The rapid development of the medical sciences and life sciences fields requires the integration of diverse disciplines such as bioinformatics, tissue engineering, and mathematical biology with medical sciences, social sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Therefore, the Master's Program of the Graduate School of Medicine was established in 1994 with the aim of realizing "integrated basic and clinical medical sciences and healthcare" by cultivating diverse human resources with different backgrounds, in addition to the development of each scientific field.
This Master's Program is designed for graduates of undergraduate programs in the natural sciences (excluding dentistry and veterinary medicine) and the humanities and social sciences. It fully utilizes the backgrounds and research orientations of individual students to cultivate human resources who can play active roles in various fields around the world in the future. For this purpose, various innovations have been incorporated into the program (Curriculum). In particular, the clinical medicine experience training (visits to various medical sites) directly linked to Keio University Hospital and the lectures and clinical research training directly linked to medical care are unique to this Master's Program, allowing students to learn medical sciences and life sciences with a sense of presence.
In the fields of basic and clinical medical sciences research, top-level laboratories in areas such as "regeneration," "development," "immunity," "cancer," "neuroscience," "metabolism," "aging," and "epidemiology" provide specialized and interdisciplinary education in conjunction with advancement to Doctoral Programs. There are also various scholarship programs to assist students who have difficulty studying for financial reasons.
As you will likely realize once you enroll and engage in actual research activities, in this highly competitive world of medical sciences research, it is essential not only to acquire a wide range of knowledge and excellent skills but also to establish your own originality in order to compete with top-level researchers at home and abroad and survive. Based on this philosophy, this Master's Program has produced many unique and outstanding individuals over the past 20-plus years and has supported their active roles in various parts of society, including academia and industry (Career Paths). For those of you who are interested in medical sciences and healthcare but feel that the threshold is high considering your background, please do not hesitate to knock on the door of the Keio University Graduate School of Medicine. There is surely a place where you can make the most of your background and experience. Let's pioneer a one-of-a-kind field in the world together! (Application Guidelines)
Curriculum
With the aim of cultivating professionals and researchers with advanced specialized skills in medical sciences and healthcare, students take basic subjects in lecture format, conduct actual research, and prepare a master's thesis. The curriculum is organized to accommodate diverse career paths and to enable each student to understand the current status and future prospects of the medical sciences and healthcare fields most closely related to their intended profession. As a specific timeline, students register for courses in April of their first year and begin their research in close consultation with their academic advisor. In July of the first year, students must submit a two-year research plan and have it approved by the Graduate School of Medicine Committee to ensure that research proceeds with a long-term and reliable outlook. In the first year, students generally earn all credits for elective required subjects and elective subjects, excluding Special Research in Medical Sciences. After the master's thesis presentation in October of the second year, students submit their master's thesis around January and undergo an examination at the master's thesis review meeting around February. Upon approval of the master's thesis by the Graduate School of Medicine Committee by March, the student completes the program (obtains a Master's degree).
Since some enrollees are graduates of undergraduate programs in the humanities and social sciences, there are basic medical sciences and clinical medical sciences subjects in the first year to cultivate basic knowledge of medical sciences. Students acquire a wide range of medical knowledge through lectures by researchers at the forefront of medical sciences research and clinicians who see patients in the field.
There is also a wealth of curriculum that takes advantage of Keio University's status as a comprehensive university. Students can freely choose lectures directly linked to medical sites, which is unique to a campus with an attached hospital, as well as lectures from other graduate schools according to their interests. For example, in the first year, themes such as "metabolism," "regenerative medicine," "immunity," "neuroscience," and "cancer" are available in the medical sciences field. Depending on the subject, students can gain valuable experience by actually learning at clinical medicine sites. There is also a tour of the Shiba Campus, where the Faculty of Pharmacy is located.
In the second year, students continue their research activities in their respective laboratories.
The primary goal of the Master's Program is the submission of a master's thesis. Students summarize the culmination of two years of research into a thesis and give a presentation at a review meeting. The content is reviewed by professors active on the front lines, who provide not only critiques but also much valuable advice necessary for developing research in the future.
Through such education and research, we cultivate human resources with the qualities and abilities to advance to Doctoral Programs or to play active roles in pharmaceutical companies, ME equipment and genetic engineering-related companies, and research and educational institutions in the health science field.
In academic year 2007, with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the "Cancer Professional Training Program" was launched to train cancer specialists involved in cancer care.
In academic year 2020, the "Entrepreneur Training Course" was established with the aim of cultivating human resources to create biotech industries that change the world from Keio University. Please note that student recruitment for this course has been suspended as of academic year 2023.