Program in brief
This program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to effectively handle a wide rage of maritime challenges.
- Program Director: Associate Professor Matthew Brummer
- Degree Offered: Master of Policy Studies
- Language of Instruction: English
- Time Schedule:
- Program duration…1 year
- Enrollment…October
- Graduation…September
- Financial Support
- Applicants who belong to a maritime safety and security related organization in eligible countries can apply for financial support from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
- How to Apply
- For applicants from countries eligible for JICA scholarship, please apply as a participant of JICA's Knowledge Co-Creation Program.
JICA office: Click here (JICA offices in Asia)
JICA Chugoku Center: (mail to) cicttp@jica.go.jp
- For externally funded or self-financed international applicants:
MSP brochure Click here
Online Application Click here
The Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program (MSP) is a collaborative program designed and administered jointly by GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). The program makes it possible for students to benefit from the resources of both institutions in the fields of public policy, security studies, maritime safety, and maritime security. The students will have the opportunity to acquire professional knowledge, analytical skills, and communication skills relevant to their work while becoming members of a network of future coast guard leaders from around the world.
Students study in Tokyo at GRIPS during the first half of the academic year and in Kure, Hiroshima at the Japan Coast Guard Academy (JCGA) during the second half.
Study at GRIPS
Students take required and elective courses at GRIPS from October through March. Required courses include International Relations, International Security Studies, International Law, International Relations in East Asia, and International Law of the Sea. The diverse elective courses enable students to deepen their knowledge in theie individual fields of interest. Students will develop analytical skills necessary to conduct robust study of a wide range of maritime policy issues.Study at the JCGA
From April through July, the students will take courses and participate in practical training and educational programs at the JCGA. The required courses are Policy for Search and Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Maritime Police Policy. Students can further enhance their ability to effectively execute their duties as coast guard leaders through the study of a wide range of elective subjects designed to further develop knowledge of technology, investigations, and best practices for maritime law enforcement agencies.Research Paper
During the course of one year, students write a research paper on issues relevant to the study of maritime safety and security. In order to do so, the student will work together with two academic advisors—one from each GRIPS and the JCGA—to complete the paper before graduation.Target Group
Junior coast guard officers from Japan and overseas who have more than 3 years of work experience and who are under 46 years of age as of October 1, 2026.
Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program Curriculum 2025/2026
(as of October 2025)
CATEGORY COURSE NAME INSTRUCTOR I
REQUIRED COURSES
Independent Study Various International Relations in East Asia Takagi International Relations Iwama International Security Studies Michishita Maritime Police Policy Okuzono International Law Shimoyama, Iwatani International Law of the Sea Furuya Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security Policy I Furuya Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security PolicyⅡ Furuya II
RECOMMENDED COURSES
Essential Microeconomics Kurosawa Essential Macroeconomics Yokoyama Economic Development of Southeast Asia Kudo Government and Market Okamoto Development Economics Kijima East Asian Economies Kudo The Making of Modern Japan Pressello Government and Politics in Japan Masuyama International Political Economy Chey Comparative Politics Takenaka State and Politics in Southeast Asia Lim Non-Traditional Security Cross Analysis of Great Power Politics Iwama, et al. Comparative Political Economy TBA International Development Policy Ohno The World and the SDGs Kudo Introduction to Quantitative Methods Morohosi Introduction to Oceanography Horiuchi Marine Environment and Pollution Kawamura International Comparative Criminal Law Shintani Contemporary Japanese Maritime Gray Zone Securiy Policy Furuya Safety Management Systems I TBA Safety Management Systems Ⅱ Yamada Policy for Search & Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention Yamaji Ship Maneuverability and Practical Operation TBA Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Engineering Kanki Information Management System I Yamanaka Information Management System Ⅱ Isozaki III
ELECTIVE COURSES
Selected Topics in Policy Studies I -IV Courses not listed in this table X
OTHERS
Describing Tables and Figures TBA Thesis Writing for MSP O'Neill Qualitative Writing TBA Introduction to Academic Research Petchko Introduction to Academic Writing O'Neill Other courses offered by the Center for Professional Communication - For applicants from countries eligible for JICA scholarship, please apply as a participant of JICA's Knowledge Co-Creation Program.

