Please refer to the "Curriculum" section for information on the courses offered. Students can choose courses that suit their interests. However, due to various circumstances, the timetable may not always fit your schedule. Unlike undergraduate courses, Graduate Schools courses offer "some" flexibility in terms of class times and format through consultation between the instructor and the student. For more details, please consult with the instructor in charge.

The course content is designed to correspond to the students' prior knowledge and what they wish to learn. Since the syllabus is published in advance, the course content cannot deviate significantly from it. However, if students who have taken the time to enroll lack basic legal background knowledge, then no matter how advanced theories are taught, it will be fruitless unless that foundation is addressed first. Conversely, repeating the same material to students who have already acquired basic knowledge would likely be perceived as a waste of time.

The Master's program in Graduate Schools school has a capacity of 10 students per year, so unlike undergraduate lectures held in large classrooms, all Graduate Schools classes are conducted in small groups. The content of these classes varies to meet the needs of the students. Actual classes are conducted through interaction between the instructors and the students.

Please note that the timetable can be slightly modified after consultation with the students. Classes primarily for working adults are held on weekday evenings or weekends (from Friday afternoon through Saturday). However, there are no classes on Sundays. In addition, classes taught by part-time lecturers whose workplaces are far away, such as professors from the Graduate Graduate School of Law at Hokkai Gakuen Graduate Schools, are generally held as intensive courses during the summer or winter break. Again, the class times are determined by coordinating the students' wishes with the lecturers' availability.

Let me give you an example. This is the opinion of a certified social insurance and labor consultant. She studied administrative law for the first time in Graduate Schools. Although administrative law is strongly related to practical work, she didn't seem to be very aware of this before enrolling. It was only by taking administrative law courses in Graduate Schools that she was able to recognize its importance. Conversely, instructors can also reflect on the validity of their own administrative law theories by seeing and hearing concrete examples of students struggling in the field. This interaction is also at play here.

To borrow her words further, she feels that having the opportunity to thoroughly study civil law has deepened her understanding. Those who passed the qualification exam must have studied law when taking the exam. For example, civil law. However, when studying with the sole goal of passing the exam, time constraints and other factors may prevent one from looking at the broader scope of the subjects covered in the exam. In Graduate Schools classes, on the contrary, one spends time studying law broadly and systematically. This is about cultivating the fertile ground that extends beyond the individual themes that students try to explore in their theses. At first glance, it may seem like a roundabout way, but academic study broadens one's perspective. This will be useful in future work. This might be a somewhat abstract answer, but...

Since a class is an interaction between the instructor and the students, the atmosphere of the class will vary depending on the composition of the members. Generally speaking, for example, even in a one-on-one class between the instructor and student, if the student neglects to prepare for the class, the atmosphere will likely deteriorate. Conversely, if personal familiarity is fostered in a short period, the class may proceed in a friendly atmosphere. However, since a class is a place for academic training, students should prepare thoroughly in advance, gain a certain level of understanding of the topics being covered, and prepare some questions. Through the class, students are expected to unconsciously acquire the virtues of learning and develop more effective communication skills. These include an insatiable desire to pursue knowledge, humility and courage when faced with insurmountable obstacles, recognition of the importance of seeking guidance from others, and an attitude of seeking truth and discussing situations appropriately, regardless of status or age.

For information on research materials available to students, please refer to the "Research Support" section. Here, we will simply add that each graduate school has a shared research room, and that printers are available for immediately printing out downloaded digital materials.

Actually writing a master's thesis requires preparation well in advance. If you complete Graduate Schools 's program in the standard two years, the approach to writing your thesis might look something like this. However, this should be considered a general overview, as individual approaches will depend on your supervisor's guidance. Please also refer to "The Process of Awarding a Master's Degree."​

The first semester of the first year is dedicated to honing the fundamental skills necessary for Graduate Schools studies. You may have a vague idea of your research topic, but it's likely still far from being finalized. Each student will have two academic advisors assigned to them from the time of enrollment. Maintain close contact with your advisors and eagerly absorb research methods and other information. During the summer break, try writing a report summarizing your studies up to that point and submitting it to your advisor after the break. This will also serve as preparation for writing your master's thesis. Opportunities to discuss with friends are also extremely beneficial for your studies.

Second semester of the first year: You'll gradually get used to Graduate Schools life, so it's time to narrow down your thesis topic. To do this, a broad and deep knowledge of law and political science related to your topic is essential. At the end of the semester, it would be a good idea to write a slightly longer thesis as a summary of the year's work and get feedback from your advisor.

In the first semester of your second year, the graduate school committee will approve your thesis topic and supervisor arrangement. The meeting usually takes place at the end of April or the beginning of May, so you must finalize your topic by then. Carefully plan your research beforehand, outlining what you will study, when, and how, based on your chosen topic. Ideally, you should have a draft of your thesis completed around July. After that, you'll face a period of repeated revisions.

In the second semester of your second year, around November, you will have your interim thesis presentation. While this is technically the "final stage" rather than the "interim stage," it's a good opportunity to present the core of your thesis and receive plenty of criticism. All faculty members in charge of Graduate Schools will attend the interim presentation. Faculty members from various specialized fields will ask questions and express concerns about your presentation. You may receive strict criticism on basic thesis writing, structure, and citation methods. Be prepared for a thorough critique. You should show your manuscript to your supervisor beforehand and allow ample time for preparation.

Then, shortly after the new year, the deadline for submitting your thesis arrives. Save your relaxing New Year's holiday for next year. If you manage to submit it successfully, the next step is the examination. In the oral examination, two academic advisors will act as interviewers, asking questions about your thesis from every angle, reviewing its content, and determining whether it truly deserves a Master's degree. In some cases, you may fail, so be sure to consult with your academic advisor beforehand.

If you successfully pass the exam, let's further refine the manuscript and raise its quality to the point where it can be published in the "Annual Journal of Law Studies" and made public. The fruits of your hard work will be put into print. Not only 10 or 30 years from now, but as long as the preservation continues, as long as this university's Graduate Schools exists, and as long as Japan does not perish, your achievements will remain forever.

The above is a proposed timeline for writing a master's thesis if you plan to complete the course in two years. However, due to various circumstances, it may not be possible to write the thesis in two years. In that case, you can apply for an extension of your enrollment and finish writing by September. This will result in graduation in September. Alternatively, you can utilize the "long-term enrollment" system described in the basic Q&A section.

There are two methods. One is to submit your request to the central library, where they accept requests from students for book purchases. However, this will take some time. The other is to ask your academic advisor to purchase the books for you. As mentioned in the "Research Support" section, starting in fiscal year 2012, Graduate Schools library budget will be used to purchase books for students within a certain budget. Please take advantage of this.