About going on to doctoral studies

This section introduces information that will be useful when considering going on to a doctoral program. Many of you who have enrolled in a master's program may be unsure whether to go on to a doctoral program. Please use this information as a reference for your future career path

Basic Data

As of May 2021a total of 6,007 students enrolled in doctoral programsthere were
of University of Tokyo students who completed their master's programs went on, 27.3% (860 out of 3,155 students) This advancement rate has been increasing since 2017, rising from 23.9% in 2017, 26.1% in 2018, and 26.9% in 2019.
In graduate schools with a high percentage of students advancing to doctoral programs, it is possible that information regarding employment opportunities and alumni networks may be less accessible for those graduating with only a master's degree. It is important to proactively gather information and take action early on (see "JobHunting Recommendations" for more information on job hunting).

2020 Master's degree graduates' progression rate

	Master's degree graduate	Further education	Enrollment rate
Humanities and Social Sciences	114	63	55.3%
pedagogy	70	24	34.3%
law and politics	25	12	48.0%
Economics	100	21	21.0%
General Culture	229	83	36.2%
Science	359	191	53.2%
Engineering	1025	167	16.3%
Agriculture and Life Sciences	278	53	19.1%
medical system	53	24	45.3%
Pharmaceutical Sciences	83	37	44.6%
mathematical science	35	23	65.7%
New field creation science	421	97	23.0%
Information Science and Engineering	264	47	17.8%
Interdisciplinary Information	99	18	18.2%

From "Overview of the University of Tokyo"

Completion requirements and number of years required to complete the course

To complete a doctoral program, it is necessary to be enrolled for at least three years, acquire the required credits, and write a doctoral dissertation. This is mandatory in all graduate schools.
The number of years required to complete a doctoral program varies greatly depending on the graduate school. The completion rate within the standard period of study (the percentage of students who completed their doctoral dissertation and wrote their dissertation in three years) for the academic years 2010-2014 is shown in the following table.

humanities society	Educational system	law and politics	Economics
10.4%	15.1%	13.6%	10.4%

Science	Engineering	Agriculture	Pharmaceutical Sciences
53.7%	37.6%	59.8%	80.6%

From the "2015 University Institutional Accreditation Evaluation Report"

Differences from a Master's program in terms of research

What are the differences between research and everyday life in a master's program and a doctoral program? Let's take a look at the 2019 "Student Life Survey" conducted by the University of Tokyo

The average daily research time is 6.6 hours for master's students and 7.1 hours for doctoral students, suggesting that doctoral students spend more time on research
There are fewer credits to earn, more time for research rather than coursework, and more opportunities to present at conferences
Research expenses are also increasing. All expenses, including book costs, research costs, and conference attendance fees, are higher for doctoral students than for master's students

You may also spend time helping with things other than research. In doctoral programs, you may be entrusted with supervising junior students and handling administrative tasks for academic conferences. Depending on the laboratory, doctoral students may be entrusted with the research plan, so they will need the ability to manage their own schedule. Planned research with a view to doctoral thesis is necessary

Career paths after graduation

In science and engineering fields, depending on the specialization, a certain number of graduates find research positions in companies. On the other hand, in the humanities, graduates generally aim to become university professors or work for public research institutions. The prospects after completing a doctoral program are not necessarily bright. While the number of doctoral students is increasing, the number of undergraduate students is not increasing at the same rate due to the declining birthrate, so there is little prospect of an increase in university professorships.
However, the appeal of being able to work in a field that interests you is undeniably unique to academic professions. Consider these pros and cons before deciding whether or not to pursue further studies.

A guide to books for those considering pursuing a doctoral program

Max Weber, Science as a Vocation(Iwanami Bunko, 1952)

This is a classic on the theory of scholarship. Weber, a giant of social science, explains the mindset that students who aspire to study academia as a career should have and what scholarship can accomplish, making it highly thought-provoking even for us today. It's a short book, so you can read it in a short amount of time

Yoichi Komori (supervisor), "The Meaning of Research"(Tokyo Tosho, 2003)

Renowned researchers talk about their research to graduate students, primarily in the humanities and social sciences. The book is peppered with stories from the authors' younger days, which are sure to be encouraging. Personally, I was drawn to Professor Kiichi Fujiwara's message: "Do you have the perseverance to fight for 10 years?"

Akimichi Mizuki, "Highly Educated Working Poor"(Kobunsha, 2007)

This book became famous for arguing that graduate schools, which increased their enrollment quotas due to the emphasis on graduate schools in the 1990s, are sucking up students who are struggling to find employment and creating a large number of "freeters." While it cannot be denied that it overemphasizes certain examples, it sharply delves into the problems currently facing graduate schools

Eisuke Enoki, The Age of Drifting Doctors(Discover Twenty-One, 2010)

This book deals with the employment issues facing postdocs, primarily in the science and engineering fields, and makes you think about the future of PhD holders who are struggling to find work. It describes the harsh reality that those pursuing a PhD may face. It may also be a good idea for those considering continuing on to graduate school to read this while they are still in their master's program