Graduate School of Asia-Pacific StudiesWaseda University

In the midst of the rapid globalization that marks the contemporary world, the presence of the Asia-Pacific region is becoming more significant than ever in the fields of international politics, economy, society and culture. The mission of the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies(GSAPS) is based on two principles: 1) To pursue academic research that balances global and regional perspectives in addressing the range of historical, political, economic, business management, industrial, social, and cultural issues arising among and across the nations of the Asia-Pacific region; and 2) To cultivate future professionals who are experts in their fields and who can apply their advanced training and knowledge to contribute broadly to improving the living standards and social conditions of individuals around the world.

Solving the various issues emerging out of the contemporary global society requires acquiring historical and cultural understandings of the region combined with analytical tools from the disciplines of international relations, policy studies, and international development. To this end, GSAPS is one of the few educational institutions in the world that offers an interdisciplinary International Relations program which trains students in three specializations: Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies. Faculty and students come from diverse backgrounds, and as part of the vibrant GSAPS community students are able to experience a microcosm of the global society as they pursue a range of curricular and research activities.

1. Japanese and English Bilingual Education

Since its founding in 1998, GSAPS has been the first graduate institution in Waseda University to offer a fully bilingual education in Japanese and English, allowing students to earn a degree in either language of their choice. Core courses can be taken in either Japanese or English, with Japanese versions offered in the Spring Semester and English versions offered in the Fall (depending on the course and the year).

2. An International Learning Environment with Students from over 50 Countries and Regions

Over 70% of the student body comes from overseas to study at GSAPS, allowing students to experience a multinational, multicultural educational environment with a diverse group of students from a variety of backgrounds. Many of the foreign students include those selected for highly prestigious MEXT Scholarships from the Japanese Ministry of Education, highly trained professionals who have already built careers in Asia and who are recipients of Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), and government workers who are selected by foreign governmental agencies to study at GSAPS.

3. A Comprehensive Research Environment Specially Designed for Graduate Study

As an independent graduate research institution with no undergraduate program, faculty members are dedicated to mentoring GSAPS graduate students and conducting high-level research. In addition to the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, faculty members are also highly specialized researchers at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (WIAPS). Together, GSAPS and WIAPS form a joint education and research institution which aims to address the momentous growth and changes in the Asia-Pacific region by constructing a network for international education and research and by becoming a center of research and information on the region. To this end, GSAPS/WIAPS is dedicated to producing research results of superior quality that rival those of the top researchers from around the world. These research activities are not limited to the faculty, as graduate students themselves become actively involved in the various research projects that are conducted at WIAPS, and students are thus enabled to further develop and enhance their own research in the process.

4. Faculty with Diverse, Real-World Experience

GSAPS faculty members are more than just researchers who are leading experts in their fields. In addition to academic research activities, faculty members are also researchers who have diverse, real-world experience as professionals in international institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and UNICEF, as well as in governmental agencies, business, and media industries around the world.

5. Active Support for International Activities

GSAPS actively supports a range of international activities including exchange programs, overseas field research, and internships. GSAPS has developed international academic exchange treaties with a variety of top-class institutions across Asia, and students are able to spend up to one full semester as exchange students. Moreover, students wishing to conduct field research in Southeast Asia are also able to take advantage of the Haraguchi Memorial Asia Research Fund to receive funding for their research activities. In addition, every year GSAPS students take advantage of Waseda University’s internship programs with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank and are able to receive course credit as they gain hands-on professional experience.

6. A Global Network of Active Alumni

Since its founding 16 years ago, a total of 1,867 students have graduated from the MA Program and have gone on to become leaders in a variety of countries in the fields of international cooperation and development, international civil service and public affairs, international business, and advanced research. In addition, 223 students have received their Ph.D.s and are active in universities and research institutes across the world.

Learning outcome

In the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSAPS) MA program, students who acquire abundant academic knowledge from a broad perspective and the problem-solving skills needed to work in high-level, specialist occupations in the field of international relations are conferred with the degree ‘Master of Arts (International Relations)’. On this basis, GSAPS defines the abilities that students should acquire before completing the MA program as per below.

• Learning outcome 1: Students will acquire a panoramic understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and international society and specialist knowledge necessary to conduct problem solving related to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies.
• Learning outcome 2: Students will acquire fundamental analytical capabilities for problem solving related to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies centered on the Asia-Pacific region.
• Learning outcome 3: Students will understand and accept the historical background and the political, economic, social, and cultural diversity of the Asia-Pacific region and international society and acquire international communication skills so that they can collaborate with a diverse range of people with a spirit self-sufficiency and tolerance.
• Learning outcome 4: Students will develop a mindset of contributing to peace and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and international society and to solving global challenges.

In the GSAPS PhD program, students who acquire the advanced research skills necessary to conduct independent research activities in the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies centered on the Asia-Pacific region are conferred with the degree ‘Doctor of Philosophy’. Based on the above, GSAPS defines the abilities that students should acquire before completing the PhD program as per below.

