Doctoral Program General Admissions (English-based Degree Program)

This doctoral program, offered under Waseda University's General Admissions track for its English-based degree programs, runs for three years with intakes available in April and September, and is based in Tokyo. 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 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. Applicants to this doctoral track may submit a score from TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, IELTS, GMAT, or GRE, though TOEIC IP scores are not accepted, reflecting an emphasis on standardized, proctored testing. Doctoral study of this kind centers on independent research supervised by a faculty advisor, supported by coursework in research methods and culminating in a dissertation, with candidates also required to attend an interview that includes an oral examination and presentation. Based in central Tokyo, doctoral candidates can draw on Waseda's research centers and connections with government, industry, and international institutions across the capital. Graduates commonly move into academic, research, or specialist policy and industry roles that build on their doctoral training.