Doctoral Program (English-based Degree Program)

This doctoral program is offered in English by Waseda University and is based in Saitama, Japan, running for three years with admission each April. Waseda University is internationally recognized as one of the top private universities in Japan, based in central Tokyo, though it also operates programs and facilities at other locations, including Saitama. 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 are active 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. Doctoral study in this program centers on independent research supervised by a faculty advisor, culminating in a dissertation, with candidates expected to submit a short essay as part of the application and admission process rather than sit for a formal interview. Programs of this kind typically combine research training, seminars, and the use of specialized laboratory or library resources appropriate to the candidate's field. Graduates of doctoral programs in this format commonly pursue academic careers, advanced research positions, or specialist roles in industry, policy, or government, drawing on the research experience and cross-cultural exposure gained through doctoral study in Japan.