Policies for Doctoral Program

Admission policy

Kochi University of Technology's objective is 'Making KUT a world class university through the pursuit of unique excellence'. We are inviting those who understand this objective, who have a desire to study, and who have strong will and aspire to become advanced engineers or researchers so as to take an active role in society in the future.
We are hoping to accept students who 1) understand the educational policy and objectives of each course, 2) have strong interest, motivation and sense of purpose in the technical field and 3) have the basic academic skill necessary for study at KUT Graduate School of Engineering.

Curriculum policy

In their research in KUT's doctoral program, each student proactively and creatively undertakes unique and original research in collaboration with his/her main and sub supervisors, with expected social and academic contributions. In the process, they develop logical thinking, objective perception, technical expertise and research capability in cutting edge research fields.

During the core studies course work, doctoral students improve their ability to transmit information, write academic papers and communicate in the foreign languages necessary for playing an active role in the international arena. On the other hand, in specialized area courses, in addition to acquiring advanced expertise and deepened understanding of their field, doctoral students broaden their perspective as they extensively explore the latest trends in cutting edge research fields. This enhances their capacity to play active roles in meeting global challenges in interdisciplinary work, fusion domains and emerging fields of science and technology. To develop informed competence in researcher ethics and engineering ethics, students are required to take E-learning course in ethics.

Engineering Course

This course is aiming at fostering advanced researchers and advanced engineers who can address various issues and take an engineering approach to the solution of problems faced by humanity in this globalizing world with its increasingly knowledge-based society. In their research, students 1) investigate advanced cutting edge research fields in a broad manner; 2) design and implement unique and creative research projects with academic and social value; and 3) disseminate their research outcomes in academic research papers internationally. All course work, which is done in English, broadens the students' awareness of cutting edge research fields other than their specialty, and improves their academic communication ability in terms of writing papers and giving presentation.

Entrepreneur Engineering Management Course

In our knowledge-based society, next generation core human resources are required who can create new knowledge, value and problem solving methodology on the basis of rich learning and comprehensive management capability, and thus can play active roles at various levels of society with its ever more complicated management environment. This course, connecting technology and knowledge from various fields to management studies, is aimed at the cultivation of human resources capable of accurate perception and appropriate response. The course is provided for mid-career people such as 1) engineers and core human resources who are playing leadership roles in companies; 2) mid-level employees who are aiming at company management roles; 3) entrepreneurs who are considering new businesses, second time start-ups, or business succession; 4) new generation managers who aim to start businesses; and 5) human resources from government and the private sector who can contribute to regional revitalization, regional management and public administration. In this course, students study methodologies for solving actual societal problems and ways of identifying them. The instructional approach uses living teaching materials such as practical business startups, business creation, organizational management, and administrative management. The courses, taught by various faculty members, range from the basics of management to applied management work. The courses and instructors are carefully selected on the basis of experience and achievement. The program aims to foster problem solving ability by offering global-point-of-view management related knowledge for practical usage in society; and by utilizing knowledge in various kinds of expertise based on new cross-sectional ideas. In particular, the students will be equipped to deal with practical situations 1) with the expertise in business administration that they have acquired, from the basics to applications; 2) with methodologies for solving actual societal problems and ways of identifying them that they have studied; and 3) through collaborative research with faculty members to theorize what they have learned concerning business creation and dealing with management problems. In short, the program aims to cultivate human resources who can identify issues, initiate projects, pursue business creation and the solution of management issues, and play active roles in the industrial arena and in society.

Special Course for Mid-career Professionals

In this course, engineers and researchers who already have significant achievements in research and development in companies, research institutions and universities can make significant career steps by obtaining a doctoral degree. As well as consolidating and summarizing their achievements to date, the students pursue research theme with newly acquired analytical and survey skills and write a dissertation. Regarding the length of the course, a year or more, rather than the standard three years, will be required, in principle. During the study period, students are required to complete intensive course work in both core and specialized area courses.

Diploma policy

The requirements for the completion of a doctoral program are 1) study in the relevant program for three years or longer, 2) 10 credits or more, and 3) successful completion (after receiving the necessary research guidance) of the doctoral dissertation review and examination provided by KUT graduate school.

A doctoral degree will be granted to: those who 1) demonstrate creativity, originality, and objectivity; and 2) have strong skills in logic, academic writing, international communication, engineering ethics and research ethics; and 3) either are recognized as having acquired advanced expertise in their field of specialization and accordingly can be expected to become active as advanced engineers in the future; or have achieved remarkable research outcomes and have acquired advanced research capability in a cutting edge research field.