Master's/Doctoral Program

in Life Science Innovation

Master's Degree program (2 years) & Ph. D. program (3 years)

Join the International Science and Technology City, Tsukuba

 Welcome to the Master's/Doctoral
Program in Life Science Innovation

The Master's/Doctoral Program in Life

Science Innovation (T-LSI), a degree program
of University of Tsukuba, was established in
2015. Tsukuba is known as Tsukuba Science
City , a planned science park developed in
the 1960s, and now 40 national institute and
more than 200 private facilities located in the
city. This unique feature of Tsukuba Science
City enables experts from the private sector
and the national institute belonging to Program leader Prof. Hiroko Isoda
Initiatives o f Life Science Promo tion
Association of Tsukuba* to join T-LSI as will be ready to compete in the global job
lecturers and super visors for innovative market.
graduate training. Furthermore, professors T- L S I w i l l p r o v i d e g r e a t l e a r n i n g
from top-ranked universities abroad, give opportunities here and abroad, encouraging
le c tures . The program of fer s t alented students interaction with leading world
s tudent s from around the world the exper t s in it s six specific fields of
o p p o r t uni t y t o e nhan c e t h eir uniqu e specialization; Disease Mechanism, Drug
experiences in be coming c at alys t s for Discovery, Food Innovation, Environmental
innovation in the society by introducing new Management, Biomolecular Engineering, and
ways of thinking. Students can choose the Bioinformatics. Students of T-LSI should be
educational experience that will suit their able to help create solutions to the emerging
interests, and have a chance to engage in problems in the society by first contributing
excellent research internships at leading to the academic community during their stay
Ja p an e s e c o mp ani e s an d w o r l d - cl a s s in the university and to society, throughout
laboratories at research institutes based in their lives, by engaging in the creation of
Tsukuba Science City. Students who will innovations for the improvement of Quality
graduate from the program will have a of Life
holistic view of Life Science Innovation and

*Initiatives of Life Science Promotion Association of Tsukuba

Various national institutes were established in Tsukuba district about 40 years ago to respond to the demands for the promotion of higher
education in science and technology. Many research laboratories from the industries were also established. Since then, there have been
more than 300 national and industrial institutes in Tsukuba district, serving as the world-leading science city. Life Science Promotion
Association of Tsukuba was established to promote collaborative research & development in the life science field in Tsukuba Science City.
The association also aims to contribute to society by helping in the revitalization of education, research and development, and industry.
New businesses will be established through industry-academic-government collaboration and by taking advantage of the bioresources
made available to the members of the association.

2 Welcome to the Master's/Doctoral Program in Life Science Innovation

Students Voices

Kazushi Sakamoto（Ph.D course student）

I highly recommend this Ph.D. program not only to while maintaining your present job. I will encourage you
master course students but also to researchers in a bio t o e x p o s e y o ur s e l f t o a n in t e r s e c t i o n o f di v e r s e
industry like me, because this new and flexible program nationalities, af filiations, knowledge, and research
will provide you with a great opportunity to broaden and specialties, which T-LSI of fers and where innovation
diversify your view, and update your mindset and skills in should arise.
terms of how to contribute to creating a better future in
the area of life and food science through your research,

Annisa Krama YUDHI（Ph.D course student）

I can't imagine to have such of great experience being a has various kinds of specialized studies. We are also
student in T-LSI program. My dream is being a researcher pr o vide d a g o o d chance t o have quali t y time wi th
that is able to improve human life, then I have found T-LSI is pr o f e s sional r e s e ar cher s c oming f r om uni v er si t y,
the best choice. During this program, research and lectures comp anie s , and r e s e ar ch ins ti tu t e s . T his l e ar ning
are the key focus in this program, so that we can improve mechanism makes this program unique. Without any doubt,
our creativity in life science. Furthermore, this program I believe that studying in T-LSI will be your turning point for
motivates us to be involved in life science community which your future life. So, let's catch your dream with T-LSI!

