MBA Online

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University

Curriculum

Subjects common to All Faculties
In their first year after enrollment, students study “Subjects common to All Faculties” in which they master the fundamentals of economics and business administration before studying more specialized content. Here, a wide variety of academic disciplines are available; Students are exposed to not only the social sciences but the natural sciences and humanities as well.
The first year is crucial in that students acquire the “perspectives and ideas” needed to comprehend social phenomena in a realistic manner. Students are encouraged to learn foreign languages, which are essential for success in a global environment
Specialized Subjects
The study of specialized subjects begins in the second year. For example, second-year students study macroeconomics and microeconomics, and third- and fourth-year students study more advanced content in macroeconomics and microeconomics. The curriculum is designed to facilitate students in acquiring knowledge and ideas in specialized fields in incremental stages.
Intensive and Special Lectures
As economics and business administration rapidly becomes more specialized and diversified, it is more difficult for one university to conduct leading-edge research in all fields.
For this reason, we invite leading researchers, in fields that have not been designated by the curriculums, from other colleges and research institutions to give lectures on an intensive basis. These lectures last about one week and are scheduled for the end of the first half of the academic year.
We also invite policy-making professionals (from various government agencies) and professionals in finance and management (corporate entrepreneurs, financial experts, accountants) to give special lectures several times during the year. This provides students with an opportunity to learn about the realities at the forefront of economics and business administration.
Seminars
The greatest aspect of the curriculum is that seminars are designated as required subjects. All students in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration belong to one set of seminars in their third and fourth years.
As seminars are scheduled at the end of the day, it is possible to extend discussion hours if necessary. The gathering of third- and fourth-year students together in one arena for discussion is rarely seen in other universities; based on their own experiences, senior students offer juniors sage advice on the “graduation thesis” and “job-hunting activities”.
Because the number of seminar students is small, only five to ten per college year, the instructors can offer students firsthand research guidance.
The relationships students cultivate in the seminar — between instructors and students, fellow students, and juniors and seniors —are a valuable asset for every student.
As the summation of research activity during the two-year seminar, as well as confirmation of four years of college life, all students write a graduation thesis. The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration has established the “Graduate Thesis Scholarship Program” in order to reward students who have penned exceptional graduation theses.

The Origin of Seminars

One major characteristic of the educational program at our faculty is the old tradition of small-group education with the seminar as its core. The founder of the seminar system, a system distinguished from lectures, in Japan is believed to be Inazo Nitobe.
Nitobe, the well-known author of “Bushido: The Soul of Japan,” was a graduate of Hokkaido University (formerly the Sapporo Agricultural Institute). Nitobe’s portrait was featured on the 5,000-yen banknote from 1984 to 2004.
In 1895 when Nitobe was the head of the Instruction Department at the Sapporo Agricultural Institute, he adopted the ’seminar’ as something equivalent to the ‘experiment’ in the natural sciences, and incorporated it into liberal arts education as a part of curriculum reform. This was the first time the seminar was adopted in education.

Graduate Admission Entrance Examination

PhD Program
A PhD program is available for those students intending to become researchers after completing the Master’s program. There is no special entrance examination for foreign students for the PhD program. All applicants are required to take the general examination.

Applications for the entrance examination for the PhD program should be completed by the beginning of January. The examination will be conducted towards the beginning of February.

Exam SubjectsForeign Language, Interview (Oral Exam)
1. The interview (Oral Exam) will primarily involve questions on the “Master’s Thesis.”
2. The foreign language will be selected at the time of application.
3. Foreign students will take a language exam on either English or Japanese.

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University
Graduate Admission Entrance Examination
Master’s Program
The Master’s program is divided into two courses. One is a Master’s course provided as part of a PhD program to train researchers. The other is a specialized course that trains highly skilled professionals. There is a general entrance examination and a special entrance examination for mature students and foreign students. Therefore, there are five types of entrance examination for the Master’s program. These are listed below according to the student’s type and intentions.

(1) Doctoral Course (general), (2) Doctoral Course (special screening for foreign students), (3) Specialized Course (general), (4) Specialized Course (special screening for mature students), (5) Specialized Course (special screening for foreign students)

Applications for the entrance examination for the doctoral course (general) and the specialized course (general and mature student screening) should be completed by the beginning of August. The examinations will be conducted towards the end of August. Students are allowed to take more than one examination.

Applications for the entrance examination for the doctoral course (special screening for foreign students) or the specialized course (special screening for foreign students) should be completed by the beginning of January. The examinations will be conducted towards the beginning of February.

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University

Entrance Examinations for Undergraduate Program

AO(AdmissionsOffice) Entrance Exam

There is no need to study exam techniques for AO Entrance Exam. Just show us what you have done, thought and learned during your high school years.
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Hokkaido University offers information on “educational content” and “desirable student qualities.” Please have your goal clarified and a clear understanding of campus life before applying.
Applicant screening does not include a written examination. In the 1st Screening, the motivation, aptitude, and scholastic ability of the applicant are evaluated based on a letter of self-recommendation, an individual evaluation, a school report, and activity records.
In the 2nd Screening, the applicant’s level of ability and personality are evaluated through an essay and an interview.
We seek the following qualities in our students:
(type 1) the ability to think, comprehend, and express oneself, and possession of the basic academic ability necessary to learn at our faculty.
(type 2) the ability to take up themes in learning and life; past achievements in physical and cultural activities.
(type 3) the ability to be a leader in the student-body, previous extracurricular and volunteer activities.
(type 4) the ability to think in a multifaceted manner, regardless of whether a liberal-arts or science-oriented curriculum was taken in high school.
General Entrance Exam

1st term schedule: number of admissions : 160
Applicants who have taken 6 subjects in the University Testing Center Exam, a standardized preliminary exam for university admission, are required to take the following exams for assessment of basic scholastic proficiency: Japanese, Math and Foreign Language.
2nd term schedule: number of admissions : 20
Applicants who have taken 6 subjects in the University Testing Center Exam, are required to write a short essay to assess their knowledge of the liberal arts and social sciences and their ability to comprehend academic papers, to use logical thinking when studying economics and business administration, and to write academically.

APU, course, Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration, Innovation & Technology Management, MBA, Hokkaido University,

Undergraduate Course (2 Departments: 5 Subjects)
1. Economics (3 Subjects)
Economic Theory
Economic History
Applied Economics
2. Business Administration (2 Subjects)
Business Administration
Management Information

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University

Graduate school (2 Majors: 5 Chairs)
1. Modern Economics and Business Administration Major (4 Chairs)
Economic Analysis
Social and Historical Economics
Economic Policy
Management Analysis

2. Accounting Information Major (1 Chair)
Accounting Information