strand of literature

General Information

Master’s Thesis

Common Information

Final Report, Internship-based Case Study and Business Plan. These types of Research Projects epitomize distinct research purposes, use

and originating from the discussion in the seminar with the supervisor. The student must show familiarity with previous work in the field.
The Master’s Thesis typically conceptualizes the research issue, offers a higher degree of abstraction by presenting a model or theoreticalargument that is or can be generalized from the particular research object or location. It does not need to address a practical business problem
but is applied to a for-profit or non-profit business context or governmental regulation of a business or industry. The Master’s Thesis follows
the traditional structure of academic inquiry, comprising various chapters in which a research gap in literature is identified, clear andcomparatively narrow research objectives are set, a review of previous literature is provided, a scholarly methodology is applied, empiricalresults are presented and critically discussed, and consequences for business and governments are derived.
A Master’s Thesis is especially but not exclusively recommended for students who are interested in pursuing further research, for instance ina doctoral program or as a researcher in a public agency. As a rule of thumb, a Master’s Thesis should be publishable or form the empiricalbasis for an article in a scientific journal.
The length of the Master’s Thesis should be from 8,000 to 15,000 words.
Independent Final Report
The Independent Final Report is a scholarly research project in which a novel or broad subject is explored in a rather descriptive approach.
An Independent Final Report can be primarily a bibliographic essay, an exhaustive survey of literature on a broad topic and a descriptive
assessment of primary or secondary data.
It offers an opportunity to pursue a more practical research objective that lacks a theoretical foundation or generalizable conceptualization－77－

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and instead is more location-specific, for instance industry- or country-specific, than a Master’s Thesis. The topic must be timely and ofhigh current relevance for an industry or policy maker. Compared to the Master’s Thesis, the Independent Final Report is more exploratory
or evaluative than causal and confirmatory. The Independent Final Report allows for a more flexible structure and inquiry. It might connect
ideas and fields in a novel way, and consist of descriptive primary or secondary data. One strength of the Independent Final Report is thatit allows for a broader or more detailed assessment of previous research including grey and non-scholarly literature or secondary data.
It may predominantly consist of a critical assessment of literature or a meta study that identifies and appraises previous research, andquantitative and qualitative evidence about a novel research question. An Independent Final Report should eventually come up with practical
recommendations but also show a pathway to the identification of a model or theoretical applicability of the topic.
The length of the Independent Final Report should be from 8,000 to 15,000 words.
Internship-based Case Study
Students are able to choose an internship as the basis for their final Research Project. The Internship-based Case Study follows an empiricalinquiry that investigates a phenomenon within its real-life context. That is, the Internship-based Case Study project must be academic andrelated to concepts students have worked with in the courses but the discussion of the project results will be drawn primarily on the companyspecific insights and practical learning experiences from the internship. The difference to the above Master’s Thesis and Independent Final
Report options is the degree of specificity of the research. The Internship-based Case Study is basically an application of concepts or theory
in real life at a particular company. It follows an in-depth approach and can incorporate different issues in a company in order to demonstrate
the complexity and interrelatedness of a subject. The Internship-based Case Study must be written as a case study of the company in which
the internship has been conducted. It does not need to follow the formal structure of a Master’s Thesis but needs to relate each part into anorganized account. The account can be primarily illustrative in its content and does not need to be generalizable for other contexts. It may
include statistics about the industry, the market and competitors of the company, and it may present quantitative primary data such as surveys.
Students are required to critically assess the issues raised in the company and provide practical recommendations.
The length of the Internship-based Case Study should be from 8,000 to 15,000 words.
Business Plan
A Business Plan is an original proposal for a business startup from the point of launch to an initial public offering, or for an existing
business regarding its expansion, new product launches, reorganization of internal operations, etc. over the next five years, and including theobjectives and the core strategy of the business and a roadmap for implementation. It must define the mission of the business, introduce themanagement team, and cover opportunities arising from the industry environment, product/service development, market analysis, marketingstrategy, financial projections, and human resource and operational aspects of the proposed business. As regards these elements, the planis expected to outline key decision points and performance indicators, and any potential pitfalls and responses thereto. Consideration ofenvironmental, social, and governance issues surrounding the business is also essential. It must be cohesive and detailed enough, so that it
could readily be used as a basis for implementation and attracting support from internal and external parties, such as banks, governments,and venture capitalists.
The length of the Business Plan should be from 8,000 to 15,000 words.

Requirements for the Internship-based Case Study
Internship Guidelines
Students who have chosen the Internship-based Case Study option are required to complete an internship. The internship program is designed
to ensure that students assess the applicability of the concepts, theories they have learnt at the university, gather practical experiences anddevelop practical skills in dealing with actual situations. Depending on their interests, students may focus on any of the functional areas ofmanagement. Students who plan to avail the opportunities of internship, must develop skills in action research methods and case writing.
Arranging the internshipStudents shall locate the internship destination on their own and submit a plan of their activities to their supervisor. The supervisor shallreview the student’s plan to determine whether the location is appropriate as an internship destination. In general, APU will not provide
support in arranging internships (internship destination, visa, permission from the company, etc.).
Supervision－78－

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The APU supervisor will be the principal supervisor of the student. The student will submit a plan of the type of activities he / she plans tocomplete while in internship. Supervisors will assess the feasibility of the plan and advise the students accordingly. Students should alsointernship and should ask that supervisor to submit a performance evaluation to their APU supervisor regarding the students’ activities during
the internship. The performance evaluation may be taken into account when grading seminars.

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have a secondary supervisor. Students should choose one or more people from the internship host company to act as a supervisor during their

Length of the internshipStudents should spend a total of 100 hours in the company or institution they intern at. Students should inform the University of the internshipdestination, duration, etc. before they start their internship. Upon returning from their internship, students should submit to the University

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any documents related to the internship.
Required Documents
Students should inform the University of the internship destination, duration, etc. and should submit their plan for research activities while oninternship approved by both the APU and company supervisors before they start their internship. After completing the internship, students
should submit the company supervisor’s evaluation of their performance as interns and a proof for the number of hours they spent as interns.
Relevant forms are available on the Graduate School website.

GSM

Requirements for Research Projects
All students should carefully read the procedures related to the examination of the Research Projects in the Graduate School of Management
outlining the requirements and examination procedures. (p. 81-95). This information is summarized in the flow chart on the following page.

All Research Projects are evaluated based on a designated set of evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria are available on the Graduate
School website and all students should refer to these before submitting their Research Projects for examination.

Common Information

Evaluation Criteria for Research Projects

General Information－79－

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Screening and Examination Flow for the GSM Research Projects
Summary Submission

Revise and Resubmit

The Research Projects Committee selects
examiners

Re-submission of the revised Research Project
Oral Examination by the original
examiners

Research Project Submission
Forwarded to the examiners for
Screening
Supervisor

Major / Minor Revision

Pass

Fail

Fail

The Research Projects Committee reviews the results fromexaminers and makes a suggestion for the result. The result isdetermined at the Faculty Council Meeting and the Dean.
Notification of results to students

PassExaminer

Examiner

－80－

Pass

Supervisor

Major / Minor Revision

The Research Projects Committee reviews the results fromexaminers and makes a suggestion for the result. The result isdetermined at the Faculty Council Meeting and the Dean.

Pass

Fail

Notification of results to students

Fail
End ofAssessment

A finalized copy in pdf format should be submitted to
the Academic Office for archiving in the Library.

Appeals
An appeal
may bemadeundercertainconditions.

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GSAM

Procedures for the Examination of Research Projects in the
Graduate School of Management (GSM) under the AY2023 Curriculum(Revised January 2024)

Table of Contents
1-1 What is a Research Project …………………………………………………………………………… 83

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1. Research Projects ………………………………………………………………………………………… 83

1-2 Language and Length of Research Projects ……………………………………………………… 83
1-3 Format of Research Projects ………………………………………………………………………… 83
1-3-1 Master’s Thesis, Independent Final Report, and Internship-based Case Study …………… 83
GSM

1-3-2 Business Plan ……………………………………………………………………………………… 83
1-4 Submission of Research Projects …………………………………………………………………… 83
1-5 Application for extending the submission deadline of Research Projects ……………………… 83

2-1 Work in Progress Seminars …………………………………………………………………………… 84
2-2 Submission of a Summary of the Research Project ……………………………………………… 84
2-3 Changing the type of Research Projects …………………………………………………………… 84

3-1 Selection and Term of Appointment ………………………………………………………………… 84
3-2 Duties …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 84
4. Screening and Examination of Research Projects ……………………………………………………… 84

General Information

3. The Research Projects Committee ……………………………………………………………………… 84

Common Information

2. Submission Requirements for Research Projects ……………………………………………………… 84

4-1 The Screening and Examination Process ………………………………………………………… 84
4-2 Selection of Examiners ……………………………………………………………………………… 85
4-3 Screening and Examination Standards …………………………………………………………… 85
4-4 Examiners’ Evaluation ……………………………………………………………………………… 85
4-5 Screening Results …………………………………………………………………………………… 85
4-6 Notifying Students of Screening Results …………………………………………………………… 85
4-7 In case the Screening Results is “b) Minor Revision” or “c) Major Revision” ………………… 86
4-8 Re-submission of Research Projects ……………………………………………………………… 86
4-9 The Oral Examination ………………………………………………………………………………… 86
4-10 Oral Examination Results …………………………………………………………………………… 86
4-11 Discrepancies in the Evaluation …………………………………………………………………… 86
4-12 Notifying Students of Examination Results ………………………………………………………… 86
5. Research Misconduct ……………………………………………………………………………………… 86－81－

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6. Grade of MBA Research Seminar III …………………………………………………………………… 87
7. Appeal Procedures ………………………………………………………………………………………… 87
7-1 Submission of an Appeal Statement ………………………………………………………………… 87
7-2 Decision to Conduct Appeal Investigation …………………………………………………………… 87
7-3 Appeals Committee …………………………………………………………………………………… 87
7-3-1 Members of the Appeals Committee …………………………………………………………… 87
7-3-2 Duties of the Appeals Committee ……………………………………………………………… 87
7-3-3 Determining the Result of the Investigation …………………………………………………… 87
7-4 New Evidence of Misconduct ………………………………………………………………………… 87
7-5 Finalizing the Result of the Appeal and Notifying the Student …………………………………… 88
8. Preservation of Research Projects ……………………………………………………………………… 88
Appendix 1 Examination Schedule ………………………………………………………………………… 88－82－

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1. Research Projects

Master’s program of the Graduate School of Management (hereinafter referred to as GSM) and the submission
and passing the screening and examination of which is required for the acquisition of a Master’s degree fromGSAM

1-1 What is a Research Project
The Research Project is the written original outcome of the research conducted while studying in the

GSM.
Research Project options include Master’s Thesis, Independent Final Report, Internship-based Case Study,
their supervisor.

