Graduate School of Arts and Letters : Admission Policy

Admission Policy

Based on the Meiji Gakuin University Graduate School’s Policy regarding Admission of New Students, the Graduate School of Arts and Letters has established the following “Policy regarding Admission of New Students” in accordance with the “Policy regarding Course Completion & Degree Conferment” and “Policy regarding Curriculum Formulation and Implementation” of the school and its various majors, reflecting their respective Human Resource Development Aims and Educational Goals. The following policies apply to both master’s and doctoral programs in all majors.

  1. Applicant Criteria
    1. Understands and endorses the university’s educational philosophy of “Do for Others”, possesses a keen insight into the various issues arising in present-day society, as well as the ambition and potential to contribute to an inclusive society as an educational researcher or high-level specialized professional after advanced study and research in the Graduate School’s disciplines.
    2. Demonstrates the fundamental abilities acquired at the undergraduate level (or master’s level for doctoral programs) necessary for pursuing study at the Graduate School.
  2. Basic Policy for Selection of Students
    Conduct appropriate written examinations and/or interviews to assess whether applicants possess the ambition, potential and fundamental abilities outlined in “Applicant Criteria” above. Written examinations focus on the fundamental academic abilities acquired at the undergraduate level (or master’s level for doctoral programs), while interviews place emphasis on the ambition and potential to contribute to society as an educational researcher or high-level specialized professional.

Major of English Literature

Admission Policy

Master’s Program
Students must possess the ambition and potential to acquire advanced, specialized knowledge and develop research abilities in the fields of Anglo-American literature/culture, English, linguistics and English pedagogy. Entrance examinations are conducted twice, in spring and autumn. Written examinations and interviews are conducted to ascertain whether prospective students possess the linguistic ability and knowledge necessary for research. Success is determined according to overall aptitude in written examinations and interviews. For applicants studying at Meiji Gakuin who have submitted their graduation thesis or possess outstanding results, success is determined according to aptitude demonstrated in interviews only.

Doctoral Program
Students must possess the ambition and potential to further develop specialized knowledge and research abilities acquired through the master’s program. Prospective students must submit a master’s (or equivalent) thesis, as well as complete written examinations and interviews to ascertain whether they possess the linguistic ability, specialized knowledge and analytical skills required for research. Success is determined according to overall aptitude demonstrated in the thesis, written examinations and interviews.

Major of French Literature

Admission Policy

Master’s Program
Individuals must possess the ambition and potential to be active in cultural fields, acquiring and expressing high-level knowledge and insight concerning the French language, as well as the literature, ideologies and arts of France, French-speaking countries and associated regions. Entrance examinations are held only once, in the spring. Prospective students must submit a research plan. Applicants must complete a specialized written examination assessing French ability and knowledge of the field, a written examination on a second foreign language, as well as an interview (including questions about their research plan). Success is determined according to overall performance in written examinations and interviews.

Doctoral Program
Individuals must possess the ambition and potential to acquire further specialized knowledge in the fields above and apply themselves diligently to becoming an independent researcher or professional in a highly-specialized field. Entrance examinations are held only once, in the spring. Prospective students must submit a master’s thesis. Applicants must complete written examinations assessing French ability and interviews (including questions about their master’s thesis). Success is determined according to overall performance in written examinations and interviews.

Major of Arts Studies

Admission Policy

Master’s Program
Individuals must possess fundamental specialized knowledge, sensibilities and logical expression ability in one of four fields ― music, film studies, art history or art media – as well as the ambition and potential to improve these capabilities according to a research plan in order to succeed both academically and in society. Entrance examinations are held only once, in the spring. Prospective students must complete interviews and written examinations assessing fundamental specialized knowledge and linguistic ability required for research (English and, depending on course, secondary foreign language), and submit a graduation thesis or equivalent paper. Although the relative importance of evaluation methods varies by course, success is determined according to overall aptitude in written examinations and interviews.

Doctoral Program
Individuals must possess the ambition and potential to acquire further specialized knowledge and ability to produce papers in the fields above, and to develop themselves towards becoming independent researchers while refining artistic sensibilities. Entrance examinations are held only once, in the spring. Prospective students must submit a master’s thesis, attend interviews and complete written examinations assessing whether they possess the linguistic ability required for research. Success is determined according to overall aptitude in written examinations and interviews.