Located in the heart of the fascinating city of Tokyo, The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) is an international premier policy school with the aim of contributing to the betterment of democratic governance around the world. We excel at providing interdisciplinary education for future leaders in the public sector and conduct research on contemporary policy issues to generate innovative solutions.
Founded in 1997 as a stand-alone graduate institute, GRIPS is comprised of world-class academics and distinguished practitioners with expertise in public sector policy formulation and management. Around 20% of the faculty and 70% of students are recruited from outside Japan. Our vibrant, diverse student body consists of almost 400 members hailing from 63 countries and regions – all with the ambition to advance good governance across the globe or contribute to policy related research.
We offer a diverse array of Master’s and Doctoral Programs, from which students cultivate the ability to analyze issues and suggest solutions, develop interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that span related fields, and gain practical expertise. In addition to our degree programs, we also offer executive level short term training programs across a wide range of themes.
Since our inception, our achievements in promoting good governance are considerable and far-reaching. Today, our impressive Alumni network of over 4,000 strong are actively shaping policy in more than 100 countries around the world.
The educational mandate of GRIPS is to cultivate high-level policy professionals and researchers. Our degree programs are designed to train students to envision a wide range of solutions to various policy issues. Our degree programs combine broad disciplinary curricula with an applied research focus and foster a commitment to international, national, and regional policy issues. This multifaceted approach provides the basis for a comprehensive understanding of economic development and socio-political change. We update our courses and develop new ones on the basis of ongoing policy research and changing policy issues.
For international students, the minimum residential requirement to obtain a Master’s degree is one year, and hard working students can satisfy all requirements for the degree within that time. For doctoral students who have completed a Master’s program at GRIPS, the minimum residential requirement is one additional year. After successful completion of all coursework, doctoral students can continue working on their dissertations at GRIPS or in their home countries.
Two-year Master’s Program of Public Policy (MP2)
This program aims to provide early and mid-career professionals the technical skills needed to analyze, design, and implement public policy. The program provides a strong platform for advanced research (including doctoral studies). Students are required to write a master’s thesis in one of four areas of public policy: Economic Policy, International Development Studies, International Relations, and Public Policy. In addition to policy workshops, students receive specialized guidance through a program of independent study.
MP2 has a similar structure to that of the one year program, but MP2 students receive more advanced training and guidance in the technical skills needed for public policy analysis. All MP2 students develop a common interdisciplinary and analytical foundation through the core courses. They select from one of four concentration areas and take specialized courses that provide them with strong analytical and quantitative skills. They also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of elective courses in academic and practical topics. In their second year, students utilize their technical skills and practical knowledge to write a master’s thesis under the guidance of a highly-trained specialist in their chosen field of concentration.
MP2 welcomes applications from individuals with a strong interest and aptitude for policy analysis. The primary target is promising early and mid-career officials and staff members in local or national governments, international organizations, and research institutes. Highly qualified individuals interested in a career in the public policy field are also welcome to apply. Candidates should have strong academic credentials and a desire to obtain the analytical and quantitative skills needed to be professional policy analysts.
Entrance Guidance and Program Orientation early Oct
GRIPS’ current policy on education, research and management is strongly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Our curriculum highlights the 17 goals of the SDGs: we work to raise awareness and knowledge of the SDGs amongst our students—many of whom will go on to become future leaders of their countries. We are also keen on encouraging research that will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Currently, international students make up 60% of our student population. Even by global standards, we are a particularly international research and education institution. In this environment, international students have the opportunity to engage in friendly competition among themselves and with the people who will lead Japan in the future. On the other hand, our Japanese students have the chance to create bonds with those who will go on to be future leaders in their home countries around the globe.
GRIPS is centrally located in Tokyo and has extensive access to the Japanese government and its agencies and to other major stakeholders. This proximity allows our students to observe important Japanese policymaking action closely as they conduct their research. In addition to high-quality graduate education, we offer training programs that meet the needs of various stakeholders including the government agencies of a wide array of countries; we also accept funded research that draws on our faculty‘s expertise. The world in the 21st century faces a great number of urgent issues that require action on both national and international scales. These issues, reflected in the SDGs, impact on areas including economic development, security, the environment, population, equality, and technological progress. GRIPS will continue to conduct research addressing these issues, and to nurture policy professionals who are motivated and equipped to take on global challenges.
Before arrival in Japan, students are encouraged to consider what subjects to take in order to gain basic knowledge necessary to analyze and design public policy of your interest, by reviewing the curriculum and syllabus of courses offered at GRIPS. To prepare for research on topics of interest, it is a good idea to search for the availability of existing studies in the literature and data on possible research topics while you are in your home country. This will help you conduct research and write a policy paper efficiently when you enter GRIPS. Brushing up on academic English by reading academic papers etc. is also recommended.
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