Canonical HTML: https://www.studyu.org/en/university-sophia
Markdown URL: https://www.studyu.org/en/md/university-sophia.md
Language: en
Meta title: Sophia University: SPSF, FLA, Fees and Admission 2027
Meta description: Sophia University, Tokyo: SPSF, FLA and new DGTech taught in English, autumn 2027 deadlines, SAT/ACT rules, fees from JPY 1.64m, scholarships and dorms.
Last modified: 2026-09-24

# Sophia University

Sophia University (Jōchi Daigaku, 上智大学) is a private Catholic university in central Tokyo, founded in 1913 by three Jesuit priests. It sits in the 951–1000 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, but its real strength for international applicants is English-taught undergraduate study in the humanities and social sciences: the Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA), the seven-department Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF), and, from April 2027, a new English-taught engineering department, Digital Green Technology (DGTech). Applications for autumn 2027 open on 11 November 2026, and the first year of SPSF cost JPY 1,644,650 (about $10,410) in 2026/27.

A brick academic building on Sophia University's Yotsuya campus in autumn, Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Keiichi Yasu / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sophia_University_Yotsuya_Campus2.jpg), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Tokyo: main Yotsuya Campus, plus Mejiro Seibo and Hadano campuses |
| Type | Private Catholic university, founded 1913 |
| Structure | 9 faculties plus SPSF; 10 graduate schools plus an Applied Data Sciences programme |
| Rankings | QS 2027: 951–1000; THE 2026: 1501+ |
| English-taught bachelor's | FLA (liberal arts), SPSF (7 departments), DGTech (engineering, from 2027) |
| Japanese-taught bachelor's | EJU-based admission for international students, April start only |
| First-year fees, 2026/27 | SPSF JPY 1,644,650 (about $10,410); FLA JPY 1,668,650 (about $10,570) |
| Autumn 2027 windows | 11 Nov–4 Dec 2026 and 10–31 Mar 2027 |
| Application fee | JPY 35,000 (about $220) plus a JPY 1,100 handling fee |

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 23 September 2026 (USD 1 ≈ JPY 157.9), rounded to the nearest $10.

## Who Sophia suits, and who should look elsewhere {#section-1}

| Strengths | Limitations and risks |
| --- | --- |
| Three English-taught undergraduate options: liberal arts, seven SPSF departments and DGTech engineering | Much lower in world rankings than Keio, Tohoku or the Institute of Science Tokyo |
| Selection on documents only, with no minimum SAT, ACT or GPA | SAT or ACT (ACT with Writing) is required unless you hold the IB Diploma or three A-levels |
| Main Yotsuya Campus is directly opposite Yotsuya Station in central Tokyo | Private fees: JPY 1.6–2.1 million in the first year depending on the programme |
| The New Student Scholarship covers all, half or one-third of first-year tuition | The eligibility rules do not mention 11-year school systems, so applicants from Russia and the CIS should confirm their basis for applying in advance |
| Two autumn application rounds give a second chance in the same year | Japanese-taught admission runs once a year with an exam in Tokyo, and the 2027 cycle has closed |

Sophia is a good fit if you want journalism, international relations, sociology, education, economics, management or area studies in English, value life in central Tokyo and can manage private fees. For stronger engineering or science at lower cost, look at the [Institute of Science Tokyo](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-institute-of-science-tokyo) or [Tohoku](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tohoku). English-taught economics is also offered at [Keio](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-keio), and an international campus outside the big cities at [APU](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-apu-ritsumeikan). For the national picture, see [studying in Japan](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-japan).

## Faculties and programmes {#section-2}

Sophia has 9 faculties: Theology, Humanities, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Foreign Studies, Global Studies, Liberal Arts, and Science and Technology, plus the university-wide English-taught SPSF. Graduate study runs through 10 graduate schools – Theology, Humanities, Applied Religious Studies, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Languages and Linguistics, Global Studies, Science and Technology, and Global Environmental Studies – and a degree programme in Applied Data Sciences.

### English-taught bachelor's degrees

- Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) – BA in Liberal Arts, a broad humanities and social-science curriculum with spring and autumn intakes.
- Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF) – seven departments: Journalism, Education, Sociology, Economics, Management, International Relations and Area Studies (the last two within Global Studies). All courses are in English; autumn intake only.
- Department of Digital Green Technology (DGTech) in the Faculty of Science and Technology – Bachelor of Engineering. It opens in April 2027, building on the English-medium Green Science and Green Engineering programmes that ran from 2012. The curriculum centres on data science, programming, machine learning and AI, combined with electrical and mechanical engineering, biology and chemistry applied to environmental challenges. Spring and autumn intakes.

Green Science and Green Engineering no longer accept new students; their final intake was autumn 2026.

