Waseda University was founded in 1882 and has approximately 50,000 students. Throughout its history the university has been supported by three principles of learning, centered on Independence of Learning, and other ideas such as an enterprising spirit and an anti-elitist philosophy. Waseda continues to maintain these traditions while also continually engaging in the creation of new eras and culture through global standard education and research activities.
Waseda University is known around the world as one of the top universities in Japan. It has produced seven prime ministers so far, and its alumni are widely active in various fields, not only in Japan, but also on the world stage. Furthermore, under the principle that it’s founder Shigenobu Okuma advocated, harmonization of Eastern and Western Cultures,” Waseda University has proactively opened its doors to international students since its founding. Currently, 4,500 international students have enrolled from about 100 countries, which is the largest number among Japanese universities. Without a doubt, Waseda is the most internationalized university in Japan.
Interested in going on this program? Visit our Steps to Study Abroad website for more information: https://www.uccs.edu/educationabroad/get-started/steps-to-study-abroad
Have any further questions about this program? Take a look at our FAQ or contact us at international@uccs.edu.
Academics
Exchange students can choose from a wide range of courses taught in English across disciplines. Students can access the course lists through the following links. Please note that there are restrictions and requirements for taking courses in the different academic schools, which can be found in the first link below.
All Requirements and Restrictions for Exchange Students
Waseda University Approved Exchange Courses in English
The number of credits you can obtain by taking a course varies; it is, however, usually as follows:
A lecture-style course (90 minutes x 15 times): 2 credits
A Japanese language course (90 minutes x 15 times): 1 credits
Students should be expecting to take more courses than they would be here at UCCS. The amount of credit hours that students will receive at UCCS will be determined by individual student basis.
Academic Calendar
| Fall Semester |
Late September to Early February |
| Spring Semester |
Early April to Early August |
Exact start and end dates will vary year to year. Please reference the dates and deadlines link above to see exact dates.
Accommodation
After students have been successfully chosen as exchange students by Waseda University, Waseda will send them an accommodation questionnaire on which they can indicate their preferred housing option. Students can apply to live in a residence hall administered by the university located near campus. Some students also choose to live in apartments, which must be arranged independently. Students in the SILS One-Year Study Abroad Program also have the option of participating in a homestay. You can learn more by visiting Waseda's website at
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/rlc/en/student_dormitory/exchange/?.
Insurance
Every student going abroad through UCCS is required to obtain or show proof of a comprehensive international health insurance plan that includes emergency evacuation and repatriation. UCCS recommends a minimum coverage amount of $200,000.00. Please visit our insurance page for more information and to see the UCCS recommended international health insurance provider. Rates will vary depending on the student and the duration of stay.
Immigration and Visas
Procedures for obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility(COE) for residence in Japan (for exchange students)
Those who are not of Japanese nationality and have no status of residence are required to obtain a COE before coming to Japan. Since Waseda University will apply for your COE by proxy, you are required to prepare the necessary application documents, and make sure they are complete and error-free. Once you obtain your COE, you must submit it along with the other necessary documents to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate to have a visa stamped in your passport. When you arrive in Japan, you must present your visa and COE to the immigration officer to obtain permission to enter Japan with “student” resident status. To learn more about this process, visit their website at
https://www.waseda.jp/inst/cie/en/exchange/visa?.
Students are encouraged to research the country in which they are going. The Department of State provides overviews of country information at:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/japan.html?
Health and Safety
Health and safety are paramount to a successful experience studying abroad. We encourage students to research health and safety considerations of the destination in which they wish to go. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provide up to date and comprehensive information about health and safety abroad. Please visit the following links to find more information:
U.S. Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html
Centers for Disease Control: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
Costs and Tuition
UCCS students that have been accepted to study at Waseda as an exchange student will pay tuition and fees to UCCS for the appropriate number of credits (12-15) at their normal UCCS tuition rate. Students should expect to pay the following costs in country and out-of-pocket; airfare, housing, meals, books and supplies.
Financial Aid
Students are eligible to receive financial aid for this program as long as they maintain full-time status while abroad. Before departure students will need to receive pre-approval on all course work that they intend to take via their academic advisor or a faculty member through a study away form that can be obtained in the Global Engagement Office. Financial aid will not be released early for education abroad purposes. For specific questions regarding financial aid, students should contact the UCCS financial aid office directly.
Scholarships
Students are eligible to continue to receive most scholarships and grants that they would receive normally during the semester as long as there are not stipulations that students need to be on-campus. Students should confirm this with their appropriate contact for the scholarship. Students wishing to apply for scholarships for study abroad should visit our scholarship website.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, officially Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan and one of its 47 prefectures. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world (over 38 million people). It is the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government. Tokyo is in the Kanto region on the southeastern side of the main island Honshu and includes the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands. Formerly known as Edo, it has been the de facto seat of government since 1603 when Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu made the city his headquarters. It officially became the capital after Emperor Meiji moved his seat to the city from the old capital of Kyoto in 1868; at that time Edo was renamed Tokyo. Tokyo Metropolis was formed in 1943 from the merger of the former Tokyo Prefecture and the city of Tokyo.
