Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University
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Diploma Policy – Graduate School of Medicine

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Diploma Policy – Graduate School of Medicine

Under the basic philosophies of Hokkaido University, “Frontier Spirit”, “Global Perspectives”, “All-round Education” and “Practical Learning”, educational goals of the Graduate School of Medicine aim to nurture individuals who possess high ethical standards, highly specialized knowledge, and research and teaching capabilities, as well as the deep insight to meet the demands of health and safety requirements from local and international community.

The Graduate School of Medicine defines the abilities required of students in Master's Program and Doctoral Program, and grants the diploma to those who have attained these abilities and completed academic requirements.

Master’s Program in Medical Science

・Master of Medical Science
We grant Master of Medical Science to those who have attained the competencies to continuously contribute to the development of medical and life science research field by understanding the backgrounds of the medical and life science research, making plans for research theme of biologic importance or hypotheses to be validated, analyzing the obtained experimental or research results through verification of the validity and preparing another theme or hypotheses. In addition, students should acquire predefined credits and pass the qualifying review and examination of the Master’s thesis.
 
・Master of Public Health
We grant Master of Public Health to those who have attained the competencies to continuously contribute to the development of public health field setting further measure against newly generated challenges through understanding the mechanism necessary for entire society and people’s health, life and security and planning measures to maintain or improve health by collecting or analyzing the information necessary to solve the issues of public health or preventive medicine, as well as through putting those measures into execution effectively and evaluating the obtained results appropriately. In addition, students should acquire predefined credits and pass the qualifying review and examination of the Master’s thesis or research achievements of specific assignment. In addition, students should acquire predefined credits and pass the qualifying review and examination of the Master’s thesis or research achievements of specific assignment.

Degree-granting level - Master's Program

Based on the educational goals of the Graduate School of Medicine, in the Master's Program, we aim to nurture individuals who have basic knowledge and skills to carry out activities to contribute to their own field, as researchers and educators in medical and life science fields, as highly specialized professionals in medical related fields, or as experts in healthcare and health policy management. We grant the Master of Medical Sciences diploma to those who have attained the following abilities.

(1)
Understanding and fair evaluation of current and prior knowledge related to one's research, and ability to make one's own logical statement
(2)
Abilities to perform research planning, collection and analysis of scientific data, and logical thinking based on scientific data, understand that all experiments and observations include errors, and evaluate reliability and reproducibility of results as a scientist
(3)
Presentation skills to discuss one's research in academic conferences or other public events
(4)
Ability to write for academic journals

Master’s Thesis Assessment Criteria

  • (1) Basic requirements

    Master’s degree candidates are expected to use their Master’s theses to prove acquisition of the basic knowledge and skills required to work independently and contribute to their respective fields as researchers or educators in medical and life sciences, as specialists in medical related fields, or as experts in healthcare, health policy management and other related areas as stipulated in the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine’s Diploma Policy. To this end, Master’s theses must be based on research conducted in line with the Code of Conduct for Scientists at Hokkaido University with content that does not infringe on the originality or ideas of any third-party research or research paper, or on the copyright, portrait rights or other rights of any third parties. Master’s theses must also exhibit sufficient academic value and originality, and must meet the requirements outlined below.

    1. Positioning within the discipline
    The research must be in a discipline in which expert groups can assess studies on certain themes objectively and fairly. Students must be clear on where their research is positioned within the discipline.
    2. Scientific significance
    Research findings must be significant enough to be shared in the above discipline rather than remaining the student’s personal scientific interest.
    3. Demonstrability
    Students must demonstrate to expert groups in the discipline that their research themes and methods have significant value as scientific research.
     
