Waseda University Guide for International Students: Admissions, English Programs, Scholarships, Campus Life & Careers

Thinking about studying in Japan? Waseda University is one of the country’s most global and academically diverse institutions, with a long tradition of free inquiry and practical innovation. This guide walks you through Waseda’s mission and history, campuses, standout programs, international student support, climate and lifestyle, and career outcomes—complete with verified sources in English and embedded campus maps. Whether you’re shortlisting schools or preparing a full application, use this page to get a reliable, up-to-date snapshot of what life and learning at Waseda look like.

Quick Facts (At a Glance)

Key data points international applicants ask about most often. Totals and ratios reflect the latest public English sources at time of writing. For fuller context, see Waseda’s official Facts 2024 and Waseda’s profile on Times Higher Education.

Type	Private (Tokyo)
Total Students	≈45,000 (THE key stats)
Campuses (Main)	Waseda (Shinjuku), Nishi-Waseda, Toyama, Tokorozawa (Saitama), Honjo (Saitama)
Faculties / Undergraduate Schools	School of Political Science and Economics; School of Law; School of Education; School of Commerce; School of Fundamental Science and Engineering; School of Creative Science and Engineering; School of Advanced Science and Engineering; School of Social Sciences; School of Human Sciences; School of Sport Sciences; School of International Liberal Studies (SILS); School of Culture, Media and Society; School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Undergraduate listings)
Graduate Schools	23 graduate/professional schools spanning humanities, social sciences, business/finance, science & engineering, law, education, etc. (Graduate listings)
Frais de scolarité	Varies by school and program (typical undergraduate tuition bands around ¥1,200,000–¥1,700,000 per year; program pages for exact figures). See Facts 2024 (fees overview).
Gender Ratio	≈39% female : 61% male (THE)
International-Student %	≈12% (THE)
Students per Staff	≈14.3 : 1 (THE)

Campus Maps

Waseda Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Address: 1-104 Totsukamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan

Nishi-Waseda Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Address: 3-4-1 Ookubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan

Toyama Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Address: 1-24-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8644, Japan

Tokorozawa Campus (Saitama)

Address: 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 359-1192, Japan

Honjo Campus (Saitama)

Address: 239-3 Kurisaki, Honjo City, Saitama 367-0032, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Waseda’s founding spirit is summed up in three principles—Independence of Learning, Practical Utilization of Knowledgeet Fostering Good Citizens—set out by founder Ōkuma Shigenobu in 1882. These ideas still anchor the university’s modern strategy and internationalization push. For an official overview, see Waseda’s mission statement (Mission) and concise institutional history (History). Waseda’s long-range plan, Waseda Vision 150, weaves those principles into concrete goals for global education and research (Vision 150).

The result is a campus culture that prizes both academic excellence and societal impact. You can literally feel that in the built environment: libraries and museums are interwoven into daily student life (Libraries & Museums). A striking example is the Waseda International House of Literature—better known as the Haruki Murakami Library—designed by Kengo Kuma and opened in 2021, which functions as a research and cultural exchange hub (Murakami Library opening).

Academically, Waseda has grown into 13 undergraduate schools and 23 graduate/professional schools spanning the humanities, social sciences, business, and STEM. That breadth makes cross-disciplinary paths possible (for example, data-driven social science or human-centered robotics) and helps explain why Waseda consistently shows up in global rankings and employer reputation metrics (THE profile).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

A Historic—and Ongoing—Robotics Tradition

From the pioneering WABOT projects in the 1970s to today’s Future Robotics Organization (FRO), Waseda is synonymous with human-centric robotics research. A university feature traces the lineage from early humanoids to medical, disaster-response, and social robots (Robotics at Waseda; FRO feature). FRO now coordinates research clusters including AI & Robotics and Space Exploration Robotics (FRO; AI & Robotics; Space Exploration Robotics). For a recent English digest of Waseda’s humanoid lineage and outreach, see a 2025 news post from the Comprehensive Research Organization (CRO robotics article).

Global Liberal Arts and English-Medium Options

Waseda offers a mix of Japanese- and English-medium programs, including the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) and multiple English-taught graduate degrees. The official school/graduate listings let you filter by English availability (Premier cycle; Graduate).

