Waseda Business School One-Year MBA: Fast-Track Your Career in Tokyo in Just 12 Months

Looking for an MBA that compresses two years of knowledge, networking, and career momentum into a single whirlwind of learning? Waseda Business School’s One-Year MBA does just that—delivering Japan’s premier private-university business education in twelve months on its vibrant Tokyo campus. Below, we unpack why this 1-Year Master’s Program is an express lane to leadership for globally minded professionals.

What Makes Waseda’s One-Year MBA Unique

This accelerated track is intentionally capped at about twenty students, creating a close-knit cohort and deep, discussion-driven classes. Delivered primarily in Japanese—with optional English electives—it targets professionals who already command the language (JLPT N2+) and want to broaden their reach in Asia’s largest mature economy while enhancing bilingual business fluency.

Why just 12 months?

A four-quarter calendar (April ➜ March) maintains over 600 contact hours—matching AACSB norms—while saving a full year of opportunity cost versus two-year MBAs. That equates to faster post-MBA earnings and an earlier career rebound.

Small cohort, big access

With only twenty seats, professors can tailor content to student goals—be that launching a start-up, entering consulting, or pivoting into tech. You’ll join seminars held in Japanese corporations’ boardrooms and work on live cases sourced from the school’s 300+ company partners.

Snapshot	Details (AY 2026)
Length	12 months (Apr ➜ Mar)
Language	Japanese core, optional English electives
Cohort Size	≈ 20 students
Tuition	¥1,765,000 + ¥300,000 entrance fee
Scholarships	Up to 50 % of tuition

Admissions: Roadmap to April Enrollment

Eligibility & Documentation

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, three or more years of full-time work, and proof of Japanese—normally JLPT N2. GMAT/GRE is optional but helpful. Required uploads: résumé, two references, transcripts, JLPT certificate, and four short essays.

Key dates & fees

Applications open late August; the final deadline is the first week of October. Interviews follow in November with offers released mid-December. A ¥30,000 screening fee is due on submission. For the latest calendar, see the Admissions page.

Curriculum & Classroom Experience

Quarter 1 – Core Foundation

April-to-July covers Accounting, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior through Japanese and global cases—from Toyota’s hydrogen play to Sony’s brand revival.

Quarters 2-3 – Electives & Fieldwork

August-to-December you build a custom path: Digital Transformation, ESG Investing, Entrepreneurial Finance, or a study tour of regional SMEs. Bilingual students may join English electives alongside International MBA peers, doubling their network.

Quarter 4 – Capstone Project

January-to-March you tackle a supervised project. Topics have ranged from launching a carbon-credit marketplace to digitizing a 100-year-old kimono brand. Many evolve into job offers.

Career Impact & Tokyo Advantage

Career Management Center

The Career Management Center runs résumé reviews, mock interviews, and 100+ on-campus recruiting events yearly. Graduates land at Amazon, Deloitte, SoftBank, Toyota, Capgemini, and fast-growing start-ups—often within 90 days.

Tokyo – A Global Business Hub

Tokyo ranks #2 in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 and hosts 29 Fortune Global 500 HQs. A 2024 Reuters feature highlights how WBS students leverage proximity for strategic consulting projects, internships, and full-time roles in finance, tech, and consumer goods.

Financing Your Studies & Living in Tokyo

Scholarships & Waivers

About half the cohort receives merit- or need-based aid covering up to 50 % of tuition. External options—like the JASSO Honors Scholarship (¥48,000/month)—become available after arrival. See full details on the Scholarships page.

Living Costs & Part-Time Work

Annual living costs run ¥1,000,000–¥1,200,000 (Living in Tokyo). Student-visa holders may work up to 28 hours per week; on-campus research assistantships pay ¥1,200–¥1,800 an hour.

Graduate in one year, tap into Waseda’s 680,000-strong alumni network, and launch your career in one of the world’s most dynamic business ecosystems—your ROI begins the moment you land at Haneda.