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

2 years English open

Scholarships

Only the support routes relevant to this programme are listed. Amounts marked as references must be reconfirmed for the applicant's award year.

MEXT Scholarship (Japanese Government) — Embassy Recommendation

Separate application

  • Candidates who have passed the primary selection for a MEXT scholarship at a Japanese embassy in their home country.
  • "Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: MEXT) scholarship students are exempted from paying the application fee, the admission fee, and annual tuition." Full coverage terms are set by MEXT and are not restated by GraSPP.
  • "If the applicant is a MEXT scholar, contact MPP/IP Desk well in advance and follow the instructions."
  • "The MPP/IP admission schedule is not compatible with the MEXT Embassy Recommendation schedule. Because admission decisions are issued in March, applicants generally cannot use MPP/IP for the Embassy Recommendation process." In practice this route is effectively unavailable for MPP/IP.

MEXT Scholarship (Japanese Government) — University Recommendation

Separate application

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  • MEXT scholarship students are exempt from the application fee, admission fee and annual tuition. Full coverage terms are set by MEXT.
  • Nomination by the university after admission. "Information will be sent to successful applicants only if the scholarship becomes available."
  • "This scholarship is not available every year and, when available, the number of awards is extremely limited."

Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)

Separate application

  • "Be a national of ADB borrowing member country" and "Have at least two years of full-time professional working experience (acquired after a university degree) at the time of application." Either the PMIR or the EPFD policy stream may be chosen. Applicants must apply under the Professionals admissions category with October enrolment.
  • "Successful applicants... will be awarded funding covering all tuition and admission fees, as well as housing and subsistence allowance. Travel expenses between the awardees' home countries and Tokyo will also be provided." Monthly stipend JPY 147,000 as of 2024. "Mandatory Summer Preparatory Progra
  • Apply to MPP/IP through the GraSPP Web Entry System under the Professionals category, submitting the scholarship eligibility form (item J). "Scholarship nominees, who will be chosen from applicants admitted to GraSPP, are required to complete the application procedures instructed by ADB scholarships." "The MPP/IP Desk will contact the nominees upon announcement of admitted applicants." Nominees must then submit the scholarship application, including an employer's letter of endorsement and financial certificates, to the MPP/IP Desk within several days of nomination.
  • "Decisions on scholarship awards will be made independently by ADB." "The scholarship results will be announced by GraSPP." "Writing a research paper/thesis is required for scholars of ADB-JSP, JJWBGSP and JISPA at GraSPP to prove their academic achievement." Applicants may request a reduced JPY 10,000 application fee if authorised in advance.

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

Separate application

  • "Be a national of JJ/WBGSP eligible countries"; "Not hold a dual citizenship of a developed country"; "Be employed in a paid and full-time position at the time of submitting the application"; "Have, three years or more of recent paid development-related experience after earning a Bachelor's or equivalent degree." Either EPFD or PMIR may be chosen. Applicants must apply under the Professionals admissions category with October enrolment.
  • Covers all tuition and admission fees, housing and subsistence allowance, and travel expenses between the awardee's home country and Tokyo. Monthly stipend JPY 306,910 as of 2024. Mandatory Summer Preparatory Program before enrolment.
  • Apply to MPP/IP through the GraSPP Web Entry System under the Professionals category with the scholarship eligibility form (item J). "Upon the announcement of MPP/IP document screening results, a link to the JJ/WBGSP application form will be sent by the MPP/IP Desk to applicants who are from JJ/WBGSP-eligible countries and have at least three years of work experience after obtaining a bachelor's degree. Do not submit the scholarship application until the final results announcement of MPP/IP Admission." "Applicants who seek JJ/WBGSP must be admitted by GraSPP and must complete the online application, including two letters of reference from professional supervisors, a statement of purpose specifically for the scholarship, and an unconditional Letter of Admission, by the Window #2 deadline."
  • "Starting with the 2027 intake, the application period for the JJ/WBGSP for GraSPP will be Window #2." "For JJ/WBGSP scholars, the courses listed below are not funded by JJ/WBGSP. Therefore, they will not be counted toward the required electives. If scholars take these courses, they will be counted as free electives instead" — 5112111 Global Conflicts & Cooperation; 5122159 Transformation of Warfare and Technology; 5122201-1 Contemporary Chinese Politics; 5122201-2 Contemporary Chinese Diplomacy. A research paper/thesis is required of JJ/WBGSP scholars at GraSPP. Applicants may request a reduced JPY 10,000 application fee if authorised in advance.

Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (IMF-JISPA)

Separate application

  • "Be a national of: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam." "Currently working for: central bank, ministry of economy, ministry of finance, ministry of planning/development, ministry of trade/commerce, tax administration, national statistics bureau, financial regulatory agencies, or officials working in other areas of government." "Minimum of 2-3 years' work experience in the public sector will be prioritized." EPFD policy stream only.
  • Covers all tuition and admission fees, housing and subsistence allowance, and travel expenses between the awardee's home country and Tokyo. Monthly stipend JPY 157,000 as of 2024, "199,000 from 2026 intake". Mandatory Summer Preparatory Program before enrolment.
  • "The applicant for the partnership track under IMF-JISPA is required to apply through IMF's online application system which is available on the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific website." Application period September 15 – October 20, 2026 (subject to change). Applicants do not use the GraSPP Web Entry System for this track.
  • EPFD stream only. "Writing a research paper/thesis is required for scholars of ADB-JSP, JJWBGSP and JISPA at GraSPP to prove their academic achievement."

JICA SDGs Global Leader Program

Separate application

  • "An applicant who is a government official or academician in a developing country is eligible to apply for the scholarship program."
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  • "Contact the local JICA office directly." Applicants who require a letter of acceptance from GraSPP must apply through the GraSPP Web Entry System under the Professionals category with October enrolment.
  • Selection is made by JICA, not GraSPP.

JDS Program in China (Japan Human Resource Development Scholarship for Chinese Young Leaders)

Separate application

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  • Through the JDS China programme, externally to GraSPP.
  • Open to nationals of China only.

JDS Program in India (Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship)

Separate application

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  • Through the JDS India programme, externally to GraSPP. Applicants who require a letter of acceptance from GraSPP must apply through the GraSPP Web Entry System under the Professionals category with October enrolment.
  • Open to nationals of India only.
Scholarships, nominations and fee exemptions are competitive unless the programme states that every admitted student receives the award. Admission on its own does not guarantee funding.
Programme sources (19)