3.5-year Early Graduation System

This system allows students to graduate after 3.5 years (7 semesters) of enrollment if they have fulfilled graduation requirements and have achieved excellent academic results. Newly enrolled students in the 2023 academic year onward may apply.

Objectives

• To encourage April enrollees (Type AB students) to pursue their graduate studies abroad
• To encourage September enrollees (PEARL students) to find employment in Japan
• To implement an internal 5-year BA/MA programme of 3.5 years + 1.5 years in collaboration with the Graduate School of Economics

Eligibility

Students who have completed six semesters and are in the first semester of their fourth year at the time of application may apply.

Please note that participants in double degree programmes and participants in 5-year BA/MA programmes with partner universities abroad are not eligible for this early graduation system.

Application Requirements

All three of the following requirements must be met:

1. have obtained a passing grade in Research Seminar a/b, or a grade of A or higher in Independent Research Project a/b and a passing grade in Independent Research Project C.
2. the cumulative GPA at the end of the sixth semester satisfies the criteria for the exemption from the first screening of the entrance examination for the Graduate School of Economics Master's Program published at the time of application.
3. have earned at least 96 credits (not including optional courses) by the time of application.

Graduation Requirements

Students can graduate early if they meet the following two requirements:

1. have met the regular graduation requirements set by the Faculty of Economics.
2. [For those who had received a passing grade for Research Seminar a/b at the time of application] have taken Independent Study (Seminar) 1 in the seventh semester of enrollment (first semester of the fourth year), submitted a thesis, and received a grade of A or higher.

In the event that an applicant is unable to graduate within 3.5 years (7 semesters) of enrollment or decides to withdraw due to a leave of absence, study abroad, etc., the applicant will, in principle, lose candidate status for the early graduation. To withdraw an application, the student must submit a request in the prescribed manner by the date specified by the Office of Student Services.

The applicants who have been unable to graduate within 3.5 years or have withdrawn their application may replace Independent Study (Seminar) 1 with Research Seminar c, and register for Research Seminar d and Research Seminar (Thesis) by submitting a request in the prescribed manner during the course registration period in the 8th semester. In that case, the grade of Research Seminar c may be changed from that of Independent Study (Seminar) 1.

Application Procedure and Period

Applications will be accepted starting in the spring semester of the 2026 academic year. Details will be announced on the keio.jp portal.

Application Documents

Application Results