In the Qualifying Examination, students are tested for their knowledge and ability to autonomously produce a doctoral dissertation in the Cross-disciplinary Doctoral Course. The examination consists of confirmation of subjects taken and credits obtained, a written test on specialist knowledge in multiple disciplines, and an oral test regarding the student’s plan for cross-disciplinary research. The examination is conducted by one main doctoral supervisor and two sub- supervisor s. When required, one working-level person or researcher from outside of the university who is deemed appropriate by the Organization for Leading Graduate Education Program may be added as an examiner.

The Doctoral Candidate Examination consists of an assessment of whether or not the student has reached the appropriate level for a doctoral candidate, in terms of the level of progress, level of understanding, and originality of the student’s doctoral dissertation. The examination is conducted by one main doctoral supervisor and two sub- supervisor s. When required, one working-level person or researcher from outside of the university who is deemed appropriate by the Organization for Leading Graduate Education Program may be added as an examiner.

Students who are planning to undergo a review of their doctoral dissertation are required to undergo the preliminary review to assess in advance the possibility of submission of their doctoral dissertation. The preliminary review consists of an assessment of whether or not the doctoral dissertation has reached the appropriate level for submission, in terms of the level of progress, originality, etc. The examination is conducted by one main doctoral supervisor and at least two sub- supervisor s. When required, one working-level person or researcher from outside of the university who is deemed appropriate by the Organization for Leading Graduate Education Program may be added as an examiner.

Students who are planning to undergo a review of the doctoral dissertation are required to submit the dissertation in advance to the Organization for Leading Graduate Education Program to be reviewed. In the review of dissertation, the student is required to present the dissertation and respond to questions at a public hearing organized by the Doctoral Dissertation Examination Committee. The Doctoral Dissertation Examination Committee is comprised of one main doctoral supervisor and at least four sub- supervisor s. When required, up to two working-level people or researchers from outside of the university who are deemed appropriate by the Organization for Leading Graduate Education Program may be added as examiners.

The submission requirements for the doctoral dissertation are as follows:

1. For any doctoral dissertation, the student must have at least two papers presented at international conferences or in academic journals with a referee system, or a total of at least two published works equivalent to them
2. The student must have passed the Environmental Management Education Program Completion Examination of the Environmental Management Education program

The Completion Examination for the Environmental Management Education Program is an assessment of whether or not the student has reached the appropriate level to complete the program. The examination consists of confirmation of the subjects taken and credits obtained, and an oral test regarding environmental management. The examination is conducted by one main supervisor form the Cross-disciplinary Doctoral Course and two professors from the Environmental Management Education Program.