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Project Design Graduate School Opens 2027 Admissions

The Project Design Graduate School, located in Minato, Tokyo, has officially begun accepting applications for its 2027 academic year starting June 1, 2026. With a vision centered around the development and dissemination of innovative business concepts, the school aims to cultivate future leaders in the industry.

Redefining Business Education

Unlike traditional Business Schools focused on analyzing existing management practices, the Project Design Graduate School emphasizes the importance of generating new questions rather than solely seeking correct answers. In today's fast-evolving societal landscape, being able to innovate and create new business models is essential. This institution is dedicated to guiding students through the intricate process of developing new values that can lead to a sustainable future for societies and economies.

Core themes of study include new business development, local revitalization, generational business succession, entrepreneurship, and organizational transformation. Students are encouraged to explore various approaches and find innovative solutions that contribute to the future of their organizations and communities.

From Ideas to Real-World Applications

At the heart of new business creation lies the foundational idea. To foster this creativity, the school delivers a unique curriculum designed to enhance students’ idea generation, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Students learn to refine their ideas by assessing market viability, social relevance, and practical feasibility, transforming these concepts into comprehensive business plans, akin to a master thesis.

Diverse perspectives stimulate fresh ideas, as students come from varied professional backgrounds, including corporate executives, government officials, educators, entrepreneurs, and business successors. This knowledge-rich environment facilitates discussions led by both industry practitioners and academic researchers, enabling students to delve deeper into their studies through an interplay of theory and practice. Liberal arts subjects, including philosophy, history, and natural sciences, challenge students to confront fundamental questions and cultivate the ability to articulate new business models and visions.

Enrollment Information

Degree Offered:

• - Master of Project Design (Professional Degree)

Research Department:

• - Business Concept Research Department, specializing in Business Concepts

Courses Available:

• - Business Concept Course
• - Succession Planning (Next Generation Management Course)

Admission Quota:

• - 120 students (total across all campuses)

Start Date:

• - April 2027

Campuses:

• - Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sendai

Hybrid-Learning Model:

Classes are delivered in a HyFlex format, allowing students to attend either in person or online, accommodating those living far from campuses or overseas.

Standard Duration:

• - 2 years

Graduation Requirements:

• - Completion of a minimum of 34 credits, including mandatory coursework, and successful evaluation of the business concept plan.

Tuition Fees:

• - Admission Fee: ¥200,000
• - First-Year Tuition: ¥1,600,000
• - Second-Year Tuition: ¥1,600,000
• - Total: ¥3,400,000

Additionally, students may be eligible for government support programs, like Education and Training Grants, and corporate subsidies supporting human resource development.

Admission Process:

• - Document screening, written exam (essay), and personal interview.

Admission Dates:

• - October, December, January, February
• - Early application and testing options are available.

Information Sessions

The graduate school is also hosting information sessions and individual consultations both at campuses and online. Interested individuals are encouraged to participate and discover more about the institution. Current schedules can be found on the Project Design Graduate School website.

For more detailed admission information, including selection processes, visit the Project Design Graduate School's admissions page.

About the Project Design Graduate School

Established in April 2012 in Tokyo's Minato area, this graduate school provides working professionals with the tools needed to devise and implement innovative business ideas. The curriculum is designed to facilitate discussions between instructors and students from diverse industries, culminating in the submission of a business concept plan over a two-year period, which leads to the conferment of the Master of Project Design (MPD).

With five campuses in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sendai, the school has graduated nearly 1,000 students, fostering numerous innovative enterprises. The affiliated Project Design Research Institute actively engages in project-based research, having seen over 4,000 alumni, along with contributing to publications such as the monthly "Business Concept" journal.

For more details, please visit the graduate school’s website.