FACT SHEET
Inbound Exchange Students

2024-2025

1/5

Institution
Sophia University
7-1 Kioi-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554 Japan
http://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/index.html

OfficeOffice of Global Education and Collaboration

https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/

Tel.: +81-3-3238-3521 / Fax: +81-3-3238-3554

Contact
Inbound (from Partners to Sophia)
Exchange Student Coordinators

inbound-co@sophia.ac.jp

Outbound (from Sophia to Partners)
Exchange Student Coordinators

outbound-co@sophia.ac.jp

Sophia Short-term Programs

ssprgrm-co@sophia.ac.jp

Agreement, General Inquiries

overseas-co@sophia.ac.jp

GENERAL INFORMATIONFoundationSophia University is a private Jesuit university founded in 1913 located in the heart of Tokyo, aiming to foster “ForOthers, With Others”.

Key Features

One of the top private universities in Japan
Japan's pioneer in global education
Diversity on one campus in the fascinating city of Tokyo
Wide variety of English-medium programs
Renowned for offering high-quality language education

Facts & Figures

9 undergraduate faculties with 29 departments / 11 graduate schools with 28 programs
Total Full-time Student Enrollment: 14,000-15,000
Faculty Staff: 1,450-1,500 (Full time staff from around 25 countries)
Number of International Students: 1,500-2,000 (around 80 countries in total)

Campus Location

Tokyo, JAPANThe campus is centrally located within walking distance of the National Diet, Imperial Palace and the State Guest
House. Shinjuku, the world's busiest transport hub is just 5 minutes' train ride away from Yotsuya, the closest
station from Sophia University.

APPLICATION
Qualification

・ Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student at his or her home institution during the exchange period.
・ Average GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent. Applicants should complete at least 1 semester of study by the time ofapplication unless otherwise agreed in bilateral agreements.
<English-taught Programs>
minimum TOEFL iBT 79, TOEFL ITP 550, IELTS 6.0, TOEIC (L&R) 730, or Cambridge English "C2 Proficiency"(CPE) or "C1 Advanced" (CAE) *It must be issued within two years prior to the application start date.
Graduate Program of Global Studies

Language
Requirements

minimum TOEFL iBT 100, TOEFL ITP 600, IELTS 7.0, or TOEIC870 (L&R) *It must be issued within two years prior to the application
日本語受入学科 <Japanese-taught Programs>
Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 level
言語学専攻 (Master's Program in Linguistics)

JLPT N1 obtained within two years from the time of application
言語学専攻日本語教育学コース (Japanese Language Education Course in Master's Program in Linguistics)

JLPT N1 score of 150 or higher, obtained within two years from the time of application
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/application_info/qualification/

1. Application Form *7. Certificate of Health *2. Recommendation Letter *8. Digital Photograph *3. Official transcript in English *9. Photo copy of passport *Application Materials 4. List of Courses Enrolled in Current Semester
10. Essay for GPGS
5. Proof of English Language Proficiency
11. CoE Application Form *6. Proof of Japanese Language Proficiency
12. Housing Application (online form) ** Required for All Applicants
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/application_info/application_mate
Visa RequirementsCollege Students Visa or other suitable visa status (short-term visit visa will not be allowed)

Nomination Deadline Spring Term (April) entrance : November 1Autumn Term (September) entrance : April 10

Spring Term (April) entrance : November 10

Autumn Term (September) entrance : April 20

Application Deadline

https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/application_info/application_dates/

2/5

ACADEMIC PROGRAM GUIDE
Levels of Study
Language of Instruction

Undergraduate and Graduate
Japanese or English

English-taught Undergraduate Departments
Faculty of LiberalArts(FLA)

Department of Liberal Arts
Centered around courses in Comparative Culture, International Business and Economics, and Social Studies, thebroad interdisciplinary curriculum of the Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) is designed to extend the general knowledge ofstudents while developing their critical thinking ability. A wide range of courses that are focused on Japan help
students gain an understanding of both present-day Japan and its traditions in a global context.
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/faculty-of-liberal-arts/
Department of Materials and Life Sciences - Green Science Program
The Green Science program is designed to provide a fundamental knowledge of substances, and to resolve
environmental issues at the atomic and molecular levels based on green material sciences.

Faculty of Scienceand Technology(FST)http://www.st.sophia.ac.jp/english/about-us/index.html
Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Green Engineering Program
The Green Engineering program is designed to provide electrical and mechanical engineering skills that will lead tothe further development of energy-conservation technologies, efficient power generation, transmission anddistribution.
http://www.st.sophia.ac.jp/english/about-us/index.html* In addition to the faculties listed above, many other faculties offer lecture courses taught in English.
Students may take other lecture courses while being enrolled in the Faculty above. Details will be provided after accepted.

