LL.M. Program


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1. Overview 

The LL.M. (Master of Laws) is a one-year degree program taught entirely in English. In 1994, the Graduate School of Law at Kyushu University established Japan's first Master’s level program taught in English. Drawing upon faculty members with particular strengths in the fields of international economic and business law, the LL.M. program was designed to provide both Japanese and international students with the ability to confront the many challenges of law in a global society.

Since then the program has grown in scale and scope and a wide selection of courses are now offered across the major fields of law. The diversity of both the faculty and student body ensures a unique educational experience at one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious universities.


2. Program Duration

The LL.M. Program is taught on a full time basis and takes 12 months for completion, beginning in October or April every year and ending in September or March of the following year.


3. Program Requirements

All LL.M. students are expected to complete a 20-credit (approx. five courses per semester) coursework curriculum and write a Master’s Thesis of at least 50 pages. The following is a list of courses offered in the current academic year:

Complete Course List and Course Descriptions 

The research interests of faculty members involved in the LL.M. program are available here 


4. Admission Requirements

For admission to the LL.M., students must meet the following requirements:

  • An undergraduate degree in Law from an accredited university.
  • A good command of English. A TOEFL score of 92+ (Internet-based) or equivalent is required for non-native English speakers.
  • Sufficient financial support for the duration of the program. See Section 7 below for details on tuition and other fees.

Please note that scholarships may have additional requirements. Please see Section 5 below.


5. Application Materials & Procedure

Application requirements and procedures for the LL.M. vary depending on whether the applicant wishes to apply for financial aid or not, and what type of financial aid the applicant is seeking.

Below contains a list of financial aid options and the relevant application materials.

 

i. Self-financing

Students also have the option to self-finance their study. The tuition fee, other fees and living costs can be found in Section 7 below.

The application deadline is available in the Application Guidelines.

Application Guidelines and the Application Form for the 2nd Round of Fall 2020 Entry can be downloaded here

Application Guidelines and the Application Form for the 3rd Round of Fall 2020 Entry can be downloaded here

Application Guidelines and the Application Form for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 Entry can be downloaded here

Application open from June each year for entry of the following year.

Applications for October 2020 and Spring/Fall 2021 entries are now opened.

 

ii. Embassy Nominated Japanese Government Scholarship

The Japanese Government also offers Embassy-Nominated Japanese Government Scholarships.
Please contact the local Embassy / Consulate General in order to receive the necessary application documents and further information on Embassy Scholarships.

Applicants who have passed the Preliminary Screening and wish to enroll in the LL.M. for October of the following year must then submit the “LL.M. Application Form” and supporting materials to the Admission Office of the International Programs, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University.

The application deadline is available in the Application Guidelines.

If you have passed the Preliminary Screening, Application Guidelines and the LL.M. Application Form can be downloaded here

Application opens from mid-June each year for entry in October of the following year.

Applications for October 2021 entry are now opened.

 

iii. The Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)

Kyushu University will be able to offer one LL.M. Program student a scholarship supported by the ADB-JSP.

Applicants must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and no more than 35 years old at the time of application. At least two years of full-time professional working experience prior to the application is required.

The scholarship will cover all tuition fees for the duration of the program, subsistence allowance and an economy class return air ticket to and from Fukuoka.
The application deadline can be found in the Application Guidelines.

Application Guidelines and the Application Form can be downloaded here

Applications open from mid-November each year for October entry of the following year.

Applications for October 2020 entry were closed.

 

iv. JASSO Honors Scholarship

JASSO offers “Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students” for international students who are accepted by a Japanese university. Applicants for the scholarship will be accepted through schools. The applicants must submit an application form to Admission Office of the International Programs, graduate school of Law, Kyushu University to have them recommend to JASSO that they are qualified to receive the scholarship. The application deadline for the scholarship is available upon request.

More scholarship information for applicants who can read Japanese:

Kyushu University Scholarship Information web site:
http://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/scholarship/view/list.php?nendo=2013&lang=en

Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO):
http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/scholarships_sfisij_e.html

Since Kyushu University does not have any control over the administration of these scholarships, it is the applicant’s responsibility to check whether the scholarship he/she is applying for can be used for the LL.M. program.

Please note that acceptance to these scholarship does not in any way guarantee acceptance into any of the International Program in Law offered by Kyushu University.


6. Student Life

For information on housing, health care and other matters related to life in Japan, please see the International Student & Researcher Support Center page:

http://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/supportcenter/en/


7. Tuition, Other Fees & Living Costs

The various university fees and estimated living costs are approximately as follows. Exact amounts are available upon request:

  • Kyushu University Registration Fee: 30,000 yen.
  • Kyushu University Entrance Fee: 280,000 yen (paid once on enrollment).
  • Kyushu University Tuition Fee per Semester (2x per year): 270,000 yen.
  • Monthly Living Costs: 100,000 yen (approx.).
  • Money for Arrival: Based on the experience of former students, we recommend new students to bring a minimum of 150,000 yen in cash if staying in university accommodation and 200,000 yen if staying in private accommodation.

FAQ

Am I entitled to a waiver of the TOEFL etc. language requirement?

Our normal practice is to require all applicants for whom English is a second language to submit a TOEFL test or equivalent, although if there are some special circumstances we will consider a waiver.

If I have taken an English test other than TOEFL, what score is required?

A conversion chart is available here 

Do I need a law degree in order to apply for the LL.M.?

A law degree is not absolutely necessary in order to be eligible to apply, however, a significant part of your undergraduate degree must have been in law.


Pamphlet 

The LL.M. Pamphlet can be downloaded here 


Contact Details & Inquiries

Inquiries regarding this program should be addressed to:
Fax: 81[Japan]-92-802-5407
E-mail: admission@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Application materials should be submitted to:
Admission Office of the International Programs, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan


Updated: June 12, 2020