Waseda University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most Waseda scholarships for international students are designed for on-campus, degree-seeking students (typically those holding a “Student” visa), so fully online learners outside Japan often won’t fit the standard eligibility rules.

Both. Waseda has multiple English-taught degree options (including English-based undergraduate programs) and also many Japanese-taught programs; the language depends on the school/graduate school and track. In the recipient stories, Zain Ashfaq says his master’s was “fully conducted in English,” while Agnese Dionisio says her program was “mainly in English,” with “some courses” using Japanese too.

It depends on the scholarship. Many Waseda-related opportunities do not advertise a single universal age cap, but some external foundations (and some special scholarship schemes) set explicit age limits. Practically, you should check each scholarship’s eligibility line-by-line.

Scholarships span a wide range of fields, STEM, engineering, business, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs, because eligibility is often tied to enrollment (and merit/need), not just a single subject. From the recipient stories: Zain Ashfaq pursued Engineering (“Creative Science and Engineering”), Shuen studied International Liberal Studies (humanities/social sciences), and Agnese Dionisio focused on International Culture and Communication Studies. Business scholarships are also common through university scholarships and external sponsors (and Waseda has well-known business programs), but availability depends on your specific school/track.

Many Waseda scholarships for international students are open broadly to “privately-financed international students” who meet visa/enrollment conditions, while other scholarships are restricted by nationality/region (foundation rules vary a lot). The Global Scholarships recipient stories themselves show wide nationality coverage: Shuen (Singapore), Zain Ashfaq (Pakistan), and Agnese Dionisio (Italy). A good approach is to shortlist scholarships first (internal + external) and then filter by nationality restrictions (if any).

It depends on your program language and your background. English-taught tracks often ask for IELTS/TOEFL (or equivalent) unless you qualify for a waiver; Japanese-taught tracks may require Japanese ability proof (often JLPT or another accepted credential). In the recipient stories, Zain Ashfaq notes he was “exempted from submitting IELTS or TOEFL” because his undergraduate degree was in English, while Agnese Dionisio lists both IELTS and JLPT and says she has “JLPT N1.” Meanwhile, Shuen applied to “schools that had an English course,” and her background included formal Japanese study (A-Level Japanese), which helped show fit even when the main degree track was English.

There isn’t one single “minimum GPA” that applies to every Waseda program; admissions are program-specific and competitive, and requirements can be expressed through transcripts, rankings, predicted grades, standardized tests, or other academic evidence depending on the school. For scholarships, however, “strong academic record” matters a lot and some scholarships do state GPA thresholds. In the recipient stories, academic strength shows up as distinction/honors and high performance: Agnese Dionisio says she “graduated with distinction,” and Zain Ashfaq highlights repeated Dean’s Honor List recognition.

Successful profiles usually combine (1) strong grades, (2) clear academic direction, and (3) evidence you can thrive in your program’s language and research/study style. The recipient stories illustrate three strong “templates”: (a) Research-driven STEM: Zain Ashfaq emphasizes a “detailed research plan” and real-world engineering experience; (b) Humanities/social sciences with bilingual strength: Agnese Dionisio points to a “detailed research proposal” plus strong IELTS/JLPT; (c) Undergraduate merit + fit: Shuen combined strong A-Level results with a clear interest area (she wrote she was fascinated by “how language influences” our worldview) and then aligned that with scholarship expectations.

Exact documents depend on (1) whether it’s a Waseda internal scholarship, (2) a university-recommended external scholarship, or (3) an open-call scholarship you apply to directly. Still, the recipient stories show a very consistent core set:

• Academic records: transcripts/grades (often including GPA). Shuen says her scholarship required “academic grades, including GPA.”
• Recommendation letters: Shuen needed “a letter of recommendation,” and Zain Ashfaq lists “letters of recommendation” for MEXT preparation.
• Study/research plan: Zain Ashfaq highlights a “comprehensive research plan,” and Shuen mentions a “study/research plan.”
• Personal statement / essays: Agnese Dionisio notes a “personal statement,” and Shuen had a “short essay.”
• Language scores (when required): Agnese Dionisio lists IELTS and JLPT; Zain Ashfaq notes his English-degree waiver for IELTS/TOEFL.
• Additional items depending on scholarship route: Zain Ashfaq also lists a “medical certificate” for MEXT; interviews/written exams may apply (as Agnese Dionisio notes).

Yes, Waseda typically charges a screening/application fee, but the amount can vary by program and sometimes by where you reside when applying. For example, some Waseda application guides show a common fee of 35,000 JPY for applicants residing in Japan, while overseas applicants for certain admissions routes may pay a lower amount (often around 10,000 JPY). Because the exact fee and payment method depend on the school/graduate school and the admission route, always confirm using the official application guidelines for your program.