2.1 A student accepted to the integrated program and doctoral program must take the Q.E. once within the 3rd semester following the second semester after admitted, and shall be given an opportunity to retake the exam for the course that he/she has failed within 4 semesters after admitted upon failure of any courses.

3.1 A student accepted to the integrated program and doctoral program must prepare a thesis proposal and have the proposal examined by examiners within one year after passing the Q.E.

• ※ The thesis committee shall be formulated within 6 months after the candidate passes the Q.E.
• ※ The methodology of interdisciplinary study must be taken twice for the master’s program and four times for the integrated master/doctoral program after the Q.E. is passed; however, the above shall be exempted if the review of the thesis proposal is completed.
• The methodology of interdisciplinary study shall be exempted if a candidate transfers his/her department after passing the review of thesis proposal.
• Amended school regulations shall apply from the Fall Semester of 2020: Provided that in cases where a student admitted since the Fall Semester of 2020 expresses his/her intent, the regulations concerned may retroactively apply (Amended on October 14, 2020). [Details of retroactive application]
  • 1. Any courses taken prior to the passing of Q.E. shall not be recognized. It means that if a student opts for retroactive applications, he/she shall take the course four times after passing the Q.E.
  • 2. If a candidate presents a proposal while taking the courses less than 4 times, he/she is no longer required to take the courses (the previous regulations shall apply). Amended regulations prescribe candidates to take the courses 4 times or more regardless of proposals.
  • 3. In cases where a candidate is a graduate student for the master’s program, he/she may take classes from the first semester; however, if a graduate student for the master’s program transfers to the integrated master/doctoral program, any courses taken by him/her prior to the passing of Q.E. shall not be recognized.

3.2 A committee shall be comprised of 5 examiners where at least one examiner shall be selected outside the department and the professors from this school shall represent a majority. (School Regulations)

• ※ Selection scope of dissertation examiners outside I-BIO
  • In cases of main campus : All professors from other departments, excluding co-advisors and professors at I-BIO SA, shall be deemed as members outside the department.
  • External member : Full-time professors from other universities, researchers of research centers or business enterprises (those who with Ph.D. degree or higher) Full-time Professor

3.3 Co-advisors must be included.

3.4 All 5 examiners shall not be comprised of the professors from the same department.

3.5 A candidate whose thesis proposal fails to pass may take a re-examination within 6 months for just once.

4.1 Basic requirements, i.e. TOEFL: CBT 213 or higher

4.2 Reading & writing competence for English journals

4.3 Presentation proficiency in English

5.1 Minimum requirements for publication of articles in journals for Ph.D. degree are as follows:

• (1) It shall be publication at journals of which cumulated impact factors are at least 12, and at least one of those articles must be on a journal of which impact factor is at least 6.
  • Cumulative impact factors shall be as prescribed by the provisions in (3) of Paragraph 6.2.
  • Articles with at least 6 of impact factor must be an article where the candidate is either the first author or co-first author.
• (2) Or when a candidate publishes at least one article in a journal recognized by the headquarter as the first author or co-first author and such article is recognized as excellent by the advisor and thesis committee, determination shall be made by the Undergraduate Faculty Council following deliberation after a recommendation for graduation is obtained from the advisor.

6.1 The examination committee shall consist of 5 members, including co-advisors.

6.2 Subjects to examination

• (1)Whether relevant credits are obtained pursuant to school regulations;
• (2)Graduation shall be determined by the examination committee based on comprehensive evaluation of 60% from the performances of article publications and remaining 40% from major-related knowledge, leadership quality within researches in the field of interdisciplinary bioengineering, understanding and resolution capability of issues within researches, capacity of thesis preparation and seminar attendance.
  Details concerning 40% above shall be stipulated by the faculty council of the department.
• (3)Upon publication of articles, the credits concerning the author's contribution shall be recognized for 100% in cases of the first author or co-first author, 20% in cases of the second author and 20% for others.

7.1 Requirements for conferment of master's degree shall be as follows:

• (1)21 course credits (including 3 credits from required major courses and 3 credits from required elective courses) and 7 research credits shall be completed.
• (2)A candidate shall pass the review of master's thesis by the Thesis Committee comprised of 3 members.
• (3)Notwithstanding the above, when a candidate passes the review by taking the Q.E within 3 semesters after admitted to the master’s program, he/she can be transferred to the integrated master/doctoral program following the deliberation by the Graduate Board.

7.2 In cases where a student admitted to the integrated master/doctoral program fails to pass the Q.E. or is deemed inapt for learning ability by the Thesis Committee, he/she shall graduate with the master’s degree. In such cases, the requirements for conferment of master’s degree shall be the same as the cases admitted as a master.