Details

• Japan
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 6 months

1. Preparation

Waseda University is quite competitive to get into, so for the interview it really helps to clearly explain why you want to go to Japan, and specifically why Waseda. In my case, I applied to all available partner universities in Japan and even one in Taiwan, because I knew I definitely wanted to spend my exchange in Japan or at least in Asia. Fortunately, that strategy worked well. At the time, I was involved in the Austrian-Japanese Society and was also taking courses in Japanese Studies at the University of Vienna, so my motivation was obvious and authentic. If your main reasons are things like food or travel, that’s totally fine, but make sure you can present deeper academic, cultural, or personal motivations as well. For the more prestigious universities in Japan, strong academic performance is also important. If your GPA is lower than roughly 1.6–1.7, I would avoid applying only to the very top universities if going to Japan is your top priority. Overall, the rest of the process is quite manageable. For the winter semester, I would recommend arriving in early September. There is usually an introduction period around mid-September, and the time before that is perfect for travelling, settling in, and getting used to Japanese life. Also, book your flight as early as possible as prices increase quickly. And don’t forget to pack light clothing, as it’s still very hot at that time of year.

2. Accommodation

The university offers accommodation options, and you will receive information about these by email after your nomination. You can apply for Waseda dormitories through a lottery system, but the chances of getting a place are relatively low. The university will also share information about other partner dormitories and give recommendations on where to apply. If you have a limited housing budget (around €500, give or take), it definitely makes sense to consider these options. However, you should know what dorm life in Japan typically looks like: facilities are shared, dorms are usually gender-separated, guest rules are strict, and you often need to notify the administration if you travel for a longer time. The upside is that dorms make it easy to meet other students, especially at the beginning of your exchange. I personally started in a dorm that I found through Oakhouse Japan, but I realized it was too far away and not how I wanted to spend my exchange overall. After that, I searched for a furnished apartment that could be rented by foreigners. Websites like e-housing.jp offer a good selection of furnished apartments, many of them centrally located. I ended up living in Kodemmachō in Chiyoda Ward and was very happy with it. It’s a "quieter" area but still well connected and located. It took me about 30 minutes to get to the university. The are was amazing as well because maronuchi, Ginza, Asakusa etc. are pretty near and there is a lot to see. If you prefer to live closer to nightlife areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, you should look for places there instead. Overall, I can definitely recommend moving into a furnished apartment if your budget allows it. Prices usually range from about €800 to €1,500 per month (or more), depending on size, facilities, and location. If you start searching early, you can find good options. Just make sure your commute to the university is reasonable, ideally no more than 40 minutes, otherwise daily travel can become quite exhausting, especially in the evenings or rush hours.

3. Academic life at host university

Honestly, the academic workload at Waseda is very manageable. The university places a strong emphasis on attendance, so many courses require you to be present regularly, but the amount of studying itself is quite reasonable. You can even structure your schedule strategically by choosing courses that rely mainly on final presentations and reports rather than exams, which can save a lot of study time. Personally, I didn’t optimize for that and instead chose courses based on my interests. Waseda offers a wide range of courses across its different schools, and exchange students are usually free to enroll in classes from various faculties. If you want to take Japanese language courses, be aware that they are quite popular and places are limited, so make sure to inform yourself early and register as soon as possible. Classroom culture can feel different from what you might be used to. Japanese students often participate less verbally during class discussions, so be prepared either to contribute actively yourself or to adapt and observe more. Group work is common, and if you have taken courses like CCC, the skills you learned there will definitely help. If possible, I can recommend choosing the Asia-focused CCC beforehand, as it gives useful preparation for working in a different cultural and academic environment. More generally, Japanese university culture is sometimes described as a “holiday of life” period for domestic students. After the intense entrance exam phase, university years are often seen as a time to explore interests, join clubs, build friendships, and prepare socially for working life, rather than focusing exclusively on academic competition. This doesn’t mean courses are irrelevant, but expectations and classroom dynamics can differ from more performance-driven systems. Waseda also offers many student circles and clubs, which are one of the best ways to meet people and integrate into campus life. You can find information about them online, and most require a membership fee for the semester. If you want to join one, it’s best to sign up soon after arriving, as recruitment often happens early in the term.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Japan is great. After a short adjustment phase — which can feel a bit challenging at first — everything becomes surprisingly easy to manage. Public transport, for example, is extremely reliable and can be navigated very well using Google Maps. There are, however, some social rules to be aware of, such as not eating, talking loudly, or making phone calls on trains, and generally following the marked walking paths in stations. A very useful tool is the IC card (such as Suica or Pasmo). You can either add it to your Apple Wallet or buy a physical card at almost any subway station. You load it with yen and can then use it for subways, local trains (except Shinkansen or limited express trains), and buses. Overall, the infrastructure is excellent and the city is extremely well connected. In addition, you should get a commuter pass as soon as you receive your student ID. Don’t delay this, as it saves you a lot of money. The commuter pass is only valid for the direct route between your home station and the university — the system tracks this — which is why you will still need your IC card for all other trips. You can apply for the commuter pass at major stations along the lines you use. There is honestly so much to do in Japan that it’s hard to summarize. From exploring different neighborhoods to karaoke, restaurants, bars, and cultural experiences like sumo, kabuki, baseball games, or even visiting boxing gyms — Tokyo offers something for every interest. It really depends on what you enjoy, but the city truly has everything you could need. Another big advantage is safety. Tokyo felt incredibly safe at all times, and I never had any negative experiences during my stay.

6. Testimonial

Hard to summarize. Best six months of my life. I really fell in love with Japan and its culture and tried to dive into it as much as possible. I travelled a lot within the country, went skiing, to onsens, beaches, mountains and much more. I also travelled to four other countries — China, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan — met many great people and made friends from all over the world. Most importantly, I learned a lot. About other cultures, about myself, about how the world works and how much more there is to see. It really broadens your horizon and I can only recommend going.