A pre-requisite for admission to the Masters of Business Law is basic knowledge of and experience with the law. This is because the HBL program is applied in nature. Students receive a broad education in business law with an emphasis on course-work.

Enrolment Caps

Masters program: 36 students

PhD program : 11 students 

Masters program: 36 students

PhD program : 11 students 

Admission Criteria

The Masters program is intended for students with work experience in the private or public sectors, or admitted lawyers with private practice or in-house experience.

The PhD program is intended for students with research experience in a specific area of business law or seasoned practitioners who wish to compile the results of their insights gleaned from practice in the form of a doctoral dissertation.

Graduation Requirements

Masters program: Students must undertake a minimum of 2 years of study and complete 30 credits as follows

Students must also submit a graduate thesis that must pass a dissertation review and final examination by the Business Law Department. 

(NB: Global Business Law students and legally qualified students may write a practically-oriented research paper in lieu of a graduate thesis).

Doctoral program: In general, students must undertake a minimum of 3 years of study and complete 6 credits of coursework (including one 2-unit compulsory course) and 12 credits of research supervision seminars. Students must also submit a doctoral thesis that must pass a dissertation review and final examination by the Graduate School of Law. 

(NB: Law graduates may complete the program in 2 years with 6 credits of coursework and 8 credits of research seminars). 

Extended Enrolment Scheme: The Graduate School of Law now allows students to complete their degree over an extended period of time. Please check the guidelines carefully and apply for approval after consulting with your (anticipated) supervisor.

(NB: If you take courses over an extended period, you cannot apply for tuition relief under the Specialist Practical Education and Training Benefits Scheme.)

Criteria for Award of Degree

In the award of a HBL degree, the following criteria applies: 

Masters Thesis: The thesis must be a logical discussion of a business law problem from the student’s own perspective, and must have academic, policy, or practical significance.

PhD Thesis: In addition to the requirements for the masters thesis, the PhD thesis must have a high level of systematic research and contribute new knowledge to the research question.

Degrees Awarded

Upon completion of the masters program, students will be awarded a “Masters (Business Law)”. 

Upon completion of the doctoral program, students will be awarded a “Doctor of Philosophy (Business Law)”.

Fees

Masters program: 

The Masters of Business law is a designated program of study under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Specialist Practical Education and Training Benefits Scheme. Tuition relief is available to eligible students under this scheme. 

NB: The entrance and tuition fees are indicative only and may be revised by the time of enrolment or during the program of study. The revised amounts take effect from the date of revision.

Doctoral program: