- One of Japan's largest and highest ranked universities
- Has produced several Japanese Prime Ministers and other political, academic, and business figures
- 53 000+ students
- Exchange students are offered the Intensive Japanese Language Program and the One-year study abroad program at the School of International Liberal Studies
- Main campus is located in the Nishi-Waseda district of Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Shinjuku is filled with entertainment, business, and shopping activities
Visa + Requirements|Travel advice + advisories
Partner university’s areas of study
- This university is recommended for students looking to improve their Japanese
- Courses except Japanese language courses are conducted in English
- Elementary to pre-advanced Japanese language courses are also offered
Eligibility and Timing
Terms Offered
Who can go?
- Exchange students can take coursework in most areas of study, but is recommended for Asian Studies and Arts students
- Students must have a 75% cumulative average to apply
Term Dates
- Semester 1: Late September to Early February (UBC Fall Term)
- Semester 2: Early April to Early August (UBC Spring Term)
- When applying to Go Global, please select the UBC term(s) that you wish to be abroad
Timing
- Commerce: When applying to Go Global, UBC-V Commerce students must select 'Waseda University-COMM' on their Go Global application
- At the time of Go Global application deadline, if you will not have one full academic year complete by the following March (for fall entry), or November (for spring entry), Waseda will not consider your application
- SILS is only offered as a full year program if you begin in the fall. Students that wish to join the SILS program for a spring term entry may only complete 1 semester
Credits
Summer programs
Course equivalency formula
- For SILS track students, regular courses: Waseda credits x ¾ = UBC credits
- Japanese language courses (usually with LANJ course codes at the partner & offered by the Center for Japanese Language): Waseda credits x 1.5 x ¾ = UBC credits (or Waseda credits x 1.125 = UBC credits)
- For IJL track students: Waseda credits = UBC credits (1:1)
- upper year and graduate level science credit = 1:1
Credit transfer process
For more information about Go Global transfer credit
Passing grade
D=60Course Information
* Students who have special requirements or require academic accommodation should contact a Go Global advisor regarding their needs at least six weeks prior to the application deadline.
Type of Go Global Experiences
Course information and restrictions
- The One Year Study Abroad Program at the School of International Liberal Studies of Waseda University is aimed at undergraduate international students who take courses in the Japanese language and in Asian and Japanese Studies (most of the courses of this program deal with Japanese and Asian culture, history, society, politics, economy, geography, arts, and literature) - Waseda strongly recommends that stduents have completed at least one term of Japanese language study or the equivalent at the time of applying
- Please note that only intermediate and advanced Courses are available for one-year program students
- When selecting courses, ensure that they are available in the semester for which you are applying
- SILS Program: undergraduate program conducted in English
- Intensive Japanese Language Program: Largest Japanese language education center in Japan
Full course load information
- Normal courseload: 42 units per year
Transfer Credits And Equivalent Courses At This University
Check out the courses that previous students have transferred back to UBC in the last 5 years using our Course Search Tool. If you don't see a particular course you listed, it simply means you need to submit it as a new course request through the Transfer Credit Portal while on your Go Global experience. For more information, please visit the Go Global Transfer Credit webpage.
Exchange Tuition
- 15 credits or equivalent full-time program fee per term, paid to UBC
- Some exceptions may apply
Scholarships and awards
The Go Global Award $1000
All students accepted to Go Global for Exchange, Research Abroad, or Study Abroad travel programs are automatically considered for this award. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you'll be notified of your award after you're accepted to Go Global and after you get nominated to apply to the partner university.
Additional awards
Students who are eligible for awards may receive one UBC or UBC-affiliated international learning award. If you're eligible, you are always offered the highest-value award. Unless stated otherwise, you need to meet eligibility criteria set out by the University Senate regarding awards.
Check out international learning awards and eligibility.
- Students with outstanding academic performance may be nominated for the JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) scholarship
Information for US students:
If you attend an eligible institution, then you may receive Title IV federal student loans while on Exchange.
If you attend an ineligible institution:
- You will not be eligible for US federal student loans,
- You may invalidate any US student aid you have previously received for your studies at UBC,
- You may be required to immediately begin repaying your US student loans, and
- You may not be eligible for any future US student aid for the remainder of your studies at UBC.
Types of accommodation available
Housing notes
- Waseda University will arrange homestays for students participating in this program
- Since the students' homestay fee will be calculated on a day-to-day basis, they are required to pay the due amount from the day of their arrival in Japan
- Homestay fees include rent, breakfast, dinner, and heating costs
- Exchange students can apply for the accommodation after they are admitted to the university