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Gaining a Global Perspective for All Students
Integrated Report -Vision Report- 2023-2024
Tue 15 Jul 25
Integrated Report -Vision Report- 2023-2024
Tue 15 Jul 25
Waseda University’s academic research and education contribute to humanity. A wide range of activities at Waseda contribute to this, including advanced, original research that impacts the world and university-wide educational activities that transcend the boundaries of the humanities and sciences, alongside the day-to-day challenges undertaken by students both on and off the campus. Below there is information on some of the activities and outcomes that have a particularly significant social impact.
(This article is reprinted from: Integrated Report – Vision Report – 2023-2024)
Studying Abroad at Yale University
―Tatsuhiro Shimizu, School of Political Science and Economics (graduate)
Tatsuhiro Shimizu (center)
School of Political Science and Economics (graduate)
I was raised by a single mother, and despite our economic limitations, I studied overseas at Yale University in the US while I was enrolled in the School of Political Science and Economics. Studying abroad costs a lot of money, but by receiving the Glory of Waseda (Waseda-no-Eiko) Scholarship, I was able to concentrate on my studies and research, without worrying about finances. Conducting joint research in the United States with professors who have been active globally was a valuable experience for when I conduct specialized research in graduate school in the future.
After graduating from undergraduate school, I am planning to go on to graduate school at Yale University, to undertake studies and research in statistics with the support of the NSK Scholarship Foundation. Scholarship systems provide opportunities even for students from households that are struggling financially to demonstrate their full potential and realize their dreams. In the future, I would like to use the knowledge that I have cultivated regarding causal inference and machine learning to work in the optimization of decision-making in business, medicine, education, and policy.
At some point, I would also like to support some scholarship systems and encourage the students who come after me to follow their dreams.
Towards all students studying abroad
As part of its efforts to foster global citizens, Waseda University, which has established a global network with 848 universities and institutions in 91 countries and regions around the world, is working towards sending all its students abroad by giving undergraduate students who have never lived overseas an opportunity study abroad at least once by the time they graduate. The University offers programs such as degree acquisition, studies in fields of specialization, and overseas language studies, in line with the student’s wishes and the requirements of the school in which they are enrolled.
In AY 2023, 1,388 students studied abroad for a period between three weeks and two years, and a total of 3,523 students had the opportunity to experience different cultures through different opportunities such as internships, volunteering, and interactions at seminars. We are developing new programs that adjust to students’ needs, so that more students can have the opportunity to study abroad.
Diverse Programs
◆Student exchange programs
◆Customized study programs
◆Double degree programs
◆Short-term study abroad programs
Financial aid for studying abroad
◆The Glory of Waseda (Waseda-no-Eiko) Scholarship
◆Fly High to the Sky of the World (Habatake Sekaino Sora)
◆Alumni Association Study Abroad Scholarship
◆Waseda University Student Exchange Scholarship
Amount: JPY 250,000-2,000,000/yr.
*Aside from the above, students can also apply for other Waseda scholarships, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) scholarships, and scholarships from outside foundations.
Creating an environment where you can study abroad regardless of economic limitations
In recent years, the cost of studying abroad has skyrocketed due to the effects of inflation and the weakened yen. Economic assistance is a critical issue in terms of achieving our goal of sending all students to study abroad. For example, in the US, a student would need to prepare JPY 2–3 million per year for expenses outside of tuition fees. Depending on the program, the student may be required to pay tuition at the overseas university, and in the case of one American partner university, tuition fees have increased by 58% over the past five years (2018–2023).
In programs offered in AY 2023, only one in three students (about 480) were able to receive a scholarship for studying abroad. About 60% of these were provided under national study abroad support systems and from outside foundations. The current limitations on the number of scholarships provided could potentially give rise to a disparity in study abroad opportunities resulting from economic limitations. For this reason, enhancing scholarship systems for Waseda students is essential to correcting this disparity and achieving this goal.
Currently, Waseda University is working to increase the number of donors and supporters in order to secure financial resources required to enhance scholarship systems. At the same time, we will increase new activities by strengthening PR activities and creating opportunities for direct interaction between supporters and students who have received scholarships and more in order to build study abroad environments that are not influenced by economic conditions.
Integrated Report – Vision Report – 2023-2024