Atsushi Tsuyukubo（Ph.D course student）

I think that T-L SI program is a great program to lectures and conducting everyday research activity. I
develop your research ability because all lectures are think that this program is suitable for Japanese students
conduc ted in English by professional researchers in who have desire of working abroad in the future. Let s
Tsukuba city. Before entering this program, I felt uneasy spend meaningful T-LSI student life together!
about my poor English ability and new research life.
However, both English ability and research one were
improved greatly compared to before through taking the

Syarifatul Mufidah（Master course student）

I am beyond grateful to be Master Student at TLSI, r e s e ar ch a t Re s e ar ch Center f or M e dicinal Pl ant
Univer sit y o f Tsukub a . T his pr o gram t aught me a Resources-NIBIOHN , with great facilities and experts.
c o l l a b o r a t i o n o f m a ny r e s e ar c h fi e l d s f o r f u t ur e TLSI provide an excellent program and environment to
discoveries. I am not only par ticipating in class and study, to do research, to build networking and to get
discussion, but also got a chance to visit many research experiences in Life Science Innovation.
institutes and participate in the internship program to
broaden my knowle dge. In this program, I did my

Yoshiaki Uchida（Master course student）

TLSI is an ideal program for students who want to be grow on scientifically and personally by enhance our
engaged in the scientific life in the future. We have the abilit y to think and raise scientific ques tions . The
opportunity not only to learn one specific field of study particularity of this program is that it is an international
but also it gives us the chance to become more open to one; students from different countries are joining it and
other areas and to learn from the experiences of high making it very special by sharing different cultures. Do
qualified professors from all over the world. This makes not miss the oppor tunit y to join this program and
us unique as TLSI students. This program allows us to challenge yourself!

Ahmed Elwakeel（Master course student）

Being interested in the field of biomedical sciences, especially of Tsukuba Science City, for instance, RIKEN bioresource center,
unravelling the molecular mechanisms of dreadful diseases, I chose AIST and NIMS. Upon graduation, T-LSI students will have a broad
T-LSI master s degree to embark the journey of my post-graduate bird-view of the different disciplines in life sciences, and through
studies. T-LSI is a unique program where all forms of academic their thesis research, they will be exposed to the innovative
activities that could streng then our research capabilities are approaches of addressing the current research questions in the field
integrated; from classes, seminars and presentations to overseas of their interest. If you are interested in life sciences graduate
internships and thesis research. Furthermore, TLS-I students are studies, I strongly recommend our program as a robust start of a
enjoying the world-class research facilities at the national institutes career path in the academia or industry.

Students’ Voices 3
 Partner institutions and collaborations with foreign professors

In addition to the faculty members of the University, TLSI

also provides a unique opportunity for students to study
unresolved issues in society and participate in life science
research with the faculty from other research institutions
which are members of the Tsukuba Life Science Promotion
Council. The objective is to open new frontiers in the field
of life sciences through multidisciplinar y and multi
institutional collaborations.

Wageningen University
University of Oxford
ETH Zürich
University of Montpellier
Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria
Stanford University

University of California,
San Diego

Furthermore, TLSI also organizes lectures and seminars Malaysia-Japan

by leading researchers from overseas research institutions. InternationalInstitute of
Through this, students can not only experience world-class Technology (MJIIT) Tsukuba Science City
learning and skills, but also learn about latest global Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
advancements in science and technology. This degree
program emphasizes international compatibility, and all
lectures are conducted in English.
Univ. Tsukuba
Kenya（1） Fiji（1）
Main Lecturers from Overseas Nationality of Morocco（2） India（1）
NIMS
Students
Tunisia（1） Indonesia（5）
Prof. Colin Goding, University of Oxford NIBIOHN AIST
Egypt（2） Thailand（2）
（As of October 2019） NIES
Prof. Virginie RAGE ANDRIEU, University of Montpellier Malaysia（3） Oceania（1） China（2）
Africa（6） NARO
Prof. Remko Boom, Wageningen University Mongolia（3） Asia（33） RIKEN
Prof. Stephen Mayfield, University of California, San Diego Philippine（1）
Pakistan（1） Japan（15）
Prof. Peter Johann Walde, ETH Zürich
Prof. Francesca Meteora Buffa, University of Oxford

4 Partner institutions and collaborations with foreign professors Partner institutions and collaborations with foreign professors 5
 Majors offered
TLSI program offers six courses which provide an interactive and interdisciplinary environment

