Master of Public Policy, International Program (MPP/IP)

2 years English open

Entry requirements

All routes GraSPP Web Entry System — admissions for fresh graduates and early career professionals GraSPP Web Entry System — admissions for professionals IMF-JISPA partnership track (application through the IMF, not GraSPP) GraSPP–Sciences Po Dual Degree joint admission (application through Sciences Po)

Eligibility

Completed or expected undergraduate education
"Those who have completed or expect to complete their undergraduate education (a bachelor's degree or the equivalent) before the enrollment date are eligible to apply for MPP/IP." Applicants must sati
Eligibility (1) — Japanese university graduate
"Those who have graduated from a Japanese university or are expected to graduate by the enrollment date." Japanese universities means universities within the boundaries of Japan as prescribed in Artic
Eligibility (2) — 16 years of school education abroad
"Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by the enrollment date, sixteen years of school education abroad." Includes completion of a correspondence programme provided by a foreign school
Eligibility (3) — bachelor's-equivalent degree from a recognised foreign institution
"Those who have been conferred a degree equivalent to that of a bachelor's degree or are expected to be conferred it before the enrollment date from a foreign university or other foreign institution (
Eligibility (4) — MEXT-designated institutions
"Those designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology or those who have graduated or are expected to graduate by the enrollment date from an educational institution d
Eligibility (5) — NIAD-QE degree
"Those who have been conferred a bachelor's degree or are expected to be conferred it before the enrollment date by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Educ
Eligibility (6) — individual screening of entrance qualifications
"Those who are 22 years or older on the enrollment date, whom this graduate school has recognized through an individual screening of entrance qualifications, as having abilities that are at least equi
Applicants graduating after the enrolment date
"Those who expect to complete their undergraduate education (a bachelor's degree or the equivalent) from the enrollment date through September 30, 2027 (March 31, 2027 in case of April enrollment) are
April 2027 enrolment restriction
"April 1, 2027 enrollment is also available, however, it is only for Japanese nationals and for non-Japanese nationals living in Japan at the time of application and having a visa valid through March
Minimum GPA
No minimum GPA is published. The transcript must show a cumulative GPA — "If a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) is not included in the official transcript, a certified GPA statement that explicitl
Security export control screening
"Pre-enrollment screenings are mandatory for all international students and also for Japanese students in certain circumstances. Please be aware that applicants who fall under any of the conditions se

Accepted tests and qualifications

Test / QualificationRequirementNotes
GRE General Test "Submission of GRE scores is strongly recommended for all applicants, especially for the EPFD stream applicants." The guideline classes the GRE score report as "Strongly recommended", not "Required fo · Guidance
Minimum GRE score No minimum GRE score is published. · Guidance
GMAT The GMAT is not mentioned anywhere in the Application Guidelines 2027 or on the MPP/IP admissions pages. Only the GRE General Test is named as an accepted aptitude test, so there is no evidence that a · Guidance
Written entrance examination MPP/IP holds no on-site written entrance examination. Selection is "a two-stage process: a) a document screening for all applicants and b) an oral examination for all shortlisted applicants", with an · Guidance
Bachelor's degree or equivalent A bachelor's degree or the equivalent must be completed before the enrolment date (October 1, 2027, or April 1, 2027 for the restricted April intake). "The submission of the bachelor's degree certific
Work experience determines the admissions category "MPP/IP admissions for fresh graduates and early career professionals are for those who have less than two years of full-time work experience after obtaining a bachelor's degree." "MPP/IP admissions f
Academic background expectation "MPP/IP applicants are expected to demonstrate basic competence for learning law, politics and economics." No specific undergraduate major is required. · Guidance

English proficiency

IELTS or TOEFL official score report is mandatory "Applicants are not exempt from submitting an English test score under any circumstances unless one of the following conditions applies" (see englishExemptions). Only IELTS and TOEFL are accepted. "Ba
Test date validity window "IELTS or TOEFL test must have been taken after December 1, 2024."
IELTS format rules "IELTS Test Report Form must be in Academic Module Test." "IELTS One Skill Retake scores are not acceptable." IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are acceptable.
TOEFL format rules "The Institutional Score Report of PBT or iBT is acceptable but ITP is not acceptable. Test Date Scores are only accepted. Applicants cannot use MyBest Scores for application." TOEFL iBT Home Edition
Direct despatch from the testing organisation "Before the online application deadline, applicants must request the testing organization to send IELTS Test Report Form or TOEFL Institutional Score Report to GraSPP." "ETS Institution Code 8554 must
Minimum IELTS or TOEFL score No minimum IELTS or TOEFL score is published anywhere in the Application Guidelines 2027 or on the MPP/IP admissions pages. English ability is assessed competitively — "communication skills and compet
Exemption (1) — English-medium schooling in a majority English-speaking country "An applicant who has received at least 10 years of education in English-medium schools out of the first 12 years of their schooling in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or
Exemption (2) — bachelor's degree from an English-speaking institution "An applicant who has earned or is expected to earn a bachelor's degree, or its international equivalent, from an institution located in one of the majority English-speaking countries mentioned above,
Any other exemption No other exemption exists. The guideline is explicit: "Applicants are not exempt from submitting an English test score under any circumstances unless one of the following conditions applies." An Engli

