Application Package. DBA Program in International Business Strategy

Application Package DBA Program in International Business Strategy Academic Year 2016-2017 Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy

Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy Application Package for the DBA Program in International Business Strategy (2016-17) Program Overview Since 2002, the International Business Strategy (IBS) Program of the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS) at has offered a doctoral degree program. The purpose of the program is to develop scholars who can serve as one bridge between the worlds of scholarship and practice. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is conducted in English at our campus in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The DBA program places particular emphasis on business problem-solving and its practical implications, while providing a theoretical and scientific foundation to add academic rigor to research. DBA candidates combine insights from their own business experience with new knowledge gained through a rigorous program of independent research, and exposure to state-of-the-art ideas discussed in business schools. DBA candidates are required to produce distinctive, original research at the leading edge of applied management research. Successful DBA theses are original research that combines theory and methods, with practical relevance and insights that will influence how managers think about a business issue. The DBA program relies strongly on individual initiative. Each DBA candidate spends three years under the academic supervision of the IBS faculty, designing and executing a research project. This work results in a dissertation thesis that is targeted for publication as an academic paper or a research-oriented management book. DBA candidates are required to attend four courses two in research positioning and two in research methodology. A candidate s academic milestones in the program include a) presenting a paper at the faculty research seminar by the end of March of the second year; b) successfully defending a dissertation proposal hearing; and c) successfully completing and defending their dissertation thesis. DBA candidates are permitted to audit MBA courses upon approval of their advisor and the course instructor. Interested DBA candidates also have the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants and to conduct joint research with our faculty. Successful applicants to the DBA program have 2 or more years of full-time work experience. While an MBA degree or other Master s degrees are generally required for admission, the Admissions Committee may grant waivers for exceptionally qualified applicants. 1

We are interested in attracting strong applicants to our DBA program, including: (1) Professionals with Master s degrees seeking an early career change into academia, as faculty member of a business school. The standards for academic performance continue to rise among hiring business schools, and more rigorous academic training is required for full time faculty positions, hence we strongly recommend candidates with career goals in academia to enroll in the program full time. We strongly recommend these candidates to contact us one or two years before they apply to the DBA program, This will improve the likelihood of securing funds for a full-time doctoral student from the first year by external research fellowships such as the Research Fellowship for Young Scientists. (2) Faculty members and instructors of other business schools who currently do not hold doctoral degrees (e.g., Jitsumuka-kyoin at Japanese business schools) seeking to develop their research, education, and academic careers at a higher level as doctoral degree holders. (3) Experienced senior management practitioners who have formulated clear research ideas through their own work experiences and who envision the DBA degree as an integrated part of their business careers. DBA candidates must maintain residency in Japan while they are enrolled in order to participate in the courses and meetings with faculty members. Professor Satoshi Akutsu is in charge of the DBA Program and Ms. Akemi Mizuto is administrative staff. Students may select any member of the IBS graduate faculty as their thesis advisor, contingent on approval by the DBA Program Committee and the faculty member. 2

Application and Admission Procedures (1) Maximum number of students to be admitted for 2016 Four (4) students. (2) Qualification of applicants An MBA or other Master s degree, or approval for exemption from the DBA Program Committee. Please inquire before March 25, 2016 for an exemption. 2 or more years of full-time work experience, or approval for exemption from the DBA Program Committee. A good command of English, with a score above 630 (Computer-based: 267; Internet-based: 109) in TOEFL, 7.5 in IELTS Academic or equivalent (see Section 3 below). Expected GMAT score is over 600. Expected GRE score is over 160 on Quantitative Reasoning and 150 on Verbal Reasoning. Basic knowledge and aptitude in business. (3) Application documents to be submitted Documents Details Application Form Complete and sign the application form; attach a photo (Form A) Master s degree certificate Official transcript of MBA or Master s degree Career accomplishments Signed by the President or the Dean of the university Signed by the President or the Dean of the university Please describe your business background and major business accomplishments to date (Number of copies: 1 original and 2 duplicates, for a total of 3 copies; Maximum length: 3 pages, double-spaced) Personal Statement Please provide the following information (Number of copies: 1 original and 2 duplicates, for a total of 3 copies; Maximum length: 10 pages, double-spaced): (1) Your intended field of specialization (e.g., strategy, marketing, organization, operations management, knowledge management, etc.) and specific topics of interest within that field (2) Research Proposal (i.e., the title, what you intend to write about for your dissertation thesis and the method you intend to utilize) (3) How a doctoral degree from ICS will help you achieve your career goals 3

Reference letters Official TOEFL /IELTS score report Official GMAT or GRE score report Two letters of reference: (1) References should come from persons who have been directly responsible for assessing your work and/or academic performance (2) At least one, and preferably two, references should come from an employer, academic supervisor, or both (Form B) (1) Applicants must demonstrate competence in English by scoring over 630 (267: computer-based test; 109: internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 7.5 on the International English Language Testing System Academic Module (IELTS Academic) (2) We strongly recommend that you take the TOEFL/IELTS at least one month before submitting your application (3) We will not accept unofficial scores, photocopies, or faxed score reports that are more than two years old [University Code No. 8682] The following applicants are not required to include this item Applicants whose native language is English Applicants who have graduated with a degree from an English-speaking country Applicants who have worked for over three years in an English-speaking country (1) Applicants must demonstrate general aptitude for business studies by the scores of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (2) We strongly recommend that you take the GMAT or GRE at least one month before submitting your application (3) We will not accept unofficial scores, photocopies, or faxed score reports that are more than ten years old. [University Code No. F6R-Q5-29] Application fee: JPY 30,000 Self-addressed return envelope Photocopy of the relevant page(s) of your passport See Attachment for payment procedures Use a standard postal size (23.5 x 12 cm), together with domestic registered mail stamps ( 392) to receive the admission decision Applicants who live abroad are not required to include this item Such page(s) must include your name, photo, and passport number Applicants who do not need student visa are not required to include this item Note: All documents must be written in English. If there are any documents or certificates written in other languages, please attach an English translation. Only complete applications will be considered. Incomplete applications at the time of the application deadline will not be considered. 4