Disease Mechanism
The elucidation of the pathological mechanism is expected not only to develop innovative treatments
for diseases, but also to revitalize the economy by creating solutions for the aging society with declining
birthrates ahead of the rest of the world. Therefore, we will train human resources who will develop
innovative knowledge in the field of biomedical science and human resources who will be active in the
medical field with a wide range of knowledge, with the goal of returning research results to society.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research field
Technology and Development Team for
Kuniya Abe Team Leader Developmental Genetics
Mammalian Genome Dynamics, RIKEN BRC

Research and development

Yukio Nakamura Cell Engineering Division, RIKEN BRC Head
regarding cell culture technology

DAILAB, Biomedical Research Institute, Laboratory Biology of Cellular Aging,

Renu Wadhwa
AIST Leader Cancer and Stress

Masashi Yanagisawa International Institute for Integrative Director and

Neuroscience of Sleep
Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba Professor

Immunoregulation and Vaccine

Yasuhiro Yasutomi Tsukuba Primate Research Center, NIBIOHN Director
Research

Bioresource Science for

Atsushi Yoshiki Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BRC Head
Laboratory Mouse

Katsutaka Oishi Biological Clock Research Group, Research Group

Chronobiology
Biomedical Research Institute,AIST Leader
Stem Cell Engineering Research
Senior Regulatory Analysis of Adult
Tomoko Kuwabara Group,Biotechnology Research Institute
Researcher Stem Cells
for Drug Discover, AIST
Faculty of Medicine, University of Associate
Dong-Zhu Xu Cardiovascular Medicine
Tsukuba Professor

6 Majors offered
for the students to master their research skills and obtain relevant degree.

Drug Discovery
There is a need for innovative medicines that can solve unmet medical needs in response to social
conditions. Therefore, by grasping the trend of medical needs according to the times, we have acquired
the ability to design drugs and the ability to verify the effects of drugs through regulatory science,
organic chemistry, drug discovery chemistry, and pharmacology. Train human resources who can
contribute to the creation of innovative drugs by acquiring the ability to design drugs and the ability to
verify the effects of drugs through regulatory science, organic chemistry, drug discovery chemistry, and
pharmacology.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research field

Sosaku Ichikawa Faculty of Life and Environmental Professor

Functional Carrier Design and
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Engineering

Faculty of Life and Environmental

Hiroko Isoda Professor Natural product drug discovery
Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Research
Toshikazu Kamiya Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Biomaterial/Bioprocess Science
Fellow
Drug Assay Device Research Group,
Transport Phenomena in
Toshiyuki Kanamori Biotechnology Research Institute for Team Leader
biomedical system
Drug Discovery, AIST

Tetsuya Sakurai Center for Artificial Intelligence Director Computational Algorithms

Research, University of Tsukuba
Drug Assay Device Research Group,
Chief Senior
Shinji Sugiura Biotechnology Research Institute for Biochemical Engineering
Researcher
Drug Discovery, AIST
Molecular Composite Medicine
Makoto Miyagishi Research Group, Biomedical Research Group Leader Nucleic Acids Medicine
Institute, AIST
Pharmacology,
Hiroyuki Ito Astellas Pharma Inc. Director
Pharmaceutical sciences
Silk Materials Research Unit, Division of
Tsunenori Kameda Biotechnology, Institute of Unit Leader Silk Materials Research
Agrobiological Sciences, NARO
Bio-analytical Research Group, Bioengineering,
Naohiro Noda Group Leader
Biomedical Research Institute, AIST Bio-anaytical technology

Yusaku Miyamaea Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate

Chemical Biology
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor

Majors offered 7
 Majors offered
TLSI program offers six courses which provide an interactive and interdisciplinary environment

Food Innovation
The ability to explore the functionality of food, the ability to process foods to efficiently manifest
their effects, the nutritional and physiological ability to evaluate the effects of their functionality on the
human body, and the functional food market There is a need for globally active human resources who
can acquire skills as a series and create new value for food. Innovative functional food development is
expected to contribute to the realization of a healthy and long-lived society, the promotion of life
innovation that contributes to international competitiveness and economic growth. Therefore, by
acquiring a cross-sectional and bird's-eye view of life science innovation, acquiring world-class advanced
specialized research capabilities, opening new developments in life science research using bioresources,
and functions We train highly specialized professionals who are active globally in the field of research
and development and management of functional foods and medicinal cosmetics.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research field
Faculty of Life and Environmental
Hiroko Isoda Professor Food Functionality
Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Research
Toshikazu Kamiya Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Nutraceutical Science
Fellow