English-Taught Graduate Programs

Global Studies(GPGS)

GlobalEnvironmentalStudies (GES)Green Science andEngineering

The Graduate Program in Global Studies emphasizes inquiry into the contemporary world and its historicalantecedents by combining the interdisciplinary themes of global studies, theories and the methods of academic
disciplines, and cross-cultural understandings of Japanese and area studies. It has three MA degrees - GlobalStudies, International Business and Development Studies, and Japanese Studies - each with its own specializedcurriculum. Graduate exchange students are welcome to take content courses that are consistent with theirgraduate degree and for which they have sufficient background.
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/gpgs/
The curriculum covers three fields: Economics and Business Administration for the Environment, Law and Policies,
Sociology for the Environment, and Science and Engineering for the Environment. One of the strategies of thisprogram is to enhance the capacity of students to contribute to the solving of current environmental issues byoffering them a wide variety of practical and discipline-specific programs.
http://www.genv.sophia.ac.jp/english/index.html
Green Science and Engineering places an emphasis on environment- and sustainability-related studies, which areof paramount importance to the future of mankind. To foster cross-disciplinary education, faculty members drawn
from all the other eight divisions(see details from website) are involved in the teaching.

http://www.st.sophia.ac.jp/english/graduate-studies/index.html
Program in Linguistics (TESOL) provides courses with an emphasis on both theory and practice. The faculty
Linguistics <TESOL> members represent a diverse spectrum of applied linguistics and language education, ensuring a comprehensive
program for all who are interested in teaching English as a second or foreign language.

日本語受入学科 Japanese-Taught Departments
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/jpn/academics/ug/
神学部
文学部
総合人間科学部
法学部
経済学部
外国語学部
総合グローバル学部
理工学部

神学科
哲学科、史学科、国文学科、英文学科、ドイツ文学科、フランス文学科、新聞学科
教育学科、心理学科、社会学科、社会福祉学科、看護学科
法律学科、国際関係法学科、地球環境法学科
経済学科、経営学科
英語学科、ドイツ語学科、フランス語学科、イスパニア語学科、ロシア語学科、ポルトガル語学科
総合グローバル学科
物質生命理工学科、機能創造理工学科、情報理工学科

日本語受入専攻 Japanese-Taught Graduate Programs
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/jpn/academics/g/
神学研究科
実践宗教学研究科
文学研究科
総合人間科学研究科
法学研究科
経済学研究科

神学専攻、組織神学専攻

グローバル・スタディーズ研究科

国際関係論専攻、地域研究専攻

言語科学研究科理工学研究科
地球環境学研究科

言語学専攻

死生学専攻
哲学専攻、史学専攻、国文学専攻、英米文学専攻、ドイツ文学専攻、フランス文学専攻、新聞学専攻、文化交渉学専攻
教育学専攻、心理学専攻、社会学専攻、社会福祉学専攻、看護学専攻
法律学専攻、法曹養成専攻
経済学専攻、経営学専攻

理工学専攻
地球環境学専攻

3/5

COURSE GUIDE
Course Information

・Bulletin for spring and autumn semester 2024 will be published in March 2024.
Course offer and syllabi may vary each year. Please refer to the latest information available online.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/course_info/
The Center for Language Education and Research provides multiple tracks and levels of Japanese language
courses according to students’ needs and linguistic backgrounds. Students who wish to attend Japanese class canchoose from regular track or intensive track. Students who have prior Japanese study experience will be placed toappropriate class level according to the result of Japanese placement test.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/application_info/registration/#JLP
Regular Track (4 credits)

Japanese Language The regular track offers beginning, intermediate and advanced courses where 100-minute classes meet four or five
Coursetimes per week. This track aims to focus on developing communicative competence through extensive practice byintegrating four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Intensive Track (8 credits)
The intensive track, which offers four-level intensive courses at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, isdesigned for students whose main purpose of coming to Japan is to mainly study Japanese. Sixteen hours of classtime per week allow students to spend sufficient time to gain the high level of Japanese proficiency.
Registration
Requirements*Exchange students must register and attend more than 10 hours of classes per week. To fulfill this requirement,attending at least 6 periods (100 minutes constitute one period) every week is necessary.

