How to get admitted as MA students to Waseda University
This time I would like to share an information about how to enter Waseda University as an MA student. Each campus has different procedure, even within Waseda. The procedure here is only for Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSAPS). The entrance procedure for international students in GSAPS is rather simple, you just need to complete the required documents and write some essays without the need to come to Japan for an entrance examination.
Okuma Memorial Hall
But before applying, first of all, we have to secure our finance - like it or not.
Waseda University is a private university which means the tuition fee is far more expensive compare to the public ones. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan alongside Keio University which happens to be Waseda’s number one rival in providing competence graduates for the working field. It’s rivalry between private universities so Tokyo University doesn’t count.
What to do to secure your finance? The best way is by winning the scholarship. Some international students work part time to afford the living, but Tokyo is so expensive and I think working part time isn’t that enough to support your living here (it’s my personal opinion, some people are okay only by working part time).
Unless your parents are super rich, it’s really huge burden to study here. You must have at least two million yen for two years in order to pay the tuition and to live in Tokyo. Since I am so poor, I have no other choice than winning scholarship. There are many kinds of scholarship you can win, one of them is MEXT program by Japanese government. However, I didn’t apply for that, instead I won scholarship from my own country (Indonesia, the one which hosted Asian Games recently). My scholarship is provided by the government with endowment and anybody as long as you are Indonesian citizens can apply.
GSAPS campus, building number 19
Once your finance is secure, you can start looking for the right university to study. My choice falls to Waseda University with a few considerations: it’s located in Tokyo, it’s one of the best universities, it has Asia Pacific Studies program which fit my job and it’s Haruki Murakami’s alma mater.
GSAPS hold two admissions period in a year; April and September. What to do in order to enter?
If you happen to be MEXT scholarship awardee, there is a special entrance procedure for you to follow.
Unlike many universities in Australia or Europe, Waseda University doesn’t receive any scanned documents, so you have to mail the documents to them via post (including your original graduation certificate). In my case, I sent everything to the admission office around October 2017.
Once you’re done with the application, wait for the announcement of successful candidate which will be out around November.
I think it is more convenience for international students, since Waseda University doesn’t require any interviews or entrance exam in Japan. All you have to do is sending the documents and when they found you’re an eligible candidate, they will admit you as students.
me with Waseda Bear
my first day at Waseda University in March 2018
Okuma Memorial Hall
But before applying, first of all, we have to secure our finance - like it or not.
Waseda University is a private university which means the tuition fee is far more expensive compare to the public ones. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan alongside Keio University which happens to be Waseda’s number one rival in providing competence graduates for the working field. It’s rivalry between private universities so Tokyo University doesn’t count.
What to do to secure your finance? The best way is by winning the scholarship. Some international students work part time to afford the living, but Tokyo is so expensive and I think working part time isn’t that enough to support your living here (it’s my personal opinion, some people are okay only by working part time).
Unless your parents are super rich, it’s really huge burden to study here. You must have at least two million yen for two years in order to pay the tuition and to live in Tokyo. Since I am so poor, I have no other choice than winning scholarship. There are many kinds of scholarship you can win, one of them is MEXT program by Japanese government. However, I didn’t apply for that, instead I won scholarship from my own country (Indonesia, the one which hosted Asian Games recently). My scholarship is provided by the government with endowment and anybody as long as you are Indonesian citizens can apply.
GSAPS campus, building number 19
Once your finance is secure, you can start looking for the right university to study. My choice falls to Waseda University with a few considerations: it’s located in Tokyo, it’s one of the best universities, it has Asia Pacific Studies program which fit my job and it’s Haruki Murakami’s alma mater.
GSAPS hold two admissions period in a year; April and September. What to do in order to enter?
- First, get an IELTS certificate with minimum band score of 6 (or TOEIC or TOEFL with international standardization.
- Get your graduation certificate ready (in English if your home country doesn’t use English, you have to translate them first),
- Two recommendation letters (one from your Professor at your previous university and one can be your supervisor at the office). Since I’m already working, I got one from my boss.
- Write good essays.
If you happen to be MEXT scholarship awardee, there is a special entrance procedure for you to follow.
Unlike many universities in Australia or Europe, Waseda University doesn’t receive any scanned documents, so you have to mail the documents to them via post (including your original graduation certificate). In my case, I sent everything to the admission office around October 2017.
Once you’re done with the application, wait for the announcement of successful candidate which will be out around November.
I think it is more convenience for international students, since Waseda University doesn’t require any interviews or entrance exam in Japan. All you have to do is sending the documents and when they found you’re an eligible candidate, they will admit you as students.
me with Waseda Bear
my first day at Waseda University in March 2018