Three Policies of the Doctoral Program in Civil Law (Doctor of the Science of Law)

The program is based on Keio University’s Diploma Policy. It aims to cultivate professionals who can contribute to the academic community. Students are expected to fully engage with foundational research. They will present specialized analyses that reinterpret and reframe these issues from an independent perspective. In addition, the program confers the degree of Doctor of the Science of Law (S.J.D.) on students who have fulfilled the prescribed curriculum requirements.

  (1) Acquisition of Advanced Specialized Knowledge in Law 

Students will be able to thoroughly acquire advanced specialized knowledge in law. This includes knowledge of conditions in other countries that is necessary for examining legal issues from multifaceted and objective perspectives.  

  (2) Acquisition of Advanced Analytical, Judgment, and Communication Abilities 

Students will be able to develop sophisticated analytical and judgment abilities needed to identify, address, and work toward resolving problems in society. They will also acquire advanced foreign-language proficiency. They will develop communication abilities to accurately disseminate their research results.  

  (3) Contribution to the Advancement of the Academic Community 

Students will be able to contribute to the advancement of the academic community by scientifically analyzing various social phenomena from a legal perspective and working to identify and resolve problems.  

To cultivate the qualities and abilities set forth in the Diploma Policy, the Doctoral Program in Civil Law, Graduate School of Law, Keio University, systematically organizes a curriculum that includes a variety of specialized subjects. The program also provides a research supervision program for the preparation of doctoral dissertations. This structure enables students to deepen research in civil law within their area of specialization. It also enables them to extend their inquiry to related and interdisciplinary fields, including public law and political science.

Under this curriculum design, programs are delivered through a combination of seminar-style classes that are student-centered and feature interactive, multi-directional discussions, and individual supervision on each student’s research theme.

Learning outcomes related to the defined competency objectives are evaluated under the university-wide assessment framework. In addition to course-specific grading standards, evaluations incorporate a mix of quantitative and qualitative indicators—both direct and indirect—such as surveys and questionnaires.

(1) To enable students to acquire advanced specialized knowledge in law, the program offers a variety of subjects. These include “Special Seminars,” which intensively deepens research in each area of specialization, as well as “Joint Seminars,” in which specialized fields are examined from broad and diverse perspectives with the participation of multiple faculty members.

(2) Advanced analytical, judgment, and communication abilities are cultivated through completion of the aforementioned “Special Seminars” and “Joint Seminars,” as well as through research supervision for the doctoral dissertation on each student’s research theme. Research supervision is also a requirement for program completion, and credits are awarded in stages as “Dissertation Supervision I,” “Dissertation Supervision II,” and “Dissertation Supervision III.” This staged credit structure helps ensure steady research progress toward completion of the doctoral dissertation.

(3) Contribution to the advancement of legal studies is pursued through completion of the aforementioned “Special Seminars” and “Joint Seminars,” as well as through dissertation supervision for preparing the doctoral dissertation.

(1) Understand the founding principles of Keio University and the educational goals of the Graduate School of Law, and engage proactively and independently in research under its curriculum.

(2) Possess deep knowledge of legal studies and a broad general education, and be equipped with the advanced knowledge, critical thinking skills, and communication ability necessary for research.

(3) Possess the ability and motivation to further develop your own research, share the results with the academic community and society, and contribute to the development of scholarship and society.

In order to admit a wide range of applicants, the screening process will be conducted through (1) a general entrance examination and (2) a specialized entrance examination for international students.

(1) Through the general admissions process, applicants are assessed to determine whether they have acquired the fundamental academic knowledge, logical and critical legal thinking skills, and ability to express ideas clearly required to pursue research in civil law. This assessment is conducted through a first-stage written examination (one foreign language) and a second-stage examination administered to those who pass the first stage, comprising an oral examination in the applicant’s field of specialization and a comprehensive evaluation of submitted theses/dissertations and other application materials.

(2) For international students, the admissions process assesses whether applicants possess the fundamental academic knowledge, logical and critical legal thinking skills, and ability to express ideas clearly required for research in civil law. Assessment is conducted through a first-stage document review (including the applicant information form, undergraduate and master’s academic records, and Japanese-language examination results), followed by a second-stage oral examination in the applicant’s field of specialization.