A professional school "is a graduate school that offers both courses and research on the theories and applied studies of a given discipline and that seeks to train students to acquire profound knowledge and excellent expertise, which they are required to have when pursuing work that demands a high degree of expertise" (School Education Law, Article 99 paragraph 2). A professional school is obliged to hire a certain proportion lectures and instructors who have practical experience. It is also required to comply strictly with the student quota per lecturer. A graduate school offers curricula geared to a specialist education. A professional school is a new type graduate school system that, responding to the need for high-level specialist education, offers flexible and practical specialist education tailored to the characteristics of different professions.