### Japanese-taught bachelor's degrees

International students can enter Japanese-taught programmes in every faculty except FLA, with an April start only. Native speakers may not apply to the department of their own language – for example, a native English speaker cannot enter the English literature or corresponding foreign-studies department this way.

### English-taught graduate programmes

- Global Studies – MA and PhD (the International Business and Development Studies major is MA only);
- Green Science and Engineering – MS and PhD;
- Global Environmental Studies – MA and PhD;
- TESOL – MA;
- Education – MA and PhD;
- International Cooperation Studies – a bilingual MA in which you may take courses in English, Japanese or both.

## How to apply {#section-3}

### English-taught bachelor's: FLA, SPSF and DGTech

For first-year entry:

- Education. 12 years of schooling abroad, or the IB, Abitur, French Baccalauréat, A-levels or European Baccalaureate. Individual recognition by Sophia is also possible if you are 18 at entry. The rules do not mention 11-year school systems, and the admissions FAQ repeats that applicants need 12 or more years of formal education, so applicants from Russia and the CIS should confirm in writing with the admissions office, before applying, which clause applies to them.
- Tests. SAT (Reading and Writing, Math) or ACT including Writing, unless you hold the IB Diploma or three A-level subjects. FLA also exempts applicants who have been working for at least two years. There is no minimum score or GPA.
- English. TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic. TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Online, TOEFL ITP and IELTS Indicator are not accepted, nor are TOEFL MyBest scores – only the best single test date counts. You are exempt if you studied in English for at least five of the last six years.
- Documents (SPSF example). Online application form, an essay for each department you apply to (using Sophia's format), official transcripts, a graduation certificate, two recommendation letters (one set for all SPSF departments), test scores, a passport copy and a checklist.
- Selection. Documents only – no exam or interview.

You may apply to several SPSF departments at once, paying the fee for each. Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in a later round. SPSF (except Global Studies) and FLA also accept third-year transfer students who have completed two years of a bachelor's degree or an associate degree.

### Japanese-taught admission for international students

This route (外国人入学試験) is for applicants who already have academic-level Japanese:

- 12 years of schooling (completed by March of the entry year);
- EJU scores at or above your department's threshold – for 2027 entry, results from June 2026 and June or November 2025 were accepted;
- a subject test and interview in Tokyo, conducted primarily in Japanese.

For April 2027 entry, online registration ran from 15 to 29 July 2026, the exam was on 20 September and results came on 8 October. Expect the April 2028 cycle in summer 2027; the 2027 guidelines were published in May.

### Graduate programmes

Each English-taught graduate programme – Global Studies, Global Environmental Studies, TESOL, Education and others – sets its own deadlines and document list. You typically need a bachelor's degree, a research plan or statement of purpose, recommendations and an English score, with the minimum set in each programme's guidelines. Research-student (non-degree) status is also available and is the entry route for many MEXT scholars.

### Step-by-step plan for 2027

1. September–October 2026. Choose your programme and department. If you have an 11-year certificate, email the admissions office to confirm your basis for applying. Book the SAT, or the ACT with Writing, plus TOEFL iBT or IELTS.
2. October–November 2026. Ask two teachers for recommendations on the SPSF or FLA forms, order transcripts and school certificates, and write a separate essay for each department.
3. 11 November–4 December 2026. Round I for autumn 2027 (FLA, SPSF, DGTech); upload documents by 11 December and apply for the New Student Scholarship at the same time.
4. 5 February 2027. Round I results; confirm your place by 9 April.
5. 10–31 March 2027. Round II; results on 4 June.
6. Summer 2027. Certificate of Eligibility, visa, housing application, September start.

## Application timeline for 2027 {#section-4}

| Programme and intake | Application window | Results | Confirm place by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FLA, SPSF, DGTech – autumn 2027, Round I | 11 Nov–4 Dec 2026 (documents by 11 Dec) | 5 Feb 2027 | 9 Apr 2027 |
| FLA, SPSF, DGTech – autumn 2027, Round II | 10–31 Mar 2027 (documents by 7 Apr) | 4 Jun 2027 | 9 Jul 2027 |
| FLA and DGTech – spring 2027, Round I | 1–9 Sep 2026 (closed) | 23 Oct 2026 | 27 Nov 2026 |
| FLA and DGTech – spring 2027, Round II (Japan residents only) | 11 Nov–4 Dec 2026 | 29 Jan 2027 | 5 Mar 2027 |
| Japanese-taught admission | 15–29 Jul 2026 (closed) | 8 Oct 2026 | – |

SPSF admits in autumn only. All deadlines are in Japan Standard Time (UTC+9).

