Admissions

Join us!

The School of Political Science and Economics (SPSE) welcomes students from all over the world and we accept standardized tests from various countries. We have no quotas or targets for international students of particular nationalities. Japanese language ability is not required for the English-based Degree Program at the SPSE.

• If you are currently enrolled at the SPSE, please refer to “Change of Major” here.
• The English-based Degree Program at the SPSE only admits students in September. For information regarding the April admissions to the Japanese-based Degree Program, please refer to the admissions website in Japanese.

Degree Programs

• B.A., Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
• B.A., Bachelor of Arts in Economics
• B.A., Bachelor of Arts in Global Political Economy

You must choose one of these three degree programs at the time of application. The program cannot be changed once your application is submitted. Please check the Degrees page when making your choice.

Screening Methods

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic screening of application documents. We invite applicants to an interview only if needed.

• You will be screened holistically based on your application documents.

Admissions Timeline and Important Dates

The Application Guide and other relevant documents for the next academic year are uploaded to our website every September. Applications are accepted only during the designated application period.

The table refers to Japan Standard Time (JST) in this application timeline

The three-year average for standardized test scores of successful applicants (2023-2025)

• We encourage students to keep in mind that this statistic only reflects part of our holistic review process, and your performance on the test alone will not determine your admission.
• We have neither a minimum standardized test score nor a certain score that would guarantee your admission.

For applicants to the English-based Degree Program who intend to enroll as first-year students

Application Guides

◆AO Admissions Application Guide for September 2026 Enrollment

◆List of Application Documents by Education System

◆How to Apply to Waseda University for 2026 Admission (youtube.com)

Application Materials

As of 2022, printed applications sent by post are no longer accepted. You must submit your application through The Admissions Office (TAO) online application system, which is available at the following link: https://admissions-office.net/en/portal

• Instruction for Recommender (2026)
• Template for Certificate of Graduation/ Expected Graduation
• Template for Proof of Honors and Activities

Important Notice

Changes in the Standardized Test Requirements for Applicants from Canadian Education Systems: English-Based Degree Program AO Admissions (from 2027 Intake Onwards)

Changes to English Language Proficiency Test Score Exemption Requirements for the English-Based Degree Program AO Admissions (from 2028 Intake Onwards)

If you expect to require reasonable accommodation during the entrance examination or after entering the university owing to a disability or serious medical condition, etc., please refer to the application guide and contact the relevant school office before submitting your application.
Regardless of the type of entrance examination, answers to frequently asked questions can be found here. Please be sure to review them as well.