PhD
in Sustainability Science (2016)

STARTING
DATE:

2016•09•01

APPLICATIONS DUE:

2016•04•28

The PhD programme in SustainabilityScience aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in
the field of sustainability science. The programme takes an innovative approach
to sustainability, seeking to promote a better understanding of the issues by
incorporating global change perspectives, specifically those related to climate
change and biodiversity.

The
programme will equip graduates with comprehensive, multidisciplinary knowledge
of sustainability problems, and deepen their understanding of the role of
environmental sustainability in addressing current issues related to global
change. Students undertake problem-oriented research, acquiring the
quantitative and qualitative analytical research skills necessary to understand
the underlying principles of various systems involved in sustainability issues
and debates. Through coursework and research, PhD students gain critical
thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as the technical literacy required
to address sustainability problems.

The
PhD in Sustainability Science programme duration is three years; the programme
starts in September. Students are required to obtain 14 credits and are
expected to complete all degree requirements by July of their third year.
Students must complete a PhD dissertation in one of several UNU-IAS research
themes, focusing on global change and sustainability. Students are also
encouraged to take a joint PhD diploma offered by the UNU-IAS and The University
of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (UT-GSFS) on Sustainability. For
the joint diploma programme, students are required to take 18 credits, four of
which should be from the courses offered by UT-GSFS.

Application
deadline: 28
April 2016

Course Information

For
information on the specific courses offered as part of this degree programme,
please visit the the curriculum information page on the UNU-IAS online learning website.

Faculty

The
programme is taught by an expert teaching faculty comprising both UNU-IAS
academic staff and invited distinguished scholars and
practitioners.

Learning Environment and Facilities

Sharing
a building with many UN agencies, UNU-IAS offers a unique learning environment
for its diverse international student body.

The UNU Library offers access
to a range of academic books, over 20,000 electronic journals, official UN
documents issued since 1946, and publications in the International Monetary
Fund, World Bank, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development e-libraries. All students are provided with a comprehensive library
orientation session at the beginning of the course. Students also have
access to the libraries of International Christian University, Ochanomizu
University, Sophia University, Temple University Japan, and The National
Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

A
dedicated computer lab is provided for students, with software to cater to the
needs of each course, including GIS, environmental modelling applications, and
statistical analysis tools. In addition, students have access to a number of
international conferences, workshops, and symposiums at the university.

Student Support

UNU-IAS
assists students from the time of their registration to graduation,
acknowledging that students may experience difficulties adjusting to a new
country and culture.

An
induction programme is conducted at the beginning of the academic session,
introducing students to the staff responsible for specific student services,
and familiarizing students with the campus through a tour of the facilities.