Waseda University

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About Waseda University

Waseda was founded on 21 October 1882 as the Tōkyō Professional School (Tōkyō Senmon Gakkō) by Ōkuma Shigenobu, a former prime minister of Japan, and took the name Waseda University in 1902.^[2] It is a private research university in Shinjuku, Tokyo.^[2]

The university reports about 45,000 undergraduates and about 9,000 graduate students, and says the number of foreign students has grown in recent years.^[1] The Center for International Education counts 6,137 international students on 1 November 2025: 2,208 undergraduates, 3,327 graduate students and 602 in other categories such as the one-year SILS programme. Students from China are the largest group (3,267, or 53%).^[3] The count excludes permanent residents and similar residence statuses, so other counting rules give other totals.^[3]

How is Waseda University ranked?

Waseda reports that in the QS World University Rankings 2027, announced on 18 June 2026, it is 201st among the 1,504 universities ranked, in the top 13.3% and first among Japan’s private universities. Its best indicator is employer reputation, where it is 38th in the world.^[4]

In the top-15 table that Hiroshima University published for Japan, Waseda is shown at =201 (ninth in Japan) just ahead of Keio University at =213, the equals sign marking ties.^[10] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Waseda University?

Waseda offers English-based degree programmes at six undergraduate schools. Classes toward the degree are taught in English and Japanese is not required to apply.^[6] Admission quotas published in the university’s FAQ:^[9]

Waseda gives the acceptance rate of its English-based degrees as roughly 20% to 45%, depending on year and school.^[9]

The Japanese-taught route (the entrance examination for international students) covers schools including Political Science and Economics, Law, Commerce, Education, Social Sciences, Human Sciences, Sports Sciences and the science and engineering schools, with enrolment in April.^[7] Waseda also has English-based graduate degrees in 15 graduate schools.^[8]

How much does Waseda University cost in AY 2026?

1. Political Science and Economics

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,081,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,288,000

2. Social Sciences

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,051,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,256,800

3. International Liberal Studies

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,490,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,693,000

4. Culture, Media and Society

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,091,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,295,000

5. Fundamental Science and Engineering

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,584,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,859,000

6. Creative Science and Engineering

   Admission fee

   ¥200,000

   Tuition per year

   ¥1,584,000

   First-year total

   ¥1,889,000 to ¥1,891,000

These figures come from Waseda’s AY 2026 table for the English-based undergraduate degrees. The first-year total adds the admission fee, tuition and school expenses (laboratory or seminar fee, library fee, faculty entrance fee and association fees). Waseda notes that the laboratory, seminar, library and association fees for AY 2026 were still undecided, so the table uses AY 2025 amounts for them. A ¥40,000 alumni association fee is due in the second semester of the fourth year, and some courses charge extra exercise fees. The table also lists totals for years two to four; see the PDF.^[5]

The university FAQ gives a general range of roughly ¥1.2 to ¥1.8 million per year, depending on school.^[9] Tuition is paid twice a year, and new students pay the admission fee and the first semester’s tuition when they complete enrolment.^[6]

Scholarships

Waseda offers merit-based pre-enrolment scholarships to successful applicants and a wide range of scholarships after enrolment; about one in four international students receive one. Every scholarship is screened, so you may receive none, and the university advises a firm financial plan.^[6] The FAQ counts about 20 types of Waseda-funded scholarships and about 100 from external organisations, all Waseda-funded awards being outright grants.^[6] For rent and living costs in Tokyo, see our Japan guide and the Study in Japan guide.

How do you apply to Waseda University?

The route depends on the language of the programme.

• English-based degrees: apply to the school you choose. Selection is by document screening and, where applicable, online interviews, so you do not have to travel to Japan. Required documents usually include standardised test scores, English proficiency scores, transcripts, a graduation certificate and a statement of purpose.^[9] Waseda accepts many kinds of standardised test (SAT, ACT, IB, A-Level, Gaokao, Abitur and others) and sets no minimum standardised score or GPA.^[6][9] Each school publishes its own application guide, for September entry at the end of September of the year before, and SILS publishes its April-entry guide at the end of June.^[9]
• Japanese-based degrees: the entrance examination for international students is announced in Japanese in the application guideline, and in-person tests or interviews may be required.^[7][9]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by school. Check the current guide of your school on Waseda’s English-based programme page before you start.^[6]

Which language level do you need?

For the English-based degrees, Japanese is not required at the time of application, and students who know Japanese may also take classes taught in Japanese. The Center for Japanese Language offers Japanese courses.^[9]

Only the School of Culture, Media and Society (JCulP) sets a minimum score for the English proficiency test; the other schools set none. Tests taken at home, such as TOEFL Home Edition, are not accepted.^[9] Check your school’s guide for the accepted tests.

The Japanese-based programmes require high Japanese proficiency, because applicants must read the guidelines and take the examinations in Japanese.^[7] The pages we read do not state a JLPT level or EJU score, so check the Japanese-language guideline.

More about studying in Japan

• Japan: best universities
• Study in Japan: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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