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and Business Plan towards which completion every student works with a GSM faculty member assigned as

1-2 Language and Length of Research Projects
Research Projects should be presented in English. In principle, the length of a Research Project, excluding
the list of references and any appendices, should be approximately as follows:
GSM

・Master’s Thesis – 8,000 to 15,000 words;
・Independent Final Report – 8,000 to 15,000 words;
・Internship-based Case Study – 8,000 to 15,000 words;
・Business Plan – 8,000 to 15,000 words.

properly referenced) , 3. Acknowledgments (for any support and advice received), 4. Executive Summary, 5.
Table of Contents (in sufficient detail), 6. List of Tables/Figures/Appendices, 7. Main Text, 8. Conclusions, 9.
List of References, 10. Appendices (supporting materials in addition to the text, if any)
1-3-2 Business Plan
1. Title Page, 2. Certification Page (indicating the contents of the Research Project as original and/or

General Information

1-3-1 Master’s Thesis, Independent Final Report, and Internship-based Case Study
1. Title Page, 2. Certification Page (indicating the contents of the Research Project as original and/or

Common Information

1-3 Format of Research Projects
In general, Research Projects must follow the format below:

properly referenced) , 3. Acknowledgments (for any support and advice received), 4. Executive Summary, 5.
Table of Contents (in sufficient detail), 6. List of Tables/Figures/Appendices, 7. Business/Startup Description,
8. Industry/Market Analysis, 9. Management Team, 10. Marketing Plan 11. Operation Plan, 12. Financial
Plan and Risk Mitigation, 13. Business Model (e.g., Business Model Canvas), 14. List of References, 15.
Appendices (supporting materials in addition to the text, if any)
1-4 Submission of Research Projects
Students must submit one soft copy of their Research Project to the Academic Office as stipulated in Appendix 1.
1-5 Application for extending the submission deadline of Research Projects
Students who are experiencing exceptional difficulties due to illness or other personal circumstances andneed more time to complete their Research Project may apply to extend their submission. Students need tosubmit an application form and evidence in support of their application by the deadline of the “Research Project
Submission” as stipulated in Appendix 1.
In case that the extension is approved, students’ Research Project will be evaluated only once and students must
submit their Research Project by the deadline for “Resubmission after Revision” as stipulated in Appendix 1.
－83－

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2. Submission Requirements for Research Projects
Before submitting the Research Project, all students should give a presentation at the Work in Progress
Seminars and submit a summary of their Research Project within the designated periods and deadlines.
2-1 Work in Progress Seminars
All students registered for MBA Research Seminar II should present their research proposal and reporton the current progress of their research to GSM faculty members within the field of their research topic on
Wednesday of the exam period in the 2nd quarter as part of their seminar class. These presentations are referred
to as Work in Progress Seminars. Work in Progress Seminars are open to all students and faculty members toattend. Additional Work in Progress Seminar may be arranged as deemed necessary by the faculty.
2-2 Submission of a Summary of the Research ProjectStudents in their final semester must submit a summary of their Research Project to the Academic Office as
stipulated in Appendix 1. The summary must indicate the type of Research Project that will be submitted for
examination and must be approved by the supervisor.
2-3 Changing the type of Research Projects
Changing the type of Research Projects after the summary has been submitted is strictly prohibited and may
result in failure. Under exceptional cases a change may be allowed after research project submission based on
the decision and approval of the secondary examiner, Research Projects Committee and the Dean.
3. The Research Projects Committee
3-1 Selection and Term of Appointment
A Research Projects Committee will be established in GSM for the examination of the Research Projects.
The Research Projects Committee is chaired by the Associate Dean of GSM and further consist of two
members who are nominated by the Dean and appointed by the GSM Faculty Council. The Dean cannot be amember.
The term of appointment is one (1) semester and members can be reappointed.
3-2 Duties
The duties of the Research Projects Committee are as follows.
a) Ensure that a rigorous screening and examination are conducted;b) Review the evaluation assessment and screening standards and put forward their conclusion about thescreening results to the GSM Faculty Council;c) Review the evaluation assessment and screening/examination standards and put forward their conclusion
about the re-screening and examination results to the GSM Faculty Council.
d) Determine whether there is any grounds for plagiarism or other forms of research misconduct.
e) Screen and determine whether to approve the application for extending the submission deadline of
Research Projects
4. Screening and Examination of Research Projects
4-1 The Screening and Examination Process
The Research Projects Committee shall coordinate the screening and examination process for each Research
Project and ensure that it has been conducted in a rigorous way. The Research Projects Committee should
ensure that check for plagiarism or other forms of research misconduct has been conducted, should draw the－84－

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attention of the examiners to any indication of the above and recommend actions to the GSM Faculty Council
and the Dean.
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4-2 Selection of Examiners
Two (2) faculty members are chosen to examine the Research Project appointed by the Dean on therecommendation of the Research Projects Committee. The supervisor is one of the examiners if available.
In order to ensure unbiased examination and balance within the faculty members, examiners other than the
If the student’s supervisor is a member of the Research Projects Committee, other members of the Research
Projects Committee may not be appointed as examiners.

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supervisor shall be selected in the field of the Research Projects sequentially from the APM/GSM faculty list.

4-3 Screening and Examination Standardsa) Screeningthat will be outlined in rubrics. The rubrics will be provided to students at least 12 months before the

GSM

Research Projects will be assessed based on a set of criteria specific to each type of Research Projectsubmission of the Research Project.
b) Oral Examinationthat will be outlined in rubrics. The rubrics will be provided to students at least 12 months before thesubmission of the Research Project.

evaluation report to the Research Project Committee by the designated deadline.
a) Pass: in the case that the Research Project fully fulfills the examination standards.
b) Minor Revision: in the case that the Research Project needs corrections of the structure, typos, orclarification of some areas.
c) Major Revision: in the case that the Research Project needs corrections of significant errors, extensive

General Information

4-4 Examiners’ Evaluation
The examiners of the Research Projects will submit one of the following evaluations accompanied by an

Common Information

Research Projects will be assessed based on a set of criteria specific to each type of Research Projectchanges or adding data.
d) Fail: in the case that the Research Project does not fulfill the examination standards. Examiners may deem
it necessary for students to submit additional information or be called in for an interview.
4-5 Screening Results
Screening results will be reviewed by the Research Projects Committee to make their conclusion based on
the evaluation assessment and the screening standards. If the examiner is a member of the Research Projects
Committee, this member is excluded from the deliberation of the student’s case and does not take part when the
conclusion on the result is made. The conclusion of the Research Projects Committee will be put forward to the
GSM Faculty Council after which it is to be presented to the Dean for a final decision.
The Research Projects Committee may deem it necessary for students to submit additional information or becalled in for an interview.
4-6 Notifying Students of Screening Results
Students shall receive notification of the screening results and a copy of the examiners’ evaluation reports
according to the schedule stipulated in Appendix 1.

－85－

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4-7 In case the Screening Results is “b) Minor Revision” or “c) Major Revision”
In case that the screening result is “Minor Revision” or “Major Revision”, the supervisor shall coordinate therevision process unless the Dean and/or the chair of the Research Projects Committee requires another faculty
member(s) to coordinate the process or re-screen the revised Research Project.
4-8 Re-submission of Research Projects
Revised Research Projects are to be submitted as stipulated in Appendix 1.
4-9 The Oral Examination
Examiners shall conduct an oral examination of the Research Projects. The examiners shall submit theexamination result upon evaluation result to the Research Projects Committee from among the following
possible results:a) Passb) Fail
In addition to the examination result, each examiner shall submit an individual evaluation report to bepresented to the student.
4-10 Oral Examination Results
The oral examination results will be reviewed by the Research Projects Committee to make their conclusion
based on the evaluation assessment and the examination standards. If the examiner is a member of the Research
Projects Committee, this member is excluded from the deliberation of the student’s case and does not take partwhen the conclusion on the result is made. The conclusion of the Research Projects Committee will be put
forward to the GSM Faculty Council after which it is to be presented to the Dean for a final decision.
The Research Projects Committee may deem it necessary for students to submit additional information or becalled in for an interview.
4-11 Discrepancies in the Evaluation
In the event that there is a discrepancy in examiners’ evaluations and/or the Research Projects Committee
finds inconsistencies in the assessment, the Research Projects Committee may invite the examiners or the
student to their meeting to discuss the case before making a conclusion on the result.
In case of a continuing disagreement, the Research Projects Committee will make a conclusion on the result
if it is supported by at least two (2) of the Research Projects Committee members.
4-12 Notifying Students of Examination Results
Students shall receive notification of the oral examination results and a copy of the examiners’ evaluation
reports according to the schedule stipulated in Appendix 1.
5. Research Misconduct
In case of suspected or alleged plagiarism, unacknowledged use of AI-generated content and other formsof research misconduct being uncovered during the examination process, the Research Projects Committee
determines whether the suspicion / allegations have any grounds. The Research Projects Committee may deem itnecessary to conduct interviews with the student or the supervisor to confirm if this is a case of plagiarism or any
other form of research misconduct.
The final decision will be made as outlined in 4-5 and 4-10.

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6. Grade of MBA Research Seminar III
The supervisor shall evaluate the grade for MBA Research Seminar III. If the student fails the Research Project,
GSAM

the MBA Research Seminar III grade will be changed to Fail with the Dean’s approval.
7. Appeal Procedures
A student may appeal the result.

