G-SIGMA, University of Tsukuba

G-SIGMA is currently under application to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for establishment in April 2027, and the plan is subject to change.

Message

For Those Who Aspire to Explore New Possibilities

This graduate school aims to encompass all domains of inquiry—including nature, human beings, society, and human creations—within its scope of research, and to organically integrate multiple fields of specialization. By cyclically integrating the pursuit of truth and the creation of value, it seeks to generate innovative research and innovation that transcend existing disciplinary boundaries, including the humanities and social sciences, law, economics, biomedical sciences, and physical sciences, engineering, and informatics.

In addition to an educational and research environment in which students can learn directly from leading researchers at the forefront of their fields, the graduate school adopts a multi-mentor system, in which multiple supervisors collaboratively support each student. This framework encourages students to deepen their expertise while proactively engaging in interdisciplinary research based on their own initiative. Through these efforts, the graduate school aims to serve as a hub for cultivating highly skilled researchers and advanced professionals who will contribute to society on a global scale.

We invite those who aspire to challenge new possibilities and acquire the ability to shape the future of society to join us. Become part of this graduate school and work together with us to create the future.

ICHIKAWA Sosaku
Professor, Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences;
Chair, Committee on the Establishment of a New Graduate School,
University of Tsukuba

Concept Overview

Mission

The Graduate School of Integrative and Global Multidisciplinary Arena (G-SIGMA) addresses global issues that cannot be solved by a single academic discipline, advancing the integration of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and its implementation in society.

◆Interdisciplinarity:
Education and research system across the disciplines of life sciences, information, law, economics, environment, and engineering

◆Internationality:
Partnership with 13 universities worldwide, multi-mentor system with international researchers

◆Practicality:
Implement research outcomes in society and create new value

Program

G-SIGMA is a new graduate school at the University of Tsukuba, consisting of the following five master's and doctoral programs.

: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Innovative Legal Studies Programs designed to respond to advances in science and technology, including AI, and to explore future legal systems through the integration of perspectives from law, politics, sociology, and other disciplines.

: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Social Ecology Programs that conceptualizes society as an ecological and dynamic network, and promotes the social implementation of advanced technologies and collaboration among industry, government, and academia, while examining the fundamental nature of human society from the perspectives of social sciences, including economics.

: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Co-creative Next-Generation Energy Programs that, based on materials science and informatics, conducts research on energy and environmental technologies with a view toward their implementation in society.

: Master's and Doctoral Programs in Life Science Innovation Collaborative graduate programs that advances next-generation innovation in the life sciences, encompassing research in disease mechanisms, drug discovery, biomolecular science, food, environment, and bioinformatics.

: Doctoral Program in Humanics A program that integrates medicine, life sciences, robotics, and informatics as foundational domains of knowledge, and conducts advanced research to pioneer new academic fields.

Curriculum Overview

Advanced Interdisciplinary Education for the Integration of Knowledge and Its Implementation in Society Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries

Challenges facing future societies cannot be resolved within a single academic discipline alone. Based on the fields of law and sociology, business administration, science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine across the University's three graduate schools, this graduate school provides interdisciplinary education to address key issues such as the order of future societies, sustainable next-generation infrastructures, the sustainability of life, and human potential. These four perspectives are integrated as core pillars, enabling a comprehensive and holistic design for the future.
With a dual focus on cultivating both researchers and advanced professionals, the graduate school offers education and research characterized by internationality, practicality, and interdisciplinarity. Through collaborative approaches that transcend disciplinary boundaries and a multi-mentor system for research supervision, it further enhances the University's strength as a "comprehensive university" and fosters highly skilled professionals who will lead the integration of knowledge and its implementation in society.

Features of the Curriculum

◆Integration and Sublation of Knowledge Across Specialized Fields
(Multi-Mentor System)

Faculty members from diverse disciplines, spanning fundamental to applied fields and the humanities/social sciences to the sciences, collaborate to cultivate students' ability to identify challenges from interdisciplinary perspectives and foster their capacity for innovation and emergence.
◆Social Implementation of Research Outcomes

Through foundational theoretical courses and practical courses, students develop the conceptual and practical skills necessary to translate research outcomes into real-world applications and contribute to their implementation in society.
◆Building a Foundation Through Cross-Disciplinary Learning

Through the "Inter-disciplinary Foundation Courses" students develop fundamental knowledge and competencies, including interdisciplinarity and international perspectives, that transcend the boundaries between fundamental and practical fields, as well as the humanities/social sciences and sciences.

