Program in Brief

Educates mid-career professionals in local or national governments and international organizations in the skills needed for policy analysis and policy management.Educates leaders, public managers, and public policy analysts in the policy tools and ethical principles needed for democratic and efficient governance in the public policy arena.

• Program Director: Professor Hyoung-kyu Chey
• Associate Director: Professor Hozumi Morohosi
• Associate Director: Professor Stephan LItschig
• Degrees Offered
  • Master of Public Policy
• Scholarship
  For International Students Only:
  • Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [MEXT])
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) Target countries for ADB Scholarship
  • JICA
• Language of Instruction: English
• Time Schedule:
  • Program Duration…1 year
  • Enrollment…October
  • Graduation…September
• How to Apply: Click here

The Program of Public Policy (PPP) is the oldest, largest, and most flexible of all the programs at GRIPS. This flagship program of GRIPS has roots going back to 1977 and the establishment of Japan’s first public policy institute, the Graduate School of Policy Sciences (GSPS). An umbrella organization, the PPP has produced a steady stream of highly qualified managers and leaders in many important areas of public policy. Graduates of this program become part of an international network of policy professionals.

The one-year program (MP1) equips managers and leaders with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed for policy analysis, implementation and evaluation.

Target Group

Mid-career professionals in local or national governments and international organizations with excellent academic and work credentials and with strong leadership and managerial potential.The primary target of MP1 consists of mid-career public officials with excellent academic and work credentials, commitment to public service, and with strong managerial and leadership potential. A secondary target consists of individuals with the capacity for and commitment to high-quality public policy research. Applications are invited from officials and staff of national and local governments, as well as other international and domestic organizations concerned with public policy analysis and management.

We also accept Japanese students.

Program Design

The Program of Public Policy consists of core courses, concentration courses, and elective courses. All MP1 students are provided a common interdisciplinary and analytical foundation　through the core courses. Students acquire more specialized　knowledge by selecting courses in one of four concentration　areas: Economic Policy, International Development Studies, International Relations, and　Public Policy. A wide range of elective　courses offers students the opportunity to broaden and/or deepen　their knowledge. Practical courses are offered by government　officials with extensive　experience in actual policy formulation　and implementation. In the Summer Program, students work in　interdisciplinary teams on important real-world policy issues. This　combination of academic and practical knowledge is the hallmark　of a GRIPS education.The curriculum is made up of an introductory course in policy studies, policy debate seminars and a wide-variety of recommended and elective courses. All MP1 students are provided a common interdisciplinary and analytical foundation through the required courses. Students acquire more specialized knowledge by taking recommended courses. A wide range of elective courses offers students the opportunity to broaden and/or deepen their academic and pragmatic skills. In particular, GRIPS core courses are strongly recommended for all students at GRIPS, including PPP students. Practical courses are offered by government officials with extensive experience in actual policy formulation and implementation. The combination of academic and practical knowledge is the hallmark of a GRIPS education.

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Click below for details of concentrations: 　
Economic Policy 　
International Development Studies 　
International Relations 　
Public Policy

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One-year Master’s Program of Public Policy (MP1) Curriculum 2025/2026

Please see GRIPS Bulletin for brief descriptions of courses offered.

Origin and Affiliation of Students (as of July 2025)

Title of Policy Report AY2023

• Understanding the Interplay of Religion and Culture on Women's Right to Their Inheritance. ?A case study of the Northern Regions of Ghana
• Effect of Government Expenditure on Unemployment of Bangladesh- A Time Series Analysis
• Dynamics Between Malaysian Economic Growth and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Waste Sector
• The Major Determinant of Current Account Balance in Tanzania
• Inflation and Inflation Uncertainty in Uganda
• IMPACT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS AND TRADE OPENNESS ON YOUTH EMPLOYMENT_ Empirical Evidence from Uganda
• The Role of ASEAN Integration in Shaping Myanmar's Foreign Direct Investment Benefits, Challenges, and Future Pathways
• Harnessing smart technologies for future-proof and resilient cities and Urban Resilience in ASEAN
• The relationship between renewable energy CO2 emissions and GDP in the Philippines from 1990 to 2020
• Decomposition of Inflation and the Response of Monetary Policy Rate?
• The role of the e-government policies in Pakistan: Is it a weapon against corruption?
• The Impact of Maternal Education on Educational Performance of Children in Sri Lanka
• Effects of Policy Programs on the Renewable Energy Share in the Philippines
• Measuring Economic Impact of Tourism Special Economic Zones in Indonesia
• Intergenerational Transmission of Economic Mobility, Education, and Smoking Behaviors
• Strategizing Ways to Balance Human Excellence for Energy Transition and Sustainable Practice in PT. PLN (Persero)?
• Impact of internet penetration on education system a study on South Asian countries
• The Effect of Industrial Clusters and Startup Agglomerations in the same Sector on Entrepreneurial Ecosystem The Case of African Countries