Sophia University
- Take Japanese language classes and choose from a wide variety of courses offered in English
- Explore the exciting and populous city of Tokyo during the semester or year
- Meet students from all over the world - 30% of students at Sophia University are international students
Sophia University is a prestigious private Jesuit university with 12,000 students which is located in the heart of Tokyo (population 13 million). Sophia University has a centrally located urban campus which is in walking distance from the Japanese National Diet and Imperial Palace and is a 5 minute train ride to Shinjuku. 30% of its student population is international students.
Tokyo, one of the world's most populous cities in the world, is the nation's center of politics, business and pop culture. In Tokyo, students can visit temples and shrines and well as experience the dazzling modern skyscrapers and large entertainment and shopping districts.
Program participants can choose from a wide range of courses taught in English. Course offerings in English through Faculty of Liberal Arts are the following: Anthropology, Business, Economics, East Asian Languages & Cultures, English, Environmental Studies, History, History of Art, Japanese, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies and Sociology.
Description of Courses are listed by major. Core program courses are not available for exchange students to take.
Intensive Japanese language courses are offered at all levels by the Department of Japanese Language and Studies. Students can choose to study either a Japanese language course (generally 6-7.5 hours a week) and two to three courses taught in English or a full-time intensive Japanese language program (15 hours a week of Japanese language courses).
Program dates for the Academic Year are mid-September to early August and early April to early August for the Spring Semester. It is not possible to study at Sophia University during the Fall semester since Sophia's Fall semester finishes after KU's Spring semester begins. See above for specific dates for each academic term.
There are no on-campus accommodations. Off-campus residence halls with Japanese students and university-arranged apartment accommodations are available through the Sophia International Liaison Office. University accommodations are generally 45-60 minutes commuting time from campus. Students may also arrange private accommodations on their own.
See the following website for more details on the Sophia University accommodation options:
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/exchangeprograms/housingInfo_costs/index.html
Preference will be given to students who have a 3.0 GPA and two years of university Japanese language courses or the equivalent. Non-EALC majors with less than 2 years of Japanese may be eligible for some of the Japanese exchange programs, contact Study Abroad & Global Engagement for details.
