Fukuyama University

What you'll study

The master’s course is organised into specialised streams; coursework titles from the programme include:

• Life systems analysis — advanced topics such as genetic engineering, chemistry of biological substances, cell function engineering, metabolism control, life-system analysis seminars and a special research project.
• Applied bio-resources — topics including bioresource studies, biodiversity, fermentation production engineering, biological breeding and applied bioresource seminars plus special research.
• Nutrition and food science — separated into nutrition and food tracks covering metabolic science, public and clinical nutrition, applied nutrition, food polymer science, food process science, functional food substances, food microbiology, and corresponding seminars and special research.
• Marine biological resources and ecology — courses such as resource breeding, resource cultivation, aquaculture breeding engineering, aquaculture disease prevention, marine plant genetics, marine animal behaviour, environmental microbial ecology, and special exercises with a research project.
• Technical management — topics include intellectual property, biological/chemical crisis management and science communication.

Research laboratories illustrated in the programme include an Coastal Resource Culture Laboratory (focusing on fish aquaculture from maturation and spawning through larval rearing and optimal cultivation conditions, using species such as the Japanese whiting as a model) and an Animal Biology Laboratory (studying biodiversity and ecological roles using DNA analyses, including research on Apodemus spp. from Seto Inland Sea islands). The degree emphasises a substantial special research component that feeds into peer-reviewed publications in demonstrated student cases.

Entry requirements

The source text lists the master’s (博士前期課程) and doctoral (博士後期課程) pathways and module structure but does not specify formal entry rules or qualifications. Prospective applicants should consult the university for specific academic prerequisites, application documents and language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates have moved into industrial and institutional roles cited by the programme, including positions at chemical and materials companies, food manufacturers, public utilities and hospitals, as well as research and technical posts within the university. Examples of named employers in the programme materials include Kuraray, Duskin, Patagonia Japan, Yasuhara Chemical, JFE West GS, Nippon Research Institute, Hayashi Agro-Science, Takaki Bakery, municipal water utilities and hospital appointments. The programme also records progression to the university’s own doctoral programme in biotechnology.

Scholarships & funding angle

The programme text does not list specific scholarships; however, funding for graduate students in research-led master’s programmes commonly comes from university scholarships, research grants tied to supervising laboratories, and external fellowships. Applicants should contact individual laboratories and the graduate school office to learn about available assistantships, project funding and external scholarship opportunities.