What is JCulP?
JCulP is a four-year English-based degree programme in Waseda's School of Culture, Media and Society. The 2027 Application Guide for Overseas Students gives the degree as a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, taught in English. Japanese language ability is not required at the time of application.
The programme emphasises students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds thinking about Japanese culture from several perspectives rather than from a single fixed view.
Japan Students and Overseas Students
| Item | Japan Students | Overseas Students |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Students who studied mainly in the Japanese education system | Students who studied mainly in education systems outside Japan |
| Places (2027) | Outside the scope of this Guide | 15 |
| Japanese ability | Outside the scope of this Guide | Not required at application |
| Japanese courses | Outside the scope of this Guide | More than 24 credits of Japanese language courses are needed by graduation |
| Summer Session | Takes part | Not required in the same way |
The official JCulP page also presents Japan Students and Overseas Students as separate admissions. It is therefore not accurate to write that every JCulP student studies abroad in the first year.
Is the Summer Session required for everyone?
According to the JCulP curriculum page, the Summer Session is for Japan Students and runs as a short programme of about 4 to 10 weeks at a university overseas. It is not required of Overseas Students in the same way.
Summer Session costs are not one fixed amount; they vary with the university, programme and destination that Japan Students choose. A single figure therefore cannot be given as an extra JCulP tuition cost.
Places and selection for 2027 Overseas Students admission
The September 2027 Overseas Students Admission has 15 places. The official Guide states that there is no quota or target for particular nationalities.
Selection is a Holistic Screening that assesses application documents, Standardized Test and English Language Proficiency together. Applicants may be invited to an interview if it is judged necessary.
2027 application schedule
Unlike TAISI's several rounds, Overseas Students admission runs on a single Application Period. TAISI's schedule is set out in What is Waseda TAISI? 2027 admissions, tuition, acceptance data and SAT averages.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 10:00 on 7 January to 17:00 on 28 January 2027 (JST) | Online Application |
| 7 to 9 April 2027 | Interview, if required |
| 15 April 2027 | Results Announcement |
| By 7 May 2027 | First Enrollment Fee Payment |
| By 28 May 2027 | Visa-related Documents |
| 21 September 2027 | Enrollment Date |
Applicants and successful applicants, 2022 to 2026
| Year | Applicants | Successful Applicants | Applicants per successful applicant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98 | 34 | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 89 | 31 | 2.9 |
| 2024 | 82 | 30 | 2.7 |
| 2025 | 145 | 31 | 4.7 |
| 2026 | 162 | 23 | 7.0 |
In 2026, 23 were Successful Applicants out of 162. These numbers cannot, however, be used as an individual's chance of success in 2027. The mix of applicants, documents, Standardized Test and English ability changes each year, so treat past data as a reference for how competitive it has been.
SAT and IB averages
- SAT Total (average of Successful Applicants, 2026 enrollment)
- 1415
- IB DP (same average)
- 36.4
The university publishes the averages above for Successful Applicants who enrolled in 2026. Waseda itself cautions that these numbers show only part of the Holistic Review and that Standardized Test alone does not decide the admission decision.
It is therefore not accurate to call SAT 1415 a required score or a passing line. For the SAT's structure and how to think about preparation, see also SAT exam structure and benefits.
Eligibility points to watch
Overseas Students Admission is for students coming from outside the Japanese education system. The 2027 Guide sets several Eligibility Routes: completing 12 or more years of education abroad, graduating from an accredited International School, or obtaining qualifications such as IB or A-Level.
Nationality alone does not decide whether you are an Overseas Student. Check by Education System, as with a foreign national applying from the Japanese system or a Japanese national studying in a system abroad. If unsure, the Guide advises contacting the School for an Eligibility check at least 3 weeks before the Application Deadline.
Main items you need to apply
The 2027 Guide lists the following as the main Application Documents.
- Proof of Applicant Eligibility
- Academic Transcript
- Grading Scale
- Standardized Test Score
- English Language Proficiency Test Score
- Essay
- Academic Honors / Personal and Volunteer Activities
- Personal Identification
- Applicant Photo
- Residence Card, where applicable
- Proof of Payment
The essay and activities count too
JCulP is not an admission that looks only at Standardized Test. The Application Documents include an Essay and Academic Honors / Personal and Volunteer Activities. You need to set out concretely why you want to study Japanese culture in English, and how your Academic Interests and Activities connect with what JCulP teaches.
However, avoid copying essays of past successful applicants or thinking that writing a certain thing will get you in.
2027 tuition
- AY2027 First-year Total
- 1,295,000 yen
- Tuition
- 1,091,000 yen
In Waseda's AY2027 English-based Undergraduate Program fee table, JCulP's First-year Total is 1,295,000 yen and the main Tuition is 1,091,000 yen.
The same table carries a note that the AY2027 amounts for the Laboratory work fee, Seminar fee, Library fee and Association fees are undecided, and that AY2026 figures are shown for reference. Check the university's latest guidance for the final amount you will pay. Travel and programme costs for Japan Students' Summer Session are to be considered separately from this First-year Total.
What do you study?
In JCulP, Japanese culture is not limited to literature; culture, society, media, history and representation are considered from several perspectives.
In particular, Japan Students and Overseas Students studying together with English as the common language is itself an important part of the programme's design. It aims to consider Japanese culture neither only from a Japanese perspective nor only from an outside perspective, but through discussion among students from different backgrounds.
How does JCulP differ from SILS and TAISI?
| Programme | Central theme | Features |
|---|---|---|
| JCulP | Thinking about Japanese culture and Global Japanese Studies in English | A mix of Japan Students and Overseas Students. BA in Literature. Overseas students also take Japanese language study |
| SILS | International Liberal Studies | A broader liberal arts type, across many Academic Fields |
| TAISI | Social Sciences + Social Innovation | Emphasises social issues, practice and the Practicum |
They are not the same just because all are English-based degrees; the central theme of the four years differs considerably.
Students who may suit JCulP
- Want to study Japanese culture from an international and comparative perspective
- Are interested in Literature, Media, Culture, History and similar fields
- Want to keep discussing and writing in English
- Want to study with students from different educational and cultural backgrounds
- As an Overseas Student, want to take on Japanese language study too
- Want to deepen humanities and cultural study rather than a single vocational qualification
Checklist before you apply
Summary
JCulP is a four-year programme in Waseda's School of Culture, Media and Society that studies Japanese culture in English. Overseas Students admission has 15 places for September 2027 entry, and the application period is 7 to 28 January 2027.
In the 2026 Overseas Students Admission, 162 applied and 23 were Successful Applicants. The averages of Successful Applicants are SAT 1415 and IB DP 36.4, but these are not a minimum score or a guaranteed score. The 2027 First-year Total is 1,295,000 yen and Tuition is 1,091,000 yen.
When considering JCulP, it matters first to check whether you fall under the Japan Students or Overseas Students route, and then to compare what you would study with other English-based Degree Programs such as SILS and TAISI.