Required documents

  • Statement of purpose Required

    Required of all applicants, filled in on the GraSPP Web Entry System. "The length of the statement of purpose must be within 600 words (200 words x 3 parts). The statement of purpose must include the

  • Online timed video/written assessment Required

    "After submitting the online application through the GraSPP Web Entry System, a personalized link to the online timed video/written assessment platform will be sent to applicants." "Applicants will re

  • Oral examination (online interview) Required

    "After screening the submitted application documents, applicants who have passed the document screening process will be invited to the oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted by an on

  • Two reference forms Required

    Two referees must complete and submit the reference forms directly through the online application system. Letter-format references are not accepted, and the online application cannot be submitted unti

  • Portfolio Required

    No portfolio is required or mentioned in the Application Guidelines 2027.

  • Accommodations for applicants with disabilities Required

    "The University of Tokyo provides reasonable accommodations to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not disadvantaged during entrance examinations and studies after enrollment and provides co

Other

A. Applicant's full-face photo
Uploaded through the GraSPP Web Entry System. "A color photograph for passport use taken within the last six months." Required for all applicants.
B. Official transcript
Required for all applicants: uploaded as a standard PDF AND sent directly to the MPP/IP Desk from all universities in which the applicant earned or expects to earn a degree. "The submission of a bache
C. Official certificate of (anticipated) graduation
Required for all applicants: uploaded as a standard PDF AND sent directly from the awarding university. "The certificate must include (1) the degree name and (2) its (expected) award date, and be cert
D. Two reference forms by the referees
Required for all applicants; completed by the referees directly in the online application system. "Letter-format references will not be accepted." "Applicants are strongly advised to confirm that the
E. Statement of purpose
Required for all applicants; filled in on the Web Entry System. "The length of the statement of purpose must be within 600 words (200 words x 3 parts). The statement of purpose must include the applic
F. Receipt number of application fee payment
Required for all applicants; the 12-digit receipt number shown on the confirmation screen after paying by credit card through the University of Tokyo online payment system "e-shiharai.Net". The paymen
G. English proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL) official score report
Required for all applicants unless exempt: uploaded AND sent directly by the testing organisation. See englishEvidence for format rules and ETS code 8554.
H. Scanned copy of the passport photo page
Required for all applicants. "Applicants who do not currently possess a passport may provide a copy of a census register or other proof of citizenship."
I. GRE General Test official score report
Classified as "Strongly recommended" rather than required: uploaded AND sent directly by ETS using Institution Code 3944. Especially recommended for EPFD stream applicants.
J. Scholarship eligibility form
If applicable — "for professional applicants seeking the JJ/WBGSP or ADB-JSP scholarship programs". Uploaded through the Web Entry System. "Applicants who seek scholarships should carefully read 'Scho
K. Scanned copy of the residence card
If applicable — "for international applicants seeking April enrollment". "A scanned copy of both sides of the residence card issued by the Immigration Bureau of Japan (Zairyu Card)."
General rules for all documents
"All documents must be written in English." If an original cannot be provided by the institution, a certified copy issued by the university must be submitted. If the university does not issue an offic
Accuracy of the application
"If the applicant is found to be providing any false, plagiarized, or misleading statement, incomplete or inaccurate information in any part of the application: The application may not be screened; Th
GraSPP Web Entry System — fresh graduates and early career professionals
For applicants with less than two years of full-time work experience after obtaining a bachelor's degree. Submit items A–H (plus I, strongly recommended) through the GraSPP Web Entry System by 5 pm De
GraSPP Web Entry System — professionals
For applicants with at least two years of full-time work experience after obtaining a bachelor's degree; "their work experience is an important criterion used in the admissions process in this categor
IMF-JISPA partnership track — applied for through the IMF
"Applicants who apply for IMF-JISPA Scholarship are required to apply directly through IMF website." "The applicant for the partnership track under IMF-JISPA is required to apply through IMF's online
GraSPP–Sciences Po Dual Degree joint admission
"Applicants who apply for GraSPP-SciencesPo Double Degree Joint Admission must follow the steps indicated on the website." "Applicants who apply for GraSPP – Sciences Po Dual Degree Joint Admission ar
MEXT scholarship holders
MEXT is not a separate MPP/IP admissions route. "Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: MEXT) scholarship students are exempted from paying the applicatio
Programme sources (19)