Program in brief

Training government officials, media personals, and other practitioners to develop their policy analysis skills through a case study approach

• Program Director: Professor Jun Iio
• Associate Director: Professor Masako Kurosawa / Professor Mikitaka Masuyama
• Degree offered:
  • Doctor of Policy Studies
  • Ph.D. in Government
• Language of instruction: Japanese
• Time schedule
  • Program duration…3 years
  • Enrollment…April, August, October
  • Graduation…upon completion
  • Application Guide…Please see here. (in Japanese only)

　　*This program currently accepts students who can study in Japanese.

The central focus of this program, reflecting GRIPS’ aim of training policy practitioners with a high level of both practical knowledge and policy analysis skills acquired through academic learning, is the production of doctoral dissertations based on case study research. The Program specifically targets practitioners with both substantial professional experience and basic policy analysis skills.

First-year students, in principle, attend an intensive series of lectures and seminars and create dissertation outlines. After their second year, they return to the workplace and resume their professional duties while continuing dissertation work in order to complete their research and earn a doctorate within three years.

The program seeks to make maximum use of students’ experience and awareness of policy issues, combined efficiently with GRIPS academic training, to equip them to generate outstanding case study research and, in the process, hone their skills as top-class policy practitioners. To this end, the curriculum focuses on developing students' analytical skills in the necessary academic disciplines, broadening their perspectives, and enabling them to acquire research skills through endeavors such as dissertation writing. In addition to the disciplines of politics and public administration, the program draws widely on areas such as economics, international relations, law, and engineering.

Program entry is, in principle, limited to policy practitioners who hold master’s degrees and have the necessary practical experience and/or research skills to undertake case study research at the doctoral level. Applicants should have at least 10 years’ experience working in organizations such as government departments, the press, and non-profit organizations.

Policy Professionals Program Curriculum 2025 (as of April 2025)