Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

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, the minimum 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 their individual research. The Doctoral Dissertation may be submitted once candidacy is achieved. The Doctoral Dissertation will be approved in accordance with the University’s screening procedures. For further details of the screening procedures, see the information in the doctoral dissertation page.

Credit Requirements for Completion

*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.

Subject Registration

All students must register for subjects following the schedules below in accordance with their semester of enrollment. Seminars (subjects conducted by students’ supervisors) are designed to assist students in their individual research leading to the production and completion of a dissertation. These subjects also help students strengthen their research, writing and presentation skills. Students will meet with their supervisor on an individual or small group basis and all meetings are scheduled individually between supervisors and students.

Spring Entry Registration Schedule

Fall Entry Registration Schedule

Subjects in ( ) indicate lecture subjects.

Note:

“Advanced Research” is the shortened title of the subject “Advanced Research on Asia Pacific Studies”.