Ideals and Objectives
Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine aims to be an international center for the nurturing of medical researchers who, in addition to a profound understanding of their area of specialization, are also endowed with a robust base of knowledge ranging from fundamental biology to clinical and social medicine. Our graduate course has the following notable features:
- We approach medicine as an integrated field, based in Researcher conducting experiment at open lab life science and science and engineering, and dealing with human health and diseases.
- We endeavor to understand the principles of life phenomena, the causes of diseases and pathological conditions.
- We apply the results of research to advanced medical care and the prevention of diseases.
Admission policy
Professional Degree Program in School of Public Health
This program is structured specifically for students who wish to seek a future in public health, medicine or welfare, as an educator or technical specialist. Students enrolled in this program will receive training to acquire knowledge, technical skills and professionalism in the field of Public Health. Upon completion of training, graduates will be able to detect, evaluate, analyze and problem-solve the many public health issues that plague the “health of our society” today. Because the program provides an assortment of academic fields to specialize in—everything from the natural sciences to human social science—our policy on admissions are very open, and qualified individuals from all walks of life are encouraged to apply. We welcome highly motivated applicants from various academic disciplines who display a strong conviction to be an advanced professional or educator/researcher in health, medicine, and welfare in Japan and abroad.
Management of Technology and Intellectual Property Course (Est. 2004)
Japan is quickly becoming oriented to the international race for intellectual property rights and is active in the application of patents in the medical field. Therefore, Japan is in need of advanced professionals who can secure and manage the intellectual property rights of advanced medical research initiatives when they bear fruit. Applicants eager to pursue a future in intellectual asset management are encouraged to apply.
Clinical Researcher Training Course (Master of Clinical Research, MCR; Est. 2005)
The MCR is an intensive 1-year program designed specifically for medical doctors and dentists. Until now, the majority of medical research conducted in Japan revolved primarily around the life sciences; however, there is a growing understanding now on the importance of human and population based clinical studies. The MCR is the first program of its kind to be offered in Japan, and is devoted to training medical professionals who will assume future careers as physician-scientists. Applications are openly welcome from individuals who have nurtured an interest in conducting clinical research based on their own clinical experiences.
Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Unit (Est. 2006)
In actuality, this program stems from two distinct courses: the Genetic Counseling Course and the Clinical Research Unit. Our mission is to train genetic counselors and clinical research coordinators who are intellectually capable, are well-versed, and can lead future initiatives in frontier medicine. Using the skills honed in these programs, our graduates will serve as an interface between novel medical techniques and those who will directly benefit from these techniques (patients, families, and research subjects). Individuals with a strong pioneering spirit and eager to conduct frontier clinical research are encouraged to apply.
Doctoral (PhD) Program in School of Public Health
This course aims at developing researchers who will focus on the detection, evaluation, analysis, and resolution of the countless health issues that compromise “the health of society”. Students who complete this course are expected to engage in advanced education/research initiatives in public health, medicine, and welfare not only in Japan, but in other countries as well. This course is truly multidisciplinary, covering an assortment of fields from the natural sciences to the human social sciences. Therefore, we welcome applicants carious academic backgrounds who are eager to perform research on public health issues.
Curriculum Policy
Curriculum in School of Public Health
The professional degree program offered under the School of Public Health is designed to develop multifaceted professionals who will pursue a career in public health, medicine or welfare. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to detect, evaluate, analyze and problem-solve the many public health issues that threaten the health of society’s key component—the individual. To develop fully capable professionals, we offer a curriculum based on comprehensive instruction in the fundamental subjects, training to apply acquired knowledge to real-world situations, and hands-on training. Instruction in the “fundamental subjects” implies the core principles (epidemiology, medical statistics, environmental science, administration/management, and social science) of science that all experts hold as common ground in the field of Public Health. For graduates with no background in medicine, we provide extensive training in subjects covering basic and clinical medical subjects. In addition to providing instruction on the fundamental principles of medicine, we offer “applied learning” which comes in the form of diverse electives and includes everything from courses in the frontier medical sciences to human social sciences. In terms of “practical training,” every student is assigned a topic for a subjective study. Under this segment of training, students will plan a project, evaluate the ethical considerations, conduct experiments and present their findings in the same fashion as professional researchers.
