1. Frequently Asked Questions

GSMM (2023 Curriculum)

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Courses & Specializations

Q.
I am in my first semester. What courses should I register?
A.

There are a number of required courses and you must pass all of these courses in order to graduate. Students are recommended to register for as many required courses offered as possible in their first semester. Do not delay taking any of the required courses as not all courses are offered every semester. If you delay taking a required course and fail that course, you may need to extend your studies for another semester.

Q.
Can I register for Strategic Management in my first semester?
A.

No. Strategic Management must be taken in your third or later semester.

Q.
What is the maximum credit registration limit per semester?
A.

Master’s students can register for up to 22 credits per semester.

Q.
I do not have enough credits to obtain a specialization. What should I do?
A.

You do not need to do anything. You can graduate without a specialization.

Q.
I want to obtain a Double Specialization. What are the requirements?
A.

Students whose primary specialization is AF, MM, or EIM (meaning they have fulfilled the requirements above for any of these three specializations), and who have completed more than 4 Elective Subjects (8 credits) from JM, can apply for a Double Specialization. Students whose primary specialization is JM cannot apply for a Double Specialization.

Q.
Can I change my specialization?
A.

Yes. Students must apply to change their specialization by the final day of classes in the 2nd quarter of the semester using the designated application form. If the application is approved, your specialization will change from the next semester. The form is available for download from the Graduate School website.

Choosing a Seminar Supervisor

Q.
Where can I find information about available supervisors?
A.

The list of available supervisors and their Profile is posted on the Graduate School website. Please refer to the Graduate School website for details.

Q.
How should I choose my supervisor?
A.

You should choose the supervisor that best matches your research needs. Please read the Faculty Profile to find a match to your own research and meet with potential supervisors in person. In addition, you can consult with the Associate Dean for advice on possible supervisors.

Q.
When is the deadline to report the selection of my supervisor?
A.

Students must report their selection of supervisor by submission of a Plan for Research Supervision.
The deadlines are July 5 for the spring semester and January 10 for the fall semester.

Q.
I cannot receive my supervisor’s signature before the deadline. What should I do?
A.

If you are unable to get your supervisor’s signature, you can submit an email from them confirming their approval instead. Please consult with the Academic Office in advance.

MBA Research Seminars

Q.
When is my seminar class?
A.

Although Wednesdays are reserved for graduate seminars, the exact days and times of the seminar classes are decided individually between supervisors and students. Please contact your supervisor for details.

Q.
How do I register for my seminar class?
A.

GSM Students are automatically registered for their MBA Research Seminar. If you were registered for the wrong Seminar, please contact the Academic Office.

Q.
Can I change my supervisor?
A.

Yes. Students must submit the designated application form by the final day of classes in the 2nd quarter of the semester. If the application is approved, your supervisor will change from the next semester. Students are required to find their own replacement supervisor and receive approval from both their current and new supervisors. Please refer to the Graduate School website for details.

Plan for Research Supervision

Q.
What is a Plan for Research Supervision?
A.

The Plan for Research Supervision is a yearly plan for research supervision, created based on a research plan written by the student and presented to their supervisor. The Graduate School of Management requires that the supervisor prepares this plan for the student on a yearly basis.

Q.
Who submits the Plan for Research Supervision?
A.

The student is required to submit a soft copy of the Plan for Research Supervision to the Academic Office through Moodle. Students in the appropriate semester will be added to a Moodle course to submit the Plan for Research Supervision at the beginning of the semester.

Q.
Is there a designated form for the Plan for Research Supervision?
A.

Yes, please download it from the Graduate School website.

Q.
I could not get my supervisor’s signature. Can I still submit the Plan for Research Supervision?
A.

If you are unable to get your supervisor’s signature, you can submit an email from them confirming their writing of the Plan for Research Supervision. Please consult with the Academic Office in advance.

Work in Progress Seminars

Q.
When is my Work in Progress Seminar?
A.

As part of their seminar class, all students registered for MBA Research Seminar II must present their research proposal and report on the current progress of their research at the Work in Progress Seminars on the Wednesday during the 2nd Quarter examination period. Details regarding the Work in Progress Seminars are provided at the beginning of each semester by email.

Q.
What should I include in my presentation?
A.

Students should present their research proposal and the current progress of their Research Project. The presentation should include the following elements: type of Research Project, research topic, hypothesis and research questions, importance of the research, review of relevant literature, methods of data collection, and research schedule until the submission of the Research Project. Please consult with your supervisor for details.

Research Project Summary

Q.
What are the requirements for submitting my summary?
A.

Final semester students must submit a notice approved by their supervisor for the type of Research Project they are writing using the designated form. The notice should be submitted together with the Research Project Summary. Please refer to the Graduate School website for details.

Q.
Where can I find the designated application form?
A.

The application form is available for download from the Graduate School website.

