There are two types of doctoral degrees: a doctoral degree by coursework and thesis and a doctoral degree by thesis only.

• Doctoral degree by coursework and thesis（甲KOU）: For students who have submitted a doctoral thesis while enrolled in the doctoral program (including when they are re-enrolled after once or being expelled from graduate school) and have been awarded a doctoral degree

• Doctoral degree by thesis only（乙OTSU）: For students who are not enrolled in the doctoral program and who have passed the review of their doctoral thesis and the final examination and have been awarded a doctoral degree after it has been confirmed that they have academic ability equivalent to or greater than those who have completed the doctoral program in their academic area of specialization

When the academic supervisor and co-supervisor are determined, students should confirm with them about the details on the submission requirements.

Submission requirements for a doctoral degree thesis (甲KOU) 【PDF】

At Toyo University, a doctoral degree thesis （甲KOU） is rigorously reviewed according to the following criteria.

Review criteria for a doctoral degree thesis （甲KOU）【PDF】

1. Students who submit a doctoral degree thesis while enrolled in the doctoral program based on Article 5 of the Toyo University Degree Regulations according to the instructions of their academic supervisors are required to enter necessary information on the Application for a doctoral degree and other forms designated by the university after confirming the submission requirements for a doctoral degree thesis (甲KOU)【PDF】and to submit the forms with the doctoral degree thesis to the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools. The submission schedule in this academic year is described below. Since advanced research results are required for a doctoral degree thesis, students are required to fully consult with their academic supervisors on the submission.

＜AY2024 Submission schedule of a doctoral degree thesis（KOU）＞

• Completion in September : Documents distributed– 5/8 (Wed), 2024  10:00 – 13:00, 14:00 ~ 18:00

　　* Saturdays:10:00 ~ 12:30

• Completion in March : Documents distributed – 11/6 (Wed), 2024  10:00 – 13:00, 14:00 ~ 18:00

　　* Saturdays:10:00 ~ 12:30

2. Documents necessary for the submission of a doctoral thesis such as guidelines and designated forms will be distributed at the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools 2 months before the submission deadline.

The documents will be distributed to students after their academic supervisor notifies the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools that the student is authorized to submit a doctoral degree thesis. Therefore, the student is required to visit the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools to receive the necessary documents after confirming that their supervisor has already informed the office of your authorization.

Documents to be submitted

• Doctoral degree thesis (It must be produced in A4 size. Writing a doctoral thesis, students are required to consult with academic supervisors and follow the instructions with respect to the form and the number of pages, as they are not officially specified.)

• Doctoral degree thesis abstract

• Resume/Research Achievement Form

• Others Students are required to carefully read the instruction distributed by the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools 2 months before the submission deadline.)

Notes

• When students include their books, translations, or papers written in collaboration with co-authors as research achievements required for submission of a doctoral degree thesis, the “co-authors’ agreement” form distributed by the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools must be submitted after having their coauthors affix their signatures and personal seals on it.

• Students should be charged thesis review fees (20,000yen). Students are required to pay the fees according to the instructions of the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools.

When accepting a doctoral degree thesis, the graduate school committee elects an academic supervisor and 2 or more instructors in charge of courses related to the relevant thesis (an instructor in charge of research advising must be included) as thesis examiners. One of them is appointed as the chief thesis examiner and the rest of them as deputy thesis examiners through discussions among the committee members. Moreover, instructors in charge of courses related to the relevant thesis and other members (including adjunct lecturers) may be added as deputy thesis examiners through discussions among the committee members, if this is necessary for the review of the thesis.

The review of a doctoral degree thesis, and the final examination or inquiry to confirm the academic ability of the relevant student, will be completed within one year after the acceptance of the doctoral thesis.

The pass-fail judgment of a doctoral degree thesis is made in a comprehensive manner based on the results of the review of the thesis and the final examination. For students whose thesis has passed the review and the final examination, the pass-judgment is disclosed through the announcement of students who are recognized to have met the completion requirements established by their graduate school and course.

Students who have been awarded a doctoral degree are required to publish the entire thesis and the abstract related to the awarded doctoral degree within 1 year after the date when they were awarded the doctoral degree.  However, if there is an unavoidable reason, they may be able to publish a summary of the thesis related to the awarded doctoral degree instead of the entire thesis after gaining approval from the graduate school committee. In such case, Toyo University makes the entire thesis available for public perusal when requested to do so.

The publication of the thesis will be done through the university’s institutional repository.

1. Eligible persons are those who are “not enrolled in the doctoral program” and submit a doctoral degree thesis based on Article 6 of the Toyo University Degree Regulations.

2. Persons who intend to submit a doctoral degree thesis (乙OTSU) are required to consult the course chair in advance to confirm whether their thesis can be reviewed by the course instructors and whether their thesis meets the submission requirements.

3. Persons who are allowed by the course chair to submit their thesis are required to receive necessary forms at the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools, enter necessary information on the forms, and submit them with their doctoral degree thesis to the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools.

4. Although the submission deadline for a doctoral degree thesis (乙OTSU) is not specifically set, persons are required to notify the Education Affairs Section for Graduate Schools of the submission of the thesis in advance. 

At Toyo University, a doctoral degree thesis （乙OTSU） is rigorously reviewed according to the following criteria.

Review criteria for a doctoral degree thesis （乙OTSU）【PDF】