Incoming Study Abroad Programs

Thank you for visiting our website!

The School of Political Science and Economics (SPSE) offers a unique combination of its vibrant, international student culture in central Tokyo and curricula in political science and economics that are fully comparable to those of top universities in North America and Europe.

Please refer to the “Course Registration Guide”, “Course List” and Web Syllabus.

• Course Registration Guide for Exchange/DD Students 
  “Course Registration Guide (For Exchange/DD Students)” contains course registration rules for Exchange and Double Degree Program Students and you can check the guide on the following webpage.
  Reference: Course Registration Guide AY 2024 Fall semester
  * Some courses, especially university-wide open courses may be competitive, and you may not be selected regardless of your preferences.
  * Some SPSE courses such as Internships, courses named “Seminars” (excluding Intermediate Seminars), Language courses, and some compulsory courses for degree students, etc. are not open to exchange / DDP students. *Advanced Seminars are open to DDP students.

• Course List
  Courses offered by the SPSE are listed in “Course List”.
  Reference: Course List 2024  * Courses conducted in English are listed from page 50.
  Please visit the following webpage for further details. Lectures, Cancellations, Supplementary Classes, Classroom ChangesRegarding the course offered by different schools and centers, please refer to the University-wide Open Courses.
  Regarding the Japanese language courses offered by Center for Japanese Language, please refer to the Japanese Language Courses.
• Web Syllabus
  You can get the details of each course from the web syllabus.
  Web Syllabus

This section provides information for incoming exchange and double degree students under the departmental agreements*. If you are an incoming student under the University-wide agreements, please refer to the Center for International Education Website.
*Depending on the partner university, Waseda University may have different types of bilateral exchange agreements. If you do not know which agreements you are studying at Waseda, please contact the coordinator at your home university.

Eligibility

• If you are interested in our programs, please first contact the International Office of your home university/faculty to find out if your university has a bilateral exchange agreement with Waseda University.
• If your university does not have a bilateral exchange agreement with Waseda University, we regret that you will not be able to enter our school. For your information, fee-paying programs are available to students from non-partner institutions as follows, including courses taught in English.
  One-Year Program/Double Degree Program to Waseda – School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University

• Nomination Period

The period for receipt of your nomination by your home institution is as follows

After receiving the nomination form from your home university, the application guidelines will be sent to each applicant.

• Application Period

The period of application through our online application is as follows.

Please note that the necessary documents and period are subject to change.  For more details, please refer to our email and application guidelines which will be sent to each applicant.

• Application Documents
  The detailed information will be sent to nominated students.
  – Online Application Form
  – Academic transcript
  – Academic study plan
  – Letter of recommendation (Designated form)
  – Important Notice Regarding the Selection of Exchange Student

Under the Japanese immigration law, incoming international students are required to enter Japan with a “Student Visa”. To apply for a “Student Visa”, you will need a “Certificate of Eligibility (COE)”.
The School of Political Science and Economics will apply for your COE upon receipt of the required documents at the time of application for exchange programs, and will send you the COE directly by email once it has been issued by the Immigration Bureau of Japan (the email you receive is the COE itself). The detailed information will be sent to selected students.

List of Necessary Documents for “Certificate of Eligibility (COE)”

– Online COE application form

– Passport (the page with your picture and personal information)

-Bank balance certificate

-Written oath for defraying expense

-Certificate of Scholarship (if any)

-Color photograph

Once you have the COE, you will need to visit the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate with the necessary documents to obtain a “Student Visa”.
(Reference) Necessary documents: General visa: Student | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

“Student Visa” will normally be issued 5 working days from the day following the date of receipt of the application, provided that there is no particular problem with the content of application.
(Reference) Visa Processing Time | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Please also note that you are required to submit your Certificate of Eligibility to an immigration officer at the airport upon entering Japan.

Please visit STUDY in Japan, a government-approved information site, as a reference.
Living Costs and Expenses｜Study in Japan Official Website

Waseda University does not allow exchange students to leave Waseda during the semester or to request their grades or certificates earlier than the specified dates, so please check the academic calendar to ensure that it does not conflict with your plans.

Please refer to the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program.

Once your application has been accepted, you will be able to apply for accommodation. For details, please refer to Student Affairs Section, Student Dormitory Desk, Waseda University

Please note that building No. 3, where most of the SPSE lectures are held, is located on the Waseda campus.
If you wish to arrange your own accommodation, such as a shared flat or apartment, you should gather information carefully.

Please visit the website of the Center for International Education (CIE) for pre-departure and arrival information.

Other necessary procedures

• Complete Initial Setup of “MyWaseda” (mandatory)
  “MyWaseda” is the Waseda University’s online porrtal site. Important procedures are all done through this site. For example, e-mail communication, course registration, grade confirmation, address and bank account registration, etc. You will receive an email with your initial Waseda ID, password to set up MyWaseda and procedures as follows, so please complete the process along with the email.

  April entry	End of March
  September entry	Early September

• Join SPSE Academic Orientation (mandatory)
  Please attend the SPSE Academic Orientation to learn about “Student Life at Waseda”, “How to Use MyWaseda”, “Course Registration”, “Other Facilities” and other useful information. Details will be sent to successful applicants by email in advance.
• Receive Student ID Card
  Please pick up your student ID card and the address label for your student ID card at the SPSE Administration Office, located at 10F, Building No.3, Waseda Campus. Be sure to complete necessary procedures before coming to the office.

  April entry	After April 1
  September entry	After September 21

• Grade Announcements
  

  Spring semester grades	September 1st, 12:00 pm (noon) JST *If September 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Academic Results will be announced on the following weekday.
  Fall semester grades	March 1st, 12:00 pm (noon) JST *If March 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Academic Results will be announced on the following weekday.

• How to Check Results
  Go from the link “Grades & Course registration” on the bottom of the login page of MyWaseda (Waseda Portal System).

Please visit Academic Results and Graduation for more information on grades.

• The Timing of sending Official Transcripts to Your Home University
  
• Official transcripts will be sent to your home university at the end of your study abroad period.
  

  April entry	Semester programs: By October One-year programs: By May
  September entry	Semester programs: By May One-year programs: By October

  If you require your official transcript before the above period or an additional copy, please request it directly via the following link after the grades are announced (subject to a fee). We cannot accept requests from students who need their certificates before the grades are announced.

This is the signature request form for SPSE exchange students.

You can request the following documents to be signed:

• Learning Agreement (Request after your course registration for the term is finalized.)
  Document that lists the courses you attend during your exchange
• Certificate of Arrival/Departure
  Document that states the date of arrival or departure from Japan
• Other
  Specify details by yourself

If you need official certificates such as Transcript of Academic Record, Certificate of Enrollment, and Student Discount Certificate, you can apply for most types of certificates via the “Certificate Issuance (Online Application)” menu on MyWaseda. Please check the following website first to confirm details such as the types of certificates and how and where to apply for certificates.

Please feel free to contact the SPSE administrative office if you have any inquiries. 

For exchange programs: [email protected]

For double degree programs: [email protected]

Our Privacy Policy For Applicants, Students, and Alumni From Our Partner Universities In The European Economic Area and The United Kingdom With Student Exchange Agreements