## Tuition and fees {#section-5}

Sophia is private. Fees combine a one-off JPY 200,000 entrance fee, a semester enrolment fee, tuition, an education enhancement fee and insurance. Official 2026/27 first-year totals:

| Programme | First year | Later years |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SPSF | JPY 1,644,650 (about $10,410) | JPY 1,442,000 (about $9,130) |
| Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) | JPY 1,668,650 (about $10,570) | JPY 1,442,000 (about $9,130) |
| DGTech (based on official 2027 amounts) | about JPY 2,078,650 (about $13,160) | JPY 1,876,000 (about $11,880) |
| Japanese-taught Theology, Humanities, Law, Economics, Foreign Studies, Global Studies | JPY 1,408,650 (about $8,920) | JPY 1,206,000 |
| Science and Technology (Japanese-taught) | JPY 1,952,650 (about $12,360) | JPY 1,750,000 |

Sophia sets the next year's exact fees in September and notifies admitted students. A JPY 40,000 lifetime alumni association fee is added in the final year, and tuition for later years is revised in line with price increases.

English-taught master's programmes cost less: in Theology, Languages and Linguistics, Global Studies and several other schools, the first year cost JPY 945,400 (about $5,990) in 2026/27 and the second JPY 784,000 (about $4,960).

Living costs in Tokyo – rent, food, transport and health insurance – come on top. See our guide to the [cost of studying in Japan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-japan).

## Scholarships {#section-6}

- Sophia University New Student Scholarship – for applicants who choose Sophia as their first choice and face financial hardship despite strong grades. It covers all, half or one-third of first-year tuition. Apply at the same time as your admission application.
- Benefactors' (Adachi) Scholarship – for students from Southeast Asia and Africa; Fast Retailing Foundation – for Vietnamese, Indonesian and Filipino students. These are not open to applicants from Russia or Central Asia.
- Scholarships after enrolment – university and private foundation awards, plus the JASSO Honors Scholarship for privately financed international students (JPY 48,000 a month).
- Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship – via embassies, or via university recommendation for research students. See our [MEXT scholarship guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-mext-scholarship).

Scholarship decisions are made by the university, foundations, MEXT or JASSO, not by StudyU.

## Housing {#section-7}

Sophia owns three dormitories:

| Dormitory | Rooms | Travel to campus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Soshigaya International House | 320 single rooms; kitchen, library, gym, tennis courts | about 60 minutes |
| Arrupe International Residence | 180 rooms; study and sports areas | about 10 minutes, one minute from Shinanomachi Station |
| Edagawa Men's Dormitory (men only) | 78 rooms | about 35 minutes |

It also works with designated and recommended dormitories, and Sophia Campus Support helps students find flats through partner agencies. Room prices are not listed on the general housing page; they come with the housing application details. Private rentals usually require a guarantor or guarantor company. See our guide to [student housing in Japan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-housing-japan).

## Visa and part-time work {#section-8}

After admission, Sophia applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), which you use to obtain a student visa at a Japanese consulate; the consulate decides. Student-status holders can work up to 28 hours a week after receiving immigration permission. See our guides to the [Japanese student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-japan) and [working while studying](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-in-japan).

## Pros and cons for applicants from Russia and the CIS {#section-9}

What helps:

- English-taught selection is document-based, with no trip to Japan and no cut-off score.
- A wider choice of English-taught fields than at most Japanese universities, from journalism to engineering.
- Two autumn rounds give a second chance in the same year.

What makes it harder:

- The eligibility rules do not mention 11-year schooling. MEXT recognises Russian, Kazakh, Belarusian and Uzbek certificates as equivalent, but confirm with Sophia in writing which clause applies to you.
- Without the IB or A-levels you need the SAT or ACT, and College Board and ACT centres are not available in every country; check your nearest site early.
- The Japanese-taught route needs the EJU, which is held only in Japan and 13 Asian countries and regions; the subject exam takes place in Tokyo.
- Applicants abroad can pay the application fee by credit card only. Check early which legal channels you can use for the fee and for yen tuition payments, and allow time for transfers.

## Common mistakes {#section-10}

- Applying to SPSF for spring. SPSF admits only in autumn.
- Taking the ACT without Writing. The Writing section is required; without it your score will not be accepted.
- Sitting TOEFL iBT Home Edition or IELTS Online. Sophia does not accept them, nor SAT or ACT superscores.
- Recycling one essay across departments. Each SPSF department needs its own essay.
- Looking for Green Science or Green Engineering. Both have closed to new students; DGTech replaces them.
- Applying for the New Student Scholarship after admission. It must be submitted together with your application.
- Counting on spring Round II from abroad. It is open only to applicants who already hold valid residence status in Japan.

## Campuses and city {#section-11}

The main Yotsuya Campus is directly opposite Yotsuya Station in central Tokyo and houses all faculties, including Science and Technology. Sophia also has the Mejiro Seibo Campus in Tokyo, the Hadano Campus in Kanagawa and a satellite campus in Osaka. Central Tokyo is convenient for internships and part-time work, but housing nearby is expensive: even from university dorms, commutes range from 10 to 60 minutes.

