Graduate School of Political ScienceWaseda University

  2. For Prospective Students
  3. FAQs

For Prospective Students

FAQs

1. About the Graduate School of Political Science (GSPS)

Please visit the following websites and do a search using the faculty member’s name or other possible keywords.

– Graduate School of Political Science Faculty Profiles
https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/gsps/en/about/faculty/

– Researchmap
https://researchmap.jp/researchers
*Researcher directory operated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
*It is possible to contact the researcher directly from the J-GLOBAL ID link on the individual researcher’s page.

– Pure
https://waseda.pure.elsevier.com/en/
*Data on the output of academic papers based on Scopus, a database of abstracts and citations for academic papers.

– Waseda University Library Academic Information Search
https://waseda-jp.libguides.com/imas-e
*Available only to Waseda University students.

– J-STAGE
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/-char/en
*An electronic journal platform operated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

– WorldCat
https://www.worldcat.org/
*The world’s largest network of library content and services.

Please check the past research achievements of the faculty members belonging to the Graduate School of Political Science from the websites posted in the answer to 1-1 above. Then, please consider the faculty members who are conducting research close to your own interests or research themes. In order to set a research question and prepare a research proposal it is essential to review and examine previous research.

As a graduate school for training researchers, we have produced a large number of researchers. If you are able to achieve excellent results during your time at the university, you may be able to take the first step in your career as a special researcher of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), or you may be able to pursue a career as a research assistant at a university.

For information about former students of the GSPS who have been hired as a JSPS Research Fellow in the past, please check the following website.
List of JSPS Research Fellows: (Japanese text only)
https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-pd/pd_saiyoichiran.html

For your reference, information on job openings in Japan for researchers at each university and research institution is available on the JREC-IN Portal operated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
JREC-IN Portal:
https://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekTop?ln=1
JREC-IN Portal is a portal site for research personnel that supports career development and capacity building of research personnel such as researchers, research assistants, and engineers.

Some of our graduate students aspire to become researchers, others to work in business, mass media, or non-governmental organizations, and others to become civil servants. You can learn about the career paths of past graduates from the GSPS website and the Career Center of Waseda University. Please check the follow websites.
https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/gsps/en/about/our-graduates/
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/career/en/about/

Weekday evening classes, Saturday classes, on-demand classes, etc. are also available, but since the Graduate School of Political Science is not exclusively an evening course, you will need to adjust your work schedule so that you can attend classes during weekdays. Furthermore, in addition to the classes that need to be taken, a great deal of effort is usually required to write a master’s thesis.

For more information on courses and timetables, please check the following website
Timetable Guide: https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/gsps/en/students/timetable/

Waseda University has concluded academic exchange agreements with universities around the world in order to develop human resource and research exchange with overseas educational and research institutions. We also promote multi-university exchange by participating in consortia of universities around the world.

https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/about/work/organizations/international-affairs-division/international-exchange

Yes. The master’s and doctoral programs in political science allow you to obtain degrees exclusively through the use of English.

Please note, however, that the programs in journalism and global public policy are only available in Japanese.

Beginning with the 2024 academic year, enrollment in English-based programs is only available for September and enrollment in Japanese-based programs occurs only in April.

We have students of many different nationalities. For more information, please check the following website.
Center for International Education
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cie/en/center/data

Although some courses may be offered online, most likely you will need to visit campus to take other courses and participate in various activities at the GSPS. Wherever you choose to live, please do not let this interfere with your studies or research.

2. Entrance Examination and Application

Please check the application guidelines available on the Graduate School’s website.
https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/gsps/en/appilicants/schedule/

We refer to the admissions process as an entrance examination. Applications are judged comprehensively on the basis of our review of the submitted application documents (in lieu of a written examination) and an interview (oral examination).

In addition, a language scorecard (TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS) must be submitted by most applicants at the time of application. Prior to application, applicants should take the English Language Proficiency Test and be able to submit the scorecard (within the last two years).

Applicants who pass the first screeing (document review), will be invited for an interview in the second screening (oral examination). The questions for the oral examination depend on the materials and background of an individual applicant. Therefore, there is no set of past questions available for review.

During the admissions process for the doctoral program, in particular, the GSPS examines whether candidates have mastered methodological skills in empirical research methods, mathematical analysis and normative theory of political science, as well as other basic social science skills, and basic knowledge to be able to study political science at a specialized, advanced level. Our admissions decision is based on whether or not you have these competences. If you do not yet possess these competences, we recommend that you apply for a master’s degree instead of a doctoral degree at our Graduate School, even if you already have a master’s degree from another university or other institution.

Our Graduate School does not offer any “Preparatory Courses for Entering Graduate School”. However, it may be possible to take Japanese language courses at the Center for Japanese Language before applying for or entering the master’s program. For details, please refer to the following website.

Center for Japanese Language
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cjl/en/applicants/

If you are currently enrolled in a master’s program at a foreign university, you may be accepted as a research intern at Waseda University for the purpose of conducting research activities with Waseda University faculty members, but you will not be able to participate in classes, earn credits, or receive research guidance from the host faculty. For more information about research internships, please visit the following website.

