In recent years, there has been a movement to connect the visualization of information with the solution of social issues. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in collaboration with bioart, environmental science, and life sciences. From the perspective of faculty research areas, it is clear that the key themes of the IAMAS doctoral program include media expression, interaction, AI and creativity, as well as the relationship between humans, the body, and the environment.

References

• Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences Repository
• Event Report: IAMAS OPEN HOUSE 2024 - What Doctoral Students Are Pondering Over Now(Japanese Only)

Applicants who are deemed to have a level of academic ability equal to or greater than those who hold masters degrees at our school can take the entrance exam.

Unfortunately, there are not. The structured lectures take place on weekdays during the daytime. However, as there are not many, it is possible to allot time to do your research in the evenings / weekends.

The majority of students work on their research and write their dissertation whilst working for a company or whilst being engaged in education-related activities. However, presentations at academic conferences, etc. including the mid-year research presentation are mandatory so it is essential to keep that in mind. In particular, it is strongly recommended to prepare amply in advance to ensure you can focus on your tasks during the dissertation writing period.

There are 4 variations of the requirements to qualify for the submission of the doctoral dissertation.

• 2 peer-reviewed papers + 1 presentation of findings at an international conference.
• 1 peer-reviewed paper + 1 contest award + 1 presentation of findings at an international conference.
• 1 sole-authored publication + presentation of findings at an international conference.
• Unique research results + presentation of findings at an international conference.

All of these are directly related to doctoral research at our institution and must be completed within the duration of enrollment (although exceptions may be made for the two years prior to admission). Additionally, this only defines the qualifications for submitting a dissertation. The student is required to write an entire dissertation, including a peer-reviewed thesis.

At the time of application, applicants are required to submit their TOEFL iBT exam results (scorecard) taken within the last 2 years. This is to confirm whether the applicant has the necessary language skills for activities such as presenting at international conferences and as such, there is no specific required score.

Since the lecture-style classes are held online, excluding events such as the school entrance ceremony and exams, there is no requirement to come to the school. However, it is necessary to secure enough time for research activities.

In the doctoral program there is no need to plan separately how the research is conducted. By carrying out part of your research as project research, you will learn the series of steps from drafting a research plan, to the execution of the budget.

To obtain the degree, all that is required is the dissertation. A work, practice, etc. is a possible submission requirement for the doctoral dissertation, but it is not subject to examination for the degree.

IAMAS does not operate on a system where you can earn enough credits yet still not obtain a degree. If you submit your dissertation and fail to pass the final examinations, then you will not earn the final required credits for the degree in the Specialised Research in Media Art 3 course.

Including registered absence (maximum of 2 years), the longest attendance period is 8 years.

For the submission of the doctoral dissertation you can select between Japanese and English. However, as lectures are only held in Japanese, non-native Japanese speakers have a requirement to present themselves with a certain level of Japanese proficiency at the time of admission.