Welcome to the website of the Degree Programs in Pure and Applied Sciences. As Dean, it is my pleasure to offer you an overview of what we do here.

Our Degree Programs represent a model of graduate education rarely found elsewhere in Japan: one in which science and engineering are deeply integrated. But what, in essence, are science and engineering?

I understand science as an intellectual pursuit aimed at understanding nature at its most fundamental level. Science does not exist for the sake of application; it is a pure discipline that seeks a deeper understanding of nature itself. History shows, however, that such understanding often gives rise to new technologies and new value for society. Engineering, by contrast, is a practical science that applies the laws of nature to improve human life. Henry Dyer, the father of engineering in Japan, consistently emphasized in the system of engineering education he established that theory and practice must go hand in hand, a conviction that speaks to the importance of the bond between science and engineering.

The defining strength of our Degree Programs is that students can study science, which explores the fundamental laws of nature, and engineering, which creates technologies to address the challenges facing society, as an integrated whole. Through a curriculum that runs from fundamentals through to application, students cultivate both the ability to understand nature and the capacity to contribute to society. We also make full use of the Cooperative Graduate School System, maintaining close partnerships with the many national research institutes concentrated in Tsukuba Science City. This gives our students an educational environment linked directly to the front lines of research in fields such as materials science, energy, and quantum science, where they encounter research questions of more direct relevance to society and develop practical research skills.

The mission of the Degree Programs in Pure and Applied Sciences is to educate researchers and engineers who combine a deep understanding of nature with a commitment to contributing to society. I warmly encourage you to study with us and to develop, to the fullest, the talents that will shape the science and technology of the future.

Dean, Prof. Masayuki Nihei
Degree Programs in Pure and Applied Sciences
Graduate School of Science and Technology
University of Tsukuba