Doctoral Programs

Objectives

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is one of Japan’s few educational programs for both discrete and comprehensive research on the languages, cultures and societies of the world and serves as an international center in these fields.

TUFS has more than a century of tradition in research and education in the languages, cultures and societies of countries and regions with which Japan has had close ties in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Over the years, TUFS has expanded its curriculum to become an international center for research and education on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it has also become a center for research on Japan and education in the Japanese language. The TUFS Graduate School endeavors to train advanced professionals including researchers in all of these areas.

As modern society becomes increasingly globalized, there is a growing need for human resources with deep knowledge and advanced skills in specialized fields. The TUFS Graduate School welcomes those who seek to challenge themselves by acquiring the comprehensive ability, practical skills, and Japanese language ability needed to become globally active in both the world and Japan while also enhancing their research skills.

TUFS currently offers two doctoral programs, the Doctoral Program in Global Studies and the Doctoral Program in Japan Studies. In the spring of 2019, there will be an additional Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research to bring the total to three doctoral programs.

For detailed infomation here

(In fiscal 2018, the Language and Culture Studies and International Area Studies programs were reorganized into the Global Studies and Japan Studies programs.)

Doctoral Program in Global Studies

For an integrated and comprehensive worldview

The Doctoral Program in Global Studies encompasses integrated and comprehensive research and education in global languages, cultures, and societies. The program is directed at training people with expert knowledge and research capability who can be both globally focused and flexible in their approach to multifaceted problems.

This program has four clearly delineated programs of study. Students undertake systematic studies in one of these programs under the oversight of their main academic supervisor. They will also be able to take classes in a broad area of related fields so as to acquire a cross-disciplinary perspective.

Language and Culture Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research on individual or comparative languages and cultures of the various regions of the world with an emphasis on fostering multi-lingual and multi-cultural perspectives. Details

International and Area Studies Program

This program involves cross-disciplinary research and analyses of the specific history, society and culture of various world regions to develop a foundation for tackling international problems. Details

Asian and African Field Science Research Program

This program uses field science research methods to foster researchers in Asian and African linguistics, anthropology and area studies. Details

Peace and Conflict Studies Program (October admissions)

This program accepts students from countries embroiled in conflicts to train international leaders in peacebuilding. Classes are conducted in English. Details

Doctoral Program in Global Studies
Students in this program will acquire:

A high level of skill in regional languages with the appropriate knowledge and expertise in the culture and society of those regions and the capability to take an integrated and comprehensive approach to solving the diverse problems of modern society.
Expert knowledge in such research areas as linguistics, literature and culture, regional studies, international relations, and peace and conflict studies.
The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional in an international institute or equivalent organization.

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies

Studying Japan from an international perspective

The Doctoral Program in Japan Studies encompasses systematic study of the Japanese language, Japanese language education, Japanese literature and culture, and Japanese history and society for comprehensive Japan research. The program is directed at developing an objective perspective of Japan within a global context. Given the urgent need for human resources capable of conveying Japan to the world, this program is focused on training Japanese and foreign students who can meet this need.

Japan Studies Program

This program fosters specialized knowledge of Japan while also training students in the skills they will need to explain Japan to the world. Details

Doctoral Program in Japan Studies
Students in this program will acquire:

Specialized knowledge in fields related to Japan and the deep comprehensive understanding of the country required to speak of Japan within a global context. Foreign students in particular will acquire a high level of Japanese language ability and understanding of Japanese society.
A deep and specialized knowledge of the Japanese language, Japanese education, Japanese literature and culture, Japanese historical sociology, Japanese politics and economics, etc.
The qualifications to become a highly skilled academic researcher at a university inside or outside Japan or professional teacher of Japanese language in an international institute of higher education or equivalent organization.

Joint Doctoral Program for Sustainability Research (from April 2019)