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Application FAQs

  1. Do you accept candidates without a civil service background?
  2. I would like to know whether I can apply for two programs simultaneously.
  3. I would like to know about academic degrees awarded by GRIPS.
  4. What are the age limitations for scholarships offered through GRIPS?
  5. I'm eager to study at your institute and ask to waive the age limitation for me.
  6. I don' t have a TOEFL Score Report at the moment. Can I submit it later than the application deadline?
  7. I would like to be supervised by a certain professor at GRIPS. What do I need to do in this regard?
  8. It is difficult for me to get a recommendation letter from a university professor. What do I have to do?
  9. I would like to enroll to GRIPS as a research student.
  10. Do you have Non-Degree programs?
  11. When is the application deadline for admission to GRIPS?
1) Q: Do you accept candidates without a civil service background?

A: Most scholarships allocated for study at GRIPS are awarded to exceptionally qualified candidates, as a rule, to government officials in active service, but we also accept employees of private enterprises who are planning to be government officials and senior students who are planning careers as government officials and who are interested in Policy Studies.

2) Q: I would like to know whether I can apply for two programs simultaneously.

A: The applicants are advised to choose only one program, however it is possible, in principle, to apply for more than one program, provided the applicants' qualification complies with the eligibility terms of the respective programs and scholarships. The scholarships and programs correlate as shown in the chart, click here.

3) Q: I would like to know about academic degrees awarded by GRIPS.

A: GRIPS awards as shown in the chart, Please click here for details.

4) Q: What are the age limits for scholarships offered at GRIPS?

A: A reference chart on application deadlines is shown in the chart, click here

5) Q: I'm eager to study at your institute and ask to waive the age limitation for me?

A: Age limitation is among the eligibility terms imposed by our sponsors. Unfortunately we are not in the position to alter the existing regulations. Unless you will be able to arrange financial support by yourself or would like to enroll at your own expense your application cannot be considered. When the applicant would like to enroll at his own expense he is required to submit a bank balance sheet indicating sufficient assets to cover the schooling and living expenses in Japan or an official letter from the scholarship provider describing the total sum of awarded scholarship as well as general terms and conditions of the agreement.

You can find information on estimated expenses in the chart, click here.

6) Q: I don't have a TOEFL score report at the moment. Can I submit it later than the application deadline?

A: Every applicant, whose undergraduate/graduate education was in a language other than English, is asked to present a TOEFL/IELTS score report at the time of submitting application forms. We do not accept any documents submitted after the deadline. Please prepare the certificate of English proficiency well in advance and submit it together with the other supporting documents by the application deadline. An applicant is expected to satisfy the English language requirements with a minimum TOEFL score of iBT 79 (PBT 550), IELTS 6.0 or its equivalent.

7) Q: I would like to be supervised by a certain professor at GRIPS. What do I need to do in this regard?

A: During a master's course the students are requested to complete term papers, policy papers or other research works, whose format may vary depending on the program. Should a student require assistance from research supervisor while composing the thesis, the program coordinators will decide on the appropriate candidature with due regard for the student's request.

8) Q: It is difficult for me to get recommendation letter from a university professor. What do I have to do?

A: Letters of recommendation should be written by people who have supervised the applicant either in an academic or work capacity. Preferably, one letter should be written by a university professor and another by a senior member of the applicant's present work place. However if it is difficult to obtain recommendation from a university, one can have both letters issued at the work place or vice versa.

9) Q: I would like to enroll to GRIPS as a research student.

A: GRIPS does not offer Research student programs.

10) Q: Do you have Non-Degree programs?

A: We have Non-Degree Options. For detailed information, click here.

11) Q: When is the application deadline for admission to GRIPS?

A: The applicants are requested to submit a complete set of documents by the application deadline which may vary depending on the program. A reference chart on application deadlines is shown in the chart, click here.

Admissions Office

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677 Japan
admissions@grips.ac.jp
Tel: +81-(0)3-6439-6046
Fax: +81-(0)3-6439-6050

Prospective Students