Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Waseda Spring Semester September 20, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 03/24/2026 to 07/29/2026 with

Waseda University: Tokyo - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I had never lived in such an urban area before and it gave me an opportunity to learn how to manage everything on my own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, I was happy with my experience at Waseda University and living in Japan for a semester. I liked the Waseda campus and the area of Tokyo. I enjoyed the content of my classes, although the required Japanese language classes were challenging because they were taught by four different professors and often expected us know vocabulary not in the textbooks.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They did a brief orientation and some ice breakers on the first day for new SILS students. There was no host country program administration for exchange students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lucked out with housing at Waseda Hoshien, which is right by the main campus. The housing location was very convenient, but the exchange students in my building were mostly not very social, which was disappointing.

* Food:

There are many food options near Waseda. The campus dining hall is only open for lunch but there are many restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores nearby for good food options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not need to use any health care while there. That said, the required national health insurance was very affordable for students and it seems copays are low if you need care.

* Safety:

I felt safe walking around Tokyo and going out even at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Good food was very affordable and there were lots of locations to buy different types of freshly prepared foods nearby. My dorm did not come with meals so I had to eat out or cook for all my meals.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to apply to the Waseda-run dorms (vs the ones run by nearby companies) as they are much more affordable.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Only the Japanese language classes required language use.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 40
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? I would either live in a dorm with Japanese Waseda students or try to join one of the Circles (clubs) on campus for more time to interact with Japanese students.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • It felt like you were actually a student at the school.
* What could be improved?
  • There wasn't much effort to integrate new exchange students to the campus.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had more spoken Japanese skills so I could easily hold a conversation with native speakers.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Cultural Interaction between East and West in Art
Course Department: Art
Instructor: Kazue Kobayashi
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was very knowledgeable and engaging. She was kind and seemed to enjoy teaching. I learned a lot and enjoyed the field trips to local museums.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Anthropology of Religion
Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Rosemarie Bernard
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course material was really interesting and the professor was very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. The reading is dense if you don't have experience reading a lot of anthropological literature. She taught us about many different cultures but was especially interested in her deep knowledge of Shinto.
Credit Transfer Issues: