PhD in Department of Physics

The Department of Physics offers a three-year doctoral program at Institute of Science Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan, taught in English with admission each October. The university, known as Science Tokyo, was established on October 1, 2024, through the merger of Tokyo Institute of Technology, founded in 1881, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, founded in 1928, under a mission of advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society. Physics as a doctoral field of study spans areas such as condensed matter physics, particle and nuclear physics, astrophysics, and quantum science, depending on the research group a student joins. Doctoral candidates typically design and carry out original research under the supervision of a faculty member, in laboratory or theoretical settings, and complete a dissertation that contributes new findings to the field. This kind of specialized research training usually follows a master's degree and is intended for students ready to work independently on a defined research question. Graduates from physics doctoral programs pursue research careers in universities, national laboratories, and technology companies working on areas such as materials, semiconductors, or instrumentation, as well as roles that apply physics training to data analysis and engineering problems. Being based in Tokyo gives doctoral candidates access to a concentration of research institutions and technology companies connected to physics-based fields. Because the program is delivered in English, international students can pursue the three-year doctorate without first needing Japanese language proficiency, joining a university formed from the 2024 merger of two established Japanese institutions.