Global Humanities Program (GHP)
As of March 31, 2026, the Graduate Program on Global Humanities (GHP) has concluded. The admissions quota for the GHP has been transferred to the Integrated Human Science Program for Cultural Diversity (IHS). The GHP Steering Committee extends its heartfelt gratitude for your longstanding support.
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Overview
The Global Humanities Program (GHP) is a new type of graduate education program established through the close cooperation of four departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Language and Information Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, Area Studies, and Advanced Social and International Studies). We are living in a highly complicated age in which the progress of globalization is leading to growing global unification. At the same time, this process of globalization is also revealing the pluralized nature of global society, characterized by differences in economic development and culture. It is an age characterized by world-wide clashes and tension that arise due to differences in perspectives. It is also a time when changes in gender, ethics, and interaction with foreigners are shaking up the foundation of our lives. In times like these, the ability to understand and to communicate with others in an interactive way while positioning ourselves against the global background holds great importance. The goal of the GHP is to foster students who will be able to contribute to the realization of a pluralist global society through practical training, as well as through gaining skills and techniques that are essential to the field of "Global Humanities."
The program offers Master's and Doctoral courses. Students in the program will belong to one of the existing four departments, while endeavoring to analyze and understanding the problems that a pluralist global society faces. Those who successfully complete this program will be awarded a Master's (Global Studies) or a Ph.D. (Global Studies) Degree. Roughly 12 students for the Master's course and six students for the Doctoral course are accepted each year. Graduates are expected to make significant contributions, both within Japan and internationally, to the practical realization of a truly globalized society. The world is focusing its attention on Japan's transmission of knowledge from East Asia. The program is deeply committed to breaking new ground with the concept of a global pluralist society.
Institutional Features
a. Cross-departmental research and education
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tokyo is home to four departments specializing in humanities and social sciences; Language and Information Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, Area Studies, and Advanced Social and International Studies. The GHP is a special program which has been created cross-departmentally through the cooperation of these four departments. Students in the program will belong to one of the four departments, thereby gaining advanced disciplinary training while obtaining the credits required by the cross-departmental program.
b. Independent research and education
Students in the GHP are required to conduct individual research leading to deeper understanding of global issues while gaining advanced disciplinary training within their primary department. To this end the program has set up independent classes allowing students to learn how best to examine the emerging problems of global society from the perspective of a global pluralist.
Degree Process
a. Master's course
In the Master's course of this program students are expected to complete all the requirements within an average period of two years by cultivating specialized knowledge and research skills through course work, and through the writing of a Master's thesis or an equivalent "research paper on a specified subject." During the second semester of the first year, students join a "thesis/subject research seminar" in which they will receive individual direction on thesis writing. Several research workshops will be held to assess the advancement of their projects. This system will assist students in finishing the Master's thesis or research paper.
b. Ph.D. course
In the Ph.D. course, students are expected to complete all the requirements within an average period of three years by cultivating specialized knowledge and research skills through course work, as well as through the writing of a Ph.D. thesis. During the second semester of the first year, students join "the Ph.D. thesis seminar" in which they will receive individual direction on thesis writing. A number of colloquia will also be held to assist the students successfully to conduct their research. This system will assist students in the successful completion of the thesis and in obtaining the degree.
Contact
Graduate School Section, Academic Affairs Division, The University of Tokyo
3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
Tel: 03-5454-6050