Office by 16:30 on the 7th day from the date of the notification of results, including the day the results wereGSAD

7-1 Submission of an Appeal Statement
A student who wishes to appeal must submit an appeal statement using the prescribed form to the Academic
notified. The statement must present clear and accurate arguments that may overturn the original result.

only if the appeal statement provides reasonable evidence to overturn the original result.

GSM

7-2 Decision to Conduct Appeal Investigation
The Dean will decide whether to conduct an investigation into the appeal. Investigation will be conducted

7-3 Appeals Committee

appeal.
The Appeals Committee will consist of three (3) faculty members appointed by the Dean.
Members of this Committee must not be:(2) members of the current Research Projects Committee(3) the Dean
7-3-2 Duties of the Appeals Committee
The Appeals Committee will decide how to conduct the investigation of the appeal and if deemed

General Information(1) examiners of the Research Project

Common Information

7-3-1 Members of the Appeals Committee
An Appeals Committee shall be formed in case it has been decided to conduct investigation into thenecessary, may require the student to present further evidence in written or oral form to substantiate thegrounds of the appeal. The Appeals Committee will carefully examine all documents related to the appeal
during the investigation.
7-3-3 Determining the Result of the Investigation
The Appeals Committee will submit to the Dean one of the following results accompanied by anevaluation report.
a) Reject the Appeal
In this case, the result originally announced to the student remains unchanged.
b) Accept the Appeal
In this case, the result originally announced to the student will be changed to “Pass”.
7-4 New Evidence of Misconduct
In the case that new evidence of misconduct is uncovered during the investigation of the appeal, it will be
included in the assessment and reflected in the result of the Appeals Committee.

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7-5 Finalizing the Result of the Appeal and Notifying the Student
The Dean will decide the final result of the appeal after procedures 7-2 to 7-4 have been conducted.
The final result of the appeal accompanied by appropriate feedback will be announced to the student by theDean, barring any unavoidable circumstances, by the day of the Graduation Ceremony of that semester.
8. Preservation of Research Projects
All Research Projects that passed the examination will be bound by the University. Bound Research Projects
will be forwarded to the University Library, where they will be catalogued for APU Library users.
Students are allowed to edit and make certain corrections to Research Projects that have passed theexamination. Edited and corrected versions must be approved by the supervisor. Only the final version of the
Research Project will be preserved.
Appendix 1 Examination Schedule
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Summary Submission

April 30

October 30

Research Project Submission

May 31

November 30

Notification of the Examination Results

June 25

December 25

Resubmission after Revision

July 15January 15

Notification of the Final Results

July 31January 31

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately
preceding working day.

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2023 年度カリキュラム 経営管理研究科修士課程（GSM）リサーチ・プロジェクト審査の手続き（2024 年 1 月改訂）
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目次
1. リサーチ・プロジェクト ………………………………………………………………………………… 91
1-2 リサーチ・プロジェクトの言語と文字数 …………………………………………………………… 91

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1-1 リサーチ・プロジェクトとは ………………………………………………………………………… 91
1-3 リサーチ・プロジェクトの形式 ……………………………………………………………………… 91
1-3-1 修士論文、ファイナル・レポート、インターンシップに基づくケース・スタディー …… 91
1-3-2 ビジネスプラン …………………………………………………………………………………… 91
1-5 リサーチ・プロジェクト提出期限延長申請について ……………………………………………… 91

GSM

1-4 リサーチ・プロジェクトの提出 ……………………………………………………………………… 91
2. リサーチ・プロジェクトの提出要件 …………………………………………………………………… 91
2-2 要約の提出 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 92
2-3 リサーチ・プロジェクトの種別変更 ………………………………………………………………… 92
3. リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会 …………………………………………………………………… 92
3-1 選出と任期 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 92
4. リサーチ・プロジェクトの審査及び試験 ……………………………………………………………… 92
4-1 審査及び試験の手順 ………………………………………………………………………………… 92
4-2 審査員の選出 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 92
4-3 審査・試験基準 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 93

General Information

3-2 役割 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 92

Common Information

2-1 ワーク・イン・プログレス・セミナー ……………………………………………………………… 91

4-4 審査員による評価 …………………………………………………………………………………… 93
4-5 審査結果の確定 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 93
4-6 審査結果の通知 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 93
4-7 審査結果が「b）軽微な修正を求める（Minor Revision）」
または「c）大幅な修正を求める（Major Revision）」の場合 ……………………………… 93
4-8 リサーチ・プロジェクトの再提出 ………………………………………………………………… 93
4-9 口頭試問 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 93
4-10 口頭試問の結果の確定 ……………………………………………………………………………… 94
4-11 評価結果が審査員間で著しく異なる場合 ………………………………………………………… 94
4-12 口頭試問の結果通知 ………………………………………………………………………………… 94
5. 不正行為の疑義が生じた場合 …………………………………………………………………………… 94
6. MBA リサーチ・セミナーⅢの成績評価 ……………………………………………………………… 94
7. 不服申し立て ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 94
7-1 不服申立書の提出 ……………………………………………………………………………………… 94
7-2 不服申し立て調査実施の決定 ………………………………………………………………………… 94－89－

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7-3 不服調査委員会 ………………………………………………………………………………………… 94
7-3-1 不服調査委員会の構成 ………………………………………………………………………… 94
7-3-2 不服調査委員会の役割 ………………………………………………………………………… 95
7-3-3 調査結果の判定 ………………………………………………………………………………… 95
7-4 不正行為の新たな証拠が発見された場合 …………………………………………………………… 95
7-5 不服調査の確定と通知 ………………………………………………………………………………… 95
8. リサーチ・プロジェクトの保管 ………………………………………………………………………… 95
別表 1 審査日程 ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 95－90－

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General Information

1-3-2 ビジネスプラン
1．表紙、2. 宣誓（データの偽造、剽窃のないこと）、3. 謝辞（支援および助言に対して）、4. 要
約、5. 目次（内容が分かるように詳細に）、6. 表・図・付録の一覧、7. 事業 / スタートアップの説明、
8. 業界 / 市場の分析、9. 経営陣、10. マーケティング計画、11. 運用計画、12. 財務計画とリスク軽減、
13. ビジネスモデル（例：ビジネスモデルキャンバス）、14. 参考文献一覧、15. 付録（本文に記載されていない関連資料）

Common Information

1-3-1 修士論文、ファイナル・レポート、インターンシップに基づくケース・スタディー
1．表紙、2. 宣誓（データの偽造、剽窃のないこと）、3. 謝辞（支援および助言に対して）、4. 要
約、5. 目次（内容が分かるように詳細に）、6. 表・図・付録の一覧、7. 本文、8. 結語、9. 参考文献
一覧、10. 付録（本文に記載されていない関連資料）

GSM

1-3 リサーチ・プロジェクトの形式
リサーチ・プロジェクトは、基本的に以下の形式に従うこと。

GSAD

1-2 リサーチ・プロジェクトの言語と文字数
リサーチ・プロジェクトの言語は英語とする。
参考文献、付録を除いたリサーチ・プロジェクトの目安の文字数は原則として下記の通りとする。
・修士論文 : 8,000 語から 15,000 語・ファイナル・レポート : 8,000 語から 15,000 語
・インターンシップに基づくケース・スタディー : 8,000 語から 15,000 語・ビジネスプラン：8,000 語から 15,000 語

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1. リサーチ・プロジェクト
1-1 リサーチ・プロジェクトとはリサーチ・プロジェクトとは、経営管理研究科修士課程（GSM）における研究の成果物であり、リサーチ・プロジェクトを提出し審査及び試験に合格することが本研究科で修士号を取得する一つの要件に位置づけられている。
リサーチ・プロジェクトは「修士論文」、「ファイナル・レポート」、「インターンシップに基づくケース・スタディー」、「ビジネスプラン」のいずれかとし、学生は GSM に所属する指導教員の下でリサー
チ・プロジェクトの作成を行う。

1-4 リサーチ・プロジェクトの提出
リサーチ・プロジェクト 1 部（ソフト・コピー）を別表 1 に定める期日までにアカデミック・オフィスに提出しなければならない。
1-5 リサーチ・プロジェクト提出期限延長申請について疾病または個人的事情といった異例の事態によって、期限までにリサーチ・プロジェクトの執筆ができない学生は提出期限延長申請ができる。学生は所定の申請書と申請理由を裏付ける資料を別表 1 に定めている「リサーチ・プロジェクト提出締切日」までに提出をしなければならない。
申請が許可された場合、学生のリサーチ・プロジェクトは 1 度のみ審査をされ、学生は別表 2 に定めている「再提出締切日」までにリサーチ・プロジェクトを提出しなければならない。
2. リサーチ・プロジェクトの提出要件
リサーチ・プロジェクトを提出するにあたっては、定められた時期や期日までにワーク・イン・プ
ログレス・セミナーでの発表と要約の提出をしなければならない。
2-1 ワーク・イン・プログレス・セミナー
MBA リサーチ・セミナーⅡを履修登録している学生は、第二クオーターの期末試験期間中の水－91－

