WASEDA UNIVERSITY
BASIC INFORMATION:
BRIEF HISTORY:
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Also abbreviated as ‘Sodai’, Waseda University is a private research university located in Shinjuku, Japan.
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It has the highest level of difficulty in entrance exams among private colleges in Japan.
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Waseda University is one of the top selected ‘TopType’ or ‘Type A’ universities in MEXT’s Top Global University Program.
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It is ranked 199th overall and 118th in the academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings.
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It is ranked 24th in employer reputation and in the same rankings.
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Weekly Diamond stated that Waseda has the 12th highest research standard in Japan.
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Waseda Business School was ranked 2nd in the Asia Top MBA Business School Rankings.
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It has received the AACSB (Association to Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business) of the United States.
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Waseda University was originally founded as the ‘Tokyo Professional School’ in October 1882 by former prime minister Okuma Shigenobu.
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It was renamed to Waseda University in September 1902 and was previously also called ‘Waseda Gakko’ or ‘Totsuka Gakko’ based on its location.
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Waseda became the first private university in Japan along with Keio University upon receiving formal governmental recognition in 1920.
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Waseda University was visited by Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States, in the year 1993 and was termed “a center of academic excellence”.
UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND MINORS:
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Waseda University has 13 undergraduate schools which include Fundamental Science and Engineering, Creative Science and Engineering, Advanced Science and Engineering, Human Sciences, and many more.
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The university’s English-taught programs are offered through multiple schools, including the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS). These programs cover a range of disciplines, including Global Political Economy, International Relations, Business Administration, and more.
ALUMNI:
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2 Nobel laureates
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7 Japanese Prime Ministers
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17 Japanese Presidents including the current President
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60 Olympic Medalists including 25 Golds, 17 Silver, and 18 Bronze
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5 International film awards including Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, and Golden Lions
SOME FAMOUS ALUMNI:
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Haruki Murakami – world-renowned novelist and winner of awards like the Franz Kafka Prize, the Jerusalem Prize, and Nobel Prize nominee in literature
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Ryuichi Sakamoto – Composer, musician, and actor. Best known for his work in the Yellow Magic Orchestra and for infamous film scores such as ‘The Last Emperor’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. He is also the winner of a Grammy Award, Golden Globe, and Academy Award
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Shinya Yamanaka – Noble Laureate in Medicine for his work on ‘Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells’
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Hirokazu Kore-eda – Film director, producer, screenwriter (Best known for his works like Shoplifters for which he won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, Monster, Nobody Knows, Still Walking, and more)
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Kohei Ando – video artist and experimental filmmaker
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Kim Seong-su – Former vice president of South Korea and founder of Korea University
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Park Taejoon – Founder of POSCO and Prime Minister of South Korea
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Shizuka Arakawa – Figure Skater (retired) and is the 2006 Olympic champion and 2004 World champion. She is the first Japanese skater to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics in figure skating
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Yuzuru Hanyu – Japanese Figure skater. He is the second back-to-back Olympic title winner and the youngest and first Asian Olympic Champion. He is also a 2 times world champion, 6 times Japanese National champion, and the first to win four times Grand Prix Finals
CAMPUS INFO:
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Waseda University in total has 8 campuses, out of which, 5 are located in Tokyo.
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The main campus is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
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The main campus houses the following schools – Political Science and Economics, Law, Education, Commerce, Social Sciences, and International Liberal Studies (SILS).
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The Nishi-Waseda campus is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo as well.
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It is the hub for STEM education which is equipped with high-end state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities.
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This campus houses the following schools – Fundamental Science and Engineering, Creative Science and Engineering, and Advanced Science and Engineering.
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The Toyama campus located in Shinjuku houses one of the largest university libraries. It houses the School of Education and some social sciences.
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The Kikuicho campus located in Shinjuku as well is used for advanced and postgraduate courses. It houses the School of Commerce and International Liberal Studies.
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The Higashi-Fushimi campus located in Nishi-Tokyo houses the School of Sport Sciences.
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The Tokorozawa campus is located in Tokorazawa, Saitama prefecture includes the School of Human Sciences and Sport Sciences.
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The Honjo campus is located in Honjo, Saitama prefecture which is primarily used for research studies and graduate studies. It houses the Faculty of Research in Science and Engineering.
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The Kitakyushu campus is located in the Fukuoka prefecture and is a newer addition to Waseda University. Its faculty includes the Waseda University International College of Arts and Sciences. It focuses on global education and promotes cultural exchanges.