Summary

Through consistent doctoral research guidance (of the Five-year Integrated Course) during the standard period of study (Five-years) of the master's and doctoral courses, human resource development aimed at fostering profound knowledge in specialized fields, originality and creativity, and an understanding of issues, etc. on a global scale is achieved. Additionally, for the Five-year Integrated Course students NAIST prioritizes the expansion of the research guidance system and financial support to prepare a guidance system that allows individuals to concentrate on research as doctoral students.

Participation in the Five-year Integrated Course approval timing and support contents

 The support contents for the Five-year Integrated Course students varies according to the timing of participation approval as shown in the table below.

• Student dormitory preferential treatment: Priority for living in student dormitory ^※1
• Laboratory assignment: Priority for laboratory choices
• Sub supervisor increase: Two or more sub supervisors
• Financial support^※2: Financial support (TA / RA salary) from the 2nd year of the master's course is possible. ^※3

 ※1：After assigning those students who passed the 1st and 2nd entrance examination with excellent scores, the
    Five-year Integrated Course students have priority for the dormitory. Please note, depending on the number of     vacant rooms in the student dormitories, there is a possibility that your request may not be accepted.
 ※2：Excluding MEXT and other scholarship recipients and students receiving full tuition exemption
 ※3：In April/May, students are in charge of lecture assistance as TAs (Teaching Assistant) and from June are RAs
    (Research Assistant).
 ※4：Students will be informed again about the Five-year Integrated Course around November of the first year of
    the master's course, and it will be possible to apply for the Five-year Integrated Course at that time.

How to participate in the Five-year Integrated Course and standards for approval

 Students who wish to participate in the Five-year Integrated Course meet with the faculty of the laboratory from which they wish to enter to obtain approval ^※5 and then submit the "Five-year Integrated Course Participation Form" to the Academic Affairs Section, Educational Affairs Division. After this, they are approved by NAIST upon the successful evaluation of students' academic achievements. Academic evaluation criteria varies depending on the time of approval as shown in the table below.

 ※5：Faculty member interviews may result in a refusal to give approval from the faculty member of the laboratory
    the student wishes to enter. In Information Science Division laboratories, participation approval for the Five-
    year Integrated Course is after enrollment, so applications from students choosing those laboratories will not
    be accepted before enrollment or before assigned to a laboratory after enrollment.

Five-year Integrated Course Participation Form (Prospective students) (word: 30KB)

Five-year Integrated Course Participation Form (Current students) (word: 30KB)

Official decisions concerning Five-year Integrated Course students

 Official decisions for the Five-year Integrated Course are made after receiving evaluation of academic ability and motivation, etc. from the main and sub (candidate) supervisors, from November to February for spring entrance students, from May to August for autumn entrance students, in the first year of Master's course. In addition, even after February of the first year of Master's course, when Five-year Integrated Course students are officially determined, students who wish to advance to doctoral course can apply with their supervisor's approval. In that case, students are transferred to the Five-year Integrated Course after evaluation of academic ability and motivation etc. at that time. Note that, in principle, the master thesis and examination methods are performed the same as other students. When finalizing Five-year Integrated Course participation, students must confirm the following items. (① - ③)
 Even if you decide to participate in the Five-year Integrated Course, you are still required to pass the doctoral course entrance examination to continue your studies.

 ① Depending on the results of the (candidate) supervisor's evaluation, students may not receive approval for the
  Five-year Integrated Course. In this case, the supervisor shall adequately explain the reasons for this to the
  student.

 ② After formal decision to participate in the Five-year Integrated Course, even if students look for employment in
  the Master's course, NAIST will not offer any recommendation letters. Also, in April and May of the second year of
  the Master's course, students are obliged to teach M1 students as a TA.

 ③Students employed fulltime are not eligible for the Five-year Integrated Course. (Due to the financial support and
   the doctoral course long-term study abroad included.)

Information concerning withdrawal from the Five-year Integrated Course

 We prioritize support for students participating in the Five-year Integrated Course, but there are various difficulties students face to acquire degrees. With there being changes in goals and inevitable life changes, we have established the following concerning withdrawal from the Five-year Integrated Course. Please confirm items ① to ⑤Five-year before submitting the participation form for the Five-year Integrated Course.

 ① Students can withdraw from the Five-year Integrated Course at their discretion upon consultation with their
  main (candidate) supervisor.

 ② In the event of withdrawal from the Five-year Integrated Course before laboratory assignment, prioritized
  laboratory assignment shall be withdrawn.

 ③ The main supervisor monitors the student's learning and research progress, the interim report contents, and the
   TA / RA duties, and, when it is determined that obtaining a degree is difficult, can recommend the student
  withdraw from the course.

 ④ If students withdraw from the Five-year Integrated Course, the financial support shall be suspended at that time.
   In this case, those students living in the student dormitory shall leave by the end of the academic year in which
   they chose to withdraw, at the latest. However, students who would be able to live in the student dormitories if
  they did not participate in the Five-year Integrated Course based on the screening criteria at the time of entering
  the student dormitory, are not asked to leave.

 ⑤ If students withdraw after accepting any preferential treatment such as financial support, student dormitory
  prioritization, laboratory assignment prioritization, TA / RA support, etc., NAIST does not offer any
  recommendation letters when looking for employment.

Submission of participation statement

 When mailing the Participation Form, please send it to the following address and write "Participation Form for Five-year Integrated Course" on the envelope in red.

Destination

Academic Affairs Section, Educational Affairs Division
Nara Institute of Science and Technology
8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192,
JAPAN

For any inquiries please contact

Academic Affairs Section, Educational Affairs Division
E-mail: g-gakumu[at]ad.naist.jp