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曜日に、自身の研究分野の GSM 教員に対して研究の計画と進捗状況を発表しなければならない。
この発表会をワーク・イン・プログレス・セミナーと呼ぶ。このセミナーは公開されており、学生と教員は自由に参加することができる。また、教員が必要と判断した場合には、ワーク・イン・プ
ログレス・セミナーを追加で開催することがある。
2-2 要約の提出
学生は最終セメスターの別表 1 に定める期日までにリサーチ・プロジェクトの要約をアカデミッ
ク・オフィスに提出しなければならない。要約には、リサーチ・プロジェクトの種類を明記すると
ともに、指導教員の承認が必要である。
2-3 リサーチ・プロジェクトの種別変更
要約の提出後にリサーチ・プロジェクトの種別を変更することは認められず、不合格の結果を招く可能性がある。例外的に、指導教員ではない審査員、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会、研究科長の判断と承認があった場合のみ、リサーチ・プロジェクト提出後の種別変更が認められる場合がある。
3. リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会
3-1 選出と任期
リサーチ・プロジェクトを審査するにあたり、本研究科内に修士学位論文委員会（以下、リサーチ・
プロジェクト審査委員会）を設ける。
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は国際経営学部副学部長（大学院担当）である委員長と 2 名の委員からなり、研究科長の推薦を受け、研究科委員会にて承認される。研究科長は自らを推薦することはできない。
任期は 1 セメスターとし、再任は妨げない。
3-2 役割リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、以下の役割を担う。
a）厳正な審査及び試験が行われていることを管理・確認する。
b）評価結果および審査基準の妥当性の確認を行い、審査及び試験結果の案を GSM 研究科委員会へと上程する。
c）評価結果および審査基準の妥当性の確認を行い、再審査及び口頭試問の結果の案を GSM 研究科委員会へと上程する。
d）剽窃やその他の研究上の不正行為の有無を判断する。
e）提出期限延長申請を審査し、申請を許可するかを判断する。
4. リサーチ・プロジェクトの審査及び試験
4-1 審査及び試験の手順
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、リサーチ・プロジェクトの審査及び試験の手続きの調整を行い、厳正な方法で行われているか確認する。リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、剽窃やその他の研究上の不正行為の有無を確認する。上記の疑いがある場合、審査員に注意喚起を行い、今後の対策を GSM 研究科委員会および研究科長に提案する。
4-2 審査員の選出
リサーチ・プロジェクトの審査は、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会の推薦のもと、研究科長が指名した本学教員 2 名が行う。原則として指導教員が審査員の 1 名とする。もう 1 名は、APM・GSM 教員リストから提出されたリサーチ・プロジェクトの分野にあう教員を順次選出し、偏見のない審査を行うとともに教員内での審査のバランスをとる。指導教員がリサーチ・プロジェクト審査
委員会の委員の場合、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会内からもう 1 名の審査員の選出すること
をさける。
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Common Information
General Information

4-6 審査結果の通知
審査結果と評価レポートは、別表 1 に定める期日に学生に通知される。

GSM

4-5 審査結果の確定
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会によって、評価結果および審査基準をもとに、審査結果の判定が行われる。その審査結果の案は、GSM 研究科委員会へと上程の上、最終決定のために研究科長に報告される。
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会の委員が審査員の場合、審議には参加せず、審査結果の判定には加わらない。
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、学生に対して追加情報の提出やヒアリングの実施を、必要に応じて求めることができる。

GSAD

4-4 審査員による評価
審査員は、指定された期日までに以下のいずれかの評価結果と評価レポートをリサーチ・プロジェ
クト審査委員会に提出する。
a）合格（Pass）：リサーチ・プロジェクトが審査基準を満たしている場合
b）軽微な修正を求める：リサーチ・プロジェクトに構成、誤字または一部における論旨の明確化が必要な場合c）大幅な修正を求める：リサーチ・プロジェクトに大幅な誤植、変更、データの追加などの修正が必要な場合d）不合格（Fail）：リサーチ・プロジェクトが審査基準を十分には満たしていない場合。
審査員は、学生に対して追加情報の提出やヒアリングの実施を、必要に応じて求めることがで
きる。

GSAM

4-3 審査・試験基準a）リサーチ・プロジェクト審査
各リサーチ・プロジェクトは、それぞれの審査基準に基づいた個別のルーブリックで評価を行う。ルーブリックは、少なくとも 12 ヶ月前に学生に公表される。
b）口頭試問
各リサーチ・プロジェクトは、それぞれの審査基準に基づいた個別のルーブリックで評価を行う。ルーブリックは、少なくとも 12 ヶ月前に学生に公表される。

4-7 審査結果が「b）軽微な修正を求める（Minor Revision）」または「c）大幅な修正を求める（Major
Revision）」の場合
審査結果が「b）軽微な修正を求める（Minor Revision）」または「c）大幅な修正を求める（Major
Revision）」の場合は、指導教員が修正の指導にあたる。しかし、研究科長あるいはリサーチ・プロジェ
クト審査委員会の委員長が指導教員以外の教員に指導を依頼することがある。
4-8 リサーチ・プロジェクトの再提出修正されたリサーチ ･ プロジェクトは、別表 1 に定める期日までに提出されなければならない。
4-9 口頭試問
審査員はリサーチ・プロジェクトに基づき口頭による試問を行う。
審査員は下記の評価結果のいずれかを選択し、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会に提出する。
a）合格（Pass）
b）不合格（Fail）
評価結果に加え、各審査員は評価レポートを一部ずつ提出する。

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4-10 口頭試問の結果の確定
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会によって、評価結果および審査基準をもとに、口頭試問の結果の判定が行われる。その結果の案は、GSM 研究科委員会へと上程の上、最終決定のために研究科長に報告される。
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会の委員が審査員の場合、審議には参加せず、審査結果の判定には加わらない。
リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、学生に対して追加情報の提出やヒアリングの実施を、必要に応じて求めることができる。
4-11 評価結果が審査員間で著しく異なる場合
審査員間でリサーチ・プロジェクトに対する評価が著しく異なる場合やリサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会が評価の矛盾を発見した場合、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会は、審査結果を判定するにあたり、審査員または学生を委員会に招聘し協議することができる。
意見の相違が続く場合、リサーチ・プロジェクト委員会の 2 名以上の委員が支持する審査結果に決定する。
4-12 口頭試問の結果通知
口頭試問の結果と評価レポートは、別表 1 に定める期日に学生に通知される。
5. 不正行為の疑義が生じた場合
審査の過程で、剽窃や AI が作成したコンテンツの無断使用及びその他の不正行為の疑義が生じた
場合は、リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会が不正行為の疑いの根拠をもとに判定する。リサーチ・
プロジェクト審査委員会は、剽窃またはその他研究上の不正行為を確認するために、必要に応じて学生または指導教員に対してヒアリングの実施を求めることができる。
最終決定は、4-5 および 4-10 の同様に行う。
6. MBA リサーチ・セミナーⅢの成績評価
指導教員は MBA リサーチ・セミナーⅢの成績評価を行う。リサーチ・プロジェクトが不合格となった場合、研究科長の承認に基づき、MBA リサーチ・セミナーⅢの成績を不合格とする。
7. 不服申し立て
学生は、審査結果に対し不服申し立てを行うことができる。
7-1 不服申立書の提出
不服申し立てを行う場合は、審査結果の通知日を含め 7 日目の 16 時 30 分までに所定の申立書をアカデミック・オフィスに提出しなければならない。申立書には、その審査結果となった理由を覆す根拠が的確かつ明瞭に述べられていなければならない。
7-2 不服申し立て調査実施の決定
研究科長は、不服申し立てに対する調査を行うか否かを決定する。調査の実施は、不服申し立ての根拠が先の審査結果を覆すに足る合理的なものである場合に限られる。
7-3 不服調査委員会
7-3-1 不服調査委員会の構成
不服申し立て調査の実施が決定された場合、不服調査委員会が組織される。
不服調査委員会は、研究科長が指名する本学教員 3 名によって構成される。ただし、下記の者を除く。
（1）当該リサーチ・プロジェクトの審査員（2）リサーチ・プロジェクト審査委員会の委員－94－

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（3）研究科長

別表 1

General Information

8. リサーチ・プロジェクトの保管合格とされた全てのリサーチ・プロジェクトは、大学が恒久的な装丁を行う。大学図書館で保管し、本学図書館利用者に閲覧を認める。
学生は、合格したリサーチ・プロジェクトの編集および修正を行うことができる。編集および修正されたリサーチ・プロジェクトは、指導教員の承認を得なければならない。保管するリサーチ・プロジェ
クトは、最終版のものとする。

Common Information

7-5 不服調査の確定と通知
研究科長は、7-2 から 7-4 の手続きを経て、調査結果を確定させる。
やむを得ない事情がない限り、そのセメスターの卒業式までに、学生は研究科長より適切なフィードバックとともに調査結果の通知を受け取る。

GSM

7-4 不正行為の新たな証拠が発見された場合調査する過程において不正行為に関わる新たな証拠が発見された場合は、評価に含め、不服調査委員会の判定結果に反映する。

GSAD

7-3-3 調査結果の判定
不服調査委員会は、以下のいずれかの判定結果と判定レポートを研究科長に提出する。
a）申し立てを棄却する。
この場合、学生に通知した審査結果は変更されない。
b）申し立てを認める。
この場合、学生に通知した審査結果は「合格」に変更となる。

GSAM

7-3-2 不服調査委員会の役割
不服調査委員会は調査の進行手順を決定し、必要があると判断した場合は、学生に対して不服申し立てを裏付ける書面または口頭による追加資料の要求を行う。不服調査委員会は、不服申し
立てに関係する全ての資料を慎重に吟味し調査を行う。

審査日程
春セメスター

秋セメスター

要約の提出締切日

4 月 30 日

10 月 30 日

リサーチ・プロジェクト提出締切日

5 月 31 日

11 月 30 日

審査結果通知日

6 月 25 日

12 月 25 日

再提出締切日

7 月 15 日

1 月 15 日

再審査結果通知日

7 月 31 日

1 月 31 日

注意 : 締切日が土日・祝日のオフィス閉室日の場合、直前の開室日が締切日となる。

－95－

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Section 4

Common Information
4-1 Length of Study: Standard Enrollment and Accelerated Completion …………… 97
4-2 Accelerated Completion Programs…………………………………………………… 99
4-3 Change in Major (Transfer) …………………………………………………………101
4-4 Change in Division / Specialization …………………………………………………101
4-5 Change in Supervisor …………………………………………………………………102
4-6 Certificate Requests…………………………………………………………………103

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4-1. Length of Study: Standard Enrollment and Accelerated Completion
GSAM

Length of Study (standard or accelerated completion, changes to program length, etc.)
Upon enrollment at APU students are required to submit a Program Registration Form indicating the intended length of study (2 years, 1.5
years or 1 year) at APU and their tuition will be billed according to the registered program length (see the Student Life Guide Book for tuitionschedule). Students who wish to complete the Master’s Program in less than 2 years will be required to submit an application including a
research plan shortly after enrollment, in addition to the Program Registration Form. All students accepted into the accelerated completion
programs will be required to apply for further assessment at set points during the program, depending on length and Graduate School.
semester of enrollment; reducing the program completion length will no longer be possible after this period. An additional application will

GSAD

Application for study in the Accelerated Completion Programs will be allowed only within 2 weeks of the commencement of the firstbe required if a student wishes to extend the program completion length.
Students should carefully consider the tuition billing schedule and consult with their supervisor regarding seminar subjects prior to applying
for any change in program length.