Course Restriction

・FLA core programs, FST laboratory classes, GPGS compulsory courses, the foreign language courses (exceptJapanese language), seminars, courses in Studies in Christian Humanism, compulsory courses in General Studies,“Studies in Christian Humanism: For Others, with Others”, “Liberal Arts of the Body”, “Critical Thinking & Writing”,“Overview of Data Science”, “Thinking about Issues, Perspectives and Positionality” are NOT open to exchange
students.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/application_info/registration/Credit Restriction(per semester)Faculty of Liberal Arts: 20
Faculty of Science and Technology: 26

Graduate Program in Global Studies: 12Standard Course
Load・Regular Japanese track + 2-4 lecture classes
・Intensive Japanese track + 1-3 lecture classes

・14 credits of lecture classes or more

CREDIT EXPLANATION & GRADING SYSTEM
Credits awarded

Type of course
Lecture course

2 or 4 credits per course :one credit = 675 minutes class successfully completed

Language course

2-8 credits, depending on the course: one credit = 1,350 minutes class successfullycompletedCredits

Physical education practice 1 credit per course: one credit = 1,350 minutes class successfully completed

Grading Scale

GradeScale

DescriptionQuality Point Index

ABCDW
F

100 - 90
89 - 80
79 - 70
69 - 60

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Passing
Withdrawal
Failure

4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0

4/5

ACADEMIC CALENDAR in 2024 (based on AY2024- subject to change)
Spring Semester

Autumn Semester

Arrival Date

By April 1, 2024

By September 20, 2024

Orientation

April 2 and April 9

September 21 and September 25

JP Placement TestApril 3

September 22 (tentative)

Course Registration early April - mid Aprillate September - early OctoberClassesApril 12 - July 23

September 27 - January 21

Final Exams

July 24 - July 31

January 22 - January 29

Transcript Issuance MID-SEPTEMBER
Other Important
AcademicInformation
Latest Calendar

LATE MARCH

Summer Recess : August 1 - September 20
Winter Recess : December 24 - January 5
Spring Recess : January 30 - March 31
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/academic_calendar/

ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES
Off-Campus
AccommodationDormitory Fee for 1 semester and 1 year
(Subject to change without notice)
Dormitory fees and their conditions vary considerably inamount.

Housing
Sophia Soshigaya International House
Sophia-Arrupe International Residence(Applications temporarily suspended)

1 semester fee (4 months): from \255,400.- to \715,100.1 year fee (10 months):
from \535,300.- to \1,476,740.-

Sophia Edagawa Men’s Dormitory ( for Men )Kasai International House (for Women)

Please refer to the "Housing Summary" on this page formore details.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprogra
ms/housinginfo_costs/housing_list/

DK House Tokyo Nerima
DK House Shinkoiwa
Wakeijuku (for Men)
Social Residence Higashikoganei( Not allowed to stay beyond March 2025 )FlatShare SHIN-Otsuka Campus
Dormy Naka Kasai Global House
Dormy + café Nakanosakaue
BeGood ZoshigayaEkimae
Azalea House
Other Expenses
Insurance(Mandatory)

Meals: 30,000 - 60,000 yen per month/ Public Transportation: 5,000 - 10,000 yen per month
Books: 30,000 - 50,000 yen per semester/ Personal Expenses: 30,000 yen per month (depends on)
Japanese National Health Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing
Education and Research

1,500-3,000 yen/ month (depends on resident areas)

800 yenOTHER INFORMATION
Student Supporter

Exchange students can sign up for student supporter program before arriving at Sophia. The supporter student isusually the first Sophia student exchange student meet before class starts. Not only student supporters assist
exchange students in the beginning of the semester with their needs, students are also encouraged to interact witheach other throughout the study abroad period and onwards.

EventsExchange Students also regulary participate in events.Sophia Univeristy is holding events such as " Rakugo Event "," Koyasan Event " , " Flower arrangement Experience ", " Tea ceremony Experience ", and "Kabuki Tour " .
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/exchangeprograms/past-events/

GL- Net"Global-Network," or more commonly known as "GL-Net" is a student volunteer organization runs various events forinteraction of local and international students at Sophia. What makes"GL-Net" unique is that it is officially sponsoredby the Center for Global Education and Discovery, Sophia University.

At Sophia University, more than 270 groups are active as authorized circles.
All exchange students are welcome to participate in Sophia's Extracurricular Activities. For more information
including the list of student club and circles, please visit the link below.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/activity/ea/
Sophia University offers short-term programs in June/ July and January. Short-term programs are aside fromexchange program and participants of short-term programs should arrange their own visa and accommodation. The
Short-term Programs programs enable participants to look at Japan from many different perspectives. As for the summer session, over
11,000 students from around the globe have attended the programs over the years, and many have gone on to
pursue exciting careers related to Japan.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/studyabroad/short-term/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPmHXQbKIWTxi0QFyti3D6dUjtlt0Uf6d
Youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/sophiauniversity/?hl=en
Instagram
Extracurricular
Activities

5/5