## Rankings {#section-12}

| Ranking | Position |
| --- | --- |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 951–1000 |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 1501+ |

World rankings lean heavily on research metrics, so smaller universities with a humanities focus usually trail large research centres. For a journalism or international relations degree, curriculum, class size and internships matter more.

## FAQ {#section-13}

### Can I apply to Sophia with 11 years of schooling?

The rules refer to 12 years of schooling, the IB, A-levels or individual recognition by the university at age 18. MEXT recognises Russian and Kazakh certificates as equivalent, but confirm in writing with Sophia's admissions office which clause it will use for your certificate before you apply.

### How much does Sophia cost?

In 2026/27 the first year of SPSF cost JPY 1,644,650 (about $10,410) and FLA JPY 1,668,650 (about $10,570); from year two, JPY 1,442,000. DGTech costs more: about JPY 2.08 million for the first year based on 2027 amounts.

### Is the SAT required?

Yes – the SAT or the ACT (with Writing) is required unless you have the IB Diploma or three A-level subjects. There is no minimum score; results are assessed together with your other documents.

### Is there an interview?

Not for English-taught programmes – decisions are based on documents. The Japanese-taught admission includes a subject test and interview in Tokyo.

### What is SPSF?

The Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures is a university-wide English-taught programme with seven departments: Journalism, Education, Sociology, Economics, Management, International Relations and Area Studies, all linked by the theme of sustainability. It admits in autumn only.

### Can I study engineering in English at Sophia?

Yes – from April 2027 in the Department of Digital Green Technology (DGTech), which awards a Bachelor of Engineering. The former Green Science and Green Engineering programmes no longer take new students.

### Does StudyU help with applications to Sophia?

Under a service agreement, we help choose programmes and departments, check requirements, work on essays and recommendations, and support the application, scholarship and visa stages. Admission decisions are made by the university, scholarship decisions by the university or foundation, and visa decisions by the Japanese consulate.

## Sources {#section-14}

- [Sophia University: English-taught Undergraduate Degree Programs](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/)
- [SPSF: Who can Apply](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/spsf/qual/)
- [English-taught Undergraduate Programs: FAQ](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/faq/)
- [SPSF: When and How to Apply](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/spsf/w_h/)
- [SPSF: Fees and Scholarships](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/spsf/fee_aid/)
- [FLA: Who can Apply](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/fla/qual/)
- [FLA: When and How to Apply](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/fla/w_h/)
- [DGTech: Overview](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/dgtech/overview/)
- [DGTech: When and How to Apply](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/dgtech/w_h/)
- [DGTech: Fees and Scholarships](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/en_ug/dgtech/fee_aid/)
- [Undergraduate Japanese-taught Programs](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/ug_p/japanese_ug/)
- [Admission for international students, Japanese-taught (Japanese)](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/jpn/gakubu_tokubetsu_ad/gaikokujin/)
- [English-taught Graduate Programs](https://adm.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/graduate_p/english_g2/)
- [Tuition and Fees AY 2026, Undergraduate (PDF)](https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/assets/uploads/2025/12/undergraduate_2026.pdf)
- [Tuition and Fees AY 2026, Graduate (PDF)](https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/assets/uploads/2025/12/graduate_2026.pdf)
- [Scholarships to apply for before entering undergraduate programs](https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions-and-aid/tuition/scholarship-before/)
- [Sophia University: Housing Support](https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/campuslife/dormitory/)
- [Sophia University: Philosophy and history](https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/aboutsophia/sophia_spirit/sophia-idea/)
- [Sophia University: Campus Guide](https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/aboutsophia/access/)
- [MEXT: foreign upper-secondary programmes recognised for university entry](https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/shikaku/1380756.htm)
- [JASSO: EJU overseas test sites](https://www.jasso.go.jp/ryugaku/eju/examinee/contact/asia.html)
- [QS World University Rankings: Sophia University](https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/sophia-university)
- [THE World University Rankings: Sophia University](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/sophia-university)
- [ECB reference rates, 23 September 2026](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml)

To compare Sophia with other universities in the capital, see our guide to [universities in Tokyo](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-tokyo) and our overview of [English-taught degrees in Japan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-english-taught-degrees-japan). If you want to know which SPSF or FLA department fits your profile, [send us a request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-institute-of-science-tokyo)
- [Tohoku University](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tohoku)
- [Keio University](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-keio)
- [Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-apu-ritsumeikan)
- [Studying in Japan for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-japan)
- [Cost of Studying in Japan in 2026: Tuition, Living Costs and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-japan)

Updated: September 2026