To augment the traditional, systematic coursework and curricula, the School of Public Health established three special training courses to develop professionals in highly technical fields.
Management of Technology and Intellectual Property Course
This course was established for the sole purpose of developing professionals who can manage the end product of frontier medical research, as intellectual assets. Students electing this course will acquire specialized knowledge in intellectual property rights and technical management practices. In order to develop highly qualified professionals, the Management of Technology and Intellectual Course provides practical training in patenting, establishing an invention, screening for existing patents, making invoices, business planning and contract writing, in addition to standard classroom instruction in biology, medicine, technical management and law (intellectual property law, patent law).
Clinical Researcher Training Course (Master of Clinical Research, MCR)
Designed specifically for medical doctors and dentists, the Clinical Researcher Training Course is a one-year intensive course to develop highly qualified clinically-oriented epidemiological researchers. Upon graduation, students enrolled under this program will be highly proficient in erecting a concept for a clinical research project based on their own personal experiences, and establish relevant research protocols, manage and conduct experiments, analyze data, interpret the results and prepare a manuscript detailing the contents of the project.
Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Unit
This is a combined program composed by the Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Units. In either unit, the mission is to train genetic counselors and clinical research coordinators who are intellectually capable, well-versed, and can lead future initiatives in frontier medicine. Graduates will serve as an interface between novel medical/therapeutic techniques, and their beneficiaries (patients, families, and research subjects). Through a combination of traditional classroom instruction and practical training, graduates of the Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research Units will have acquired the knowledge and skills required to successfully negotiate the Certified Genetic Counselor examination and Clinical Coordinator certification examination (administered by the Japan Clinical Pharmacology Association), respectively.
The doctoral (PhD) degree program offered under the School of Public Health is designed to provide training in all essential subject areas and technical skills, and strengthens the mental fortitude of degree candidates who seek a future in Public Health. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to detect, evaluate, analyze and problem-solve the many public health issues that threaten the health of society’s key component—the individual. The expectations that society has of Public Health professionals are high. Therefore, the PhD curriculum is content in offering advanced education and training initiatives in public health that will make its graduates competitive on the global arena. PhD candidates who did not complete the professional degree program offered at the Kyoto University School of Public Health, are obligated to complete coursework in the core subject areas (epidemiology, medical statistics, environmental science, administration/management, and social science). PhD candidates with no background in medicine will also be required to complete courses in basic medicine and clinical medicine in order to ensure the high standard of quality that graduates of Kyoto University are synonymous for.
Diploma Policy
Degrees in School of Public Health
Candidates applying for a professional degree under the Public Health program must receive 2+ years of training, and complete at least 30 units in subject courses (in addition to completing subjective studies). Those enrolled under the “special course” must meet additional requirements regarding compulsory courses. The topic of the subjective study shall be determined by—and executed at—the laboratory in which the candidate resides. Subjective studies will mold a solid concept of research in degree candidates via intensive first-hand training in establishing research protocols, data acquisition and analysis, and interpreting the results of a study. In addition to completing the required coursework and subjective study, candidates must pass an oral thesis defense in order to be conferred upon the professional degree in Public Health.
Candidates under the Public Health PhD program must be enrolled and receive training for a period of 3+ years, in which time candidates will be responsible for completing required coursework. The minimum amount of coursework units required for graduation depends upon a candidate’s academic background. Holders of professional degrees awarded in Public Health by Kyoto University need only complete 6 units of coursework. For graduates of institutions other than Kyoto University: those awarded degrees in subjects related to Medicine must complete 13 or more units, and those awarded degrees in non-medical subject areas must complete 19 or more units. Additionally, PhD candidates must have a manuscript published (as the first author) in a peer-reviewed international scientific journal of prominent standing and are required to undergo an oral thesis defense on the candidate’s published work prior to being awarded the PhD degree.