Admission Policy

The Graduate School of Governance Studies aims to produce graduates who are capable of meeting the political and administrative needs of the coming era. Our program is designed to train professionals with advanced knowledge, vision, and a high level of ability to formulate and carry out policy. In our entrance examination and interview, we look not only for special knowledge, experience or consciousness relevant to public policy and associated fields, but also for the practical qualities of professionalism and for the signs of such potential and motivation.

Applicants must be university graduates or expected graduates, or those who are recognized by the Graduate School of Governance Studies as having academic abilities equivalent or superior to those who with university degrees. In particular, our programs are designed for practitioners in the fields of public administration, such as elected representatives, public officials, non-profit organizations (NPO) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) workers, private sector employees, as well as those who aspire to pursue political or public service careers.

In order to realize a collaborative and participatory society in the coming era, both instructors and students, working closely together, must consider a wide range of policy options and put them into practice. To that end, our curriculums are designed to enable students to take charge of their own learning through case studies and discussions of ongoing issues, while providing a grounding in theoretical matters and other basics. Our faculty embodies this approach to a high degree, with many of its members bringing extensive practical experience in policy-making and implementation, others contributing legal expertise in areas like the relationship between public policy and lawmaking, and still others with specialist knowledge in NPOs and NGOs. Many also bring a wealth of overseas experience and inspire students to learn by providing their global perspective and an opportunity to contact with practitioners in various fields.

The entrance examination consists of a written test and an interview. Prior to the examination, applicants are required to submit a personal statement discussing their long-term goals and motivation, including a question about the reasons for attending the graduate program (see “Application Form and Personal Statement”). By applying the goals of the Graduate School of Governance Studies as the basic criteria, applicants are judged on qualities such as their reasoning and analytical skills. In the interview, the ability to present one’s ideas persuasively and with a clear logic carries particular weight.