Japanese Humanities

The International Master’s Program (IMAP) in Japanese Humanities welcomes a select group of international and local students to pursue an M.A. degree. The IMAP in Japanese Humanities offers courses in the fields of history, art history and visual culture, religion, premodern Japanese (kanbun and bungo), geography, linguistics, methodologies for selected research fields, and other facets of the humanities. Courses cover all historical periods; however, the emphasis is on premodern Japan and its relationship to East Asia. The program offers closely supervised instruction and rigorous small seminars in English customized to meet students’ long-term academic goals. Students may also enroll in Japanese- and English-taught courses offered by other departments in Kyushu University. The culmination of the program is a Master’s thesis in English featuring independent research. Proximity to cultural and historical resources and full access to the educational benefits and facilities of a world-class Japanese university are a hallmark of the program.

FIRST YEAR

• Japan: A History to 1600
• Research, Readings, and Methods I
• Topics in Japanese History I, or
• Topics in Japanese Literature I, or
• Topics in Japanese Art and Architectural History I
• History and Visual Culture Fieldwork
• Experiencing Kyushu Culture and History in Situ
• Japan: Arts and Visual Cultures
• Research, Readings, and Methods II
• Electives

SECOND YEAR

• Master’s Thesis Guidance
• Experiencing Kyushu Culture and History in Situ
• Electives

• Applicants for the IMAP in Japanese Humanities must have received a BA degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution by the end of September, 2017. Prospective students must have strong skills in English, the language used for all courses in the program.
• Academic essay
• Two letters of recommendation
• Submit an official graduation certificate issued by the last university attended. Photocopies with an official seal or imprint are acceptable.
• Submit official academic transcripts from all universities or equivalent institutions attended. Photocopies with an official seal or imprint are acceptable.
• Submit test results or other relevant documents (TOEFL [P, C, I], TOEIC, IELTS, CAMBRIDGE). Photocopies are acceptable. These tests should not have been taken more than two years before the time of application. 
• Applicants must pay a 30,000-yen application fee and include a receipt providing evidence of payment together with the application materials. Only MEXT Scholarship Students are exempted from paying the application fee; they should enclose a MEXT Scholarship Student Certificate instead.

Scholarships

• MEXT Scholarship

Living expenses vary from individual to individual. The approximate monthly cost of international student life in Fukuoka at a modest but adequate standard is as follows (in Japanese yen):

• Accommodation and utilities 30,000 - 60,000
• Food 30,000 - 45,000
• Miscellaneous (books, supplies, travel, etc.) 10,000 - 20,000
• TOTAL 70,000 - 125,000

Additionally, all first-year IMAP students are required to enroll in History and Visual Culture Fieldwork during the fall term. This research excursion is partially subsidized; students are required to contribute a fee (ca. 45,000 yen).