Senior Food Microbiology,

Susumu Kawasaki Food Research Institute, NARO
Researcher Food Hygiene Laboratory

Senior
Isao Kobayashi Food Research Institute, NARO Multiscale Food Engineering
Researcher

Science and Technology of

Masatomo Kobayashi Experimental Plant Division, RIKEN BRC Head
Plant Resources

Laboratory Food Engineering,

Kunihiko Uemura Food Research Institute, NARO
Head Advanced Food Technology

Senior Food Functionality,

Jun Watanabe Food Research Institute, NARO
Researcher Functional Food Factor
Development Economics,
Kenichi Kashiwagi Faculty of Humanities and Social Associate
Economy of Middle East and
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor
North Africa

Marcos Antonio Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate

Food Engineering
Das NEVES Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor

Kazuichi Sakamoto Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate

Nutrigenomics
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor

Myra O. Villareal Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate

Food Functionality
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor

8 Majors offered
for the students to master their research skills and obtain relevant degree.

Environmental Management
Life, including humanity, is determined to survive and grow depending on the surrounding environmental conditions.
In recent years, keywords such as food safety and sustainable use of bioresources, which have attracted social attention,
are closely related to appropriate control of the environment. Therefore, we learned widely from the relationship
between life survival and growth and environmental conditions, that is, from microscopic environmental physiology to
macroscopic environmental ecology on a global scale, and the latest on environmental impact assessment and control.
Training human resources who can acquire global expertise and research and can play an active role globally in the field
of research and development related to appropriate control of the environment.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research
専門分野 field
Center for Environmental Biology and Mechanism of stress response
Mitsuko Aono Dupty director
Ecosystem, NIES in Plants

Hiroyuki Fuchino Research Center for Medicinal Plant Head

Pharmacognosy,
Resources, NIBIOHN Natural Product Chemistry
Department of Chemical Process Engineering,
Associate The tropics environmental
Hirofumi Hara Malaysia-Japan International Institute of
Professor microbiology
Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Biodiversity Resource Conservation
Algal Resources,
Masanobu Kawachi Section, Center for Environmental Head
Algal Biodiversit
Biology and Ecosystem Studies, NIES

Masanori Kikuchi Bioceramics Group, NIMS Group leader Bioceramics

Science and Technology of

Masatomo Kobayashi Experimental Plant Division, RIKEN BRC Head
Plant Resources

Moriya Ohkuma Microbe Division (Japan Collection of Head

Microbial Resources and
Microorganisms), RIKEN BRC Diversity

Faculty of Life and Environmental Functional Regulation of

Iwane Suzuki Professor
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Photosynthesis

Faculty of Life and Environmental

Kenji Tamura Professor Soil Environmental Chemistry
Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Kayo Yoshimatsu Research Center for Medicinal Plant Head

Biotechnology for Medicinal
Resources, NIBIOHN Plants

Takeshi Nakayama Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate

Systematics of Protists
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor
Bio-resource Process and
Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate
Ryozo Noguchi System Engineering
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor
(Agricultural Machinery Lab.)

Shinya Takahashi Faculty of Life and Environmental Assistant Environmental physiology of

Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor higher plants

Majors offered 9
 Majors offered
TLSI program offers six courses which provide an interactive and interdisciplinary environment

Biomolecular Engineering
The development of materials that focus on the functionality of biomolecules is expected to
contribute to the realization of innovative analytical technologies and functional materials with high
environmental and biocompatibility. Deepen understanding of the functions of biomolecules, learn
widely about the application development of biomolecules to functional materials, acquire project
management technology related to them, and develop innovative analytical technologies and
functional materials with high environmental and biocompatibility. We train human resources who can
accelerate life innovation through realization, that is, human resources who can accelerate innovation
through the fusion of biology / medicine and engineering.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research field