• Learning outcome 1: Students will acquire a panoramic understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and international society and advanced specialist knowledge necessary to conduct independent research activities related to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies.
• Learning outcome 2: Students will acquire international-standard theoretical and empirical research skills that are fundamental for conducting independent research activities related to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies centered on the Asia-Pacific region.
• Learning outcome 3: Students will understand and accept the historical background and the political, economic, social, and cultural diversity of the Asia-Pacific region and international society, conduct research in cooperation and collaboration with various people and organizations throughout international society, and acquire international communicate skills so that they can produce research results that effectively contribute to international society.
• Learning outcome 4: Students will acquire a panoramic understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and international society and develop a mindset of contributing through research activities to peace and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and international society and to solving global challenges.

The fundamental ideology of the International Studies Program at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies; GSAPS, is as follows:

Admissions Policy　2023/02/13, Updated

‘Focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, GSAPS seeks not only to conduct interdisciplinary research from the global and regional perspectives in the fields of regional history, politics, economics, industry, business management, society, culture and various international concerns, but also to deepen understanding of a growing Asia-Pacific region, and to mold future experts and researchers who can assume responsibility of the region’s future’.
GSAPS seeks students from both the domestic and international arenas, who are keen to learn and motivated to excel, and aim for a better future for the global society.
For our MA Program, GSAPS welcomes application not only from undergraduate students, but professionals who have relevant work experience, and seek to further enhance the well-being of global society, instead of just one’s home country. For our Ph.D. Program, GSAPS seeks candidates who have high-level of understanding and specialized knowledge in their field of research, and aim to become specialists and researchers who can contribute effectively to global society, including the Asia-Pacific region.
In respect of admissions evaluation, on top of agreeing to the fundamental ideology of the Graduate School, GSAPS attaches great importance to the following three factors.

1. Understanding of various global problems and the knowledge to identify and suggest solutions
2. Ability to think rationally and logically
3. Communication skills, including language ability required globally

Curriculum Policy　2023/02/13, Updated

The Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) offers MA and PhD programs in International Relations with three specializations: Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies. The curriculum is structured so that while students focus on one specialization they can also enroll in subjects across other areas and systematically acquire expertise by observing and analyzing the dynamic Asia-Pacific region from various angles. Classes are offered in both Japanese and English since its founding in 1998. With an extensive network of domestic and international partner institutions, GSAPS has become a hub for research and education on the Asia-Pacific in Japan. GSAPS students and faculty members work together with external partners implementing the ‘triangle method’.

In the MA program, the curriculum is divided into class-based subjects and project research. In order to learn specialist knowledge and analytical methods, students must complete at least 22 credits (equivalent to 11 subjects) across core, basic, advanced, and non-credit courses , which are mostly completed during the first year. Students are required to take a project research seminar where a (full-time faculty) academic advisor supervises their master’s thesis research, in order to apply the analytical skills they have learned to improve their problem-solving skills, collaborate with faculty members and students from various international backgrounds to improve their international communication skills, and develop a mindset of contributing to the resolution of international issues under the guidance of full-time faculty members and through collaboration with off-campus partners. Enrolment in the project research seminar during the first and second year, the writing and submission of the master’s thesis, and passing the thesis defense examination earns the 8 remaining necessary credits to complete the program.

In the PhD program, in order to acquire advanced specialist knowledge, international-standard theoretical and empirical research skills, and the ability to conduct independent research activities, PhD students are required to take a project research seminar from their first year where a (full-time faculty) academic advisor supervises the writing of their doctoral thesis. Through the PhD project research seminar, students collaborate with their peers from diverse international backgrounds, conduct exchanges with international researchers, and participate and present at international conferences. Under the guidance of full-time faculty members and through collaboration with off-campus partners, PhD students are expected to improve their international communication skills, develop a mindset of contributing to the resolution of international issues, and to produce research results that effectively contribute to international society. Additionally, PhD students are required to take a class on research ethics (1 credit). After completing the first semester, the student’s thesis guidance committee will be established with chief and deputy advisors, and after another semester the student will submit their research plan. Subsequently, PhD students then complete an interim evaluation and examination before aiming to complete their doctoral dissertation. PhD students are required to have published at least one single-authored article in a peer-reviewed doctoral journal before submitting their dissertation. Doctoral dissertations are examined by a committee system that includes external examiners.

Diploma Policy

Focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, GSAPS seeks not only to conduct interdisciplinary research from the global and regional perspectives in the fields of regional history, politics, economics, industry, business management, society, culture and various international concerns, but also to further deepen the understanding of a growing Asia-Pacific region. GSAPS seeks to train future experts, specialists and researchers who can assume responsibility of the region’s future.
Graduates of the MA Program in International Relations will be able to view issues from a wide spectrum, possess an advanced level of professional knowledge and research skills with regards to the field of international relations, and obtain highly-sort skills required of a specialist. They will be conferred the degree of ‘MA (Master of Arts) in International Relations’.
Graduates of the Ph.D. Program in International Studies will be able to conduct independent research as a specialist of the Asia-Pacific region, in the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, International Cooperation/ Policy Studies. They will possess the required high-level research skills in order to carry out specialized tasks, and become an independent and learned scholar. They will be conferred the degree of ‘Ph.D. in International Studies’.