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東京大学公共政策大学院 | GraSPP / Graduate School of Public Policy | The university of Tokyo

Doctoral course admission FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q

    What is the difference between the doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) and the doctoral Program of the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics or the Graduate School of Economics at the University of Tokyo?

    A

    GraSPP doctoral Program graduates are expected to be policy professionals equipped with the intellectual instruments to take the lead in the real world. For that purpose, GraSPP doctoral Program trains students in skills which are necessary in order to develop original questions from their research, to construct and assess potential solutions that synthesize expert knowledge from various disciplines, and to move these solutions quickly into practice with an international perspective, communicating with diverse stakeholders, in addition to advanced research skills. During the coursework, in the Research Design Seminar, students learn to communicate with experts in different fields, and in the Project Seminar, students design and implement research projects related to real-world policy issues receiving input and feedback from actual practitioners. Students must also acquire basic knowledge of both Law and Politics and Economics. In the final examination of the doctoral thesis, the policy implications and implementation challenge of those policies will be also discussed.

  • Q

    Do I need to get an approval from a professor by whom I would like to have as a supervisor prior to application?

    A

    No. You may contact our faculty if you would like, though pre-approval from professors before application is not necessary.

  • Q

    I have a full-time job position. Can I enroll at GraSPP doctoral Program?

    A

    Standard duration for completion is 3 years. Those who have a difficulty in completing the program within the standard duration for personal reasons such as employment may extend the duration of study up to 6 years. The application for the extension is available only at the time of the enrollment procedure.

  • Q

    What kind of specialized knowledge foundation should I have prior to the enrollment?

    A

    Foundation of specialized knowledge of either Law and Politics or Economics at master level is required to begin the program. In the field of Economics for example, if you are enrolled at a master or a professional degree program of a graduate school at the University of Tokyo, you should take and earn credits for the courses in Microeconomics I/II, Macroeconomics I/II and Econometrics I/II held at the Graduate School of Economics. Excellent grades are expected for those courses. Applicants who have previously graduated from a graduate school at the University of Tokyo or at another institution, should possess a background knowledge comparable to the one delivered by the courses indicated above.

TOEFL / IELTS / GRE

  • Q

    I obtained a master's degree in a graduate school whose language of instruction was in English. Do I still have to submit a TOEFL score?

    A

    An applicant who earned or is expected to earn a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or the international equivalent thereof, from an institution where the primary language of the entire institution (not only a specific faculty or course) is English, and the institution is located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

    Degrees obtained from overseas campuses of the English-speaking institutions outside the countries above are not sufficient.

  • Q

    Can I submit a GMAT score instead of a GRE score?

    A

    No. We do not accept a GMAT score instead of a GRE score.

  • Q

    Does the PhD desk accept IELTS Online?

    A

    Yes, IELTS Online is acceptable. (Nov. 4, 2022)

Master thesis or its equivalent

  • Q

    What kind of paper/publication is regarded as an equivalent to the master thesis?

    A

    Please send any material that is relevant to the research proposal you are envisaging to GraSPP. This may include any thesis written at the professional degree program at GraSPP or any published academic papers or policy papers. Revised thesis or research paper etc. are acceptable as well.

    GraSPP Master’s degree program students are required to complete a “Thesis” (course code: 5150020 / 5150021), not a “Research Paper”.

Letters of Reference

  • Q

    Who should I request to write the letter of reference?

    A

    Those who can evaluate your performance properly. At least one letter must be written by your academic supervisor.

  • Q

    Can the two letters of reference be submitted separately from the rest of the application documents (i.e., submitted directly by the referee)?

    A

    Yes. The Letters of Reference must be submitted in PDF format through the Web Application System directly from referees. Please note that applicants cannot submit or complete their applications until the referees have uploaded or submitted the letter of reference through the Web Application System.

Certificate of Graduation

  • Q

    My university does not issue a “Certificate of Graduation.” However, there is a date of graduation (MM-DD-YEAR) on my official transcript. Is that sufficient to prove successful completion of my degree or is a separate document necessary?

    A

    If the graduation date is included on the official transcript, we will accept it as a substitute for a certificate of graduation.

  • Q

    Is it possible for my college to send official proof of graduation and any official transcripts directly to the admission office? My college would prefer to send such documents directly to you by express mail.

    A

    Official proof of graduation and official transcripts can be sent directly to the admission office from your school. Please inform us if your school will be sending these documents directly to the admission office.

Payment of Application Fee

  • Q

    I do not have a credit card for e-payment. Can I directly deposit the application fee into the University of Tokyo's bank account?

    A

    Firstly, you should know that the credit card used for payment does not have to be your own. A relative or acquaintance may execute the payment on your behalf. In this case, please clearly state the credit card holder’s name as well as your own name on the checklist of your application package to let us know that the payment is from you. Please refer to the https://e-shiharai.net/english/ for more detailed information regarding e-payment. If you cannot make the payment through e-payment for any reason, remittance to the bank account of the University of Tokyo is also acceptable. You can get the account information from the PhD Desk.

  • Q

    I have relatives who live in Japan. Can I ask them to make payment on my behalf at the admission office?

    A

    No. We do not accept cash payments. Please remit your payment to the designated bank account.