(4) Application procedures All application documents must be sent in one envelope to the following address by either registered mail or courier service. Please write DBA Application Documents in red on the envelope. Application Period: April 18 (Monday) May 6 (Friday), 2016 Address: Administrations Office Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS) National Center of Sciences, 5th Floor 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-8439, Japan (5) Admissions procedures The selection process will involve two screenings. The first screening consists of a review of the written application documents, including your research proposal. The second screening consists of an interview. (a) First screening (based on written application documents) Screening criteria will include your level of scholarship, as well as your writing ability. The results of the first screening, and the details of the second screening, will be communicated to all applicants soon after May 20, 2016 (Friday) via e-mail. (b) Second screening (interview) Date/time: May 27, 2016 (Friday); 10:00-17:00; 30 minutes per applicant Interview based on your application documents Place: Chiyoda campus (National Center of Sciences) (6) Admission decision You will be notified of the admission decision by e-mail and by post on June 16, 2016. Decisions will not be communicated by phone or fax. (7) Enrollment registration (a) Registration period: June 27 July 1 (weekdays only) (b) Matriculation fee: 282,000 (preliminary estimate) The matriculation fee is not required for individuals who enter directly from the ICS MBA Program or other Graduate Schools of. 5

For all other applicants, the matriculation fee must be paid through a bank transfer with the prescribed form provided by. The form will be sent to you with the Acceptance Notice. (c) Tuition fees: Half-year tuition: 267,900 Annual tuition: 535,800 (preliminary estimate)) (d) Payment period: October 1 October 31, 2016. (e) Other enrollment procedures will be communicated at a later date. (8) Miscellany (a) Inquiries about admissions should be made only via fax (+81 (0)3-4212-3006) or e-mail (ics-info@ics.hit-u.ac.jp). All inquiries must be resolved before sending application documents. (b) Application documents will not be returned to applicants; the application fee is not refundable. (c) All official documents should be originals; photocopies are not acceptable. (d) Application forms are expected to be typed using a computer or word-processor. (e) Applicants with disabilities or special needs should consult with the Administrations Office at ICS beforehand. 6

Attachment Application Fee: Payment Procedure of JPY 30,000 For applicants living in Japan: Payment of JPY 30,000 must be made through a bank transfer to the account noted below, and a copy of the bank transfer receipt must be included in the application documents submitted to the Admissions Office. Bank Name/Branch: Sumitomo-Mitsui Bank, Kunitachi Branch Bank Address: 1-8-45 Naka, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-0004, Japan A/C Name: Savings A/C No.: 7761795 Amount: 30,000 Japanese Yen School Address: 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-8601, Japan (Tel: +81-(0)3-42-580-8078) For applicants living outside of Japan: Payment of JPY 32,500 (30,000 yen for application fee + 2,500 yen for handling charge by the Japanese bank) can be made through a bank transfer (cable remittance) to the account noted below, and a copy of the bank transfer receipt must be included in the application documents submitted to the Admissions Office. Payment by credit card is also possible and recommended. For more information, please follow this link for instructions. http://www.ics.hit-u.ac.jp/sites/default/files/uploads/(dba)payment%20procedure%20by%20credit%20card.pdf Bank Name/Branch: Sumitomo-Mitsui Bank, Kunitachi Branch Bank address: 1-8-45 Naka, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-0004, Japan A/C Name: Savings A/C No.: 7761795 SWIFT Code: SMBCJPJT Amount: 32,500 Japanese Yen School address: 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-8601, Japan (Tel: +81(0)3-42-580-8078) Notes: The Application Fee of JPY 30,000 is non-refundable. s bank account must receive a net amount of JPY30,000 after all remittance charges. Please ask your bank if the remittance will be made directly to Sumitomo-Mitsui Bank or through other banks. If the remittance is made through other banks, an additional charge may be deducted from the amount. In that case, please add that amount to the 32,500 yen. Please note the following on the bank transfer slip: "Full amount of 30,000 Japanese yen must be received by the account holder." Bank checks are not acceptable forms of payment. In case the full amount of the Application Fee is not transferred in the Application Period, the application will not be accepted. 7

Address ICS is located in the heart of the business district in central Tokyo, and a few minute walk from the Imperial Palace. Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy National Center of Sciences (Gakujutsu Sogo Center). 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-8439, JAPAN Getting here by train From Takebashi Station Take the Tozai Line to Takebashi Station. Approximately a 4-minute walk from Exit 1B. From Jimbocho Station Take the subway (Hanzomon, Shinjuku, or Toei Mita Line) to Jimbocho Station. Approximately a 3-minute walk from Exit A8. International Arrival From Narita International Airport Take Narita Express to Tokyo Station (approximately 60 minutes), walk to Otemachi Station (approximately 5 minutes), then take the Tozai Line to Takebashi Station. Or take the Toei Mita Line from Otemachi Station to Jimbocho Station. From Haneda Airport Take Keihin Kyuko Line to Mita Station (approximately 28 minutes), change to the Toei Mita Line to Jimbocho Station.