Zemi/Thesis and Dissertation

MSc in Finance
International MBA

Introduction to Zemi (seminars), Research Guidance, and Thesis in the MScF and IMBA.

MSc in Finance

In the MSc in Finance Program, students are required to take different seminars from the second to the fourth semester, which will enable them to write a thesis by making the best use of the deep knowledge gained in each respective seminar with different focus in the field of finance. Seminars in the MSc in Finance Program are independent of “Research Guidance” in its curriculum scheme, however, please note that most supervisors require students who wish to receive their Research Guidance to take that supervisor’s seminar in the second or third semester.

To write and complete Degree Thesis, students are required to take Research Guidance provided by a supervisor in the third and the fourth semesters. Students select their Research Guidance supervisor around the end of the second semester from among instructors of the three seminars they have taken or will take.

A Degree Thesis presents research outcomes that include theoretical and/or practical analysis of a specific issue, along with a critical review of previous studies and the author’s original insights.

For further details, please refer to the information provided below.

Research Guidance Assignment

*Research Guidance is assigned in the second semester of the first year, and begin in the second year.

For Students Enrolled in September 2025
June 1 (Mon)– June 3 (Wed), 2026: Preliminary Survey
June 4 (Thu), 2026: Announcement of Preliminary Survey Results
June 5 (Fri) – June 21 (Sun), 2026: Contact Period with Supervisors (1st Round)
June 22 (Mon) – June 24 (Wed), 2026: 1st Round Application
June 26 (Fri), 2026 (scheduled): Result Announcement of the 1st Round Application
The following steps apply to students who have not been assigned a supervisor in the 1st round:
June 26 (Fri) – July 2 (Thu), 2026: Contact Period with Supervisors (2nd Round) & 2nd Round Application
July 3 (Fri), 2026 (scheduled): Result Announcement of the 2nd Round Application

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis writing process is as follows:
A. Submission of Thesis Plan → B. Thesis Writing → C. Thesis Submission → D. Oral Defense

*If you extend your scheduled graduation date, Request for Extension of Thesis Submission must be submitted.
*The timetable for the Oral Defense will be announced approximately one week prior to the date of implementation.

A. Submission of Thesis Plan

・Submit via MyWaseda form.
・Template：Thesis Plan

【Thesis Plan Submission Period】
September 2026 Graduates: Closed
March 2027 Graduates: Late July 2026
September 2027 Graduates: Late January 2027
March 2028 Graduates: Late July 2027
September 2028 Graduates: Late January 2028

B. Thesis Writing

・MScF Degree Thesis Guideline　（Updated as of May 20, 2026）
・MScF Degree Thesis Template

C. Thesis Submission

Please submit the following three items to the Moodle thesis submission box:

Thesis (must be submitted in PDF format)
Application for Repository Registration and Publication Consent Form　(For details on the repository, please refer to the Waseda University Repository website.)
MScF Program Exit Survey: Self-Assessment on Learning Outcomes

【Thesis Submission Period】
September 2026 Graduates: July 3, 2026 (Fri) 9:00 – July 4, 2026 (Sat) 15:00
March 2027 Graduates: January 8, 2027 (Fri) 9:00 – January 9, 2027 (Sat) 15:00
September 2027 Graduates: July 2027 (scheduled)
March 2028 Graduates: January 2028 (scheduled)
September 2028 Graduates: July 2028 (scheduled)

D. Oral Defense

・Conducted via Zoom
・Presentation: 5 minutes / Q&A: 20 minutes

【Schedule】
September 2026 Graduates: July 29, 2026 (Wed)
March 2027 Graduates: To be arranged individually
September 2027 Graduates: July 2027 (scheduled)
March 2028 Graduates: To be arranged individually
September 2028 Graduates: July 2028 (scheduled)

International MBA

All students are assigned to Zemi (seminars). Under faculty supervision, they develop and complete either a Degree Thesis, or a Project Paper.

In contrast, a Project Paper presents research outcomes that focus on theoretical and/or practical analysis of a specific issue.

For further details, please refer to the information provided below.

Seminar Assignment

*Seminars are assigned in the second semester of the first year, and begin in the second year (for students enrolled in or after AY2026).

For Students Enrolled in September 2026
Further details will be provided at a later date.

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis writing process is as follows:
A. Submission of Thesis Plan → B. Thesis Writing → C. Thesis Submission → D. Public Defense or Oral Defense

*If you extend your scheduled graduation date, Request for Extension of Thesis Submission must be submitted.
*The timetable for the Oral Defense (for students enrolled in or before AY2025) and the Public Defense (for students enrolled in or after AY2026) will be announced approximately one week prior to the date of implementation.

A. Submission of Thesis Plan

・Submit via MyWaseda form.
・Template：Thesis Plan

【Thesis Plan Submission Period】

Expected Graduation Date	Thesis Plan Submission period for Degree Thesis (for students enrolled in or before AY2025)	Thesis Plan Submission period for Project Paper (for students enrolled in or after AY2026)
September 2026	Closed	–
March 2027	Late January 2026	–
September 2027	Late July 2026	–
March 2028	Late January 2027	–
September 2028	Late July 2027	Late January 2028

B. Thesis Writing

For students enrolled in or before AY2025
・Degree Thesis Guideline　（Updated as of May 20, 2026）
・Degree Thesis Template

For students enrolled in or after AY2026
・Project Paper Guideline *Further details will be provided at a later date.
・Project Paper Template *Further details will be provided at a later date.

C. Thesis Submission

Please submit the following three items to the Moodle thesis submission box:

Thesis (must be submitted in PDF format)
Application for Repository Registration and Publication Consent Form　(For details on the repository, please refer to the Waseda University Repository website.)
MBA Program Exit Survey: Self-Assessment on Learning Outcomes

D. Oral Defense・Public Defense

Oral Defense (for students enrolled in or before AY2025)
・Conducted via Zoom
・Presentation: 5 minutes / Q&A: 20 minutes

【Schedule】
September 2026 Graduates: July 29, 2026 (Wed)
March 2027 Graduates: January 31, 2027 (Sun)
September 2027 Graduates: July 2027 (scheduled)
March 2028 Graduates: January 2028 (scheduled)
September 2028 Graduates: July 2028 (scheduled)

Public Defense (for students enrolled in or after AY2026)
・Conducted in person
・Presentation: 15 minutes / Q&A: 5 minutes

【Schedule】
September 2028 Graduation: July 2028 (scheduled)