The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (政策研究大学院大学, Seisaku Kenkyū Daigakuin Daigaku), or GRIPS, is a public research graduate school located in Minato, Tokyo. Funded by the Japanese government, it is the second smallest[1] by enrollment of all the national universities in Japan. It is considered as one of the world's best public policy schools[2] 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 studies, economics, political science, disaster studies, and science and technology policy, among others. Its current president is Hiroko Ōta, who assumed office in September 2023.[3]
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 public sector policy formulation and public administration. Around 20% of the faculty and 60% of students are recruited from abroad.[4]
In November 2024, IDEAS ranked GRIPS as Asia's top public policy school and 10th best worldwide in terms of research outputs and citations.[2] During the same period, the Institute ranked second in Economics among Japanese institutions and 15th in Asia.[5]
History
GRIPS has a history dating back to 1977, when the Graduate School of Policy Science (GSPS) was established at Saitama University.[6] In 1997, GSPS became an independent academic institution and was renamed the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). Since then, the institute has expanded its programs and facilities.
Some of the key milestones in GRIPS's history include:[7]
1999: GRIPS relocated to campus in Shinjuku Wakamatsu-cho, Tokyo
2000: Launch of domestic and international programs in public policy, development policy, regional policy, and cultural policy; Conferred first master's degree
2003: Conferred first doctoral degree
2004: Transitioned to national university corporation
2005: Relocation to a new campus in Roppongi, Tokyo.
2013: Establishment of the GRIPS ALLIANCE, a network of partner institutions
2016: Establishment of GRIPS Fund
2020: Launch of the Public Policy Program (Master's International Cooperation Concentration).
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
Located in central Tokyo, the institute offers graduate programs at both the Master's and Ph.D. levels:
Master's programs at GRIPS
Master’s (International)
Master’s (Domestic)
Young Leaders Program (School of Government)
Young Leaders Program (School of Local Governance)
As of May 2023, GRIPS has graduated around 6000 students, most of whom are from government agencies all over the world.[7] Its alumni network spans over 120 countries.
Partner institutions
As of August 2024, GRIPS has partnerships with the following universities and institutions:
