Master's Program (English-based Degree Program)

Waseda University's Master's Program at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) is an English-based degree completed over two years, with entry available in April or September, based at the university's Tokyo campus. The program sits within a private university enrolling more than 47,000 students across 13 undergraduate and 20 graduate schools, making Waseda the second largest university in Japan. Master's-level study in Asia-Pacific studies typically covers international relations, comparative politics, economics, and regional area studies, combining coursework with a research thesis. Students often examine topics such as regional trade and economic integration, security cooperation, development policy, and governance across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, working with faculty who specialize in the region. A program structured this way usually pairs core seminars with electives, allowing students to build both broad regional knowledge and a focused research specialization before completing a thesis under faculty supervision. Graduates of Asia-Pacific studies master's programs commonly move into careers in government foreign affairs and trade departments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, journalism, consulting, and the private sector in roles connected to regional business or policy. The degree also serves as preparation for doctoral study for those planning an academic research career. Being based in Tokyo gives students access to Japanese ministries, embassies, and a concentration of Asia-focused research institutes and international organizations, useful for internships, fieldwork, and networking during the degree. Because the program permits English-medium screening and thesis writing, and does not require an interview, it offers a more document-based application route for international students who want to study the Asia-Pacific region from Japan without Japanese-language coursework.