Waseda University | Japan

Fall: February 1
Fall/Winter: February 1
Fall/Winter/Spring: February 1
Spring: October 1

- 45 college credits minimum
- Completed at least two terms at home institution by the application deadline
- Able to read and write basic Katakana
- School of International Liberal Studies: Institutional GPA of 3.0 or above
- Center for Japanese Language: Institutional GPA of 2.75 or above

The School of International Liberal Studies program at Waseda University offers students the opportunity to improve their Japanese language ability while at the same time completing a range of English language-based coursework. Their wide variety of English language courses include Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Case Studies, International Trade Management, Japanese Literature after 1945, the Pacific in the 21^st Century World, Tokyo as Social and Cultural Space, and Vertebrate Paleontology.

Students usually complete 6 credits of intensive Japanese language study and choose an additional 8 credits of subject-based coursework.

Click here for a sample course list.

Students on the Center for Japanese Language program enroll in 13 or 14 credits of intensive language coursework, entirely taught in Japanese. This includes a 5-credit comprehensive Japanese course and 7 to 8 skills-based courses that are one credit each and focus on topics like using Japanese in specific contexts, pronunciation, conversational speaking, kanji practice, and reading popular culture materials. Coursework is available across a full spectrum of Japanese levels, from total beginner to highly advanced. If seats are available, students may also be able to enroll in one or two courses from other departments at Waseda.

To be eligible for Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies, students must meet the following mandatory requirements at the time of application:

• Institutional GPA of 3.00 or above.  No exceptions can be made to this requirement.
• Completed at least two terms at home institution by the application deadline.

For the Center for Japanese Language, students must meet the following requirements:

• Institutional GPA of 2.75 or above.
• Strong motivation to learn Japanese.

In addition, students must meet the following minimum requirement before departure:

• Able to read and write basic katakana
• 45 college credits minimum (at least sophomore standing)

Students must continue to make satisfactory academic progress throughout the application process and during their study abroad program, and otherwise comply with policies and procedures of the host university, the IE₃ Global Office of International Programs, and their home university International Programs Office.

If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, please consult with your home campus contact person before applying.

Students interested in applying for a department at Waseda University other than the School of International Liberal Studies or Center for Japanese Language should contact IE₃ Global before applying as requirements vary by department.

Students with at least one year of college-level Japanese typically participate in the homestay program. Accepted students will be asked to complete a homestay questionnaire that will be used to tentatively match them with a homestay family. Upon arrival in Tokyo, students will participate in a multi-day orientation at Waseda and spend the first few days at a hotel near the university. After staying at the hotel, students will meet their homestay family and begin living in a Japanese home.

Living with a family is a significant factor in helping students learn about and understand Japanese culture. The homestay offers a sympathetic environment for learning and testing new skills in intercultural interaction. A family is usually eager to learn about its new guest, and will extend a warm welcome and hospitality in order to put them at ease. Of course, there are many opportunities to make cultural “mistakes” in the homestay situation, but the consequences are usually less threatening than in an academic setting, and students are likely to learn from whatever mistakes they make. A Japanese family can provide the additional benefit of acting as an extremely accurate cultural informant, and demonstrate Japanese values, norms, and common language usage.

For students who do not wish to live in a homestay, cannot be accommodated by a homestay family, or do not have a sufficient level of Japanese, IE3 Global can assist in finding a suitable guesthouse or share house.

In addition to their homestay families, other participants and international students, IE₃ Global’s experienced on-site program associate, Marie Sato, is available year-round to support students and to help introduce them to Japan. Her office is located in the Oregon Japan Study Center at Waseda University and she conducts an orientation for students, matches participants with homestay families, acts as a liaison between students and the university, helps students navigate cultural differences, and can make other arrangements for students such as meetings with a professional counselor the university.

About Program Associate, Marie Sato

Marie grew up in Tokyo, Japan and went to school at Heidelberg College in Ohio and at Eastern Connecticut State University where she graduated with a degree in Sociology. She needed to study at a small college environment and both colleges she went were the perfect fit to study in the small class and make friends. She studied micro level Sociology and the role of institution in Society. Her study abroad experience in the U.S. was one of the most　influential factors in her decision to work for the IE₃ Global Program in Japan. She loved her experience studying in the United States and living with American friends, and decided she wanted to help other students feel the same way about her country. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping and skiing with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys cooking many different types of foods and sweets.

IE₃ Global seeks to make its exchange programs affordable and accessible. For detailed information regarding the program budget (both the program fee and an estimate of personal expenses), please click on the following:

• Waseda - Fall/Winter
• Waseda - Spring
• Waseda - Year

The program fee includes academic and administrative fees, room and board, orientation expenses, on-site support, and health and accident insurance. The program fee does not include airfare, campus-based fees and personal expenses such as recreational travel, local transportation outside of the homestay-to-campus commute, textbooks, laundry, personal supplies, and incidental expenses.

Blog Post:

• Read about Michiko's study abroad experience: Hello From Japan
• Read about Tyler's study abroad experience: Humidity and Public Transportation

Quotes:

“Waseda has so many clubs and circles that people can join. Most of them are very welcoming to international students even if your Japanese is poor. I joined the trampoline club and was the only foreign student in the club. Everyone spoke Japanese so my listening improved a lot, also I had a lot of fun doing trampoline, even as a beginner.”

-Student evaluation, 2014