Length of Study (standard or accelerated completion, changes to program length, etc.)
Upon enrollment at APU students are required to submit a Program Registration form indicating the intended length of study (2 years, 1.5 years or 1 year) at APU and their tuition will be billed according to the registered program length (see the Graduate Academic Handbook). Students who wish to complete the Master’s Program in less than 2 years will be required to submit an application including a research plan shortly after enrollment, in addition to the Program Registration form. All students accepted into the accelerated completion programs will be subject to further assessment.
Application for study in the Accelerated Completion Programs will be allowed only within 2 weeks of the commencement of the first semester of enrollment; reducing the program completion length will no longer be possible after this period. An additional application will be required if a student wishes to extend the program completion length.
Students should carefully consider the tuition billing schedule and consult with their supervisor regarding seminar subjects prior to applying for any change in program length.
Length of Study
All graduate students must declare their intended length of study at APU upon enrollment to the University by submitting a Program Registration Form indicating their intent. Their tuition will be billed according to the predetermined payment schedule for each completion program length (see the Graduate Academic Handbook).
| Program | Standard Completion | Accelerated Completion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSAM | 2 years | 1.5 years | 1 year |
| GSMM | 2 years | 1.5 years | |
| GSAD | 3 years | 2 years | |
Application requirements and deadlines for enrollment into the Accelerated Completion Programs differ depending on the graduate school and program. Please carefully check the application requirements for your program.
Accelerated Completion
Students who wish to complete their program in less than the standard completion time will be required to submit an application form that includes a research plan in addition to the Program Registration Form according the deadlines below. Reduction to the program length will no longer be possible once the below deadlines have passed.
Accelerated completion tuition fee schedule will apply. See the Graduate Academic Handbook for details.
| Program | Program Length | Application Deadline | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Fall Semester | |||
| GSAM* | 1.5 or 2 years → 1 or 1.5 years | By April 15 | By October 5 | Tuition payment schedule differs per program |
| GSMM | 2 years → 1.5 years | |||
| GSAD** | 3 years → 2 years | |||
*IMAT students cannot apply for accelerated completion.
**Limits to credits that may be registered for are based on the registered length of study.
Extension of Period of Enrollment (within the standard program length)
Students enrolled in the Accelerated Completion Programs who will not be able to complete all requirements within the planned program length, can extend their enrollment by submitting an extension application by the following deadlines.
| Program | Program Length | Application Period | Application Deadline | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Fall Semester | ||||
| GSAM | 1 Year → 1.5 or 2 Years | By the end of the 1st Semester | By March 20 | By September 15 | Tuition payment schedule will be adjusted to the new program length |
| GSAM | 1.5 Years → 2 Years | By the end of the 2nd Semester | |||
| GSMM | 1.5 Years → 2 Years | By the end of the 2nd Semester | |||
| GSAD | 2 Years → 2.5 or 3 Years | By the end of the 4th Semester | |||
- Note:
- Students may remain enrolled for the entire program length even without submission of an Extension Application; however, in this case the tuition payment schedule will not be altered and students will be billed according to the schedule registered upon enrollment to APU. After all program fees have been collected, tuition invoices will not be generated (within the standard completion program timeframe).
Extension of Period of Enrollment (outside the standard program length)
If, due to some unavoidable circumstance, the student cannot complete all program requirements within the standard program length, it may be possible to extend enrollment up to twice the length of the program. In this case a Master’s student may extend up to 2 years (4 semesters) for a total enrollment period of 4 years (8 semesters). Doctoral students may extend up to 3 years (6 semesters) for a total enrollment period of 6 years (12 semesters).
- Notes:
- 1. Those who must extend beyond the standard program length should carefully consider any extra procedures required for student visas, semester tuition, etc., review carefully the Tuition Section in the Graduate Academic Handbook and consult with seminar supervisors, the Academic Office and the Student Office.
- 2. GSAD students unable to complete their program within 3 years should carefully read the information in the relevant webpage of the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies – Doctoral Program section regarding options available to them.
- 3. Relevant application forms are available in the Application Form webpage and must be submitted to the Academic Office by the set deadlines.