The Waseda LL.M. is a one-year master’s degree program offered by Waseda University Graduate School of Law in Tokyo, Japan.
Founded in 1882, Waseda University is a top private university in Japan. As a leading university in Asia, Waseda attracts more international students than any other Japanese university. Waseda University Faculty of Law is widely considered a top institution of legal learning in the country.
In the Waseda LL.M., all classes are conducted in English. By providing both theoretical and practical expertise on Asian economic integration and law, we train legal, business, and government leaders looking to make a difference in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
If you are interested in the nexus of law and economy from an international perspective, a Waseda LL.M. may be for you.
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Based on its educational philosophy of “Independence of Learning,” Waseda University welcomes many students from Japan and the rest of the world who have a solid basic academic ability and thriving intellectual curiosity, a rich spirit of enterprise reflecting this university’s philosophy, and a strong motivation to study. In this Graduate School, we recognize that there are many talented people from diverse backgrounds, including new graduates who wish to conduct research in their own special field of law, mature students who wish to enhance their expertise in specific fields of law, others with legal qualifications or commensurate ability who wish to improve their research skills, and international students seeking to receive a high-level legal education in Japan. We will create and operate an appropriate entrance selection system to address this diversity and to attain our goal of nurturing human resources who not only have advanced skill in legal research, but also have a “legal mind” and can convey the outcome of their research constructively and with precise logic. Given that one of our missions is to train researchers, it is only natural that certain levels of academic knowledge and ability are expected requirements for selection; but it is also desirable to accept students who spare no effort and motivation in maximizing their own latent ability.
We prepare students for a wide range of careers, including:
Examples:Tax, immigration, maritime, labor, regulatory compliance, finance, human rights, and commercial law |
The Waseda LL.M. Can……provide specialized knowledge for practicing attorneys and legal professionals who seek to hone their expertise, and also prepare non-native English speakers to enter law school in the English-speaking world. |
Examples:
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The Waseda LL.M. Can……guide recent graduates into these fields as well as provide mid-career civil servants and practitioners in the Pacific Rim with area expertise and networking opportunities. |
Examples:Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Department, national defense agencies |
The Waseda LL.M. Can……train would-be and mid-career officers in both conceptual theory and site-specific knowledge of Asian affairs. |
Examples:International Court of Justice, international commercial arbitration, police agencies, Interpol |
The Waseda LL.M. Can……deepen know-how in negotiating sensitive challenges across cultural boundaries. |
Examples:Multinational firms in the private sector |
The Waseda LL.M. Can……jump-start careers for forward-looking professionals eager to acquire new skills and expand their horizons. |
Examples:Universities and research institutes around the world |
The Waseda LL.M. Can……prepare students to pursue further advanced degrees such as a Ph.D. and launch a career teaching comparative law or business. |
The LL.M. curriculum is robust yet flexible. It provides both a solid theoretical foundation and real-life know-how while allowing students to freely pursue their own intellectual interests. The program requires 15 semester-long courses (3 required courses; 12 electives) for completion. Each course meets weekly for 90 minutes, and small class size – about 10 students each – ensures an interactive, engaging learning experience. The program culminates in a master’s thesis, usually a research paper on a topic of the student’s interest. Although Japanese language is not required, students can choose to take a Japanese language course, which counts towards the degree requirement. International students can also enroll in additional Japanese language courses offered by the Center for Japanese Language (as non-credit courses).
Full-time students are expected to complete the curriculum in one Japanese academic year, which begins in April and ends the following March.
In addition, we will help you find internship opportunities with law firms, companies, and government agencies in the Tokyo area.
Waseda University Graduate School of Law features leading legal scholars with an exemplary record of teaching, research, and practice. They have earned advanced degrees from top universities around the globe. They remain professionally active all over the world and are comfortable working with non-Japanese students. Because the student-faculty ratio in the LL.M. program is very low, you can expect to receive hands-on, personalized attention from our highly dedicated professors.
The Waseda LL.M. welcomes students from all over the world. We value intellectual diversity and will consider applicants with various academic, professional, and personal experiences; educational or professional background in law, economics, or business is helpful, but not required. Prospective students include current undergraduates, post-graduates, and mid-career professionals. No knowledge of Japanese language is necessary. Waseda University will sponsor student visas for non-Japanese nationals.
For those who have not yet been to Japan or Asia, a Waseda LL.M. is a great way to begin a new journey. For those already in Japan, a Waseda LL.M. can be an ideal way to jump-start your international career.
Reseach Paper should be prepared on the following schedule.
Procedure | Schedule | |
1 | Selecting a topic and a supervisor | During the spring semester |
2 | Submission of Research Paper plan | By the end of spring semester |
3 | Submission of first draft to supervisor | In the middle of December |
4 | Submission of Research Paper | In the middle of January |
5 | Master’s Thesis (Research Paper) defense | The end of January |
6 | Announcement of result | In the beginning of March |
Notes:
The above schedule applies for students aiming completion in one year (from April to March). This may differ for students wishing to graduate in different schedule.
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