download graspp user website pdf tell external home arrow_down arrow_left arrow_right arrow_up language mail map search tag train downloads

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

Curriculum Curriculum

Field of Research

The program focuses on “International Finance and Development”, “International Security” and “Science and Technology Policy” as areas where social demands are particularly strong and where there is a need for close international partnership.

International Finance and Development

The globalization of economic activities and the swift transformation of social and political systems amidst rapid scientific and technological advances are increasing the need to address issues from a broad international perspective even when developing and operating financial and fiscal policy and trade and development policy.
Drawing on the economic development experience, particularly of Japan and other Asian countries, the program addresses public policy research grounded in the disciplines of Law and Politics, and Economics in relation to the design and operation of financial and fiscal policy and trade and development policy, as well as the systemic frameworks underpinning these.

International Security

Globalization and intensifying interconnectedness in the international environment adds to the growing complexity of threats and risks that must be dealt with.
In terms of traditional military security, the stable, fixed relations between countries that persisted during the Cold War have become more fluid. The involvement of non-state actors, the frequency of civil wars, and other conflicts have generated debates about the changing character of war. We now need to address supply risks related to energy, food, water, mineral resources, and production supply chains. Global warming and natural disasters also invite greater involvement of science and technology in policy-making, where safety and security risks are increasingly intertwined. The juncture between security and development is increasingly important as recent cases of migration and political demography show.
Taking an international and interdisciplinary perspective, this component of the doctoral program addresses public policy research on security challenges grounded in the disciplines of Law and Politics and Economics.

Science and Technology Policy

There are concerns that the progress of the digital society, the spread of the IoT, and other advances are not only changing the concept of competition that is the basis of the market economy and stimulating technological hegemonism in each country but could also be shaking the very foundations of democracy. Moreover, the areas where science and technology and public policy intersect are becoming increasingly important in such fields as energy policy, healthcare policy, space policy, maritime policy, and environmental policy. This research area fosters the development of high-level science and technology policy doctoral students with interdisciplinary and practical international capabilities by covering such fields in conjunction with departments of natural science while still being based on economics, political science, and law.

Program Structure

Our educational program is designed to develop top-class professionals with not only advanced specialist research skills in their particular fields (either Economics or Law and Politics) but also interdisciplinary skills and practical skills with the international application.

Applied research courses

First, students undertake research in applied subjects within the three key areas of “International Security”, “International Finance and Development” and “Science and Technology Policy”. These subjects are primarily based on Economics and Law and Politics, and in order to ensure an interdisciplinary perspective, the program also offers three subjects serving as a point of contact with science and technology.

Practical research courses
The next component is “Practical Research on International Public Policy”, designed to equip students with practical skills and taught by professors who are also career practitioners. This is an elective subject, and students will be advised by their supervisors whether or not they need to take the course based on their (practical) experience prior to entering the program.

“Research Design Seminar” and “Project Seminar”

Our educational program focuses on training students in the development of original research questions regarding the diverse and complex current society grounded in an international and interdisciplinary perspective, and in designing and implementing real-world research projects based on those questions. To that end, the course is jointly run by Economics and Law and Politics lecturers, and comprises two compulsory subjects: in the first year, a “Research Design Seminar” attended by students with a whole range of areas of expertise, and a Project Seminar in the second year. In the “Research Design Seminar”, students learn to recognize the different perspectives of different fields, learn to communication with experts in different fields and learn about research methods and research ethics. Each student also selects a research theme framed in such a way that they can explain it even to experts in a different field. In the “Project Seminar”, students design and implement research projects related to real-world policy issues and present their results to diverse experts and stakeholders, receiving input and feedback from actual practitioners.

Doctoral Dissertation Supervision

A key part of the program is doctoral thesis supervision premised on the student developing their research question and then engaging in a research project that includes a real-world component. Thesis preparation for the various majors is undertaken within the compulsory subject “International Public Policy Research”, with supervision under the charge of the main supervisor along with collaborating supervisors. Discussion among diverse students and faculty members, including practitioners, is also encouraged. In the final examination, the policy implications of the doctoral thesis and the implementation challenges of those policies will be also discussed.

Completion Requirements

Degree Requirement: 20 credits and Doctoral Thesis

In order to complete the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), you must be enrolled for 3 years and earn 20-course credits (10-credits required courses and 10-credits elective courses) or more. In addition, you must complete the doctorate thesis supervised by one of the GraSPP professors.

Core Curriculum – Compulsory (10 credits)

D1: Research Design Seminar (2 credits)

Students learn to recognize the different perspectives of different fields and learn about research methods and research ethics. Each student also selects a research theme framed in such a way that they can explain it even to a specialist in a different field.

D2: Project Seminar (2 credits)

Students design and implement research projects related to real-world policy issues and present their results, receiving input and feedback from practitioners.

D1, D2 & D3: International Public Policy Research (6 credits)

Thesis preparation for the various majors is undertaken with supervision under the charge of a main supervisor along with collaborating supervisors. Students develop their research question and then engage in a research project that includes a real world component. In the final examination, policy implications of doctoral thesis and implementation challenge of those policies will be also discussed.

For more details on courses, please check the following websites:
https://www.pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/education/courses/ (the whole list of courses)

Courses and Academic Calendar