■Overview of the graduate school

New functional materials and new devices are essential to developing modern science and advancing technology. The Graduate School of Materials Science (GSMS) is now promoting ‘photonic nanoscience,’ which focuses on understanding materials through their interaction with photons. A broad range of wavelengths, from X-ray to microwave, will be employed to elucidate the novel structures, unique properties and new functionality of emerging materials and devices at the quantum, electron, atomic and molecular levels, and beyond. We encourage an interdisciplinary approach in order to design new functional materials, and to develop new devices. Our research output will contribute to new theory, new phenomena, new functional materials, new devices, innovative instruments and new technologies in the future. We educate students cooperatively, preparing them to become excellent, multi-talented researchers who are equipped to lead research and development in their fields.

■Structure of laboratories of GSMS

The laboratories of GSMS are grouped into 2 categories, according to their areas of research focus. The first category is Physics/Information, which covers quantum physics and information devices. The second category is Reaction/Biology which includes organic and polymer chemistry and research related to biological materials. Admissions for the master's and doctoral programs at GSMS are restricted to 90 students, and 30 students, respectively.

■Features of our school

·Brilliant research accomplishments supported by an excellent environment
The faculty-to-student ratio at NAIST is extremely high. Our highly-productive, internationally renowned professors are respected in their fields for their exceptional accomplishments, as evident in the abundance of external research funds they receive, including Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research. We offer state-of-the-art experimental facilities, which allow our students to research and study in a spacious environment. GSMS also boasts the Research and Education Center for Materials Science, an education and research facility on campus designed to give students at NAIST efficient wholehearted support.

·Two-way industrial-academic cooperation
We offer fundamental research and education courses in materials science, and promote collaborative laboratories to develop new materials and new devices. The students have many opportunities to visit and conduct studies in corporate research facilities. This level of exchange is made possible by close collaboration with researchers from external institutions, including company laboratories.

·Wide range of student support systems
Almost half of the students in the master’s program and all students in the doctoral program are able to reside in dormitories on campus. Scholarships and research funds are also available. We cover travel expenses for all students in the doctoral program and a limited number of students in the master’s program to attend overseas international conferences. There are several sister school affiliations with academic institutions worldwide. Students are provided with great opportunities to study abroad.