Program Overview

Program Overview

The W-SPRING-AI program at Waseda University aims to foster doctoral students who will serve as the foundation for science, technology, and innovation, and work to solve social issues. The program provides an environment where students can concentrate on challenging and integrated research by providing 3.90 million JPY per student per year, which includes living expenses and research expenses, for a maximum of three years.

Program Details

• The program will provide opportunities for students to acquire advanced expertise and research capabilities in the field of next-generation AI through various supports, including training contents.
• The program aims to cover all areas from theory to engineering and application in a cross-disciplinary manner.
• The program will provide the "expertise" to capture the direction of remarkable next-generation AI technologies and applications, as represented by generative AI, and to pioneer the next-generation AI field.
• The program will also provide the "deploy ability" to grasp the needs and issues in various fields and create innovative technologies and applications as AI becomes the foundation of society and industry in the future.

Selection Schedule for Spring 2026

The selection schedule for Spring 2026 is as follows:

• Pre-Registration: From 9:00, January 30 (Fri.) to 17:00, February 9 (Mon.), 2026
• Application: From 9:00, January 30 (Fri.) to February 12 (Thu.), 2026
• Document review: Mid-February, 2026
• Interview (Zoom): March 4 (Wed.), 2026
• Registration Process and Submission of Oath: Late March 2026
• Start of support: April 1 (Wed.), 2026
• End of April 2026 (Tentative): Remittance of living expenses for April

Application Guideline and Application Document

The application guideline and application document are available in the following formats:

• Application Guideline
• Application document (template)
• Application Form
  • For those who have a Waseda University student ID number
  • For those who do not have a Waseda University student ID number
• Pre-Registration Form

Past Selection Schedule for Fall 2025

The past selection schedule for Fall 2025 is as follows:

• Registration: From 9:00, August 1 (Fri.) to 17:00, August 20 (Wed.), 2025
• Application: From 9:00, August 1 (Fri.) to 17:00, August 26 (Tue.), 2025
• Document review: Early September, 2025
• Interview (Zoom): September 12 (Fri.), 2025
• Registration Process and Submission of Oath: Late September 2025
• Start of support: October 1 (Wed.), 2025
• End of October 2025 (Tentative): Remittance of living expenses for October

Program Support

The program provides 3.90 million JPY per student per year, which includes living expenses and research expenses, for a maximum of three years. The support period is until the completion of the third year of the student's doctoral program. The amount of support is tentative, and the details may change.