The University of Tsukuba was established in 1973 as the first comprehensive university in post-WWII Japan to spearhead nation-wide university reform policy. The main campus is located in the northern part of Tsukuba City, 60 km northeast of Tokyo with one of the largest campuses of the country (2,700 hectares). The City center is only 45 minutes from Tokyo by train or bus. There are direct bus services to the Narita International Airport, the Haneda Airport, and Tokyo Disneyland!
The University has emphasized openness, innovative systems for education and research, and new university self-governance in undertaking the reform policy. Through its unique curriculum and research incentives, it has cultivated many leaders and scholars with advanced knowledge. The size of the University has expanded since its foundation and, as of May 2019, 9,840 undergraduate students and 6,685 graduate students are studying in two campuses. Among them were 2,822 international students from 119 countries. The total number of faculty members is 1860.
We have always strived to be a unique, active, and internationally competitive university with superlative education and research facilities. Our effort has proved to be successful as the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology recognized in 2009 our University as one of the thirteen “leading universities” in Japan. The University has produced three Nobel Prize laureates in physics and chemistry along with many distinguished scholars in sciences and humanities. Our distinguished kinesiology and sports department has produced several Olympic medalists.
Another distinctive characteristic of the University is to have many affiliated universities and several overseas offices throughout the world. As of June 2020, there are more than 392 Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs), which encompass 70 countries.
Tsukuba City is known as “Science City,” as it houses more than more than 300 leading research institutions or about 40% of Japan’s research institutions. These include the National Institute for Environmental Studies, the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. A close collaboration has been established between these research institutions and the University of Tsukuba through joint course/program at graduate levels such as the Cooperative Graduate School System for the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences and the Doctoral Program in Sustainable Environmental Studies with the National Institute for Environmental Studies.
The University of Tsukuba has the on-campus industrial liaison center, which facilitates R&D cooperation between academic institutions and a number of on-campus venture companies. As of 2019, the University had launched about 147 businesses, one of the largest numbers in Japan, (e.g., software, biomass conversion substances of biological resources, and medical analysis equipment). The University also has about 30 inter-departmental education institutes, including the Agricultural and Forestry Research Center, the Terrestrial Environment Center, the Shimoda Marine Research Center, and the Gene Research Center.
In April 2020, the University of Tsukuba established the new graduate school system by incorporating 85 graduate programs into three schools. The Graduate School of Science and Technology is one of them. It consists of 21 master’s programs and 21 doctoral programs, including life and earth sciences, systems and information engineering, and pure and applied sciences. Of these, 35 programs, including the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences and the Doctoral Program of Environmental Studies, offer courses in English so that students can complete their degrees without learning Japanese. In order to improve our education quality for students, the University established the Office of Quality Management for Teaching and Learning. This is one of the very best places to advance your professional knowledge in sciences and technologies in Asia.
(a) Building the Foundation
After admission, JDS Fellows will belong to the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences, and they will set out the process of acquiring master’s degree in environmental sciences in two years. In order to receive the degree, they need to acquire 30 credits or more from the courses that are recognized by the Master’s Program. They also complete master’s thesis and pass oral examination.
One unique aspect of our Master’s Program is that compulsory seminar and fieldwork courses encompass wide-ranging topics, including sustainability studies, remote sensing, waste management, environmental engineering, environmental economics, meteorology, forestry, ecology, agricultural policies, biology, soil sciences, and environmental leadership and ethics. Here students have rare opportunities to understand that rural/urban developments and environmental issues are interconnected. This education process is uniquely heightened by a set of field activities, in which students learn how to examine some specific case in the field within this interconnected context.
(b) Road to Becoming Leader/Expert
With this basic training as their intellectual foundation, students then focus on some specific topics for their research interests. Here JDS Fellows can choose to take a certificate program called “Sustainability Science, Technology, and Policy (SUSTEP).” This aims to foster global leaders in sustainability related science with broader interdisciplinary understanding. After completing requirements, a student will receive a certificate and a diploma supplement. The supplement verifies the contents of student’s learning history, including
GPA.
Another distinctive feature of the SUSTEP program is that students have rare opportunities to meet and interact with distinguished leaders and experts from not only Japan but also Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries at seminars the SUSTEP Program organizes a few times each year. Through these opportunities, JDS Fellows can establish international networks that can benefit their future career development.