GSM

Length of Study
All graduate students must declare their intended length of study at APU upon enrollment to the University by submitting a Program
Registration Form indicating their intent. Their tuition will be billed according to the predetermined payment schedule for each completion
program length (see the Student Life Guide Book for tuition schedule).
Standard CompletionGSAM

2 years

1.5 years

Accelerated Completion

GSM

2 years

1.5 years

GSAD

3 years

2 years

1 year--

Application requirements and deadlines for enrollment into the Accelerated Completion Programs differ depending on the graduate school

Accelerated Completion
Students who wish to complete their program in less than the standard completion time will be required to submit an application form that
includes a research plan in addition to the Program Registration Form according the deadlines below. Reduction to the program length will
no longer be possible once the below deadlines have passed.

General Informationand program. Please carefully check the application requirements for your program in Section “4-2 Accelerated Completion Programs”.

Common Information

Program

Accelerated completion tuition schedule will apply. See the Student Life Guide Book for details.
Program

Program LengthGSAM*

2 years → 1 or 1.5 years

GSM

2 years → 1.5 years

GSAD**

3 years → 2 years

Application Period
at the beginning of the
1st semester

Application Deadlines
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

By April 15

By October 5

TuitionTuition payment schedule differs
per program*IMAT students cannot apply for accelerated completion.
**Limits to credits that may be registered for are based on the registered length of study (see the chart “Credit Limits” in the relevant section
for your program).

Extension of Period of Enrollment (within the standard program length)
Students enrolled in the Accelerated Completion Programs who will not be able to complete all requirements within the planned program
length can extend their enrollment by choosing not to submit an assessment application by the following deadlines.
Program

Program Length

Application Period

GSAM

1 Year → 1.5 or 2 Years

By the end of the 1st Semester

GSAM

1.5 Years → 2 Years

By the end of the 2nd Semester

GSM

1.5 Years → 2 Years

By the end of the 2nd Semester

GSAD

2 Years → 2.5 or 3 Years

By the end of the 4th Semester－97－

Application Deadlines
Spring Semester

Fall Semester

By March 5

By September 5

TuitionTuition payment schedule
will be adjusted to the newprogram length

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Extension of Period of Enrollment (outside the standard program length)If, due to some unavoidable circumstance, the student cannot complete all program requirements within the standard program length, it may
be possible to extend enrollment up to twice the length of the program. In this case a Master’s student may extend up to 2 years (4 semesters)
for a total enrollment period of 4 years (8 semesters). Doctoral students may extend up to 3 years (6 semesters) for a total enrollment periodof 6 years (12 semesters).
Note 1: Those who must extend beyond the standard program length should carefully consider any extra procedures required for student
visas, semester tuition, etc., review carefully the Tuition Section in the Student Life Guide Book and consult with their seminarsupervisors, the Academic Office and the Student Office.
Note 2: GSAD students unable to complete their program within 3 years should carefully read the information on p. 35-36 regarding options
available to them.

－98－

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4-2. Accelerated Completion Programs
GSAM

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Master’s Program
GSAM students accepted into the accelerated completion programs will be subject to further assessment. Application and assessment criteria
are explained in more detail below.
The accelerated completion criteria are as follows:■ At the time of enrollment:
1. Submission of a research plan which includes the theme of the study, the research schedule and also any record of published papers,
Approval for accelerated completion is decided by the supervisor and the Dean and will depend on whether the research plan is deemed

GSAD

conference presentations or future presentation plans.
suitable for completion within 1 or 1.5 years.
Note: IMAT students cannot apply for accelerated completion.
■ While enrolled:
Assessment of the students’ eligibility to stay enrolled in the Accelerated Completion Programs will be carried out at the end of the 1st
the following criteria:

GSMsemester for 1-year completion program students and at the end of the 2nd semester for 1.5-year completion program students according to
1. Submission of the research topic, research objective, expected outcome and the research plan that meets the Accelerated Completion
Program standards;
program or completion of 22 credits or more from the credits required for program completion for those studying under the 1.5-yearcompletion program.
In the case that a student is applying for / studying in the Accelerated Completion Program but does not meet the above criteria or does not
submit the required documents for assessment by the deadline, he / she will be automatically re-enrolled in the Standard Completion Program

General Informationof 2 years.
Accelerated Completion Programs (1 year, 1.5 years)
Application Period

For Application

At the beginning of the first semester

For Assessment
Application Deadlines

Application Materials

Common Information

2. Completion of 16 credits or more from the credits required for program completion for students studying under the 1-year completion1-year program: end of the first semester
1.5-years program: end of the second semester
At the time of Enrollment
Spring Semester: April 15
Fall Semester: October 5
While Enrolled
Spring Semester: September 5
Fall Semester: March 5
At the time of Enrollment: Application form and submission of a research plan
While enrolled: Application form and submission of a Research Status Report

Assessment Criteria

1-year Completion Program● At the time of enrollment:- Whether the research plan is deemed suitable for completion in 1 year
● At the end of the 1st semester:- Whether the Research Status Report meets the standards for accelerated completion- Completion of 16 credits or more required for program completion
1.5-years Completion Program● At the time of enrollment:- Whether the research plan is deemed suitable for completion in 1.5 years● At the end of the 2nd semester:- Whether the Research Status Report meets the standards for accelerated completion- Completion of 22 credits or more required for program completion

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.

－99－

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Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Doctoral Program
2 years Accelerated Completion Program
Application Period

At the beginning of the first semester

Application Deadlines● Spring Semester: April 15● Fall Semester: October 5

Application Materials● At the time of enrollment: Application form and submission of a research plan

Assesment Criteria● Students accepted into the accelerated completion program should aim to:- give their two Research in Progress Seminar presentations early in their program- apply for Candidacy after their second semester of enrollment- submit their dissertation by their final semester

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.
Students accepted into the accelerated completion program, but who are unable to complete within 2 years, should refer to the previous
section on “Extension of Period on Enrollment (within the standard program length).”Graduate School of Management
GSM students accepted into the accelerated completion programs will be subject to further assessment. Application and assessment criteria
are explained in more detail below.
■ At the time of enrollment
Approval for accelerated completion is decided by the Dean and will depend on whether the research plan is deemed suitable for completion
within 1.5 years and also one of the following conditions:
1. the student received high evaluation for their admissions application
2. the student received work experience in highly specialized employment previous to entering APU■ While enrolled
Assessment of the students’ eligibility to stay enrolled in the Accelerated Completion Program will be carried out based on application by
the student at the end of each semester according to the following criteria:
1. the student has successfully passed the Required Subjects offered each semester
2. the student’s GPA is 3.00 or higher
3. the student’s research contents and research plan meet the Accelerated Completion Program standards
In the case that a student is applying for / studying in the Accelerated Completion Program but does not meet any of the above criteria ordoes not submit the required documents for assessment by the deadline, he / she will be automatically re-enrolled in the Standard Completion
Program of 2 years.
1.5-years Accelerated Completion Programs
Application Period
Application Deadlines

Application Materials

For Application

At the beginning of the first semester

For Assessment

At the end of each semester

Spring Semester: April 15
Fall Semester: October 5
While Enrolled
Spring Semester: September 5
Fall Semester: March 5
At the time of Enrollment: Application form and submission of a research plan

At the time of Enrollment

While enrolled: Application form and submission of a Research Status Report
Assessment Criteria● At the time of enrollment:- Whether the research plan is deemed suitable for completion in 1.5 years, and satisfying
one of the following conditions:- the admissions application has received high evaluation- work experience in highly specialized employment● At the end of every semester:- Completion of all Required Subjects offered during the semester- 3.00 or higher GPA- Whether the Research Status Report meets the standards for accelerated completion

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.
－100－

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4-3. Change in Major (Transfer)
are only accepted at the end of the first semester.
Transfer between graduate schools (GSA ⇔ GSM) is not permitted.

2. Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: January 10 (Spring Transfer)
Spring Semester: July 10 (Fall Transfer)

3. Application“Application for Change in Major” form including a “Reason for Transfer” essay and an updated
Research Proposal are to be submitted to the Academic Office. Students may also be called for aninterview

4. Re-examination Fee

10,000 yen.
A Certificate Stamp of 10,000 yen should accompany the application

5. Notification of results

The application will be screened and students notified of the result on the day the grades for thatsemester are released

6. Credit Transfer

All previously earned credits / grades will be transferred on April 1 for the Spring Semester and
September 21 for the Fall Semester

7. Contact

Academic Office

GSM

10 or more credits from the subjects required for completion by the end of the first semester

GSAD

1. Requirements

4-4. Change in Division / Specialization
Division changes within the Asia Pacific Studies major and International Cooperation Policy major in GSAM or Specialization changes
within GSM are not treated as transfers.

General Information

Change in Division (GSAM)
Division changes may only be made at the end of the 1st semester.
NONE

2. Application Deadlines

By 16:30 of the final day of classes in the 2nd quarter of the 1st semester

3. Application“Application for Change in Division" form, approved and signed by the current and future supervisors,(where applicable), submitted to the Academic Office

4. Notification of resultsby early March or early September

5. Contact

Academic Office

Common Information

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.

1. Requirements

GSAM“Change in Major” is a system which allows a GSAM student to transfer from one GSAM Major to another (APS ⇔ ICP). Applications

Change in Specialization (GSM)
1. Requirements

NONE

2. Application Deadlines

By 16:30 on the final day of classes of the semester

3. Application“Application for Change in Specialization" form, approved and signed by the current and future
supervisors (where applicable), submitted to the Academic Office

4. Notification of resultsby early March or early September

5. Contact

Academic Office

Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.

