COLABS Curriculum

Core Course
Elective Courses
IRTLab
Related Grad. Schools
Academic Calendar
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FAQ
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1. Course Offered in Academic Year

The COLABS program consists of two courses, Core course (Individual Research Training in Lab*) and Elective courses, which are thoroughly offered in English. *IRTLab

Note:
- IRTLab 4 or 3 is strongly advised for COLABS students.
- Some elective courses may be unavailable during an enrolled semester. Its detailed information can be confirmed at each graduate school when a new semester starts.

CORE COURSE （Required）

・Individual Research Training in Lab (12-30 ECTS equivalent)

IRTLab offers four categories in each semester and COLABS students will be awarded 12-30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) equivalent after successful performances approved by the committees. (It is not a requirement for COLABS students to complete their own thesis.) *ECTS equivalents will be awarded based on "Total School Hours" accordingly to the ECTS-compliant School Hours as shown the table for IRTLab.

Students are to consult with an assigned academic advisor including following topics before the semester begins:
- IRTLab category (1, 2, 3 or 4)
- IRTLab (Research) Theme

Mandatory IRTLab Assignments:
- IRTLab Presentation (poster and/or oral) at the end of every semester
- Assignment Submission (summary and a research-paper) by the prescribed deadlines

Discussing updates, progress, results and so on with an academic advisor on a daily basis is essential in order to get the best outcome from IRTLab.

Past Theme Titles of IRTLab

ELECTIVE COURSES

A) Offered by the relevant Graduate School:
Detailed information on courses will be obtained at the relevant Graduate School as below.
Class availabilities may vary by semester and each Graduate School.

B) Offered by Junior Year Program in English (JYPE): *Undergraduate Program
It is possible for COLABS students to take JYPE courses, although, JYPE is designed for undergraduates. ‘Nuclear Physics,’ ‘Solid State Physics & Statistical Physics,’ and ‘Material Science’ are graduate-level courses.
More information about the JYPE course descriptions can be found here.

2. Course Description of Individual Research Training in Lab

Course categories:
The IRTLab offers COLABS Students four categories in each semester as shown in the table below. IRTLab 4 requires full school hours (750 hours per semester / 50 hours per week) to achieve 30 ECTS equivalents. Choosing IRTLab 1, 2 or 3 must earn designated TU credits by taking elective courses.

Note:
- IRTLab 4 or 3 is strongly advised.
- Course information is available at the beginning of each semester.
- It is important to discuss/consult the IRTLab category (1, 2, 3 or 4) and selections of elective courses with an academic advisor before semester begins.

Mandatory IRTLab Assignments:
- Summary
- Poster Presentation (one-year participating students only)
- Oral Presentation (at the end of the exchange term)
- Research Paper (at the end of the exchange term)
*The program orientation provides with more details.

Category Name		IRTLab 1	IRTLab 2	IRTLab 3	IRTLab 4
School Hours for IRTLab (per semester)	Implementation Hours (Research)	150	240	300	420
School Hours for IRTLab (per semester)	Participation Hours in Laboratory Activities	150	210	250	330
Total School Hours (per semester)		300	450	550	750
ECTS Equivalent of School Hours (25hours=1ECTS)		12	18	22	30
Total credit units of elective courses per semester necessary for completion (Tohoku University credits)		9	6	4	0

Workload Table:
- School Hours: a total workload (hours) per semester (15 weeks)
- Implementation Hours: 2.0, 3.2, 4.0 and 5.6 hours per day on the average for each category
- Above the ECTS-compliant table can be referred to facilitate credit transfer between partner institutions and Tohoku University.

Note:
- ECTS equivalents will be awarded based on the 'Total School Hours,' when performances get approved by the committee members.
- COLABS students are not required to complete a thesis, however, the IRTLab activities could be a part* of a master/doctoral thesis.
(*permission needed from an academic advisor)
- The above 'School Hours' are standard numbers which can be variable depending on each laboratory, graduate school and department as those sections have their own rules.

Description of the School hours for IRTLab

1. Implementation Hours
Implementation hours are spent by students working with the support of the research groups (laboratories) to which they are assigned, doing individual research on current topics closely related to their majors, as a part of a master/doctor thesis. During implementation hours, students conduct experiments, calculations, theorizations and related activities, and are expected to acquire basic research-related knowledge and techniques for doing real research. To achieve IRTLab course goals and objectives, which emphasize fundamental and high-quality research experiences, the implementation hours are set at 150-420 hours/semester in the four categories, more than 50% of the total school hours.

2. Participation Hours:
Various activities at an assigned laboratory for COLABS students:
- Oral Presentation
- Seminars
- Meetings
- Tutorials
- Independent Study
- Other activities
*Detailed information/schedules of above can be provided by an assigned academic advisor.

3. Related Graduate Schools and Research Activities for IRTLab

Students will be enrolled at an assigned graduate school as a Special Research Student.
Course information also can be found on a below website of each graduate school.

Graduate School	Department
Science	Mathematics
	Physics
	Astronomy
	Geophysics
	Chemistry
	Earth Science
Medicine	Medical Sciences
	Disability Sciences
	Health Sciences
	Public Health
Dentistry	Dental Sciences
Pharmaceutical Sciences	Molecular Pharmaceutical Science
	Life and Pharmaceutical Science
	Pharmacy
Engineering	Mechanical Systems Engineering
	Finemechanics
	Robotics
	Aerospace Engineering
	Quantum Science and Energy Engineering
	Electrical Engineering
	Communications Engineering
	Electronic Engineering
	Applied Physics
	Applied Chemistry
	Chemical Engineering
	Bimolecular Engineering
	Metallurgy
	Materials Science
	Materials Processing
	Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering
	Architecture and Building Science
	Management Science and Technology
Agricultural Science	Biological Resource Science
	Life Sciences
	Bioscience and Biotechnology for Future Bioindustries
Information Sciences	Computer and Mathematical Sciences
	System Information Sciences
	Human-Social Information Sciences
	Applied Information Sciences
Life Sciences	Integrative Life Sciences
	Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences
	Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences
Environmental Studies	Environmental Studies for Advanced Society
Environmental Studies	Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment
Biomedical Engineering	Biomedical Engineering

You can also find other related information from ACADEMIC RESEARCH STAFF AT TOHOKU UNIVERSITY,
Research Profiles and/or each graduate school website.

4. Academic Calendar for COLABS (Last updated: June 25, 2024)

Spring Semester 2024 (Apr. 2024 - Sep. 2024) ★Mandatory

★Orientation	April 2, 2024
Class begins	April 8, 2024
Class ends	August 5, 2024
★Presentation	August 6 - 8, 2024

Fall Semester 2024 (Oct. 2024 - Mar. 2025) ★Mandatory

★Orientation	September 27, 2024
Class begins	October 1, 2024
Winter Holiday	Dec. 27, 2024 - Jan. 3, 2025
Class ends	February 3, 2025
★Presentation	February 4-5, 2025
Self-Education Period*	Mid-February - Early April 2025

*applicable to one-year (Fall and Spring) enrolled students only

Spring Semester 2025 (Apr. 2025 - Sep. 2025) ★Mandatory

★Orientation	Early April, 2025 (TBA)
Class begins	Early April, 2025 (TBA)
Class ends	Early August, 2025 (TBA)
★Presentation	Early August, 2025 (TBA)

NOTE:
- Dates are subject to change. (Detailed COLABS schedules available in early September)
- Presentations are to be held in early February for the Fall semester and early August for the Spring semester.