International Scholar Services
https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/about/work/organizations/international-affairs-division/iss

And it may be possible to take Japanese language courses at the Center for Japanese Language before applying for or entering the master’s program. For details, please refer to the following website.

Center for Japanese Language
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cjl/en/applicants/

First, you will be asked to list your preferences at the time of application, and then the final decision will be made after the student’s enrollment.

There is no need for advance contact. If you wish to contact the professor in advance, you may do so directly by clicking on the J-GLOBAL ID link on the individual researcher’s page in Researchmap.

■Researchmap
https://researchmap.jp/researchers

Yes. We welcome applications from candidates who did not major in political science as an undergraduate student, but we will examine the candidate comprehensively, based on the research plan submitted and an interview, from the perspective of whether the candidate has the basic social science skills to succeed in our required methodology courses that integrate empirical research methods, mathematical analysis, and normative theory.

Yes, we welcome your application even if your master’s degree was in a field of study other than political science. Applications are examined comprehensively on the basis of the research plan and other documents submitted at the time of application. However, particularly in admissions for the doctoral program, we consider whether or not the candidate has mastered methodological skills in empirical research methods, mathematical analysis and normative theory of political science, as well as other basic social science skills, and has obtained basic knowledge to study political science at a specialised, advanced level. The admissions decision is based on whether or not you have these competences. If you do not yet possess these competences, we recommend that you apply for the master’s program instead of the doctoral program, even if you already have a master’s degree from another university.

There are no score criteria or other requirements, but you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply. After admission, depending on your research plan, field of study, etc., there are many situations in the general education and research process where English language skills are required, such as reading key literature, scrutinising previous research, research analysis, writing papers, conference presentations and various meetings. Therefore, it is necessary to make continuous efforts to improve your English language skills, rather than just temporarily increasing your English score for the examinations.

Yes. Admissions from 2026 entrance onwards, those who have obtained a degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) through an English curriculum but who are not citizens of a country where English is the official language must submit a test score card.

If you will not receive your score by the application deadline, print out the scores you are able to view on the website and submit this instead. You will need to make an additional submission of your official score as soon as you receive it.

Graduates from three-year specialized college (zhuanke) programs in China are not eligible to apply. However, those who have graduated from a four-year (benke) program after graduating from a three-year program and completed 16 years of school education are eligible to apply.

Yes. It is possible for a proxy in Japan to pay the fee. In such cases, always make sure that the application is carried out in the name of the applicant.

You only need to submit the LR (listening & reading) score. The speaking and writing scores are not required.

In most years, next year’s courses are decided in December. You can find the current list of courses on the following website.
Course Registration, Syllabi – Graduate School of Political Science, Waseda University
If changes are made to the course offerings, the GSPS office will contact the affected students and ask them to select alternative courses.

3. Support before/after Enrollment

Although there is no tuition reduction or exemption system, Waseda University offers several scholarship programs. Please check the following website for details.

Support for International Students
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cie/en/life/aid

Waseda University offers numerous scholarships for privately financed international students. In principle, nominees of Waseda University internal scholarships as well as external scholarships with University recommendation are selected from a list of international students who have completed scholarship registration, and are contacted by GSPS office staff individually. ​

New students will be informed of how to register for scholarships  during the GSPS course registration guidance before enrollment. Those who are interested in these scholarships should complete the scholarship registration during the course registration period.

For further information, please refer to the following websites.

 <Reference>
Waseda University Scholarship
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/scholarship/en/

List of Scholarships for international students
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cie/en/life/aid

Yes. Student dormitories are available for students of Waseda University. For details, please ask Waseda University’s Residence Life Center.
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/rlc/en/

Please check the following website and contact the Residence Center if necessary.

Residence Life Center
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/rlc/en/

A cosignatory is needed to rent rooms, but as a general rule you need to take responsibility for finding your own cosignatory. However, if you have only just arrived in Japan and you really cannot find a cosignatory it is possible to use the rental guarantor service offered by the University’s associate company WASEDA UNIVERSITY PROJECT MANAGEMENT CORP.
http://waseda-housing.com/

Passing the entrance examination on its own is not enough to apply for a new student visa or to extend a student visa. You can only carry out visa procedures when you have paid the admission fee and the prescribed academic fees, and completed admissions procedures by submitting all other necessary documents. In the case of April entry to the University, admissions procedures are completed in early March. However, applications to process admissions are accepted in December from overseas applicants only. In the case of September entry, admissions applications are accepted in late June. Please carry out visa applications after this time.

There is a training center and other facilities equipped with changing rooms, shower rooms, etc. Please check the following website.

Facility
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/student/en/facility

Please check the following website.

Waseda University Career Center
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/career/en/students/

If you are unable to attend classes (including examinations) for more than two months due to illness, language study abroad, financial circumstances, or other legitimate reasons, you may take a “leave of absence” with the prescribed procedures and approval. For details, please contact the Graduate School office.

In the doctoral program, if you are selected as a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), you will receive a KAKENHI grant of up to 1.5 million yen each year. For more information, please refer to the following website.

JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists
https://waseda-research-portal.jp/en/public-fund/jsps/

Please contact the Graduate School of Political Science Office and Admissions Office.
[email protected]

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