Information Technology and Society in Asia

In 2008, the University of Tokyo launched a new International Master's/Doctoral Degree Program: Information, Technology, and Society in Asia (ITASIA) at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies (GSII). This program offers intensive graduate level education designed to foster analytical strength and insight into Asian societies and international relations, at a time when information and communication technology is having an increasingly profound impact on the region.

The program is tailored to both international and Japanese students who are motivated to pursue active professional careers on the regional and global stages. All instruction is given in English, so proficiency in Japanese is not a prerequisite. Unlike the conventional Japanese academic calendar, the academic year at ITASIA begins in October.

ITASIA is comprised of two degree programs: one that grants an M.A.S. (Master of Arts and Sciences) degree and the other a Ph.D. degree.

Students in the M.A.S. program are trained to grasp changing political, economic, and social realities of globalizing Asia through media, communication, and information studies together with the related methodology and skills, so that after graduation they can make appropriate judgments and recommendations in their respective professional environments. The M.A.S. program is appropriate for those interested in pursuing careers in public administration, media, business, and academic institutions.

Admissions decisions will be based on a written application that includes TOEFL and GRE scores, rather than on the customary entrance examination. In some cases the admissions committee also will conduct some kind of interview.

A certain number of scholarships will be made available based on merit.

Sample Elective Courses

* GraSPP: Graduate School of Public Policy
** GSHS: Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
*** GSE: Graduate School of Engineering
**** GSLP: Graduate Schools for Law and Politics
***** GSAS: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

S1: April 5 - June 3, 2016
S2: June 6 - August 1, 2016
A1: September 26 - November 18, 2016
A2: November 21, 2016 - January 26, 2017

Time slots: 1=8:30-10:15 2=10:25-12:10 3=13:00-14:45 4=14:55-16:40 5=16:50-18:35 6=18:45-20:30

• * Other courses in English, Japanese, or other languages at GSII are also open to ITASIA students.
• * A maximum of 8 credits may be acquired by taking courses in other departments of the University of Tokyo.

Other Educational Events

Master's Preliminary Presentation, Master's Qualifying Presentation

Tuition and Fees

(As of 2016, subject to changes)

Examination Fee

• 10,000 yen

* Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship students are exempt from the examination fee as well as the entrance fee and annual tuition.
* Those entering the Ph.D. program in September 2017 are exempt from the examination fee as well as the entrance fee if they earned a Master's or professional degree at the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo in September 2017.

Entrance Fee

• 282,000 yen

Annual Tuition

• 535,800 yen (M.A.S. program)
• 520,800 yen (Ph.D. program)

Requirements

• To be eligible for admission to the M.A.S. program, you must be a holder of a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent status
• M.A.S. program applicants must have completed at least the equivalent of 16 years of school education including university education. Applicants who have spent fewer than 16 years completing their elementary, middle, high school and university education must explain very clearly their academic history.
• CHECKLIST with signature (Form #1)
• APPLICATION (Form #2)
• Official proof of graduation and receipt of degree (*)(+) One official document of graduation and receipt of degree, certified with the seal/stamp of the university from which you graduated (Please do not send the original diploma.) M.A.S. program applicants must submit their Bachelor's certificate, and Ph.D. program applicants must submit both Bachelor's and Master's certificates. If it is impossible to obtain the certificate in time by any means, please contact the ITASIA Admissions Office as early as possible. Those who have not yet graduated from their course of study at the time of application are requested to submit an authorized statement of anticipated graduation.
• Official transcript (*)(+) An official transcript listing all courses and grades, certified with the seal/stamp of the university from which you graduated, or its registrar. If available, a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) would help the committee to assess your dossier. The GPA statement should be part of the official transcript, or, if separate, should bear an official university or registrar seal. It should include an explanation of the numerical values used to calculate the average.If available, an authorized certificate of class ranking may also be included.M.A.S. program applicants must submit their Bachelor's transcript, and Ph.D. program applicants must submit both their Bachelor's and Master's transcripts. (The "first cycle" in European and other universities as specified in the Bologna Declaration is regarded as equivalent to a Bachelor's program or course, and the "second cycle" is considered equivalent to a Master's program or course.)Applicants may request that their university send transcripts directly. If you choose to do so, please make note of that on Form #1 of your application, with the date you made the request.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Official Score Report
• GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) General Test Official Score Report
• One original of signed and sealed employer reference (optional)
• At least one sample of representative research work (for M.A.S. program applicants, Bachelor's thesis or a term-paper; for Ph.D. program applicants, Master's thesis or some other publication). If the applicant has not yet graduated at the time of application, an interim thesis report is acceptable.If an M.A.S. program applicant cannot submit either a thesis or a term-paper, then any other relevant research paper is required.If the applicant has a more suitable paper related to the intended research, then it may be submitted instead.If the work is not originally written in English, its summarized translation of a length of 3,000 words in English should be attached.This sample, and its summarized translation if applicable, must be submitted not only in a paper format but also as a PDF file that is burned on a CD, DVD, or USB media, unless the sample is a publication with an ISBN. The PDF file must contain accessible text data of the sample inside.
• One list of publications (if applicable)
• One copy of your census register, passport, or other proof of citizenship (Please do not send the original.)
• Three letters of recommendation including Form #3. They should be written in English or Japanese.Each letter, together with Form #3, must be prepared and sent by strictly following the instructions written in Form #3 in order to ensure confidentiality.They may be sent directly by the recommender to the ITASIA Admissions Office.At least two recommenders must be outside of the GSII.The application will not be reviewed without the letters of recommendation.
• One copy of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Result (optional)
• Three passport-style photographs (Please write your name on the back.)height: 4cm x width: 3cm, color photographs taken within the last six months, upper frontal view without hat, etc.
• One original of the Certificate of Remittance (Portion C of Form #4). All applicants must pay the examination fee before sending their application, unless they are Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship students or they expect to earn a Master's or professional degree at the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo (including the ITASIA program) in September 2017.If the payment is done at a bank in Japan using Form #4, the Certificate of Remittance (Portion C of Form #4) should be pasted on the designated place in Form #2.If the payment is done by the online method, please enclose the printed "Result" page. (Please see the separate instructions on ITASIA's website.)

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• MEXT Scholarship