IAMAS master’s students come from various regions and have diverse areas of expertise.

• Age : Ranges from 20s to 50s
• Working adults : approximately 40%
• Fields of expertise : Art, design, video, music, photography, engineering, computer networks, architecture, aesthetics, communication
• Where they come from : Gifu, Aichi, Osaka, Tokyo, Saitama, Kagawa, Niigata, Fukushima, Akita, Miyagi, Hokkaido, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Korea, China, and more

Please see “Current Students” for information on recent years.

Applicants who are deemed to have a level of academic ability equal to or greater than graduates of our school as per our application guidelines can take the entrance exam if they will be at least 22 years old by April 1st of the year in which they wish to enroll. Many kinds of people have taken the IAMAS entrance exam, including vocational school graduates, some who dropped out of college to start working, high school graduates, and some who studied overseas but did not complete their bachelor's.

Intensive Course for People with Work Experience: The “Intensive Course for People with Work Experience” is established for working professionals. It is a special program designed for individuals with social achievements or corporate research experience, allowing them to complete the standard two-year master’s program in just one year through intensive study. Applications are also accepted based on the applicant’s professional accomplishments and expertise.
Research system: In principle, the individual conducts research under the instruction of a faculty advisor for a year. Upon submission of the report, the certificate of course completion is conferred.

* About 40% of students are working adults. The majority are experienced with business practices (from young to more experienced persons). There are also many who resigned and entered our university, but there are also a few who conduct their studies whilst working.

We hold an Open House in the summer, and also host in-person and online information sessions regarding advancing one’s studies. We can also give out information on an individual basis; you can request a tour of the school facilities, a meeting with an instructor whose research you are interested in, and ask questions about enrollment by e-mail. Please contact us directly about this.
Inquiries

You can download this information on the website.

In general our master’s program has classes take place on weekdays starting at 9am and ending at 6pm. These are typically scheduled in large numbers during both the first and second semesters of the first year (M1), and they demand a significant time commitment. In recent years, there has been an increase in cases where online classes are also offered, but the typical format still involves commuting to the campus in person. Research / artwork production can be done 24 hours a day, but it requires careful planning, such as securing time outside of working hours (by using flexitime, and use of remote work, etc.).

There are no restrictions based on your previous field of study. At IAMAS, you could say that there are as many fields of specialty as there are students. There are students who specialize in art, of course, and others who specialize in philosophy, engineering, design, sociology, environmental studies, social welfare, and more. Students create and research together with classmates and teachers of different fields.

Some of our classes are conducted in English, and for the sake of interacting with foreign artists and researchers you could say that having a high proficiency in English is desirable.

When taking the entrance exam, you are able to select whether to do the interview in English or Japanese. Yet, the majority of lectures taken during the course will be conducted in Japanese. Understanding and participation is requested in Japanese in lectures and seminars, so it is strongly recommended to acquire a Japanese proficiency level equivalent to the JLPT N1 early on.

These are the following scholarship systems available.

• Special Scholarship Student Award (Gifu Prefecture award):
  Stipend: 600,000 yen for one year (no return obligation)
  Recipients: One first year student and one second year student.
  
• Ogaki City Award (Municipal award):
  Stipend: 600,000 yen for one year (no return obligation)
  Recipient: One second year student

For other scholarships, there is also the Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship, etc. Please see the School Fees / Scholarships page for more information.

Our main production facilities and usable areas are described below.

Loft: Students are given their own individual desks, alongside high-speed internet that is usable 24/7. For more information see IAMAS Facilities.
There is also the woodworking room, metalworking room, the innovation studio, sound studio, visual studio, design studio, computer room, nap room (with bedding), etc.. The following facilities (library, innovation studio, metalworking room, woodworking room, equipment rental room) can only be used on weekdays during the daytime.

Students can borrow a laptop, and software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Rhinoceros, etc. for two years without charge. However, the materials used for one’s individual research must be procured by oneself. In addition, equipment for shooting and recording audio, audio equipment, machine equipment, etc. can be borrowed and used.

Yes there are. The prefectural housing in Workshop 24 part of the IAMAS school building, Sopia Flats, and there is the student dormitory “RIST” which is about 1.1km from the campus in a residential area. Both consist of a unit bath, bed, conduction stove, etc. which allow for a comfortable and functional living space. For more information, see The student dormitories.

For students who are living alone and commuting to IAMAS, the monthly living expenses are approximately 100,000 to 150,000 yen, which includes transportation costs, meals, mobile phone bills, utilities, production materials, and housing costs (around 35,000 to 70,000 yen). This may vary depending on the person, but compared to urban areas, the cost of living here is lower.

Students participate in a project that interests them, and whilst accumulating experience and skills, they sit on their ideas for individual research and they can freely devote themselves to the masters research. Further, by submitting deliverables and a thesis paper they receive their master’s degree, but it is also possible to complete the program with the submission of only the thesis. Whilst consulting with the main advisor and faculty in-charge, the individual decides the contents of their research. Please see IAMAS Annual and Research (Master’s Program) for research done until now. You can see the contents of the graduate research presentation at IAMAS Activity.

IAMAS is a trailblazing institution that teaches cutting-edge media expression, and many of its graduates find employment in new educational institutions, cultural facilities, and other related organizations. Aside from that, there are many other paths such as IT related businesses, web, graphics, product designers, programmers, artists, entrepreneurs, advancing into doctorate education, etc. For more details please look at Career and Employment.

There are many job offers every year in many different areas such as information, design, and advertising. We hear about these offers not only from businesses but also from IAMAS graduates.

We are carrying out a Student Exchange Program system with educational institutions abroad for the purpose of promoting student exchange. This program serves to allow for students to have a fruitful experience abroad. Every year one first year master’s student (M1) and one second year master’s student (M2) for a total of two persons spend 1 to 3 months at our partner university. Additionally, students from our partner university stay at IAMAS, and engage in mutual exchange to deepen their connections. At present, IAMAS is partnered with Linz University of Art and Industrial Design (Kunstuniversität Linz).