Diploma Policy

Graduate School of Information Security, Policy for Awarding Degrees (Diploma Policy)

Postgraduate Programmes

Master's Programme

The requirements for the award of a degree in the Master's programme are as follows. Enrolling in the programme for a specified period of time or longer, obtaining the required number of credits or more in the specified class subjects, receiving the necessary research guidance, writing a Master's dissertation or a research paper on a specific subject, passing the dissertation/research paper review, passing the final examinations, and completing the course. The criteria for completion of the programme are whether the student has acquired solid knowledge in the major subject, and has acquired the research and development skills or the advanced skills required for a highly specialised profession.

Doctoral Programme

The requirements for the award of a degree in the Doctoral programme are as follows. Enrolling in the programme for a specified period of time or longer, obtaining the required number of credits or more in the specified class subjects, receiving the necessary research guidance, writing a Doctoral dissertation, passing the dissertation review, passing the final examinations, and completing the course. The criteria for completion of the programme are whether the student has acquired the advanced research ability and the rich academic knowledge necessary to engage in independent research activities or highly specialised work as a researcher in his/her major field.

Institute of Information Security, Policy for Awarding Degrees (Diploma Policy)

At IISEC, we aim to promote advanced basic research on information security and to systematically train personnel involved in the research and development, design, build, and operation of information security systems and information security management. Information security is a comprehensive science, ranging from the natural sciences, to science and engineering, through to the humanities and social sciences. More specifically, it covers mathematical science, information mathematics, information science, information engineering, electronics, computer science, system engineering, in addition to law, public administration, geopolitics, economics, business administration, management informatics, psychology, and ethics. With this in mind, IISEC awards degrees on the basis of the following criteria.

(Diploma Policy)

Master's Degree

For both two-year and one-year programmes, students must acquire at minimum the required number of credits as specified in IISEC's academic regulations, receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the Master's dissertation (or the research paper on a specific subject) review and the final examinations. The Master's degree is awarded to students who are certified as having the following proficiencies:

  • An understanding of the interdisciplinary structure of information security as an integrated science.
  • Have learnt the practical issues of information security.
  • Have acquired basic methods for analysing and evaluating information security issues in their own research.
  • Have a comprehensive and multidimensional view of issues related to information security.
  • An understanding of the process from the discovery and disclosure of issues through to a practical resolution, related to information security. With the addition of being able to be responsible for practical research and development, or for proposing and implementing specific measures.
  • Being able to carry out their role as required, in a fair, ethical and responsible manner, in resolving practical information security issues. Also being able to respond in a practical way, while taking into account the views of a wide range of people.

The Master's dissertation in the two-year programme is based on the student's own research interests. Students should gain an in-depth understanding of their research by surveying previous research and searching for relevant references. It is expected to be reasonably novel, original and general in their contribution to the usefulness to the research field concerned. In the final examinations, students are evaluated on whether they have acquired an appropriate understanding of the overall knowledge of information security and a unique expertise in information security, through the course work and the preparation of their Master's dissertation.

The research papers in the one-year programme are provided by mature students with a certain amount of work experience, as the "result of research on a 'specific' issue", and the emphasis is on their practical usefulness. This is expected to be a conclusion based on a multifaceted examination and objective validity. In the final examinations, students are evaluated on whether they have acquired the knowledge and methods necessary to solve practical problems related to information security, and the ability to offer practical solutions, through the course work and the preparation of their research paper.

In accordance with the academic regulations, the requirements for completion of the Master's Degree Programme are as follows:
(Two-year programme)
Students are required to enrol in the programme for at least two years, and earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses specified by IISEC. In addition, they must receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the Master's dissertation review and final examinations. However, for students who have been admitted by the faculty committee as having achieved outstanding research results, one year of study shall be sufficient.
(One-year programme)
Students are required to enrol in the programme for at least one year, and earn a minimum of 46 credits from courses specified by IISEC. In addition, they must receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the review of their research paper on a specific subject and final examinations.

In order to submit a Master's dissertation or a research paper on a specific subject, students are required to give an interim presentation, to obtain the approval of their research supervisor, and to submit them within the specified period.

Doctoral Degree

Students must acquire at least the required number of credits as specified in IISEC's academic regulations, receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the Doctoral dissertation review and the final examinations. The Doctoral degree is awarded to students who are certified as having the following proficiencies:

  • A systematic understanding of information security as an interdisciplinary, integrated science from a broad perspective.
  • A multi-faceted view of their own area of expertise in information security and be able to objectively and critically review their own research.
  • Advanced research and analytical skills and expertise in information security. Also being able to play a leading role in the development of cutting-edge scholarly works in a particular field.
  • Being able to open up new research areas related to information security. With the addition of having the research skills and research leadership skills necessary to be an independent researcher and research supervisor.
  • Have a systematic and multi-faceted understanding of information security, and able to creatively realise a unique expertise in information security. Additionally, being able to take part in the development of a cutting-edge scholarly works related to information security.

In accordance with the academic regulations, the requirements for completion of the Doctoral Degree Programme are as follows:
Students are required to enrol in the Doctoral programme for at least three years, and earn a minimum of 8 credits from courses specified by IISEC. In addition, they must receive the necessary research guidance, and pass the Doctoral dissertation review and final examinations. However, for students who have been admitted by the faculty committee as having achieved outstanding research results, one year of study shall be sufficient.

In order to submit a Doctoral dissertation, students are required to pass the prescribed preliminary review, to obtain the approval of their research supervisor, and to submit them within the specified period.