Admission process (The 2025-26 admission)

1. Who can apply?

We are open to PEARL and Type A&B students as well as students from other departments. 

Please note that Sasahara Seminar prioritizes applicants who will be completing their junior year at Keio to ensure that all juniors have the opportunity to learn econometrics in zemi classes during their junior year. 

Additionally, Sasahara Seminar seeks students with a strong interest in learning International Economics and participating in zemi activities, such as the Mita Festival exhibition, joint-zemi events, and field trips.

2. Expected number of admitted students

About 15 students (no separate quota for PEARL versus non-PEARL)

3. English skills

We expect the applicants to have competent English skills. Reference scores are as follows: TOEFL iBT 79, TOEIC 750, or IELTS 6.5 or higher. The applicants’ English skills will be tested by presentations and interviews.

4. Application requirements

An applicant is required to do the following:

1.    Apply to Sasahara Seminar during the Registration Period, Febaruary 16th 9:00  A.M. - February 18th 9:00 A.M., through the Keio Economics Seminar Committee (経済学部ゼミナール委員会)'s form. 

• Please check the Keio Econ Seminar Committee's Admission Website: Keizemi website in Japanese 

2.    Submit the following three documents by March 10th, 11:59 P.M., through the submission link you will receive upon application to Sasahara Seminar

1)    Sasahara Seminar's application form 

2)    Grade report (The latest version including your grades from the Fall 2025 semester)

3)    Presentation slides

4. Do the following on Thursday, March 12th online.

1)    A group interview with the current zemi students (30 minutes last year) 

2)    Participate in a presentation session (or sessions)

• The applicants will be assigned to groups of 4-5 applicants.

• Each applicant will give a five-minute presentation in front of the other applicants in the same group and the current zemi students. Each presentation will be followed by a short Q&A session. 

• The evaluations will be based on (1) engagement, whether the applicant was prepared to give a presentation without looking at a script in an engaging manner or he or she was just reading a script in a monotone manner, (2) communication skills, the applicant's interactions with other applicants in the discussion sessions (not the quality of the questions he or she asks), (3) the quality of the presentation slides, whether each slide is crowded with lengthy words or it is visually appearing, and (4) time management skills.  

2)    A one-on-one interview with the faculty advisor (5 minutes last year)

5. Admission dates

There are three admission dates, Date A (A日程, i.e., the first round), Date B (B日程, i.e., the second round), and Date C (C日程, i.e., the third round). If we admit our maximum number of students on Date A, we will not accept applications for Date B. If Date B is necessary, we will follow the same admission process as Date A. The same description applies to Date C.

6. Requirements after acceptance

Admitted students must take "Research Seminar <研究会>" in their third year and fourth year, and "Research Seminar (Thesis) <研究会 (卒業論文)>" in their fourth year.

• Admitted PEARL students must take "International Trade a" (by Akira Sasahara) in their fifth semester; and "International Trade b" (by Akira Sasahara) in their sixth semester.

• Admitted Type A/B students must take "国際貿易論 b" (by Akira Sasahara) in their fifth semester;  "国際貿易論 a" (by Akira Sasahara) in their sixth semester.