Program Overview

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Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies

The Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University offers a comprehensive program for students seeking to deepen their understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and international society.

MA Program

Degree Requirements

To fulfill the degree requirements, an MA student must complete a minimum of two years of study, earn 22 credits or more, submit a thesis after completing the prescribed course of study, and pass the thesis screening and final examinations. Exceptions will be made by the GSAPS regarding length of enrollment for students who have shown excellent results, allowing them to complete the course after having obtained the required 22 credits in the 1st year and having been enrolled in the program for at least one and a half years.

• Required credits for MA program are listed as follows:
  • To obtain the 8 credits of Project Research, the student should submit the master's thesis upon completion of the prescribed research guidance in the Project Research, and pass the thesis evaluation and the final oral examinations.
  • 8 credits will be given when you pass the evaluation and oral examination of MA thesis.

Early Completion Option

Students who fulfill the following three conditions will be considered to have completed the course in a period of one and a half (1.5) years. In this case, you only need to pay a tuition fee for 3 semesters.

1. Obtained all the necessary credits for graduation in one year, starting from the day after entrance (except project research).
2. Obtained a GPA of 3.5 or above (at the time of the end of the first year).
3. Obtained a score of 90 or above for the project research.

Master's Thesis Research Plan and Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis Research Plan

Submission Timing

• September Completion: March in the same year
• March Completion: September in the previous year

Who to Submit

Your supervisor

• The contents, deadline, and other details regarding submission should be confirmed with supervisor in advance to the designated deadline.

Format

Download from the provided link (Approx 3 pages, A4)

Eligibility to Submit MA Thesis

1. Those who obtained/are expected to obtain the designated 22 credits
2. Those who have submitted MA thesis research plan

Master's Thesis Examiners

Master's thesis examiners: one chief examiner and two deputy-examiners.

Criteria for Master's Theses

1. Originality and insightfulness of perspective, methodology, content, and conclusion
2. Appropriateness and importance of thesis topic
3. Appropriateness of structure of thesis for addressing the thesis topic
4. Effective use of existing research and contribution to the field
5. Appropriate substantiation of data and materials
6. Strength and persuasiveness of argumentation in the development of the thesis
7. Accurateness, appropriateness and completeness in the use of terminology and concepts
8. Clarity and accurateness of language
9. Accurateness, appropriateness, and completeness of quotations, citations, use of materials and structure of the bibliography
10. Excellence of thesis as a contribution to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and/or International Cooperation / Policy Studies
11. Students acquire a panoramic understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and international society and advanced specialist knowledge necessary to conduct independent research activities related to the fields
12. Students acquire international-standard theoretical and empirical research skills that are fundamental for conducting independent research activities related to the fields of Area Studies, International Relations, and International Development/Policy Studies centered on the Asia-Pacific region.

Submission of Master's Thesis

Submission Schedule

See the provided schedule for September 2025 and March 2026 completion.
See the provided schedule for September 2026 and March 2027 completion.

Submission Deadline

• 【AY2025】
  • 10:00, 24 June, 2025 – 16:00, 26 June 2025 (for those who will complete in September, 2025)
  • 10:00, 7 Jan, 2026 – 16:00, 9 Jan, 2026 (for those who will complete in March, 2026)
• 【AY2026】
  • 10:00, 23 June, 2026 – 16:00, 25 June 2026 (for those who will complete in September, 2026)
  • 10:00, 6 Jan, 2027 – 16:00, 8 Jan, 2027 (for those who will complete in March, 2027)

Format

Types of Document | Sample | Notes
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Cover of thesis | Sample | ・Make one file with the following order (Cover of thesis +Thesis )
Template of Summary | Sample | ・Contents: research aim, main results, components of thesis, main reference list
・A4(horizontal)・2 pages・1,400 words (about)
Attestation of Authorship | N/A | ・The following two types of submissions are required. 1)Upload the file to Waseda Moodle with handwritten. *NOT typed
2)A signed original must be submitted to the GSAPS office by one month later after the deadline of MA thesis at the latest. ・For the "Attestation of Authorship", you must print the format, sign the printed form in your own handwriting, and submit the original to the GSAPS office.
Please note that the following forms will not be accepted.
a) Sign the PDF file electronically, print it out and submit it.
b) Sign the PDF file with an electronic pen, etc., and then print it out and submit it.
・If it is difficult to visit the office, please mail it to the below address in recordable form.
The Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies Waseda University
Nishi-Waseda Bldg.7F, 1-21-1 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjyuku-ku, TOKYO
JAPAN Academic & Student Affairs Section
Check List | N/A |

Master's Thesis Writing Guidelines

Page Layout・Language

• In Japanese or English
• A top margin 35mm and a margin of 30mm on all remaining side

Font

• Times New Roman
• 12 point

Word Count

• About 8,500 words excluding the title, table of contents, a list of reference and space

Items to be submitted

Upload the following 6 items to Waseda Moodle. Please follow the instructions for Title of file. "Attestation of Authorship " should be submitted both in data and original paper. Except "Attestation of Authorship", there is no need to submit original paper.

1. Thesis PDF :【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID.
   Ex: "4020R222.pdf"
2. Thesis Word :【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID.
   Ex: "4020R222.doc"
3. Summary PDF :【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID+"-S".
   Ex: "4020R222-S.pdf"
4. Summary Word :【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID+"-S".
   Ex: "4020R222-S.doc"
5. Attestation of Authorship : 【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID+"-A".
   Ex: "4020R222-A.pdf"
6. Checklist : 【Title of File】should be your first 8 digits Student ID+"-C".
   Ex: "4020R222-C.doc(or pdf)"

List of Master's Thesis Titles

• AY2025 (September)
• AY2024 (September) (March)
• AY2023 (September) (March)
• AY2022 (September)(March)
• AY2021 (September)(March)
• AY2020(September)(March)
• AY2019(September)(March)
• AY2018(September)(March)
• AY2017(September)(March)
• AY2016(September)(March)
• AY2015(September)(March)
• AY2014(September)(March)
• AY2013(September)(March)
• AY2012(September)(March)
• AY2011(September)(March)
• AY2010(September)(March)