National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies


The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, or GRIPS, is a public research graduate school located in Minato, Tokyo. Funded by the Japanese government, it is the second smallest by enrollment of all the national universities in Japan. It is considered as one of the world's best public policy schools and Asia's leading institutions dedicated to policy and economics research.
The school offers graduate-level and executive education programs in security and international affairs, diplomacy, international development, economics, political science, disaster risk management, and science and technology policy, among others. Its current president is Hiroko Ōta, who assumed office in September 2023.
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Overview

Locally known as GRIPS, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies is a stand-alone graduate school with an attached research center and a global reach. Spun off in 1997 from Saitama University, GRIPS is composed of academics and practitioners with expertise in policy studies, economics, political science, and public administration. Its mission is to train future policy leaders and contribute to the betterment of democratic governance in Japan and the world.
Around 20% of the faculty and 60% of students are recruited abroad.
In November 2025, IDEAS ranked GRIPS as Asia's top public policy school and 10th best worldwide in terms of research outputs and citations. During the same period, the institute ranked second in economics among Japanese institutions and 11th in Asia.

History

GRIPS has a history dating back to 1977, when the Graduate School of Policy Science was established at Saitama University. In 1997, GSPS became an independent academic institution and was renamed the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Since then, the institute has expanded its programs and facilities.
Some of the key milestones in GRIPS's history include:1999: GRIPS relocated to campus in Shinjuku Wakamatsu-cho, Tokyo2000: Launch of domestic and international programs in public policy, development policy, regional policy, and cultural policy; Conferred first master's degree2003: Conferred first doctoral degree2004: Transitioned to national university corporation2005: Relocation to a new campus in Roppongi, Tokyo.2013: Establishment of the GRIPS ALLIANCE, a network of partner institutions2016: Establishment of GRIPS Fund2020: Launch of the Public Policy Program.

Campus

Located in Roppongi, the campus is close to Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki, where the country's political and administrative offices, such as the National Diet of Japan, are located.
Its building was jointly designed by Yamashita Sekkei, the Richard Rogers Design Consortium, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Construction was completed in February 2005 as the first Public-Private Partnership project undertaken by the ministry.
The National Art Center, Tokyo is adjacent to the campus's current location. Before World War II, this area served as the garrison of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Before its relocation in 2005, GRIPS occupied the former site of the National Tax College in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The move coincided with the development of the former sites of the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science and the Institute of Physics.

Academic programs

The institute offers graduate programs at both the Master's and Ph.D. levels:
Master’s Master’s

  • Young Leaders Program
  • One-year Master’s Program of Public Policy
  • Two-year Master’s Program of Public Policy
  • Macroeconomic Policy
  • Public Finance
  • Disaster Management Policy
  • Economics, Planning and Public Policy
  • Graduate Program in Japanese Language and Culture
  • Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program
  • Public Policy
  • Development Policy
  • Cultural Policy
  • Intellectual Property
  • Urban Policy
  • Education Policy
  • Disaster Risk Management
  • Science, Technology and Innovation Policy

    • Notable people

    Faculty

    Alumni

    As of May 2023, GRIPS has over 6000 alumni, most of whom work for government agencies and international organizations all over the world. Its alumni network spans over 120 countries.

    Partner institutions

    As of August 2024, GRIPS has partnerships with the following universities and institutions: