Master in Interdisciplinary Education Program for AI and Data Science Specialists (IEPAD)

The Interdisciplinary Education Program for AI and Data Science Specialists, known as IEPAD, is a two-year master's degree at Saga University, taught in English with intake in either April or November in the city of Saga. Saga University was formed in 2003 through the merger of the former Saga University, founded in 1949, and Saga Medical University, founded in 1976, and it was incorporated as a National University Corporation in 2004. It is a comprehensive university with six faculties and seven graduate schools, enrolling around 5,800 undergraduate students and 790 graduate students, and it has produced more than 60,000 graduates. IEPAD trains students in artificial intelligence and data science from an interdisciplinary perspective, combining core methods in machine learning, statistics, and data analysis with applications drawn from fields such as engineering, agriculture, medicine, or business, depending on a student's background and interests. Coursework typically builds technical skills in programming, algorithms, and data modeling alongside seminars that examine how AI and data science methods can be applied to real-world problems across different sectors. Students generally complete a research-based master's thesis under faculty supervision, working on a specific data science or AI application relevant to their area of specialization. Delivered in English, the program is structured for international students without a prior Japanese-language requirement, while placing them within a Japanese national university's graduate school system. Graduates of IEPAD are typically prepared for roles as data scientists, AI engineers, and analysts across industry and research, as well as for further doctoral study in AI, data science, or a related interdisciplinary field.