🌐Sophia University

Tokyo, Japan

A Jesuit university in Tokyo with several fully English-taught undergraduate faculties.

About Sophia

Sophia University is a Jesuit institution whose Faculty of Liberal Arts and Faculty of Comparative Culture are taught entirely in English, alongside strong Japanese-medium Law and Economics faculties. It's long been one of Tokyo's most international private universities.

Why students choose it

  • Several fully English-taught undergraduate faculties
  • Strong International Studies and Foreign Languages reputation
  • Central Tokyo campus

🎓 Free application support for Sophia

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Sophia — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

📝 Already decided? Apply now — it's free

Typical entry grades

AAB (A Level)  ·  IB 34

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<¥500,000/yr

mid tier for Japan — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

Bilingual — a Jesuit university with several fully English-taught undergraduate faculties (e.g. Liberal Arts, Comparative Culture).

Campus

city campus, Tokyo

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Sophia's financial aid office.

Japan's flagship scholarship is government-funded and well known internationally, alongside university-specific tuition waivers that are common at national universities regardless of the scholarship route.

  • MEXT Scholarship: Japanese government-funded, covers tuition plus a monthly stipend — available via both an embassy-recommendation and a university-recommendation track, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Highly competitive.
  • University tuition waivers: Many national universities offer partial-to-full tuition exemption based on financial need or academic merit, independent of MEXT — check each university's international student office.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

International Studies

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Foreign Languages

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

📝 Apply for this course →

Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Comparative Culture

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Durations are typical for Japan — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
April, September / October (English-taught programmes)
Typical deadline
November – January for an April intake
Note
Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only)

TOEFL: 72–100 iBT

Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

See where Sophia ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Japan University Shortlist Builder to see whether Sophia is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Japan university that matches.

Build my Japan shortlist →

More Japan universities

Sophia FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Sophia as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Sophia?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Sophia expects around AAB at A Level or 34 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Sophia's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Sophia's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Sophia cost for international students?

International tuition at Sophia typically falls in the <¥500,000/yr range (mid tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Sophia's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Sophia?

Sophia follows Japan's typical intake calendar: April, September / October (English-taught programmes), with applications generally due november – january for an april intake. Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school. Always verify the exact date on Sophia's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Sophia?

Japan universities, including Sophia, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only). Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

What is Sophia known for?

A Jesuit university in Tokyo with several fully English-taught undergraduate faculties. Sophia University is a Jesuit institution whose Faculty of Liberal Arts and Faculty of Comparative Culture are taught entirely in English, alongside strong Japanese-medium Law and Economics faculties. It's long been one of Tokyo's most international private universities.

Can I apply to Sophia with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Sophia accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Japan University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Sophia and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to Sophia? Get free application support.

Book a Tutor