Apply to Doctor by Dissertation (Ronbun-Hakase)

Doctor by dissertation (Ronbun-Hakase) is a doctoral degree that SOKENDAI confers to those who do not enroll at a program, but fulfill specific requirements.
Applicants for this degree are required to pass the examination on their doctoral thesis as well as to be judged to possess the academic knowledge equivalent to or superior to that of the SOKENDAI students who completed program requirements.
Applicants are requested to pay the Examination Fee of 57,000 yen (JPY) upon application for the exam.
Prior to applying for the exam, applicants need to contact a faculty member of the program that matches the subject matter of the doctoral thesis (hereinafter referred to as "Referring Faculty") and consult about the application.
"Faculty Directory" section on this website includes information on faculties of each program of SOKENDAI.

For information regarding the Doctor by Dissertation (Ronbun-Hakase) review process, please refer to both 'Procedure' and 'FAQ' section.

About Degree

The field of specialization to be appended to the doctoral degree is awarded according to the following categories of programs in Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, which are compatible with the subject matter of the doctoral thesis.

*The English title is "Doctor of Philosophy" in every case.

Procedure

1. Preliminary Evaluation*1

(1)Submit necessary documents.*2
     (Applicants -> Referring Faculty -> Program Office)
(2)Preliminary Evaluation

*1 "Preliminary Evaluation" is named differently at each program.

*2 Regarding the application period for the Preliminary Evaluation, please contact the Program Office.

*Regarding the number of copies of documents for the Preliminary Evaluation, please contact the Program Office.

2. Evaluation

(1)Submit necessary documents.*
    (Applicants -> Program Office)
(2)Evaluation Committee
(3)Program Committee
(4)Faculty Meeting

*Regarding the application period for the Evaluation, please contact  the Program Office.

*Regarding the number of copies of documents for the Evaluation, please contact Program Office.

*1 Those who applied to paragraph 3 of Article 6 of the Degree Regulations (hereinafter called "Withdrawal with Credit (Tan'i-shutoku-taigaku-sya) ") do not need to submit these documents.

*2 Those who withdrew with credit within one year from the date of withdrawal to the date of degree conferral are not required to pay.

Example: Expected to confer a Degree on March 2026:  Those who withdrew on March 31, 2025 or later are not required to pay.

3. Publication of Doctoral Thesis

A doctoral thesis will be published on the Internet.
For details, please contact the Educational Affairs Section.

*Documents of Publication of Doctoral Thesis

4. Others

FAQ

Q1. I have never been enrolled at SOKENDAI. Can I still apply for a Doctor by Dissertation (Ronbun-Hakase)?
Yes. Individuals who have never been enrolled at SOKENDAI may apply. Before applying, however, you must first identify a faculty member whose research field is closely related to your dissertation topic ("Referring Faculty") and consult with them regarding your application.

Q2. What are the application requirements? Is there a minimum number of publications or an English-language requirement?
Requirements vary by program and academic field. There is no university-wide standard regarding the number of publications, citation records, patents, or English-language qualifications.
Please consult the Referring Faculty member or the relevant program office regarding specific requirements.

Q3. Can SOKENDAI recommend, identify, or assign a Referring Faculty member for me?
No.
Applicants must identify and contact an appropriate Referring Faculty member on their own by using the Faculty Directory.
Neither the Educational Affairs Section nor the program offices can evaluate whether your research achievements, publications, dissertation topic, or academic background are suitable for a particular faculty member or program. We are therefore unable to recommend, select, or assign a Referring Faculty on behalf of an applicant.
Applications cannot proceed unless a Referring Faculty member has agreed to discuss your application and serve as your Referring Faculty.

Q4. How can I find a Referring Faculty member?
Please review the Faculty Directory and identify faculty members whose research interests are closely related to your dissertation topic.
Faculty Directory: https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/faculty-directory/
Applicants are expected to contact prospective Referring Faculty members directly.

Q5. I am not sure which program best matches my research. Can the Educational Affairs Section advise me?
The Educational Affairs Section can provide information on the application process. However, we cannot determine which program is academically most suitable for your research topic.
Applicants are responsible for reviewing the programs and faculty information available on the SOKENDAI website and selecting the most appropriate program themselves.

Q6. What is the review process?
Before the formal dissertation evaluation, a preliminary evaluation is conducted.
The detailed review process, application periods, and evaluation schedules vary by program. Please contact the relevant program office for details.

Q7. How long does the review process take?
The review schedule differs among programs and depends on the timing of the application.
Please contact the relevant program office after consulting with a Referring Faculty member.

Q8. What is the examination fee?
The doctoral dissertation examination fee is 57,000 JPY. Additional requirements may vary depending on the program.
Please contact the relevant program office for details.

Q9. Can foreign nationals apply?
Yes. Foreign nationals are eligible to apply for a Doctor by Dissertation degree.

Q10. Can I apply while residing overseas? Do I need to come to Japan?
Applicants may apply from overseas.
However, examination procedures, oral examinations, language requirements, and whether remote participation is permitted vary by program. Please consult the relevant program office after contacting a Referring Faculty member.

Q11. What should I do first if I am interested in applying?
Before contacting the Educational Affairs Section regarding a Doctor by Dissertation application, please ensure that:

• You have reviewed the Faculty Directory.
• You have identified one or more potential Referring Faculty members.
• You have determined the program most closely related to your dissertation topic.
• Your inquiry is not seeking a recommendation or assignment of a Referring Faculty member.

SOKENDAI cannot recommend, identify, or assign a Referring Faculty member on behalf of applicants.