Sosaku Ichikawa Faculty of Life and Environmental Professor

Functional Carrier Design and
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Engineering
Drug Assay Device Research Group,
Chief Senior
Shinji Sugiura Biotechnology Research Institute for Biochemical Engineering
Researcher
Drug Discovery, AIST
Silk Materials Research Unit, Division of
Tsunenori Kameda Biotechnology, Institute of Unit Leader Silk Materials Research
Agrobiological Sciences, NARO
Silk Materials Research Unit, Division of
Principal
Hidetoshi Teramoto Biotechnology, Institute of Silk Materials Engineering
Researcher
Agrobiological Sciences, NARO
New Silk Research Unit, Division of
Developmental Biology and
Shuichiro Tomita Biotechnology, Institute of Leader
Physiology of Insect
Agrobiological Sciences, NARO
Bio-resource Process and
Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate
Ryozo Noguchi System Engineering
Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor
(Agricultural Machinery Lab.)

Hidehiko Hirakawa Faculty of Life and Environmental Associate Enzyme Engineering,

Sciences, University of Tsukuba Professor Protein Engineering

10 Majors offered
for the students to master their research skills and obtain relevant degree.

Bioinformatics
With the advancement of modern technologies robust equipment were being developed in the field
of life sciences. This resulted in rapid accumulation of biological data and in turn the demand for
computational biologists to solve life science problems increased. In order to address this issue, we
aimed at training and producing young bioinformatics scholars. Here, students from diverse
backgrounds are encouraged to acquire computational, biological and mathematical skills, and
communication skills. Our groups are mainly focused on big data analysis, molecular simulations,
genetic regulation and network analysis, and the mathematical modelling of biological systems.
Bioinformatics research and training at TLSI help students to explore a wide range of interdisciplinary
research areas in Biology and computational sciences.

Faculty Member
Name Affiliation Title Research field

Tetsuya Sakurai Center for Artificial Intelligence Director Computational Algorithms

Research, University of Tsukuba

Modality Research Labs., Astellas Executive In silico drug discovery,

Hiroki Shiroi
Pharma Inc. fellow Protein engineering
MANA Principal
Tsuyoshi Miyazaki International Center for Materials Investigator/ Electronic Structure Calculation
Nanoarchitectonics NIMS
Group Leader
Laboratory for Bioinformatics Research,
Genome Science,
Itoshi Nikaido RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Team Leader
Bioinformatics
Research
Ranjith Kumar Faculty of Engineering, Information and Assistant Multi-Omics integration and
Bakku Systems, University of Tsukuba Professor Gene-regulatory interactions

Majors offered 11
 Educational Policy and Curriculum

Degree Awarding Policy (Diploma Policy)

The degrees will be conferred to the candidates who meet the academic requirements set by the TLSI program (the
required units of coursework and thesis in the student s research field) and obtain research results for their thesis that
builds upon the student s concentration, either for master s or doctoral degrees, in Disease Mechanism, Drug Discovery,
Food Innovation and Environmental Management, Biomolecular Engineering, and Bioinformatics. The thesis will be
reviewed by the thesis committee in a final examination to validate that the student has the following competencies.

Master s Program Doctoral Program

Generic Competences Generic Competences
❶Ability to use knowledge: ❶Ability to create knowledge:
Ability to put advanced knowledge to use in Ability to create new knowledge to be able to
society contribute to future society
❷Management ability: ❷Management ability:
Ability to appropriately address challenges Ability to plan and implement measures to identify
from every angle and solve challenges from a higher perspective

❸Communication ability: ❸Communication ability:

Ability to express the nature of academic findings
A b il i t y t o e x p r e s s e x p e r t k n o w l e d g e
positively and clearly
accurately and clearly
❹Leadership ability:
❹Group skill: Ability to accomplish objectives under one s
Ability to cooperate and actively contribute leadership
to the achievement of goals as a team ❺International character:
❺International character: High level of awareness and motivation to be
Awareness to contribute to international internationally ac tive and contribute to
society international society
Specific Competences Specific Competences
❶Innovation potential: ❶Innovation potential:
Possess creative thinking ability for use in the Contribute to the society by producing novel
field of life sciences inventions in the chosen specific field of research
❷Expertise: ❷Expertise:
Excellent knowledge and operational skills in Possess hands on cutting-edge technologies and
the chosen specialized fields scientific skills in specialized fields
❸Proficiency in English: ❸Proficiency in English:
Proficient in the use of the English language for Able to communicate using the English language
communicating, understanding, and expressing ideas when carry out all research-related activities in
in life science research international setting

