Based on the three policies that Hiroshima University Graduate Schools established for their doctoral courses, the three policies of the Doctoral Course of the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life will be defined as follows below.

The Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life aims to foster human resources equipped with deep understanding and expertise, from the basics to application, in the areas of study related to biology and life sciences, and capable of creating “science that can guide sustainable development” based on the broad and deep general education acquired and by flexibly working in close collaboration with other fields of study. Moreover, we are dedicated to helping students develop practical problem-identifying and problem-solving capabilities by offering education to enhance their global perspective and awareness of social implementation.

The Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life will confer an applicable degree – Doctor of Philosophy in Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture or Doctor of Philosophy – on those who have acquired the following abilities, earned the required number of credits, received research guidance, and passed the screening of their doctoral thesis and final examination conducted by the Graduate School.

1. A student must have acquired high-level research skills and expertise in basic biology, mathematical science, molecular science, biofunctional science, environmental science, bioresource science, biological production science, food science, biotechnology, medical science and surrounding fields, as well as in integrated fields. Students are also required to have the ability to disseminate their research findings inside and outside of Japan.
2. A student must have acquired a high degree of specialist knowledge in the above-mentioned areas of study; an interdisciplinary perspective and practical abilities, from the basics to applications; and the ability to identify challenges and solve them through an interdisciplinary approach.
3. A student must have acquired a rich and broad general knowledge and have strong eagerness to create “science that can guide sustainable development.”
4. A student must have an appropriate understanding of scientific theories and professional research ethics, information dissemination capabilities, and high-level international/interdisciplinary communication skills, and can be expected to play an active role independently in Japan and abroad as a researcher, highly specialized professional or educator equipped with a high level of specialized knowledge, an interdisciplinary perspective and practical expertise necessary in the real world.

The Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life designs and implements curriculums under the policy below to ensure that students can achieve the goals stated in its Diploma Policy.

1. Common courses for the Graduate School will be established to help students acquire a deep and broad education, increase their willingness to create “science that can guide sustainable development”, and develop practical expertise necessary in society and a sense of professional research ethics.
2. Specialized courses for each degree-granting program will be established to develop students’ specialist knowledge and capabilities required to complete the program.
3. Students will receive multiple kinds of research guidance by one main supervisor and two or more sub-supervisors, at least one of whom must be from a different specialized area as that of the main supervisor. Sub-supervisors can be chosen from among faculty members of other graduate schools of Hiroshima University and researchers of other research institutes in Japan and abroad.
4. To promote their understanding of different areas of study and disciplinary knowledge, students will participate in cutting-edge research programs or research activity conducted by research institutes to which their sub-supervisors belong.
5. To enhance their practical expertise necessary in society, students will work as a research assistant in other research institutes in Japan and abroad.
6. To acquire international communication ability, students will provide assistance in presentations delivered at international conferences.

The Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, based on its Diploma Policy and Curriculum Policy, expects to admit doctoral students as described below.

Students who:

1. Have strong volition to do research, and who wish to create new science that integrates and links different fields without being constrained by conventional frameworks of research fields in the areas of study related to biology and life science;
2. Wish to develop deep expertise and a broad and interdisciplinary perspective along with a broad general education, to acquire international communication skills, and to play an active role both in the domestic and international arenas as a member or leader of an interdisciplinary and field integration-type problem-solving team; and
3. Wish to belong to several research environments both in Japan and overseas, and to create “science that can guide sustainable development” after acquiring their original problem-searching and problem-solving abilities supported by related expertise and interdisciplinary perspective as well as practical capabilities in society by gaining experiences in the real world.