－101－

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4-5. Change in Supervisor
A change in Supervisor may be made before the end of the semester's Course Registration Periods.
1. Requirements

NONE

2. Application Deadlines

By 16:30 on the final day of classes of the semester

3. Application“Application for Change in Supervisor” approved and signed by the current and future supervisors
submitted to the Academic Office

4. Notification of resultsby early March or early September

5. Contact

Academic Office

Note 1: If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, or a day when the office is closed, the deadline will move to the immediately precedingworking day.
Note 2: After changing supervisor, the new supervisor will prepare and present a yearly Plan for Research Supervision. Students must provide
their new supervisor with their research plan so the supervisor can create a Plan for Research Supervision. The period of the researchsupervision in the Plan will depend on the time left until graduation.

－102－

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4-6. Certificate Requests

Office on the 1st floor of Building A (Mon-Fri, 9:00-18:00), or inside the APU Library (during business hours).

GSAM

Certificate Request
The following certificates may be purchased for 200 yen each from automatic certificate dispensers located in the lobby outside the Student
It is also possible to use the online application system to print certificates at convenience stores in Japan. Students who are not in Japan may
submit an application through this online system and request the office to send the certificates by postal mail. It will take two or three businessdays from the date the application is approved for the Student Office to issue and post certificates to students.

GSAD

Please check the Student Office website for details about certificates and transcripts.

https://en.apu.ac.jp/home/alumni/content4/
1. Certificate of Prospective Program Completion
A “Certificate of Prospective Program Completion” can be issued for students who satisfy the following requirements. Please confirm that
Please note that these certificates only indicate the prospect of completion and do not guarantee a student’s completion.
How to Obtain (timing of issue)

GSAM1) Final Research Project is registered and 2) at least
10 credits are completed

GSM

1) Management Seminar III is registered and 2) at least
22 credits are completed

GSAD

1) Doctoral Candidacy has been awarded, 2) Advanced
Research on Asia Pacific VI is registered / hasbeen completed AND 3) the dissertation has been
submitted for screening

Currently enrolled students may issue certificates using
the following two methods:➡ Automatic certificate dispensers

Certificate Issuing Service (Convenience Stores)※ All students who do not meet the above criteria are required to apply in advance to the Academic Office. Please contact the Academic
Office for the application form. The Office will inspect whether the certificate can be issued. If deemed issuable, the required processing
time is up to 5 business days.
2.

Certificate of Enrollment and Transcript of Academic Record

General Information

Registration Status

Common Information

ProgramGSM

you fulfill the requirements before applying to the Student Office for this certificate.

A “Certificate of Enrollment” and “Transcript of Academic Record” may also be used to indicate your expected date of completion.

Purchasing Certificate Stamps
Because offices at APU can not accept cash, students will need to purchase certificate stamps to pay for certificates, screening fees, or certain
other services at APU. Certificate stamps can be purchased with electronic money stored on a Co-op App and IC transportation card. They
can be purchased from automatic certificate dispensers which are located in the lobby outside the Student Office on the 1st floor of Building
A (Mon-Fri, 9:00-18:00) and inside the APU Library (during business hours). Students should ensure they purchase certificate stamps for theexact amount required, as change cannot be given.

When Applying and Collecting Documents by Proxy
Students who are unable to come in person to the Student / Academic Office to submit, apply for or collect documents that include personal information
have to assign a proxy to do so on their behalf. The following 3 documents will be required when submitting, applying or collecting documents by
proxy:
1) Letter of Proxy (dated with applicant’s signature);
2) A photocopy of the applicant’s valid student ID card or other valid photo ID. (If you are not a current student, your APU student ID
card is invalid and will not be accepted. Please attach a copy of your passport or other photo ID.)
3) A photocopy of a photo ID of the proxy (if applying at the office, present the original)
You have to assign a proxy for any of the following cases: applying and collecting certificates; collecting examination results, etc.

－103－

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Section 5

General Information
5-1 Operation of Classes ……………………………………………………………………105
5-2 Class Cancellations, Changes and Emergency Contact Information ………………106
5-3 Class Absences Due to Illness or Bereavement / Tardiness ……………………………107
5-4 Course Selection and Registration ……………………………………………………110
5-5 Examinations, Final Reports and Other Written Assignments ………………………112
5-6 Grading and Assessment ………………………………………………………………114

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5-1. Operation of Classes
GSAM

The Academic Year and Class Schedules
The APU academic year begins in April. Each year is divided into two semesters, and each semester is comprised of two quarters and asession. Lecture subjects are generally held over the span of a quarter, or on a 1-2 week basis during session periods. Seminar and language
subjects are held for the duration of the semester. Irregular class schedules (see below) will be displayed on Campus Terminal. For otherevents and deadlines, refer to the Academic Calendar on the Graduate School website.
Academic Year
1st Quarter
April - May

2nd Quarter
June - July

Fall Semester
Summer Session
Aug - Sept

1st Quarter
Oct - Nov

2nd Quarter
Dec - JanGSAD

Spring Semester

Winter Session
Feb - Mar

1. Each lecture subject consists of 15 classes, including a final examination. Therefore, a subject held over a 2-month quarter will consist of
approximately 2 classes per week.
2. Classes may also be scheduled on Saturdays and holidays.
3. Registration and grade announcements are semester-based, with grades for all subjects, including 1st Quarter, released at the end of the semester.

Make-up Day and Winter / Summer Session Timetable

Regular Class Timetable
Period

Mon

Tue

1

8:45 – 10:25

A (1)

F (1)

2

10:35 – 12:15

A (2)

G (1)

3

12:30 – 14:10

B (1)

H (1)

4

14:20 – 16:00

C (1)

I (1)

5

16:10 – 17:50

D (1)

6

18:00 – 19:40

E (1)

Wed

Thu

Make-up Day Classes(Saturday)

Fri

Period

L (1)

F (2)

1

8:45 – 10:25

8:45 – 10:25

L (2)

G (2)

2

10:35 – 12:15

10:35 – 12:15

Session

B (2)

H (2)

3

13:05 – 14:45

13:05 – 14:45

C (2)

M (1)

4

14:55 – 16:35

14:55 – 16:35

I (2)

D (2)

M (2)

5

16:45 – 18:25

J (1)

E (2)

J (2)

6

18:35 – 20:15

16:45 – 18:25_

SeminarClasses

The Credit System

General Information

1. Classes are scheduled from Monday to Friday. Each class is 100 minutes in length.
2. Classes that are held twice a week: either 1) during consecutive periods on the same day; or 2) on different days during the same period.
Example A: 1) Mondays, 1st and 2nd periods
Example B: 2) Mondays and Thursdays, 3rd period
3. Class schedules will be available on the Graduate School website and outside the Academic Office at the start of the semester. Classschedules and curricula are subject to change. Refer to the Graduate School website for the latest information.

Common Information

Quarter / Semester

GSM

Class Timetable

Each subject is assigned a credit value based on study hours necessary for completion. Credits are only awarded if a student receives apassing grade for the course.
Subject Type

Total Number of Classes per Subject

Credits Awarded upon Completion

All Lecture Subjects

14 classes

Per Quarter / Session

2

Seminar Subjects

14 (including individual supervision)

Per Semester

2

Presentations: Research Presentation*

14 classes

Per Semester

2

Research Papers: Research Paper*

28 classes

Per Semester

4

Tutorials*

14 classes

Per Semester

2

Japanese Language Subjects**

28 classes

Per Semester

2*Refer to subjects in the Doctoral program.
**Japanese Language classes are counted towards the completion requirements differently depending on the program. Please refer to therelevant section for details.

Class Lettering
Each lecture subject is followed by lettering, indicating the semester it is offered and the school to which the subject belongs. However,seminars are lettered differently.

S
F

Spring Semester
Fall Semester

A
M

Lecture Subjects
GSAM Subject
GSM Subject

Seminar Subjects
The second letter refers to an
associated supervisor－105－

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5-2. Class Cancellations, Changes and Emergency Contact Information
Information regarding class cancellations, make-up classes and classroom changes will be made available on Campus Terminal. Please be
sure to check these announcements before attending classes.

Class Cancellation
If an instructor does not appear after the class starts, please promptly inform the Academic Office (academi1@apu.ac.jp). A class will becancelled if the instructor does not arrive at the classroom within 20 minutes of the beginning of the class. Classes will also be cancelled if
public transportation stops due to typhoon, snow, or a strike.

Procedures for Classes during Severe Weather and / or Suspension of Public Transportation
The handling of classes in cases when a storm warning or special warning regarding the weather is issued or in cases when public transportation
is suspended due to the weather, classes will be held online, and if classes cannot be held online, make-up classes will be held at a later date.
The announcement of the switch to online classes will be made at the Campus Terminal by around 6:45am.
【How to log into ZOOM】● Application● WEB【How to check Meeting IDs】
● When classes switch online, a timetable with Meeting IDs will be provided at the Campus Terminal.

Class Cancellation Information
Information regarding the cancellation of classes may be accessed on Campus Terminal.
Campus Terminal (PC):https://portal2.apu.ac.jp/campusp/login.do
Campus Terminal (Mobile):

https://portal2.apu.ac.jp/campusp/sptop.do
Make-up Classes
As a rule, if a class is cancelled, a make-up class will be held. In certain circumstances, make-up classes may be held before the actual
cancelled class. Make-up classes are usually scheduled on a Saturday. Make-up class timetables will be posted on Campus Terminal on theTuesday prior to the make-up day. As classrooms and class times for make-up classes may differ from those of the regular class, be sure tocheck the latest posted information on Campus Terminal.

Classroom Changes
Information on temporary or permanent classroom changes will be posted on Campus Terminal.

Emergency Contact Information While on Campus

For emergencies or to report lost or stolen items, etc., please visit the Central Security Office located in the 1st floor of Building A.

－106－

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5-3. Class Absences Due to Illness or Bereavement / TardinessGSAM

APU does not have a system of officially recognized absences. In the event that you are unable to attend classes due to unavoidable circumstances such as illness or the death of a family member, please inform your instructors of your absence from classes. Each instructor will
determine how to handle your absence in these cases. However, these procedures will differ depending on the length of the period of absence.
Please read the following information for details and application instructions. Please also read the information on the Academic Officewebsite for updates and application documents.
Class Absences information on the Academic Office website.

GSAD

https://en.apu.ac.jp/academic/class_info/class_absences/
Short-term Absences【Illness / Injury】

Absent for 1 ~ 3 weeks (at least 5 consecutive class days) due to personal illness or injury.
*This report does not apply to illnesses or injuries of family members or friends.

