Waseda Japanese Language Program and English-Taught MBAs in Japan for 2027: Deadlines, Tuition and Requirements

People who want to study in Japan often weigh two paths: spend six months to a year studying Japanese in Waseda's bekka program first, or apply directly to an English-taught MBA. Waseda's Japanese program does not award a degree and is taught entirely in Japanese; an English-taught MBA is a full master's degree, and most require work experience and the GMAT/GRE. This post puts the 2027 timelines, costs and requirements for both side by side. All information comes from each school's official website and was checked on November 4, 2026.

Key points

• What Taiwanese students usually call the Waseda bekka (留學別科) is listed on Waseda's website as the Center for Japanese Language's Japanese Language Program (日本語教育プログラム). It runs for six months or one year, with April and September intakes.

• Applications for April 2027 closed on October 8, 2026. For September 2027, the application window is April 1 to April 8, 2027 (Japan time).

• Tuition listed on the website for the 2026/2027 academic year: 1,030,400 yen for the one-year program and 531,200 yen for the six-month program. The program offers no scholarships.

• English-taught MBAs in Japan still open for 2027 entry: Hitotsubashi ICS, Waseda WBS, International University of Japan (IUJ) and GLOBIS. Kyoto University's i-MBA closed its 2027 applications in August 2026.

• Most required courses in Keio KBS's MBA are taught in Japanese, and the website asks for good Japanese proficiency, so it is not an English-taught MBA.

What is the Waseda bekka?

Waseda's website describes the program as a one-year or six-month course of Japanese language study. Before you apply, know the following:

• To be eligible, you must have completed (or expect to complete) 12 years of schooling. There is no upper age limit. No Japanese proficiency is required to apply, but some applicants must submit proof of Japanese ability at A1 or above.

• The intake is about 200 students in spring and 250 in fall.

• The one-year program requires 26 credits (usually 13 per semester); the six-month program requires 13. Each class lasts 100 minutes, and a placement test at entry puts you in one of 8 levels. All courses are taught in Japanese, and on completion you receive a certificate of completion.

• The website FAQ states that the program is not designed for people preparing for university entrance exams.

• Self-funded students cannot live in Waseda's international student dormitories; the website recommends dorms run by Kyoritsu Maintenance.

• Both the screening fee payment and the application documents are handled online, and both must be completed within the application window for the application to count.

The program suits people who want six months to a year of intensive Japanese in Japan before deciding between work and further study. According to the website, some graduates go on to graduate school, some start working, and some return to their home universities. If your goal is a degree, or you want to use the language course as preparation for further study, you will need a separate plan.

For how to write the application and how to pick fall courses, see two posts by past students on the site: Admitted to Waseda's Japanese Language Program: Application Guide, Waseda Japanese Language Program Fall Course Guide.

English-taught MBAs in Japan: 2027 entry compared

A few things to watch when comparing:

• Work experience: Hitotsubashi ICS requires at least 2 years of full-time experience, and months before enrollment count toward it; GLOBIS requires at least 2 years of full-time experience at the time of enrollment; Kyoto's i-MBA does not require it but strongly recommends 2 years or more.

• Scholarship rounds: Hitotsubashi's website says scholarship places are limited and Round 1 applicants have an advantage. Round 1 for 2027 entry closed on October 8, 2026.

• Waseda WBS scholarships: the website lists a half-tuition scholarship that self-funded international students can apply for, and a 500,000 yen per year scholarship with places reserved for overseas applicants. The website also says the MEXT university recommendation route is scheduled to be suspended from the 2027 academic year.

• Kyoto's i-MBA admits 20 students a year. Classes are in person on the Yoshida campus in Kyoto and cannot be taken fully online.

• Waseda also has a 1-year MBA, but it is taught in Japanese, so check which program you are applying to.

For a real application to Hitotsubashi and Waseda, see this post on the site: 2024 English-Taught MBA Applications in Japan (Hitotsubashi, Waseda). English-taught master's programs at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, and the research student (kenkyusei) system, are covered separately in How to Apply to English-Taught Master's/MBA Programs in Japan.

Scholarships: Taiwanese applicants go through the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association

The MEXT (Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) scholarship requires applicants to hold the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. For Taiwanese applicants, the equivalent is the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's master's and doctoral scholarship. The 2027 guidelines list monthly amounts of 143,000 yen for research students, 144,000 yen for master's and professional graduate school students, and 145,000 yen for doctoral students. Applicants must be under 35 when applying. The first round of screening uses scores from the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), taken in Taipei in June. Interviews are in principle in Japanese; eligible applicants can request English instead. Results for 2027 have been announced, so anyone preparing now should look at the 2028 guidelines.

Waseda's Japanese Language Program website states that the program offers no scholarships.

2027 entry timeline

OfferLand data

Users on the site have shared only 3 application results for Japanese schools so far, and none yet for Hitotsubashi, Waseda, Keio or Kyoto. The sample is too small, so this post does not analyze admission rates or applicant backgrounds. To see admission results for business programs in other countries, compare on the MBA/MiM program page or in admission results search. If you have applied to a school in Japan, please share your results so future applicants have data to look at.

FAQ

Can I earn a degree from the Waseda bekka?

No. After completing 26 credits in one year or 13 credits in six months, you receive a certificate of completion.

Do I need to know Japanese before joining the Waseda bekka?

The website says there is no Japanese requirement to apply, but some applicants must submit proof of Japanese ability at A1 or above. After enrollment, a placement test sorts students into classes, and all courses are taught in Japanese.

Is there still time to apply to the Waseda bekka for 2027?

April entry has closed. For September entry, the application window is April 1 to April 8, 2027 (Japan time), and both the screening fee and documents must be completed within that window.

Do English-taught MBAs in Japan require the GMAT?

It depends on the school. Hitotsubashi ICS requires the GMAT or GRE; Waseda WBS requires it on its GMAT/GRE track; GLOBIS states the GMAT is optional; Kyoto's i-MBA does not require it but strongly recommends it.

Can Taiwanese applicants apply for the MEXT scholarship?

MEXT requires applicants to hold the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Taiwanese applicants generally apply for the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's master's and doctoral scholarship, and the first round requires the EJU.

About this information

This is a guide compiled from the official websites and application guidelines of each school and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, checked on 2026-11-04. Admission rules and tuition may change each year, so check each school's latest announcements before you apply. Kyoto's i-MBA test requirements and tuition come from the 2026 admission guidelines; for the 2027 version, see Kyoto University's website. OfferLand data is self-reported by users, not official school data; definitions are in About our data.

External sources (checked 2026-11-04):

• Waseda University Center for Japanese Language: About Japanese Language Program, FAQ, Admission, 2027 application guidelines announcement

• Hitotsubashi ICS: How to apply, Tuition and fees

• Waseda WBS: Admission, Tuition, International MBA

• Keio KBS: MBA Application Guidelines

• Kyoto University Graduate School of Management: i-MBA 2027 admissions, i-MBA program, Intake numbers, 2026 admission guidelines, i-MBA Q&A

• International University of Japan (IUJ): Admissions, Tuition & Scholarships

• GLOBIS: Full-time MBA FAQ, How to Apply to MBA

• Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association: Long-term scholarships, 2027 master's and doctoral application guidelines

• University of Tokyo School of Engineering: MEXT eligibility