However, global leadership and expertise do not simply mean that students take courses and listen or go abroad for conferences. In our degree program, JDS Fellows actively participate in learning processes. We provide courses that foster their presentation, writing and debating skills in English. The quality of these courses can match the ones at North American graduate schools. In 2020, the SUSTEP program receive University President’s award for its excellent in teaching and research. In addition, JDS Fellows can take academic writing seminars for writing reports and journal articles in English.
Our educational activities for the JDS Special Program have focused and will focus on four major areas: (1) academic seminar, (2) overseas seminars and field surveys, (3) internship trips in Japan, and (4) the improvement of the educational environment. Each year the SUSTEP Committee of the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences discuss and decide detailed plans for seminars and activities that meet the needs of JDS Fellows. This “tailor-made” practice has become norm among our committee members.
(1) For the international seminars, we invite distinguished experts from renowned universities or research institutions. In these seminars, JDS Fellows not only listen to lectures but present their research topics. The students then receive comments on their presentations from these guest experts so that the Fellows can improve their researches and capacities. This interaction also means to expand the Fellows’ academic networks, which can be useful after their graduation.
(2) If necessary, JDS Fellows will travel to the country/region to enhance knowledge about their theses research topics with at least one faculty member of the University of Tsukuba. There they learn how to conduct research and survey for data collection. Also, faculty members will establish/maintain the network with JDS alumni in order to self-evaluate the effectiveness of our JDS Special Program. This will provide opportunity to improve our program for JDS Fellows.
(3) The SUSTEP program committee will organize domestic internships that meet the research interests of JDS Fellows each year. In the past, we have taken JDS Fellows to places where they could observe and examine the issues that are related to Japanese waste treatment facilities, recycling technology and policies, forest conservation, protected area policies, rural development, biodiversity and Satoyama, local environmental conservation and traditional knowledge, tourism and local economy, environmental disaster prevention and public works policies, urban planning, pollution, climate change and energy problems. As the city of Tsukuba has about 40% of Japan’s national research institutions, and as our faculty members have collaborative relationships with some of them, we sometimes organize internships in collaboration with them.
(4) In the last ten years, the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences has managed webpages that are specifically designed for JDS Fellows. The webpages have provided information for current JDS Fellows, graduates, and prospective Fellows. In 2012, the English version of the official website for the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences was renewed to enhance teaching capacity. In 2014, we uploaded another website for the SUSTEP program along with our promotion video (available also in YouTube). The video was made entirely by our students and faculty members. By using the websites, JDS and other students can now receive course information, reading materials and important news about courses. We intend to improve the quality of on-line accessibility and the education environment for JDS Fellows.
Another good news for upcoming JDS Fellows to our Program is that the entire building that our program uses (Natural Science Buildings) is completely renovated with enhanced earthquakes resistance and security. The Fellows have a free Wi-Fi access in their study rooms. There is also a lounge space with kitchen facility. Laboratories and classrooms are designed for multiple purposes to facilitate group discussion or study.
For all students who belong to the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences, the basic requirement for course work is to take 30 credits or more, including 18 credits from compulsory courses. Most of the compulsory courses are directly relevant to thesis completion, which is also required to complete the degree.
(1) Applied Environmental Ethics (Introduction to English Presentation and Debate); (2) Climate System Study I; (3) Ecological Soil Science; (4) Environmental Analytical Chemistry; (5) Environmental Analysis and planning; (6) Environmental Field Appraisal; (7) Environmental Health Perspective; (8) Environmental Law; (9) Environmental Microbiology; (10) Environmental Psychology; (11) Environmental Science Practicum I; (12) Environmental Science Practicum II; (13) Environmental Science Practicum III; (14) International Field Appraisal I; (15) International Field Appraisal II; (16) Introduction to Ecology; (17) Introduction to Environmental Policy; (18) Introduction to Environmental Stress; (19) Introduction to Waste Management; (20) Introduction to Water Environment; (21) Landscape Planning; (22) Remote Sensing; (23) Simulation of Environmental Policy; (24) Soil and Water Environmental Colloid Science; (25) Solid Waste Management Systems Planning; (26) Terrestrial Ecology; (27) Utilization and Recycling of Bio-resources; (28) Vegetation Science.
