Graduate School of Letters, Arts and SciencesWaseda University

For Prospective Students

Admissions

Programs and Degrees

Graduate Schools at Waseda University are engaged in research and instruction in the humanities and sciences fields, at an advanced level, in terms of both theory and practice. They aim to reach a depth of knowledge, create and develop cultures, and contribute to the welfare of mankind. The graduate courses consist of a “master’s program” for two years and a “doctoral program” for the following three years. The details of the programs are as follows:

Master’s Program
(Master’s Degree)
Aims to offer students a broader perspective and deeper knowledge to equip them with research abilities in specialized fields and advanced competences necessary for professional careers. To complete the course, students must study for at least two years, obtain the number of credits set by each graduate school, receive supervision in the fields of their study, and pass the thesis and final examinations.

Doctoral Program
(Doctoral Degree)
Aims to help students develop specialized knowledge and research competences required of researchers or professionals with expertise in their fields. To obtain the doctoral degree, three years of postgraduate study with guidance is necessary, as a general rule. Students must also submit a doctoral dissertation and pass the thesis and final examinations.

Research Student
(Non-Degree)
Students are allowed to take a course or several courses of study in a year.

As a rule, classes, research guidance, and thesis instruction at our Graduate School are conducted in Japanese. However, we provide guidance in English for the Program “Global-J”. Please refer to the following.


Global Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies (Global-J) in Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Waseda University established the Global Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies (Global-J)  in the Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences on Sep. 21, 2018. Global-J is to realize a new vision in global Japanese literary and cultural studies, aiming to rethink Japanese culture from a truly global perspective and to disseminate its outcomes based on the Top Global University Project (SGU), Waseda Ocean initiative. The aim of Waseda Ocean is to establish research and education systems for creating the future with an eye toward Waseda Vision 150 and promoting complete internationalization in research and education.
The aim of Global Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies (Global-J) is to bring together the methodologies and outcomes of Japanese literary and cultural studies that have been developed in both Japan and other regions of the world, to conduct interdisciplinary education and research activities both in English and Japanese, and to create new Global Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies under the guidance of leading researchers active in the front line of education worldwide. Global-J will produce scholars and educators who will lead the future course of Japanese literary and cultural studies on the international stage.

  • Press release Waseda to offer new English-based Master’s degree program in global Japanese literary and cultural studies (11 Nov 2019)

Application Guidelines

Master’s Program

[Note] Applications for the 2024 Entrance Examination (Entrance in April 2024 or September 2024) have been closed (the followings are references). The Application Guidelines for the 2025 entrance examination will be released in July 2024.

2024 Application Guidelines (Master’s Program)

2024 Research field of Research supervisor (Master’s Program)

2024 The List of Master’s Courses and Research Seminar

Doctoral Program

2024 Application Guidelines (Doctoral Program)

2024 Research field of Research supervisor (Doctoral Program)

2024 The list of Doctoral Courses and Research Seminar

Enrollment Date

April 1  2024 OR September 21 2024

Degree Programs

  • Master of Arts in Literature
  • Doctor of Literature

Screening Methods

First screening: Document screening

Screening will be based on application documents submitted during the specified application period

Second screening: Oral examination*

Only applicants who successfully passed the document screening will be asked to take the oral examination

2024 Application Guidelines 2023.11.28 Released

The list of Approved Courses 2024.2.2 Update

Enrollment Date

April 1 (Mon.) 2024 OR September 21 (Sat.) 2024

Screening Methods

Oral examination

Applicants whose application has been accepted will be asked to take the oral examination

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