Graduate School of International Relations

The International Public Policy Program at the International University of Japan is a one-year master's program taught in English in Niigata, with enrollment beginning in September. IUJ describes itself as a place where the world gathers, a graduate school delivering all courses in English to 380 students from 60 countries, with on-campus dormitories and a faculty and staff structure built around an international student community. Compressed into a single year, this program covers the fundamentals of public policy analysis, including policy formation, quantitative and economic analysis methods, public administration, and governance, condensed for students who want graduate-level policy training without a full two-year commitment. Coursework in an accelerated public policy format typically moves quickly through core methods before applying them to policy areas such as economic development, social welfare, education, or public finance, often through case studies and short applied projects rather than an extended thesis. Graduates of one-year public policy programs typically move into policy analyst, program officer, or research roles within government agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, as well as policy-focused positions in the private sector. The shorter format suits candidates who already have relevant background and want to add graduate-level policy analysis skills efficiently. With 380 students drawn from 60 countries at IUJ, participants in the International Public Policy Program study alongside classmates who bring direct experience of the policy environments under discussion, which the university presents as reinforcing the program's international outlook during its single year of study in Niigata.