Curriculum Policy
To develop cross-disciplinary and holistic view on world-class advanced and specialized research skills, aside
from the lectures conducted by the members of the faculty of the university, seminars are also given by renowned
researchers from overseas research institutions and from Tsukuba Life Science Promotion Council. The course
curriculum was organized into two categories:
1. Common subjects to learn basic concepts, and
2. Specialized subjects to develop specialized skills in each field.
In addition, internship courses that are part of career education and courses for studying business contents of
research institutions are organized.
Students take not only these courses but also acquire the knowledge and competencies set forth in the Diploma
Policy and assessed through achievement assessment, Master's thesis submission, conference presentations,
attendance in workshops among others. In line with these, recently, we have organized several workshops and
visits to private companies for TLSI students.

12 Educational Policy and Curriculum

Course list and Degree Awarding

Course List Degree to be awarded

Master s Program

・Introduction to Medicine
・Introduction to Drug Discovery
・Introduction to Food Science
・Introduction to Bioresource
・Introduction to Natural History
・Basic Bioinformatics
Basic Subjects ・Management in Pharmaceuticals and Food
・Regulatory Science
・Practices in Life Science Innovation
・Team Learning in Life Science Innovation
・Responsible Conduct of Research
・Master's Life Science Innovation Seminar
・Master's Internship I/II
Disease Mechanism
・Life Science Innovation Master's Special Master of Disease Mechanism
Specialized Subjects Seminar I/II Spring/Fall
Drug Discovery
（Common） ・Life Science Innovation Master's Special
Master of Medical Science
Research I/II Spring/Fall
Food Innovation
Master of Food Innovation
Specialized Subjects ・Molecular and Cellular Biology of Disease I
・Molecular and Cellular Biology of Disease II Environmental Management Master
(Disease Mechanism) ・Advances in Cellular Regulation of Environmental Management

・Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry Biomolecular Engineering

Specialized Subjects ・Translational Science in Drug Discovery Master of Bioengineering
(Drug Discovery) ・Pharmaceutical Design Engineering
Bioinformatics
・Food Process Engineering Master of Bioinformatics
Specialized Subjects ・Food Functionality
(Food Innovation) ・Food Safety

Specialized Subjects ・Habitat and Functional Compound

・Biomass Science
(Environmental Management) ・Water Environment and Life Science

Specialized Subjects ・Biomaterials Science

・Biomolecular Engineering
(Biomolecular Engineering) ・Project Management

Specialized Subjects ・Computational Biology

・Biomolecule and Medical informatics
(Bioinformatics) ・Gene analysis and Functional genomics

Doctoral Program
Disease Mechanism
Doctor of Philosophy in Disease Mechanism
Drug Discovery
・Human Subjects Research: Basic Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science
Basic Subjects ・Doctor's life science innovation seminar
・Doctor's Internship I/II Food Innovation
Doctor of Philosophy in Food Innovation
・Life Science Innovation Doctor's Special Environmental Management
Seminar I/II/III Spring/Fall Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Management
Specialized Subjects ・Life Science Innovation Doctor's Special
Research I/II/III Spring/Fall Biomolecular Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering
Bioinformatics
Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics

Course list and Degree Awarding 13

 Timeline

Applicants contact a faculty member who supervises

Before entrance examination their graduation researches

Master s program Doctoral program

Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment
inApril 1st year in October in April 1st year inOctober
April Orientation October April Orientation October

July Assignment of Vice December July Assignment of Vice December

Supervisors Supervisors
February Achievement Evaluation I※1
  September February Achievement Evaluation I September

2nd year 2nd year

September Mid-term Presentation February September Mid-term Presentation February

(T-LSI Student Workshop※2 ) (T-LSI Student Workshop)

December Achievement Evaluation II May December Achievement Evaluation II May

January Submission of master's thesis June

January Final examination July

3rd year
Public Presentation
February
(T-LSI Student Workshop)
September Preliminary examination /
achievement evaluation III
March Degree September Doctoral dissertation submission
Final examination (Defence)
Degree award

※1 Achievement Evaluation
The achievement evaluation committee, which consists of a main supervisor and two sub supervisors,
evaluates the status of learning toward the acquisition of competence. Students are encouraged to
self-evaluate their academic achievements in the self-evaluation sheet. The Achievement Evaluation
Committee performs evaluation based on the self-assessment submitted by students and their presentations
on research progress. The evaluation results are fed back to the students and the competencies are acquired
more reliably.