Applicable Period

Within the period written on the medical certificate from the doctor.
*Applications cannot be made for periods outside the period stated on the medical certificate.

Official Certificates
Required1 A copy of the medical certificate from the doctor that specifies the name of the illness and the period necessary
for recovery (start date and end date)
2 A copy of the receipt for medical services
3 A copy of a valid student ID or other valid photo ID.
4 The “Report of Absence from Class due to Illness or Injury” form with the necessary information filled in【Bereavement】
Application Criteria

Bereavement for first-degree relatives (parents and children) and second-degree relatives (grandparents andsiblings)*Third-degree relatives (such as uncles, aunts, and great-grandparents) are not covered by this leave.

Applicable Period

The applicable period will be calculated from the date of passing or the date of the funeral as follows:First-degree relatives: Within 7 days including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
Second-degree relatives: Within 5 days including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays*The days calculated will be the days written on the official document submitted.

Official Certificates
Required1 A copy of either the funeral attendance letter or official death certificate showing the date of passing
2 A copy of a valid student ID or other valid photo ID
3 The “Report of Absence from Class due to Bereavement” form with the necessary information filled in

General Information

Application Criteria

Common Information

Eligible reasons for absences, application criteria, official certificates required

GSM

A “Report of Absence from Class due to Illness or Bereavement” is issued for illness or injury of the student or when bereavement isnecessary for blood relatives or relatives by marriage among second-degree relatives.
Please note that this “Report of Absence from Class due to Illness or Bereavement” does not automatically guarantee approval of the absence.
All decisions regarding absence from class will ultimately be determined by individual instructors.
Absences for reasons other than those listed below are not eligible for this procedure.
If you meet the application requirements for long-term absence from class, you fall under the category of “long-term absence”.

Application Method
1. Please fill out Report of Absence form for each class.
Please download the form according to the reason for your absence. One form is required for each class. When filling out the necessary
information, please fill out the form in the language that the class is offered in.
● Report of Absence from Class due to Injury or Illness● Report of Absence from Class due to Bereavement
2. Please submit the required documentation to acsubmit@apu.ac.jp.
Depending on the reason for absence, please send the official certificates required by email.
3. Please wait for a reply from the Academic Office.
－107－

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If nothing is missing from the documents submitted, the Office will stamp its seal on the “Report of Absence from Class due to Illness or
Bereavement” form and return it to the student by email.
4. Please submit the “Report of Absence from Class due to Illness or Bereavement” form to each professor.
Please submit the form returned by the Office to each professor as soon as possible.
*Please refer to the syllabus and office hours for the professors’ email addresses.
*If you do not know a professor’s email address, please confirm it in class.
*There may be cases in which the University requests original copies of the documents.
Please store the original documents safely even after you have applied.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 16:30 on the last class day (excluding final examination periods and make-up class days) of the relevant
subject.
*Late applications will not be accepted.

Long-term Absences
In some cases a student is absent for more than half the term of a course due to illness or personal injury. If those students meet thefollowing conditions for a Long-Term Absence and submit an application by the deadline, course registration for the period of absence will
be cancelled. Please note that if cancellation is approved, all courses in the affected semester or quarter will be cancelled. You may not cancel
only specific subjects.
Application Criteria
1. If a student is absent for more than half the term of a course due to illness or injury, etc., the student must prove his / her absence withan objective document. For session courses, the absence must be due to illness, injury (only in the case of hospitalization), infectious
disease or bereavement (application criteria for an absence due to bereavement are the same as the short term absence criteria due tobereavement), and the absence must be proven by official documents.
2. The absence must have been unforeseen during the registration correction period.
3. The reason for the absence cannot be the result of actions willfully taken by the student.
Note: Only students who meet the conditions above are eligible to apply for the cancellation of a course.
Additional Notes
1. The student's attendance record until the absence must have been good.
2. Must be a student's own illness or injury. Absences resulting from the illness or injury of a family member or friend are not eligible.
3. If the student will be absent from the course due to reasons other than the above, such as extracurricular activities or job-hunting for morethan half the term of the session course, and he / she wishes to cancel the session course, the student must visit the Academic Office nolater than the day before the session course starts.
Application Method
1. Students must notify acsubmit@apu.ac.jp as soon as a situation requiring a long-term absence arises.
2. The following documents must be submitted to the Academic Office by the application deadline.
① original official certificate② original medical expense receipts③ valid student ID or other valid photo ID
ReasonIllness / injury
Bereavement

Original Official Certificate(s) Required
Medical certificate which includes the period of hospitalization or treatment and the reason for the class absence plus thereceipt for medical expenses
Funeral thank you letter or official death certificate showing the date of death

Application Deadlines
The following are submission deadlines for each subject type. Applications submitted after the respective deadline will not be accepted.
Term
1st Quarter Subjects
Semester /2nd Quarter Subjects
Session subjects

Application Deadline
By 16:30 on the last day that 1st Quarter classes are being held (excluding final examinations and make-up classes)
By 16:30 on the last day that 2nd Quarter classes are being held (excluding final examinations and make-up classes)
By 16:30 on the last day of the registered session class－108－

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Class Absence due to Infectious Disease

Note: Please note that if the Certificate of Recovery from Infectious Disease does not indicate that the absence was by doctor's order, then theillness will not be considered an infectious disease even if it is included on the list of recognized Infectious Diseases.

GSAD

https://en.apu.ac.jp/academic/class_info/class_absences/

GSAM

Application Criteria
In the case of absence due to an Infectious Disease as defined by the Japanese School Health and Safety Act, it will be treated as a recognizedabsence if a “Certificate of Recovery from Infectious Disease” (available for download from the Class Absence page of the Academic Officewebsite) completed by a medical institution accompanied with a medical expenses receipt is submitted to the University. Only students
who have contracted one of these recognized diseases are eligible to apply. Students with other illnesses such as the common cold are NOT
eligible.
Details on application procedures can be viewed on the Academic Office webpage.

Infectious Diseases Recognized by the Japanese School Health and Safety Act

Category 2

Novel corona virus (COVID-19), Influenza (excluding avian influenza (H5N1)), whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella,chicken pox, pharyngoconjunctival fever, tuberculosis, and meningococcal meningitis

Category 3

Cholera, shigellosis, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, EKC: epidemic
keratoconjunctivitis, acute hemorrhaging conjunctivitis, infectious gastroenteritis (only norovirus, rotavirus), mycoplasma
pneumonia, shingles, and other infectious diseases

Application Method
Once you have identified your disease as one of those listed above, please complete the following steps.

General Information

1. Receive a diagnosis from a medical institution for any of the above diseases.
2. Receive a medical certificate or print out a “Certificate of Recovery from Infectious Disease *” and have your doctor fill it out (pleasesave your receipts).
3. Please rest at home until you recover. If you are able to join class, please take them online instead of coming to campus.
4. Submit the following documents to the Academic Office by the application deadline. ※Original or copy
① Original official Medical certificate or Certificate of Recovery from a Legal Infectious Disease② Medical receipts

Common Information

Avian influenza (H5N1)

GSM

Category 1*Certificate of Recovery from Infectious Disease can be found in the following link:
https://en.apu.ac.jp/academic/assets/file/class_info/class_absences/230331_Certificate_of_Recovery_from_Infectious_Disease.pdf
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 16:30 on the last class day of the term in which relevant subjects are held (excluding final examinations
and make-up class days). Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Other Reasons for Absence● Absence due to job-hunting activities: consult with the Career Office.
● Absence due to extracurricular activities: consult with the Student Office.
● Absence due to Japan’s lay judge system or other trial-related reasons: consult in advance with the Academic Office.

Tardiness
In the event that you experience a public transportation scheduling delay or disruption, the relevant transportation company will issue a“delay certificate” if requested. Show this certificate to your instructor and they will determine how to handle your tardiness.

－109－

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5-4. Course Selection and Registration
Syllabus
The syllabus system can be accessed from the Campus Terminal. Please see the Academic Office website for details.

Course Registration Overview
In order to take classes, students register for courses during “Course Registration Periods” held before each semester begins. After classes
begin, there are additional “Correction Periods” in which current classes may be dropped, and classes which have not yet started may be
added or dropped. Please review the course syllabus and consider carefully before registering for courses.
Registration Steps
1. Check the registration schedule.
2. Check the course timetable for subjects available this semester.
3. View syllabus to confirm the contents and requirements for subjects.
4. Confirm the credits fields using the subject list for your graduate program.
5. Register for courses online during the designated registration period via Campusmate.
6. After completing the registration, print or save the “Registration Confirmation Screen”.
7. Attend classes.
8. If desired, make any course registration changes during the appropriate correction period.

PeriodAvailable Subjects

Registration Changes Possible

Target Students

Semester Courses

1st Quarter Courses 2nd Quarter Courses Session Courses

Registration Period A All subjects

Current students
ONLY

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Registration Period B All subjects

Newly enrolled,
re-enrolled,reinstated students,
Current Students

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Add
Drop

Drop

Add / Drop

Add / Drop

--

Drop

Add / Drop

Semester and 1st Quarter Classes Begin
Correction Period 1

All subjects

All students

Drop
2nd Quarter Classes Begin

Correction Period 2

All subjects

All students-Session Classes Begin*Please refer to Graduate School website for the registration schedule of the semester.

