Sophia University : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
Ranking

# 951-1000QS World University Rankings

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97Undergrad. & Postgrad. Programmes

International

10 % International students

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About Sophia University

Sophia University (“Jochi Daigaku” in Japanese) was founded in 1913 by the Jesuits, a Catholic order renowned for excellence in education. From the beginning, the university founders stressed an internationally oriented curriculum and rigorous training in foreign languages. Sophia soon established itself as a leading institution for scholarship on foreign languages and literature in Japan. Today Sophia University is a major teaching and research university in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences with 13,800 students and teaching staff of 1,400 members, embracing over 1,500 international students studying on one campus from 85 countries. This approach yields significant benefits for the University’s programs by deepening educational mobility, collaboration, and specialization. Students can study business and economics, science and technology, and environmental studies, all strengths of Japan, in English as well as Japanese studies that Sophia boasts a long tradition. Variety of disciplines are available in English while the main language of instruction is Japanese (please see “undergraduate” and “graduate” for the medium language of instruction).

Sophia University has been selected as one of 37 universities to receive funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for internationalization effort called the "Top Global University Project."

For more details, please visit the official website: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/.
Up to date pictures of campus are also available on facebook and instagram.  

About Sophia University

Sophia University (“Jochi Daigaku” in Japanese) was founded in 1913 by the Jesuits, a Catholic order renowned for excellence in education. From the beginning, the university founders stressed an internationally oriented curriculum and rigorous training in foreign languages. Sophia soon established itself as a leading institution for scholarship on foreign languages and literature in Japan. Today Sophia University is a major teaching and research university in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences with 13,800 students and teaching staff of 1,400 members, embracing over 1,500 international students studying on one campus from 85 countries. This approach yields significant benefits for the University’s programs by deepening educational mobility, collaboration, and specialization. Students can study business and economics, science and technology, and environmental studies, all strengths of Japan, in English as well as Japanese studies that Sophia boasts a long tradition. Variety of disciplines are available in English while the main language of instruction is Japanese (please see “undergraduate” and “graduate” for the medium language of instruction).

Sophia University has been selected as one of 37 universities to receive funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for internationalization effort called the "Top Global University Project."

For more details, please visit the official website: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/.
Up to date pictures of campus are also available on facebook and instagram.  

Available programmes

University information

There are various admissions to apply for Sophia University.

In general, the admission decision is made based on document screening for English-taught programs. No written exam or interview is required.

For the English-taught programs, no Japanese skill is needed to apply, enroll, and graduate with all support in English whereas students have chances to learn the Japanese language while focusing on your major studies.

-English-taught programs

We offer bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, non-degree (taking credits for a semester or two), and exchange programs. We also offer Sophia short-term programs in summer and January. Short-term program students cannot earn a Sophia University degree or take regular courses, but can earn credits upon completion of the program. Please refer to our website for the details.

-Scholarships 

Sophia University’s scholarships are all grants with various types for international students. Please refer to our website for the details.

General

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The Campus (YOTSUYA Campus) is located in the heart of Tokyo a megacity, yet surrounded by nature and greenery. Students can enjoy all the benefits of its state-of-the-art technology, facilities, and infrastructure.

Yotsuya Campus Map

On and off-campus Facilities

Central Library

Learning Support Information

12,705
90%
10%
1,218
52%
48%
1,087
83%
17%

Student life

Fours Years to Grow with Unique Friends From all Over the World
Campus life at Sophia University begins with the entrance ceremony, marked by cherry blossoms in full bloom along Sanadabori. Located in the heart of the city, yet surrounded by nature in Yotsuya, the campus is filled with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere. As a single campus, students can interact with international students as well as peers from different faculties. Additionally, there are facilities and equipment to support a variety of activities, including extracurricular activities and volunteer activities, as well as a support system to consult with students when they face problems in their student life or career development.
For details, please visit Sophia official website 

Overview: Of the humanities and social sciences graduates (about 2500), 84% went to work and 6% went on to graduate school. Of the science and technology graduates (about 400), 43% went to work and 54% went to graduate school.

Among undergraduates, the employment rate for applicants is 97.7%. There is a lot of support for current students utilizing the network of alumni, such as seminars by company. Support


Career Center:  The Sophia Career Center supports students' job-seeking activities and gives them tips to find career opportunities.

Students have access to the following programs offered by the Career Center.

- Individual counseling service

- Job fair

- Job search workshops


Where Students Go (from English-taught programs):

- Public Services (Japanese governmental ministries)

- Trade and Industry

- Banking and Finance

- Media and Arts

- Communications and Technology

- Graduate School


Sophia University Alumni Association (SUAA) : Sophia University has approximately 140,000 alumni; 3,000 students graduate every year. The Sophia University Alumni Association (SUAA or "Sophia-kai" in Japanese) promotes friendship among Sophia's alumni and contributes to Sophia University's developing, setting and accomplishing further goals.


Cost of Living

Accomodation
$10,520
Food
$4,440
Transport
$680
Utilities
$3,260

Tuition fees

Overall Tuition Fees
Domestic
10,000 USD
International
10,000 USD

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

Rankings & Ratings

Sophia University is one of the top private universities in Tokyo, Japan. It is ranked #951-1000 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

QS World University Rankings

  • 2018
    #701-750
  • 2019
    #751-800
  • 2020
    #801-1000
  • 2021
    #801-1000
  • 2022
    #801-1000
  • 2023
    #801-1000
  • 2024
    #901-950
  • 2025
    #951-1000

QS World University Rankings

  • 2018
    #701-750
  • 2019
    #751-800
  • 2020
    #801-1000
  • 2021
    #801-1000
  • 2022
    #801-1000
  • 2023
    #801-1000
  • 2024
    #901-950
  • 2025
    #951-1000

Videos & media

Videos & media

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Campus locations

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Frequently Asked Questions

In terms of undergraduate students,  In the Faculty of Liberal Arts, approximately 70% are Japanese students and 30% are foreign nationals, while in the Faculty of Science and Technology English-taught programs, approximately 80% are foreign nationals. However, even if the students’ nationality is Japanese, they could have dual nationality or have spent most of their lives abroad. Therefore, it is not possible to know students’ background from their nationalities.

Most of the international students come from the U.S., followed by China and Korea. In the Faculty of Science and Technology English-taught programs, many students come from Southeast Asia. Nationalities are diverse and they represent about 40 countries in the world.

No. Decision on acceptance or rejection will be based on document screening only. However, Ph.D. applicants may be asked to have an interview.



There is no minimum standardized test score requirements for application, However all applicants for admission to undergraduate programs have to submit at least one of the indicated scores (SAT/ACT/IB/GCE A-Levels.)
Yes. However, you need to register online, pay the application fee and submit the application documents for each program.
Sophia University advanced Private High 12 yes 10000 1218 L 1027