  • (2) Thesis structure

    Master’s theses must deal with a research question in a specialized field and clearly describe the background, objective/significance, methods and results of the research. Master’s thesis writing is an indispensable practice particularly for those aspiring to proceed to the Doctoral Program and pursue careers as researchers. Focus in Master’s thesis is placed on the thought process by which students have coped with research challenges and reached logical conclusions. Accordingly, it is essential that theses clarify the related thought processes and results. Theses covering multiple themes should include logical explanation of how the different considerations are related. Specifically, theses are assessed in consideration of the following:

    1.
    Appropriate and detailed elucidation of the scientific importance and significance of the research question (and related research disciplines), information elucidated to date, and other background elements
    2.
    Clarification of current issues regarding the research question (and related research disciplines) or matters yet to be elucidated
    3.
    Establishment of clear research objectives based on 1 and 2
    4.
    Accurate description of the research/data analysis methods used to achieve the research objectives
    5.
    Detailed description of related research results obtained in the Master’s Program (ideally including basic laboratory data, negative data and the like)
    6.
    Accurate and detailed analysis/interpretation of data presented in the form of figures and tables
    7.
    Logical description of what the research adds
    8.
    Appropriate citation of references

Doctoral (PhD) Program in Medicine

Degree-granting level - Doctoral Program

The Graduate School of Medicine, in the Doctoral Program, we grant Doctor of Philosophy to those who have attained the following competencies to continuously contribute to the development of basic medicine, clinical medicine, or social medicine research, through properly understanding the backgrounds or circumstances of medical research, making plans for research theme which are academically and internationally significant or hypotheses which should be validated, analyzing the obtained results through verification of the validity and preparing another theme or hypotheses. In addition, students should acquire predefined credits and pass the qualifying review and examination of the Degree thesis (Dissertation).

(1)
Understanding and fair evaluation of current and prior knowledge related to one's research, and ability to make one's own logical statement
(2)
Abilities to perform research planning, collection and analysis of scientific data, and logical thinking based on scientific data, understand that all experiments and observations include errors, and evaluate reliability and reproducibility of results as a scientist
(3)
Presentation skills to discuss one's research in academic conferences or other public events
(4)
Ability to write for publication in academic journals, and make meaningful contribution to the research field or the society.

Doctoral Thesis Assessment Criteria

  • (1) Basic requirements

    Doctoral degree candidates are expected to use their Doctoral theses to prove their ability to make outstanding contributions in their fields as researchers, educators or clinicians at universities, research institutes, affiliated hospitals or other places or as individuals involved in socially significant activities as stipulated in the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine’s Diploma Policy. To this end, Doctoral theses must be based on research conducted in line with the Code of Conduct for Scientists at Hokkaido University with content that does not infringe on the originality or ideas of any third-party research or research paper, or on the copyright, portrait rights or other rights of any third parties. Doctoral theses must also exhibit sufficient academic value and creativity, and must meet the requirements outlined below.

    Positioning within the discipline
    The research must be in a discipline in which expert groups can assess studies on certain themes objectively and fairly. Students must be clear on where their research is positioned within the discipline.
    Scientific significance
    Research findings must be significant enough to be shared in the above discipline rather than remaining the student’s personal scientific interest.
    Demonstrability
    Students must demonstrate to expert groups in the discipline that their research themes and methods have significant value as scientific research.
     
  • (2) Thesis structure

    Doctoral theses must be based on the academic paper submitted to, accepted by or published by a peer-reviewed academic journal in English. However, in contrast to the academic paper described above, focus in Doctoral thesis should be on the thought process by which students have coped with research challenges and reached logical conclusions. Accordingly, it is essential that theses clarify the related thought processes and results. Doctoral thesis covering multiple themes should include logical explanation of how the different considerations are related. Consequently, the academic paper cannot substitute for a Doctoral thesis. Specifically, theses are assessed in consideration of the following:

    Appropriate and detailed elucidation of the scientific importance and significance of the research question (and related research disciplines), information elucidated to date, and other background elements
    Clarification of current issues regarding the research question (and related research disciplines) or matters yet to be elucidated
    Establishment of clear research objectives based on 1 and 2
    Accurate description of the research/data analysis methods used to achieve the research objectives
    Detailed description of related research results obtained in the Doctoral Program (ideally including basic laboratory data, negative data and the like, which are omitted in articles for submission to academic journals and similar)
    Accurate and detailed analysis/interpretation of data presented in the form of figures and tables
    Logical description of what the research adds
    Appropriate citation of references