Flagship Undergraduate Schools to Know

School of Political Science and Economics (SPSE). A flagship for social-science study with three English-based B.A. tracks—Political Science, Economics, and Global Political Economy—plus writing-intensive seminars and quantitative training. See the English-based Degree Program details here: SPSE EDP / SPSE (overview).

Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE). Waseda’s engineering trio—Fundamental, Creative, and Advanced Science & Engineering—centers on Nishi-Waseda Campus and offers multiple English-based undergraduate majors (launched in 2010) alongside renowned robotics/AI research hubs. Program outline: English-based Undergraduate Program in Science & Engineering.

School of International Liberal Studies (SILS). An all-English liberal-arts program with small seminars, flexible cross-disciplinary study, and a strong study-abroad culture (English is the common language on campus). Learn more: SILS overview / SILS curriculum.

School of Social Sciences (TAISI Program). The English-based TAISI (Transnational and Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Innovation) B.A. focuses on fieldwork and problem-solving across four social-innovation fields—ideal if you want hands-on impact work. Details: TAISI (official).

School of Commerce. One of Waseda’s oldest undergraduate pillars, bridging economics, management, accounting, and industry ties; many students later progress to graduate studies at Waseda Business School. Faculty hub (English): Faculty of Commerce (hub).

School/Faculty of Sport Sciences. Based at Tokorozawa Campus, this flagship integrates sport performance science, health, and policy—backed by dedicated institutes and elite athletics. English portal: Faculty of Sport Sciences.

Business & Finance Education with Employer Recognition

Waseda Business School (Graduate School of Business and Finance) holds international accreditations and offers an English-based MSc in Finance. For the newest brochure and degree details, consult the 2025 PDF (MSc in Finance 2025 brochure) and the program overview (Program page). Waseda’s broader reputation with employers is reflected in QS: the university placed 37th worldwide for Employer Reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2026 news release (QS 2026 (Waseda news)).

Libraries, Museums & the Murakami Library

Beyond coursework, Waseda’s museums and libraries enrich everyday learning. Start with the central directory (Libraries & Museums) and the Murakami Library press preview (Opening news).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

Student “circles” (clubs) actively recruit new members each spring and fall, and many circles welcome international students. See features on clubs popular with international students and circle fairs to get a feel for the scene (Popular clubs; Circle fair).

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

Visa/Status of Residence: Procedures and instructions for student status are maintained by the Center for International Education; the dedicated English site is here (Visa, Status of Residence). Housing: Check the Student Affairs Section (Residence Life) for dorm options including WISH and others (Residence Life (Student Dormitories)). Well-being & Inclusion: The Student Diversity Center and related offices support a safe, inclusive environment (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion).

Language-Exchange & Buddy Programs

The Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) runs language and culture exchange activities, student-led events, and seasonal programs—great venues to meet friends across majors and languages (What’s ICC?; ICC events).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Waseda’s International Office maintains a wide global network for exchanges, double degrees, and research collaborations. Explore the official English overview pages for partners, consortia, and overseas bases to understand the breadth of opportunities (International Exchange; Overseas Bases).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Tokyo’s climate brings warm, humid summers and cool, dry winters. For objective monthly normals (1991–2020) published in English by Japan Meteorological Agency, see the official tables and visuals (JMA Climatological Normals). Daily life near Waseda Campus is urban but student-friendly—libraries/museums on site, quick access to Shinjuku and central Tokyo, and plenty of budget eateries. Dorms and affiliated housing reduce the stress of apartment hunting (Residence Life), and ICC activities make it easy to connect (ICC).

International Student Statistics

Waseda regularly enrolls one of Japan’s largest cohorts of international students (8,000± in recent years across 100+ countries). For breakdowns by program level, school, and region, consult the university’s English Facts booklet (Facts 2024 – students & int’l composition), as well as Waseda’s own news features highlighting internationalization (Waseda Brochure 2025 news).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Waseda’s large alumni network and location in central Tokyo translate into diverse job pathways—from Japanese multinationals and global finance/consulting to media, policy, tech, and NGOs. Employer recognition is consistently strong; in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, Waseda placed 37th worldwide for Employer Reputation (QS 2026 (Waseda news)). For finance-oriented careers, the English-medium MSc in Finance outlines outcomes, curriculum structure, and thesis requirements in its latest brochure (MSc in Finance 2025 brochure).