Q.
I could not get my supervisor’s signature. Can I still submit?
A.

If you are unable to get your supervisor’s signature, you can submit an email from them confirming their approval instead. Please consult with the Academic Office in advance.

Q.
My summary is more than 1 page. Can I still submit it?
A.

Yes. Please make sure you receive your supervisor’s approval in advance.

Q.
Can I change my Research Project type after I submit my summary?
A.

In principle, you cannot change your Research Project type after submitting your summary.

Q.
Can I change the title of my Research Project after I submit my summary?
A.

Yes. But only if you receive approval from your supervisor in advance.

Research Project Screening and Examination

Q.
What are the differences between the four (4) types of Research Projects? Which one should I write?
A.

The four types of Research Projects have different research purposes and methods. Choosing a Research Project type gives students the opportunity to pursue a variety of research topics and methods of inquiry. The four types of Research Projects differ in their degree of abstraction, generalization and practical applicability. Students should consult with their supervisor to decide which one suits their research interests best. Please refer to the Graduate School website for details.

Q.
Where and how should I submit my Research Project?
A.

One (1) soft copy of the Research Project must be submitted to the Academic Office for examination via Moodle. You should take advantage of the Turnitin Similary % Checker Assignment on Moodle well in advance of the deadline so that you have sufficient time to resolve any plagiarism issues. Please refer to the Graduate School website for details.

Q.
What are the requirements to submit my Research Project?
A.

Students in their final semester should submit their Research Project for screening by the deadline. The details of the screening and examination requirements and procedures are outlined in the Procedures for the Research Projects in the Graduate School of Management and on the Graduate School website.

Q.
When should I decide what type of Research Project to write?
A.

Students are advised to discuss with their supervisor and decide the type of Research Project they will write before presenting at the Work in Progress seminar. Students in their final semester must submit a notice signed by their supervisor to indicate the type of Research Project they are writing along with a summary of their Research Project. The submission deadlines are the same as those for the Research Project summary. Details can be found on the Graduate School website.

Q.
What format should I use to write my Research Project?
A.

All Research Projects should follow the APA style. Sample formatting guidelines can be found on the Graduate School website.

Q.
What is the benchmark for the Turnitin similarity percentage for my final Research Project?
A.

In GSM, a value of 15% is set for the similarity index of Turnitin similarity reports giving the students additional guidance in avoiding plagiarism. However, this value is a necessary condition to be examined by the Research Projects Committee but it is not a sufficient condition for a project to be deemed as plagiarized. It is possible that your supervisor or the Research Projects Committee identifies unacceptable cases of plagiarism within your Research Project even if the similarity index is below 15%, or a Research Project with a similarity index of above 15% may still be considered acceptable. Students should strive to avoid any kind of plagiarism at all. We expect that all students strictly follow the standards against plagiarism of APU.

Q.
I cannot submit my Research Project on time. Can I submit it later?
A.

No. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

Q.
I received a fail result for my Research Project. What are my options?
A.

Students who did not pass the Research Project examination may continue working on their Research Project to submit it for examination again or may choose to leave the program. Please note, scholarships do not apply for enrollment longer than 4 semesters and students who decide to continue their studies will be billed tuition for every semester of extension. If you have any concerns please consult with the Academic Office.

Q.
I received a pass result for my Research Project but could not complete the required credits. What are my options?
A.

Students who were not able to graduate due to insufficient credits can choose to extend the program until they are able to do so (the maximum number of semesters is 8). Please note that scholarships do not apply for enrollment longer than 4 semesters and you will be billed tuition for every semester of extension.

Internship-based Case Study

Q.
I did an internship at a company in the past. Can I write an Internship-based Case Study?
A.

Internship-based case studies must be approved before the start of the internship. Students who are planning to write an Internship-based Case Study should clearly explain the purpose of the internship to the internship-host company/institution and receive their permission. It is also very important that you precisely explain the purpose of the internship and include a brief explanation of what a case study is, as some companies/institutions may not be familiar with that term.
Students should inform the University of the destination, duration, etc. of their internship and submit their plan for research activities while on internship with approval from supervisors at both APU and the internship company before they start their internship.
More information can be found on the Graduate School website below:

Q.
I want to do an internship. Does it mean that I have to write an Internship-based Case Study?
A.

No. Completing an internship does not mean you are required to write an Internship-based Case Study. You can still do an internship to gain experience in the relevant field. However, completing an internship is a requirement to write a Case Study. In this case, students should receive an approval from the company/institution to write a Case Study based on the internship experience.

Q.
Can I use my internship experience as a resource when writing my Master’s Thesis/Independent Final Report?
A.

You need to first confirm with the company/institution if you can use the internship experience/data in your Master’s Thesis/Independent Final Report. If you are planning to write your final Master's Thesis/Independent Final Report based on your internship resources, please discuss this with your supervisor ahead of time.

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