Course Registration SystemStudents are able to register online via the “Campusmate” system, accessible through Campus Terminal. Every morning, between the hoursof 03:00 am and 05:00 am (Japan Standard Time), Campusmate will be offline for maintenance.

https://cmate2.apu.ac.jp/campusapu/login.do
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTES:
Students bear full responsibility for any errors made during course registration. As no special consideration will be given for such errors,
please use extra caution during registration to ensure no mistakes are made.
1. Do not log into multiple screens with the same account at the same time. This can lead to system errors, preventing registration. The
University will bear no responsibility for any problems a student may experience in this case.
2. If you access Campusmate via any browser other than Microsoft Edge it is possible an error may occur. The University takes noresponsibility for registration problems caused by such errors.
3. When you register or cancel subjects online, please be sure to click the Apply button to register your changes.
4. Upon completion, please make sure to save or print the Course Registration Confirmation Sheet which includes your “Registration No”.
Without this number on the Course Registration Confirmation Sheet, we cannot respond to inquiries about system errors. Be sure torecord the date the course Registration Confirmation Sheet was printed / saved.
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5. If you log out or close the registration screen prior to completing course registration, you will lose all changes. You must first complete
your course registration, log out, and then log in again to confirm your course registration is correct. Mistakes in registration are your own

7. You may conduct course registration off campus. However, as accessing the system from outside the campus network may be slow or

GSAM

responsibility.
6. Please do not share your password with anyone else. The University recommends regularly changing your password.
unreliable, the University recommends the use of on-campus terminals for course registration. You are responsible for any adverse resultthat comes from using these systems.

GSAD
GSM
General Information

Additional Notes
1. Be sure you understand the completion requirements and curriculum for your program.
2. Check the class schedule online to ensure the subjects you wish to take are available and do not overlap. Registration for subjects held
during the same time period is not possible.
3. Registration over the maximum credit limit is not allowed; students are encouraged to take required subjects early, to allow more time tofocus on the Master’s Thesis / Research Report / Research Project writing in the final semesters.
4. Registration for semester (seminar) and 1st Quarter subjects can only be conducted during the Course Registration Period. Students
CANNOT add semester (seminar) and 1st Quarter subjects after the Course Registration Periods have closed.
5. Subjects for which credits have been received cannot be re-registered; however failed subjects may be retaken.
6. Master’s students in their final semester should not register for subjects held during the Session Period, as graduation assessment takes
place during this time.
7. APU cannot be responsible for any problems resulting from registration negligence on the part of the student. If you experience any
registration problems, contact the Academic Office before the end of the registration / correction period. Amendments are not possible

Common Information

Registration

Confirmation Sheet.

outside the designated registration and correction periods.
8. Special Studies offered in GSAM and GSM may be taken more than once (only when course contents are different from the previoustime).

Cancellation of Subjects
Subjects which no students register for will be cancelled.

Registration Advising
Advising for course registration is always available. When requesting assistance with course registration, please refer to the following
guidelines. This will ensure that the Graduate School is able to provide timely and accurate support.
You can visit the Academic Office during office hours or email the Graduate School for registration assistance. Please note that registration
assistance is not provided via phone, as we cannot confirm a student’s identity. Furthermore, due to possible delays in a reply to email
inquiries, in case of an emergency, please come directly to the Academic Office for assistance.
Academic Office Hours
Graduate School Email Address

Monday, Wednesday through Friday

10:00 – 16:30

Tuesday

11:30 – 16:30

ac-grad@apu.ac.jp－111－

To Table of ContentsRequired Documents
1. An up-to-date printout / screenshot of your Course Registration Confirmation Screen from Campusmate
2. An up-to-date printout / screenshot of your Grade Confirmation Screen (including subject list and credit completion information)
3. Any other necessary documents for advising
Before you visit the Academic Office or send your inquiry via email, please carefully consider the topics you would like to talk about andread the Graduate Academic Handbook for relevant information and rules. Please also confirm your own credit completion or registration
status using Campusmate.

5-5. Examinations, Final Reports and Other Written Assignments
Examinations
In addition to a range of mid-term examinations and reports to assess students’ ability, most subjects require students to sit final examinations
at the end of each term. The examination period usually lasts for several days, with examination times released approximately two weeks
prior to the examination date.
The following is the standard timetable for final examinations. However, examination schedule is subject to change. Please check the bulletinboard and specific information from instructors.
Timetable for Final Examinations (1st and 2nd Quarter)

Timetable for Final Examinations (Session)

PeriodExam Time

Warning Bell

Exam Begins

Exam Ends

PeriodExam Time

Warning Bell

Exam Begins

1

8:45 - 10:25

8:45

9:05

10:25

1

8:45 - 10:25

8:45

9:05

10:25

2

10:35 - 12:15

10:35

10:55

12:15

2

10:35 - 12:15

10:35

10:55

12:15

Exam Ends

3

12:30 - 14:10

12:30

12:50

14:10

3

13:05 - 14:45

13:05

13:25

14:45

4

14:20 – 16:00

14:20

14:40

16:00

4

14:55 – 16:35

14:55

15:15

16:35

5

16:45 - 18:25

16:45

17:05

18:25

5

16:10 - 17:50

16:10

16:30

17:50

6

18:00 - 19:40

18:00

18:20

19:40

Cautionary Notes
1. Students who do not bring their Student ID card will not be authorized to take an examination. Students who forget their ID card must
promptly go to the Academic Office and go through the procedure for the issue of "Permission to Take Examination" slip. Those who do
not realize that they have forgotten their ID cards until after the examination has begun are allowed to take the examination only on thecondition that they do not leave the examination room during the examination period. They must then go to the Academic Office with aproctor after the examination ends.
2. Students must bring all supplies necessary for the examination (such as pens and pencils). These items will not be provided by the
University.
3. All information regarding examination schedule and locations will be posted on the bulletin boards and the Academic Office website.
4. Final report topics will be posted on the Academic Office website only.
5. The day, period, and classroom of final examinations may differ from that of the normal class. Please be sure to confirm the correct
information on the bulletin boards and the Academic Office website.
6. Students are not allowed to take examinations for subjects and classes for which they are not registered. Please double check yourregistration in advance.
7. Students who do not arrive within 20 minutes of the beginning of an examination will lose the right to take that examination, and will not
be permitted to enter the examination room.
If an Exam is Postponed
The exam date/time may be changed in the situations shown below: (“ Suspension of Public Transport”, same conditions as class cancellations
apply)● When a storm warning or special weather warning is issued for Beppu City－112－

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● If both Oita Bus and Kamenoi Bus have completely stopped bus service to the university*Even if the above do not occur, it is possible the exam date/time may be changed for other reasons.

GSAM

All announcements will be posted to Campus Terminal. Please be sure to check it.
Time of Announcement

Response

6:30 a.m.

approx. 6:45 a.m.

Period 1 and 2 will be cancelled. The cancelled examinations will be held on the back-up
examination day.

10:30 a.m.

approx. 10:45 a.m.

Examinations from period 3 onward will be cancelled. The cancelled examinations will be heldon the back-up examination day.

After 10:30 a.m.

As decided

Decisions regarding make-ups will be made as appropriate.

GSAD

Time of Decision*The new exam date and time, final report details, etc. will be announced as necessary via Campus Terminal.
*Please avoid making plans during the backup exam dates shown on the Academic Calendar. If you are unable to take an exam for a personalreason, you will not be eligible to take a make-up exam.

GSM

Final Reports
Some subjects require students to submit a final report at the end of the term instead of sitting an examination. The final reports are usually

Points to Remember When Submitting Final Reports
The final report submission periods and locations will be announced on the bulletin board, as well as on the Academic Office website. Please
make a habit of checking the bulletin board on a regular basis. Since there is a fixed submission period, there are no make-up options forreports. Be sure you submit your report by the stated deadline. If you cannot submit the report in person, a proxy may submit your report on

Other Written Assignments“Other Written Assignments” refers to any items for assessment created by students to be submitted or presented as part of the student’s
performance evaluation within APU. This may include final reports, answer sheets, presentation materials, resumes, Master’s Theses,

General Information

your behalf.

Common Information

submitted during strictly fixed periods.

Research Report, Research Projects, and all other media resources.

－113－

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5-6. Grading and Assessment
Grading System model for the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies and Graduate School of Management:
Evaluation

Grade (%)

A+

90% or higherA

80 ～ 89%B

70 ～ 79%C

60 ～ 69%F

59% or lower

T

Transfer

Pass / Fail

Pass

Fail
_

Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)
Semester and cumulative GPA will be available via Campusmate when semester grades are released. Only cumulative GPA will be noted on
the Transcript of Academic Record, etc.

Semester GPA: It is calculated using only the grades of the present semester. It is not included on official transcripts andis reset every semester.
[(Number of A+ credits x 4) + (Number of A credits x 3) + (Number of B credits x 2) + (Number of C credits x 1) + (Number of F credits x 0)]
Registered credits for a given semester (excluding P / T)

Cumulative GPA: It is calculated during the entire period of studies (from semester one (1) through the last semester) andis printed out on all official transcripts.
[(Number of A+ credits x 4) + (Number of A credits x 3) + (Number of B credits x 2) + (Number of C credits x 1)]
Total completed credits (excluding P / T)
* Note: Credits from letter graded Optional Subjects will NOT be calculated in the semester and cumulative GPAs.

Students Receiving a Failing Grade
An “F” (Fail) grade shall be printed on the student grade report and calculated into the GPA for the semester in question, but will not appear in
official transcripts or student grade reports issued in semesters thereafter. “F” grades will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA. Students
have the opportunity to retake a failed subject; however, subjects that have received a passing grade cannot be re-registered.

Release of Grades
Student grades are released at the end of each semester. The exact dates are indicated in the Academic Calendar and on the Graduate School
website. After grades are released, students may confirm their grades via Campusmate. Grades cannot be released before these dates andstudents are not permitted to contact faculty members directly regarding grades.

Grade Reports
Grade reports will be distributed to students who applied for them beforehand within a three-day period after grades have been announced.
Please note that official academic transcripts (which may be purchased from the Automatic Certificate Dispenser) and student grade reports
may vary in content. See below for details.
Grade Evaluation
All grades except “F”“F” grades

Official Academic Transcript
Will be printed.
*Grades cannot be cancelled once received.
Will NOT be printed.

Student Grade ReportWill be printed.
*Grades cannot be cancelled once received.
Will be printed.

Grade Inquiries
Students may make inquiries regarding their grade reports within a three-day period from the day students grades are announced by noon of
the last day of the three-day period. Further details are available on the Academic Office website.

https://en.apu.ac.jp/academic/exam_grades/inquiries/－114－

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Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Academic Office
1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita 874-8577 Japan
www.apu.ac.jp/gradinfo
Office Hours:
email: ac-grad@apu.ac.jp
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 – 16:30,
TEL: 0977-78-1122
Tuesday 11:30 – 16:30