Ph.D. in Public Management
1. Requirements for the doctorate
To obtain the degree, doctoral students must be enrolled in this program (positioned as second-half of doctoral degree program) for at least three years but not exceeding six years. For those who have submitted a dissertation after completion of research under guidance prescribed below and other requirements, and have passed the dissertation evaluation including dissertation defense, the doctorate (Ph.D. in Public Management) will be conferred.
Regarding the three-year enrollment requirement above, those who demonstrate outstanding performance as acknowledged by the Okuma School of Public Management Steering Committee, may only have to be enrolled in the doctoral degree program (which comprises the first half and the second half) for at least three years. In this case, those who had been enrolled in and completed the master’s degree program or professional master’s degree program can include the enrollment period of these programs.
2. Research guidance
A doctoral student in the Okuma School of Public Management receives research advice from not just one academic supervisor but from multiple faculty members. A three-member supervisory committee is set up after full consideration of the candidate’s research topic. A student may petition the replacement of committee members during a specified period as his/her research progresses.
In order to apply for the replacement of commitee members, please see the application procedure from here.
3. Report on research progress
Students are required to submit reports describing their research progress to the Supervisory Committee each year (not applicable during leave of absence or study abroad) through the Office of the Okuma School. A report (designated format downloadable from below) must be approximately 5,000 characters in Japanese or 1,500 words in English, and must be submitted to the Office of the Okuma School by the following deadline;
Students enrolled in April … 10th of April in each academic year (except the academic year enrolled)
Students enrolled in September … 1st of October in each academic year (except the academic year enrolled)
Oral Presentation of the Report-Optional
Upon submission of the report on research progress, a classroom (Building No. 26, Classroom No. 803) will be available for a limited period of time for the students’ oral presentation of their reports to the Supervisory Committee by request either from the students or from the academic supervisor(s).Period for Oral Presentation:
Students enrolled in April… 2nd of April to 1st of May (except Sunday and National Holiday)
Students enrolled in September… 21st of September to 31st of October (except Sunday and National Holiday)
4. Overseas Research (Optional for Overseas Students)
At appropriate stage(s) of the research, students are required to conduct research activities abroad (research/study activities at overseas universities, research institutions and other organizations) for an appropriate period of time, upon approval by the Supervisory Committee. The plan of overseas research activities should be prepared under the guidance and instruction of the academic supervisor（s）.
After returning to Japan, students must submit a written report on their overseas research (report form downloadable from below) to the Office of the Okuma School. The report should be prepared under the guidance of the academic supervisor(s).
The Okuma School will subsidize the overseas research, provided the research plan meets the following conditions;
Overview
The Okuma School subsidy will cover tuition fees, program fees and other fees which are incidental to the overseas research up to the amount of approximately 500,000 yen per academic year.
The necessary paperwork for the payment of fees (International Wire Transfer) will be handled by the Office of the Okuma School.
Application Criteria
Ph.D. candidates of the Okuma School (not applicable during leave of absence or study abroad)
Application Deadline
Approximately three (3) month prior to the expected starting date (Contact the Office of the Okuma School after obtaining approval of the Supervisory Committee)
Coverage of Subsidy Support
Subsidy is available to cover only those expenses regarding overseas research that fall under one of the following categories and upon approval of the Okuma School of Public Management Steering Committee;
1. Fee(s) to be charged for the visiting scholar program or other types of visiting programs at universities or research institutions overseas
2. Fee(s) to be charged for working under the mentorship of a faculty member or a practitioner at universities or research institutions overseas
3. Fee(s) to be charged for participating in a research group, field work or field research program at universities or research institutions overseas (participating in a doctoral level graduate program is required)
4. Fee(s) to be charged for participating in an overseas academic congress and other international conference in the capacity of presenter
5. Fee(s) to be charged for participating in a special educational program conducive to the student’s doctoral research offered at universities or research institutions overseas
Expenses Not Covered by Subsidy Support
1. Activities conducted in Japan
2. Necessary expenditures for traveling and staying overseas, such as airfare, hotel costs and living expenses
3. Expenditures for field research which is planned and conducted by students themselves
4. Fee(s) for participating in English Language Programs at universities or research institutions overseas
5. Fee(s) for participating in classes for undergraduate or master’s degree students, or any programs which do not meet the doctoral program requirement of the Okuma School
Research at Affiliated Universities Overseas
The Okuma School has established highly cooperative relationships with major universities overseas. It is one of doctoral students’ options to conduct their overseas research at those affiliated universities of the Okuma School. If you are planning to visit these universities, contact the Office of the Okuma School approximately six (6) months prior to the expected start date, after gaining the approval of the Supervisory Committee.[Notice]
The applicants will be judged for acceptance by affiliated universities on their criteria. A recommendation from the Okuma School should not be regarded to guarantee his/her acceptance.
In case of the affiliated universities, the Office of the Okuma School will negotiate on doctoral students’ behalf, and handle necessary paperwork (including the International Wire Transfer of program fee) for their acceptance with affiliated universities. However, the actual preparation for students’ overseas research, such as an appointment with the mentor, consultation of your research topic, arrangements of schedule for field research and so on, must be handled by students themselves.
[Types of Documents Necessary for Application]
Students need to prepare application documents required by the affiliated universities request. The following are the examples of most basic documents which you are likely to be asked to prepare (needs to be prepared in English or the language used in visiting institutions. The Okuma School do NOT accommodate students’ request for translation);
1. Curriculum vitae
2. A plan of research (five to ten pages in Word document format)
3. A letter of recommendation from his or her academic supervisor
4. Proof of sufficient funding to cover the expenses
5. Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
6. Optional documents that list the student’s your academic accomplishments and achievements
[Affiliated Universities Overseas with Past History of Acceptance]
| University | Country | Program Fee |
| Portland State University Mark O. Hatfield School of Government | USA | 2000 - 5000 USD |
| New York University The Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service | USA | 2000 USD |
| Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences | China | 7000 RMB |
5. Pre Dissertation Defense Colloquium
Before submitting the dissertation for evaluation, a student must apply for the holding of Pre Dissertation Defense Colloquium upon approval of the Supervisory Committee and successfully pass it.
* The colloquiums are open to faculty, academic staff, and students.
* The student’s presentation is to be approximately one hour in length, and will be followed by a question and answer session of similar duration.
* Three faculty members of the Supervisory Committee and at least two others, either faculty members of the Okuma School of Public Management or outside experts whom the Supervisory Committee selects, attend the colloquium and conduct the evaluation.
* The student’s research will be given a "pass" or "fail" grade after the evaluation. A pass grade is required to apply for a dissertation evaluation. In case of “fail”, the student may apply for the Pre Dissertation Defense Colloquium to be held at a later date upon approval of the Supervisory Committee for another evaluation.
In order to apply for the Pre Dissertation Defense Colloquium, please see the application procedure from here.
6. Academic Paper published in a reviewed journal
Before submitting the dissertation for evaluation, the applicant must have at least one academic paper published in a reviewed journal or at least one book, academic paper or other published material equivalent to it.
7. Submission of the doctoral dissertation
The following criteria must be met before submitting a dissertation.
* The Pre Dissertation Defense Colloquium is successfully passed.
* The applicant has at least one academic paper published in a reviewed journal.
* A report on the overseas research is submitted to the Supervisory Committee.
For those who have submitted a dissertation upon fulfilling the above requirements, and have passed the dissertation evaluation including dissertation defense, and voted favorably in the Okuma School of Public Management Steering Committee, will be conferred the doctorate (Ph.D. in Public Management).
In order to submit a dissertation, please see the application procedure from here.