Master’s Program (MA)

Academic Purpose (Admission Policy)

Based on the mission statement of the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, our educational objective is to impart advanced expressive capabilities for the creation of new culture and, thereby, foster students who can respond to the various problems of contemporary society.

• Those who, while utilizing knowledge from their speciality, wish to undertake interdisciplinary pursuits in other fields of study.
• Those who wish to pioneer new ontologies for the information age through the arts.
• Those who are motivated to create the next generation of industry by rethinking the relationship between the individual and society.
• Those who wish to pursue the creation of new culture through various forms of artistic expression.
• Those who wish to pursue the actualization of a tolerant society by offering their regions and societies new forms of information and communication.

Academic Program Structure and Implementation Policy (Curriculum Policy)

Based on the mission statement of the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, we strive to help our students acquire advanced expressive capabilities for the creation of new culture. We provide excellent guidance for the systematic acquisition of expertise through our interdisciplinary and practical courses as well as advanced courses with an appropriate combination of lectures, seminars, and practical training.

• We provide Project Courses and Special Research Courses so that students acquire extensive knowledge and praxis that correspond to various social issues, while simultaneously obtaining foundational training for becoming presenters of advanced aesthetics.
• We provide General Studies Courses in which students critique their work and question the societal significance of their research results.
• We provide Creative Practice Seminars and Specialization Courses so that students systematically study their specialized methodologies and knowledge.
• We provide Introductory Courses to nurture the necessary foundational skills for research, such as: problem identification, issue investigation, problem-solving, artistic expression and communication skills.

Policies Concerning the Conferral of Degrees (Diploma Policy)

Based on the mission statement of the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, our goal is to train representers of advanced aesthetics who create new culture based on science and technology with an awareness of various philosophical and intellectual perspectives. According to the curriculum developed for this purpose, we certify completion (of the program) and confer diplomas to those students who have successfully achieved the necessary credits as well as completed one of the following two paths: dissertation only (dissertation submission, defense) and final exam, or artwork and dissertation (artwork evaluation, dissertation submission, defense) and final exam. In both paths, there may be times when the dissertation defense is waived. At the time of evaluation, the below questions will be considered.

• Has the student acquired the necessary skills of a specialized, independent artist, designer, engineer, researcher, or educator?
• While pursuing happiness - a way of living - for future generations and demonstrating high ethical standards and a strong sense of responsibility, did the student present results that address the problems of contemporary society?
• Did the student, regardless of their research area, acquire forms of `new knowledge` by interacting actively and mutually with people whose focuses are in different fields?

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.)

Academic Objectives (Admission Policy)

We aim to nurture leaders of academic research in media creation through an interest in the knowledge and techniques of other fields that differ from their own research area, an ability to communicate and collaborate with individuals from a variety of fields, and the ability to design work that encapsulates their thinking across those fields.

• Those who, while applying their own specialized knowledge, undertake interdisciplinary pursuits into other fields and inquire into the theorization and systemization of media creation.
• Those who through a myriad of forms of artistic expression present new value to society and strive for the creation of new culture.
• Those who, while striving for the actualization of a tolerant society through creating new forms of communication and information, and proffering those forms to society and their regions, have a desire to employ the theorization and systemization of media creation.

Academic Program Structure and Implementation Policy (Curriculum Policy)

1. We provide "The Basics of Research Course" for the acquisition of research methodologies especially aligned to create high-quality media art and nurture the capability and expertise to conduct and complete research independently.
2. We provide "Project Research Courses" that foster students' ability to interact actively, regardless of their own research area, with others from a variety of fields, so that they learn how to create “new knowledge” through these cross-disciplinary interactions as well as develop projects from planning to implementation.
3. We provide the "Special Research Courses" in which students combine the results from their research practice on media creation into a thesis with an attention to high ethical standards and a strong sense of responsibility, and disseminate its findings widely to society.

Policies Concerning the Conferral of Degrees (Diploma Policy)

Based on the mission statement of IAMAS, our goal is to train representers of advanced aesthetics who create new culture with science and technology informed by philosophical and ideological insights. According to the curriculum developed for this purpose, we certify completion (of the program) and confer diplomas to those students who have successfully achieved the necessary credits as well as the completed one of the following two paths: dissertation only (dissertation submission, defense) and final exam, or artwork and dissertation (artwork evaluation, dissertation submission, defense) and final exam. In both paths, there may be times when the dissertation defense is waived. At the time of evaluation, the below questions will be considered.

1. Has the student acquired the ability to conduct and complete research that integrates scientific insights and artistic sensibilities with expertise as an independent educational researcher, artist, entrepreneur, or social activist?
2. Has the student, while actively engaging with people specializing in various fields, regardless of research area, conducted projects from planning to implementation and acquired "new knowledge" generated through those interdisciplinary interactions?
3. With an attention to high ethical standards and a strong sense of responsibility, did the student's research produce results relevant to the resolution of the various issues of contemporary society? Did the student organize the theoretical and practical results from research practice in media creation into a thesis and communicate its findings widely to society?

As a single-department research graduate school, The Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences’s Media Art Research Department offers a pre-doctoral (MA) and postdoctoral program (Ph.D) in Media Creation only.