G-SIGMA Cultivates Future Top Leaders

Going beyond existing academic frameworks, students develop the ability to traverse fields such as AI, life sciences, environment, law, and management, and to create new value that does not yet exist in society—becoming "transdisciplinary researchers."

Example: Student A (Background in Biology, School of Science)

Graduate School:: Studies gene analysis for AI-driven drug discovery in the Master's/Doctoral Program in Life Science Innovation

After Completion:: Engages in research and development at a pharmaceutical company, contributing to new drug development by applying knowledge of life sciences and AI technologies

Working collaboratively with peers from diverse backgrounds and leveraging international networks, students develop the ability to drive change in society as "social innovators."

Example: Student B (Background in International Studies)

Graduate School:: Conducts joint research with overseas partner companies and local governments in the Master's/Doctoral Program in Social Ecology

After Completion:: Works for international NGOs or global institutions, promoting regional development projects that connect companies, local governments, and communities

Students go beyond the laboratory to implement their learning in society and design future systems and frameworks as "future society designers."

Example: Student C (Background in Social Sciences: Constitutional and International Law)

Graduate School:: Studies the relationship between AI and social systems in the Master's/Doctoral Program in Innovative Legal Studies

After Completion:: Works at policy think tanks or government agencies, contributing to the development of new legal systems and frameworks for an AI-driven society

Multi-Mentor System of G-SIGMA

Multi-Mentor System and Global Networks Empower Students to Take on New Challenges

G-SIGMA adopts a multi-mentor system in which, in addition to a primary supervisor, multiple faculty members from different disciplines participate in research supervision. By reexamining research from diverse theoretical frameworks and methodologies, students are encouraged to reconstruct the research questions themselves and foster the emergence of new concepts.
Through the dynamic exchange of knowledge across disciplines, students can simultaneously achieve advanced specialization and interdisciplinary development.

Student Support

Entrance and Tuition Fees

For detailed information regarding entrance and tuition fees, please see the following website:
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/admissions/fees-tuition/index.html

Entrance Fee Exemption and Tuition Waiver

Students who face financial difficulties and who demonstrate excellent academic records may be exempt from part or all of the tuition payments. For details, please see the following website:
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/admissions/financial-exemption/

Student Housing and Apartment Information

Student housing facilities are available on the Campus of the University of Tsukuba. In addition, apartments are widely available in the areas surrounding the university.
For further details, please visit the following website:
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/campuslife/support-healthlife/accommodation/

Scholarships and Financial Support

The ILS program does not offer its own scholarship schemes. However, students may apply for scholarships provided by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) as well as those offered by various external organizations. For further details, please refer to the relevant information.br> https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/admissions/financial-scholarships/

Teaching Assistant (TA)

Students in the Master's Program may work as Teaching Assistants (TAs) and provide educational support for undergraduate courses.
Students in the Doctoral Program may work as TAs and provide educational support for undergraduate and master's level courses.
Appointment as a TA is subject to a separate screening process. For further details, please visit the following website:
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/campuslife/support-ta-handbook/

Research Assistant (RA)

Students in both the Master's and Doctoral Programs may be employed as Research Assistants (RAs) to support research activities. Appointment as an RA is subject to a separate screening process.

JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists

Students enrolled in the Doctoral Program who are selected as JSPS Research Fellows will receive a monthly research stipend and will be allocated research funds per year.
For further details, please refer to the relevant information.
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-pd/

Scholarship and Research Funding Information

By obtaining external research funding, students may conduct their research while covering expenses such as the purchase of books and costs associated with fieldwork. Some students acquire external funding to support and carry out their research during the process of writing their academic papers. Students are therefore encouraged to make use of the following University of Tsukuba information websites. (These websites are primarily available in Japanese, but English translations are also provided.) Research Information Portal COTRE:https://ura.sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/
Research Funding Information Site (RISS) (for members of the University of Tsukuba only):https://www.research-fund.sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Career Support

The University of Tsukuba offers a wide range of programs and services to support students in their career development and employment activities. For further details, please visit the following website:
https://syushoku.sec.tsukuba.ac.jp/career/

Contact

Email g-sigma@un.tsukuba.ac.jp