How to purchase a United Nations University certificate

What is the United Nations University like?

United Nations University is not a university in the traditional sense—featuring a large undergraduate student body or comprehensive academic departments—but rather an international think tank and postgraduate educational institution within the United Nations system.

1. Institutional Nature and Characteristics

• Institutional Identity: It is the only United Nations body authorized by the UN General Assembly to grant academic degrees. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, it maintains specialized research institutes in various countries worldwide (such as Maastricht in the Netherlands, and Bonn and Dresden in Germany).
• Absence of a Traditional Campus: It does not offer traditional undergraduate education or operate large-scale academic departments; instead, it focuses primarily on high-level research and capacity building regarding global issues—such as sustainable development, peace and security, climate change, and public policy and innovation.
• Think-Tank Role: Its core function is to serve as a think tank for the United Nations, with its research outputs directly informing UN policies and benefiting the international community.

Core Degree Programs

United Nations University (UNU) offers graduate programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees, often in partnership with globally renowned universities:
• Master’s programs: Examples include Sustainability Studies (e.g., UNU-IAS in Tokyo) and dual-degree or master’s programs in Public Policy and Human Development (e.g., UNU-MERIT, in collaboration with Maastricht University in the Netherlands).
• Doctoral programs: Examples include PhD programs in Sustainability Science and in fields related to innovation, economics, and governance; some programs offer competitive scholarships and stipends for living expenses.
• Teaching model: Characterized by small class sizes and a highly international environment, the programs emphasize interdisciplinary research, fieldwork, and direct collaboration with UN researchers.

Evaluation of Pros and Cons
• Strengths:
• Excellent background: It carries the prestige of the United Nations; it serves as an outstanding springboard for future careers within the UN system (e.g., UNDP, UNEP), international organizations, or non-profits, as well as for research in global governance and sustainable development.
• Global perspective: The faculty and student body are highly international, offering frequent opportunities to engage with experts from the world's leading think tanks.