*In alphabetical order by course title.
Please visit： http://www.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/~jds/people03.html
The Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences has adopted the advisory committee system for the instruction of individual study/research. The standard time frame for the completion of the Program is two years or four semesters. The following table shows the academic schedule that is applied to JDS Fellows:
| Pre-admission |
| Orientation (curriculum, campus life, etc.) |
| First Year (October 2021-March 2022) |
Fall semester (October-March)
|
| SECOND YEAR (April 2022-March 2023) |
Spring semester (April-September)
|
| THIRD YEAR (April-September 2023) |
Spring semester (April-September):
|
| GRADUATION (September) |
Accommodation
On the main Tsukuba campus, where JDS Fellows study, there are 67 student residence buildings, which can accommodate about 3,777 rooms. It is possible that all full-time students, including JDS Fellows, can find a room, if they wish. These housing complexes are conveniently located within the campus. Other apartments are available in close proximity from the campus.
Library: The Best in Japan
The University of Tsukuba libraries hold about 2,700,000books (more than 1,046,000 foreign language books) and 32,756 e-journals. This open-access holding is the largest in Japan. There are also 31 research databases and 35,230 e-book titles (non-Japanese title 33,661). The library website uses OPAC search catalogue, which allows to explore all forms of information (e.g., newspaper articles, magazine, journal articles, and electronic resources) by simple keywords. Considering that Japanese libraries tend to have relatively small collection of books in English, our university libraries offer the best research conditions in English. The main library offers guidance for researchers and students in both English and Japanese.
The Division of Student Exchange
The Division of Student Exchange of the University of Tsukuba is one of the largest international student support facilities among national universities in Japan, offering wide-ranging services. It offers a good range of courses on Japanese language and culture. Past JDS Fellows have taken some of these courses. Another service is the consultation for international students, including concerns about their job search and living. The Center’s full-time faculty members and office personnel regularly consult students. The Center also provides information and services for those who are interested in studying at the University of Tsukuba.
World-class Sport Facilities
The University of Tsukuba has provided world-class sport facilities for many Olympic athletes on campus. Not only Olympians but also many other athletes joined professional sports as well. Some of these facilities, including swimming pool, track fields, and gymnasiums are open to all students. Some JDS Fellows have regularly taken advantage of these facilities.
Message to Future JDS Fellows
In March, when you are selected as a JDS Fellow from your country, it is time for you to think about your thesis research supervisor. Then you wonder, other than webpages, what information you can obtain about our teaching staff. If you are not certain yet, you may contact the SUSTEP office for more information. You can also contact our teaching staff directly. Or you may ask other students for suggestion. When you come to our campus in September, and start taking courses in the next month, you can also meet and discuss with potential professors in person before finalizing your decision. In all these processes, we are happy to assist your lifetime choice. But let’s remember the decision is yours.
In two years from this time, or late July of your second year, you will experience the fruit of your hard work. You will be standing in front of a podium and presenting about the results of your research. The audience includes those professors who taught you. You may recollect then how you started out this master’s studies. Comparing to that time, you can now see how much you have accomplished and how much your capacity has been expanded. You can communicate with us about their advanced knowledge you attained through your laborious research in English almost fluently. Your face shows confidence. All audiences now listen to you carefully and learn from you. You will see a glimpse of your future as a global leader. This is probably what you expect to have from our program in two years, a very small fraction of your lifetime.
Ms. Vo Hoang Ha, JDS 2017 -2019, College of Economics, Hue University
“Being a member of the JDS community has given me a precious opportunity to be immersed in the professional academic environment and to explore the unique culture in the land of the rising sun. My knowledge and research skills have been greatly improved by virtue of the dedicated guidance of renowned professors who always know how to inspire and arouse the creativity of learners. Although feeling pressure from studying sometimes, it can gently be released by wallowing in the fascinating natural landscapes and peculiar traditional festivals. Apart from that it also gave me many favourable opportunities to enrich my social network by making friends with other JDS members through events arranged by JICE. Two years studying in Japan like a journey, not so long but enough for me to be stronger and more confident for confronting the challenges ahead.”
JDS fellows 2019-2021 introduced their life at University of Tsukuba, please follow the link to view VIDEO
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