Master in International Development and Cooperation Study

Based in Aichi, in Japan's industrial Tokai region, Nagoya University is a comprehensive research institution that traces its research strength to what it calls a free and vigorous academic culture. Within this setting, the International Development and Cooperation Study program offers a two-year master's degree taught entirely in English, with intake each April. The curriculum sits at the intersection of development economics, public policy, and area studies, examining how governments, multilateral agencies, and non-governmental organizations design and evaluate programs meant to reduce poverty, strengthen governance, and support growth in low- and middle-income regions. Coursework typically combines core theory in development economics and international cooperation with methods training in project design, monitoring, and evaluation, alongside seminars where students engage directly with case material drawn from Asia, Africa, and other developing regions. Because instruction is delivered in English, the program is structured to admit students from outside Japan without requiring prior Japanese-language study, while still situating coursework within a Japanese university with strong regional and international research ties. Students who complete the degree are prepared for roles in international organizations, government development agencies, humanitarian and development-focused non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, and research institutes, as well as for further doctoral study in development studies or related social science fields. The program's location in Aichi also places students within reach of one of Japan's major industrial and economic centers, offering a practical vantage point for studying the relationship between industrial growth and development policy.