Graduate School of Social SciencesWaseda University

Screening Schedule and Overview of English-taught Degree Program (September 2025 AO Admission)

The Graduate School of Social Sciences conducts “AO admission” screening method for those who seek to earn degree (MA, D.Phil.) by receiving supervision in English and taking the English-taught courses. The AO admission does not require applicants to have the Japanese language proficiency and admits students through the document screening and interview. For more detail, please download the application guidelines below.

*The admission period of the AO admission is September only.

Application Guidelines and Forms of Application Materials for English-taught Degree Program (September 2025 AO Admission)

The application process is to be completed via the online application system, “The Admissions Office (TAO)”. Please read the application guidelines carefully and prepare for the documents that need to be uploaded before starting the online application.

<Steps for Application>

*Create a new account on TAO.
*Download the designated forms for September 2025 admission. Please do not make any changes on the format of the designated forms.
*Prepare certificates, academic transcripts and research plan etc.
*Start online entry on TAO. The online entry will be available from 10:00am February 6, 2025.
*Complete online application by the application deadline. Note that incomplete applications on the application deadline will not be accepted. Incomplete applications include account-created but unfinished applications. Make sure that you have clicked the Submit button.

Start your application from here.

•  [Application Closed]1 Application Guidelines 2025 (PDF)
• 2-A 2025 Curriculum Vitae (WORD)
• 2-B 2025 Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
• 3-A 2025 Research Plan (WORD)
• 3-B 2025 Research Plan (PDF)
• 4-A 2025 Reason for Application(WORD)
• 4-B 2025 Reason for Application(PDF)
• 5 [Template] Certificate of Expected Graduation
• 6 [Instruction] Instruction for the Recommender

AO  Admissions Data

【Master’s Program】

【Doctoral Program】

【Master’s Program】Screening Schedule for Admission by Internal Recommendation for Waseda University Undergraduate Students (September 2025 Entry)

The Graduate School of Social Sciences conducts “Admission by Internal Recommendation“ for  Waseda University undergraduate students who are enrolled at Waseda University as a regular student and are expected to graduate from their respective undergraduate school by September 20, 2025. This admission process does not require applicants to have Japanese language proficiency and admits students through a document screening and interview to an English-taught Master’s program.

※The Graduate School of Social Sciences has decided to add the applicant qualifications
(eligibility criteria) for the Admission by Internal Recommendation for the Master’s program
from September 2028.　Please check here for further details.

【Doctoral Program】Screening Schedule for Internal Recommendation-based  Admissions Program for Master’s Students at GSSS (September 2025 Entry)

The Graduate School of Social Sciences conducts “Internal Recommendation-based Admissions Program” for Master’s students enrolled in GSSS who plan to continue their research at this school and wish to earn a doctoral degree. Applicants who receive a letter of recommendation from their academic advisers and wish to study in the same research field in the doctoral program are eligible to apply for this admission program. Application fees will be waived for this admission program.

The online system is not used for the recommendation-based applications. Please download and fill out the application form and submit it to the office with the other required documents.

Master’s Program

【Master’s Program】Application Guidelines and Forms of Application Materials for Admission by Internal Recommendation for Waseda University Undergraduate Students (September 2025 Entry)

For more detail, please download the application guidelines below.

• [NEW!]1 Application Guideline 2025 (PDF)
• 2-A Application Form 2025 (PDF）
• 2-B Application Form 2025 (Word)
• 3-A Research Plan 2025 (PDF)
• 3-B Research Plan 2025 (Word)
• 4-A Letter of Recommendation 2025 (PDF)
• 4-B Letter of Recommendation 2025 (Word)
• Students of the School of Social Sciences who wish to apply for
  Shigeru Hasegawa Scholarship need to submit the prescribed form.
  Check the application guideline and contact the GSSS admissions office to obtain the form.

Doctoral Program

【Doctoral Program】Application Guidelines and Forms of Application Materials for Internal Recommendation-based  Admissions Program for Master’s Students at GSSS (September 2025 Entry)

For more detail, please download the application guidelines below.

• [NEW!]1 Application Guideline 2025 (PDF)
• 2-A Application Form 2025 (PDF)
• 2-B Application Form 2025 (Word)
• 3-A Research Plan 2025 (PDF)
• 3-B Research Plan 2025 (Word)
• 4-A Letter of Recommendation 2025 (PDF)
• 4-B Letter of Recommendation 2025 (Word)