Number of Faculty and its Organization

Faculty Organization

Graduate School President

Suzuki Nobuya

Department Head Graduate School of Media Arts and Sciences

Akamatsu Masayuki

Director of the Research Center for Industrial Culture

Akabane Kyo

Head Librarian

Matsui Shigeru

Number of Full-time Faculty

Full-time Faculty

19 (16 Men, 3 Women)

Professors

14 (13 Men, 1 Woman)

Associate Professors

5 (3 Men, 2 Woman)

List of Faculty (Full-Time)

Suzuki Nobuya, Akamatsu Masayuki, Akabane Kyo, Matsui Shigeru, Kanayama Tomoko, Kuwakubo Ryota, Kobayashi Shigeru, Kobayashi Takahiro, Kobayashi Masahiro, Hirabayashi Masami, Maeda Shinjiro, Maebayashi Akitsugu, Yamada Koji, Yoshida Shigeki, Okubo Miki, kan Mika, Segawa Akira, Tobitani Kensuke, Juan Manuel Castro

Faculty Profiles

Enrollment

Master’s Program

Doctoral Program

Number of Current Students and Students Accepted

Master’s Program

Doctoral Program

As of April 1 2024

Number of Successful Graduates, Those Continuing Education, or Starting Careers

Master’s Program

Includes University research students

Post-graduation Employment

March 2024 Graduates

Careers in Gifu - Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences
Careers Outside Gifu - the East Japan Railway Foundation for Cultural Innovations (Tokyo), genDesign (Tokyo), Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo), Joshibi University of Art and Design (Tokyo), Aichi Shukutoku University (Aichi)

March 2023 Graduates

Careers in Gifu - Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences
Careers Outside Gifu - Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo), Civic Creative Base Tokyo [CCBT] (Tokyo), teamLab (Tokyo), EPFJ Inc.(Saitama)

March 2022 Graduates

Careers in Gifu - Freelance Engineer
Careers Outside Gifu - Akita University of Art (Akita), ANKR DESIGN (Tokyo), HAKUHODO PRODUCTS (Tokyo), Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo)

• Curriculum System
• Curriculum Overview
• Course Model
• Course Method
• Master’s Program Courses
• Doctoral Program Courses

Grading System

Course/Class grading is based on exams or research reports. An exam may be substituted with an evaluation of the student's regular academic activities/coursework. The grades for exams and research reports are evaluated on a 100 point scale wherein 60 and above is passing and 59 and below is failing.

A,B,C, and D are designated according to the following divisions.

Basic Grading Scale for Individual Courses

The basic grading scale for each individual course is determined by its respective subject area.

Master’s Program

• Introductory Courses
• General Studies of Media Art History
• Specialization Courses
• Creative Practice Seminars
• Independent Project Courses
• Special Research Courses

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.)

• Basics of Research Courses
• Research Project Courses
• Special Research Courses

Requirements for Academic Advancement

If any of the below courses are failed, the student cannot advance.

Project Course

Project Practicum I (2 credits required)
Project Practicum II (2 credits required)

Special Research

Special Research I (2 credits required)

Path to Graduation 　 Examination Criteria for Degree Conferral

Facilities

IAMAS Facilities

Admission Fee

Gifu Residents: 226,000 Yen
Non-Gifu Residents: 338,000 Yen

For 2024 Entrance Exams

Master’s Program

Successful Applicants for the Recommendation or First Short-term Working Adult Courses: Payment must be received by July 25th
1st Main Course and 2nd Short-term Working Adult Courses: Payment must be received by November 1st
2nd Main Course and 3rd Short-term Working Adult Courses: Payment must be received by February 27th

Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

First Entrance Exam Successful Applicants: Payment must be received by July 25th
Second Entrance Exam Successful Applicants: Payment must be received by November 6th
Third Entrance Exam Successful Applicants: Payment must be received by February 27th

Necessary Expenses for Current Students

Course Fee (as of 2024)

Yearly Fee 535,800 Yen
First Term April 30th
Last Term October 31st

Dorm Residents Only

Domitory: RIST
Dorm Fee 22,800 Yen/month
Operation Fee 35,000 yen/year

Rental Apartments - Sopia Flats
Rent Fee 29,700 Yen/month
Commons admin fee 4,000 yen/month

Information Concerning Special Reductions of Course Fees

For diligent students, who demonstrate integrity in their coursework: if one of the following conditions applies, the course fees can be lowered or the fees disbursement deadline can be extended.

• Persons belonging to the household of a public assistance recipient as defined in Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Public Assistance Act.
• A person who has been impoverished by long-term illness, lack of livelihood, or unemployment, and belongs to a household that is recognized as being in need to the same extent as a public assistance recipient according to the Public Assistance Act.
• Those who belong to households whose livelihoods have been severely damaged by disasters, natural or otherwise, and thereby have difficulty paying school expenses.
• Those who are admitted as a special scholarship student of Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences according to the criteria specified separately by the Governor.
• Any other people for whom the Governor deems a reduction or exemption is necessary.

Contact Us

The Institute for Advanced Media Arts and Sciences
General Affairs Division, Secretariat
TEL:0584-75-6600
E-mail: info@ml.iamas.ac.jp

Academic Services

Academic Facilities and Equipment
FAQ (Master’s Program) FAQ (Doctoral Programs)

Student Life Services

Scholarships (Master’s Program) Scholarships (Doctoral Programs)

Mental and Physical Health Services

Healthcare

Support for International Students
Support for the Differently-Abled

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences,
General Affairs Division
TEL: 0584-75-6641
E-mail: info@ml.iamas.ac.jp