Doctoral Program (English-based Degree Program)

This doctoral program is a doctoral degree program at WASEDA University in Tokyo, Japan, delivered in English and lasting three years, with a start date of September or April. Waseda University is internationally recognized as one of the top private universities in Japan, based in central Tokyo. It is organized into 13 undergraduate schools and 20 graduate schools, enrolls over 47,000 students, and is the second-largest university in the country. The university has produced 8 prime ministers, and its alumni work across many fields in Japan and internationally. Guided by its founder's ethos of harmonizing Eastern and Western cultures, Waseda has welcomed international students since its founding and describes itself as the most global-friendly university in Japan, enrolling around 8,000 students from more than 120 countries and regions in the 2019 academic year. This doctoral program is delivered in English and takes three years to complete, with applicants able to begin in either September or April. Doctoral study at this level typically involves close supervision by a faculty advisor, coursework in research methods, and the completion of a dissertation based on original research, often supported by opportunities to present findings at academic conferences. Based in central Tokyo, doctoral candidates can draw on Waseda's research centers, library holdings, and ties to government, industry, and international academic institutions located in the capital. Graduates of doctoral programs in this format commonly move into university teaching and research positions, senior research roles in industry or government, or specialist policy work, building on the years of independent research and cross-cultural experience gained while studying in Japan. Applicants should confirm with the relevant department the specific research field, supervision arrangements, and coursework expectations tied to this doctoral program.