※2 T-LSI Student Workshop

Every September and February, our program organizes a workshop for all TLSI students and faculty
members. In this workshop, all students will present research activities, discuss and communicate with
students and researchers with different backgrounds. In addition, our program gives the best presentation
award to the student who makes excellent presentation.

14 Timeline
 Admissions
We are looking for students who have ability to innovate!

Admission Policy
We seek students who are highly motivated and open to take up new challenges in the specialized
fields. To get admitted into the program students should be able to demonstrate their research
expertise, knowledge and innovative potential on the specialized field of interest. In addition,
student s English language ability to communicate, acquire and publish advanced practical skills
and scientific innovations is welcomed.
(Admission criteria)
Master s Program • Document review will assess whether you have the bachelor level knowledge necessary to study
in this degree program and whether you have the ability to explain the research background and
future prospects in English.
• The English proficiency test will be used to assess whether you have the English proficiency (B2 or
higher according to CEFR standards) required for studying in this degree program.
• The oral examination will evaluate your creativity and willingness to welcome innovative
thoughts in your specialized field and your ability to explain and discuss in English.

We seek students who are highly motivated and open to take up new challenges in the specialized
fields. To get admitted into the program students should have their research expertise, knowledge
and innovative potential on the specialized field of interest. In addition, the students need English
language ability to communicate, acquire and publish advanced practical skills and scientific
innovations.
(Admission criteria)
• Evaluation committee will assess whether you have master's level expertise (excellent grades in
the enrolled course), ability to explain the research background, research plan, and social return
Doctoral Program of research results in English.
• The English proficiency test will be used to assess whether you have the English proficiency (B2 or
higher according to CEFR standards) required for conducting research activities in this degree
program.＊1 

• The oral examination will evaluate innovative potential and the willingness to achieve novelty in
specialized fields.
*1 To take a entrance examinee, you need TOEIC Listening & Reading Test Official Score Certificate with photo identification,
TOEFL-PBT or iBT Examinee s Score Record with photo identification, or IELTS (Academic Module) Official Test Report Form
with photo identification of either of the examination you took in the past two years.

Entrance examination information

・Examination season: August (April admission), January (April or October admission)
・Enrollment Capacity: 12 (Master s program), 9 (Doctoral program)
・Application guidelines are posted on the University of Tsukuba Graduate School Application Guidelines
website (url).

Q＆A
Q: Can you introduce my perspective supervisor before the entrance examination?
A: Yes, please contact us to ask about candidates of your desireble supervisor before the entrance examination.
Before the contact us, please visit our HP (especially the research field of faculty members of the People
page), and choose two or three members who fit to your interests.
Q: Should I visit to University of Tsukuba to take the oral examination?
A: The applicants living overseas can take the oral examination using Skype.
Q: I would like to receive a scholarship.
A: TLSI does not offer any financial support to its students but incoming and current students are encouraged to
apply for scholarship grants offered by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), by local governments,
and private organizations. For more details, please access the Student Support page of our HP and the
Official HP of the University of Tsukuba.
For detail, please see the Admissions page of our HP.

Admissions 15
Access map

Tsukuba City Tsukuba City

Haneda Airport Ibaraki

Narita Airport
Univ. Tsukuba

TX Tsukuba Terminal
Contact information TSUKUBA EXPRESS

Tsukuba Life Science Innovation Office

Room# 703 (7th Floor) of Laboratory of
■Highway Express Bus from Tokyo Station
Advanced Research A University of Tsukuba ・About 75 min by bus bound for "Tsukuba Daigaku"
1-1-1, Tennohdai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki,
■TSUKUBA EXPRESS (TX)
305-8577 JAPAN
・45 min from Akihabara Station to Tsukuba Station by rapid train.
E-mail: [email protected]
About 12 min by bus bound for "Tsukuba Daigaku Chuo"
Website: https://tlsi.tsukuba.ac.jp