Sophia University in Tokyo: English Programs, Admissions, Scholarships, Student Life

Thinking about studying in Japan, in the heart of Tokyo, with classes available in English and a truly global student community? Sophia University is one of Japan’s most international private universities, founded by the Jesuits in 1913 and renowned for liberal arts and STEM taught in English. From its compact main campus in Yotsuya to specialized sites across the city (and a satellite campus in Osaka), Sophia blends small-class attention with big-city opportunity. This guide walks you through quick facts, campuses, mission and history, academic strengths, student support, exchange options, climate and lifestyle, key statistics, and career outcomes—with official sources linked throughout.

Quick Facts: Sophia University at a Glance

Below is a fast, vertical “at-a-glance” table. Where ranges are shown (e.g., tuition), they reflect official guidance that fees vary by faculty and year; always confirm the latest figures on Sophia’s own pages. Core statistics such as total students, gender balance, international-student share, and students-per-staff come from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 institutional profile. Official Site | THE Key Stats | Tuition & Scholarships

Type	Private (Jesuit, Catholic). Official
Total Students	13,078 (THE 2025). Source
Campuses	Yotsuya (Main); Mejiro Seibo; Shakujii; Hadano; Osaka Satellite. Campus Overview
Faculties / Schools	Faculty of Theology; Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Human Sciences; Faculty of Law; Faculty of Economics; Faculty of Foreign Studies; Faculty of Global Studies; Faculty of Science and Technology; Faculty of Liberal Arts. Undergraduate Programs
Tuition Fees (UG)	Approx. ¥1,100,000–¥1,600,000 per year (varies by faculty) + one-time admission fee (≈ ¥200,000). Always check the latest official tables. Tuition (Official)
Gender Ratio	61% Female : 39% Male (THE 2025). Source
Intl‑Student %	10% (THE 2025). Source
Students per Staff	12.8 (THE 2025). Source

Campus Maps

Yotsuya Campus (Main, Tokyo)

Address: 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan

Mejiro Seibo Campus (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Address: 4-16-11 Shimoochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8550, Japan

Hadano Campus (Kanagawa)

Address: 999 Sannoudai, Kamiozuki, Hadano-shi, Kanagawa 257-0005, Japan

Osaka Satellite Campus (Osaka)

Address: 3-12-8 Toyosaki, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 531-0072, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Sophia University’s story begins with the Jesuit educational tradition, which emphasizes intellectual rigor, ethical formation, and service to others. Established in 1913 with just 15 students, Sophia was envisioned as a bridge between Japan and the world. Its official name in Japanese, Jōchi (上智), evokes “higher wisdom,” aligning with the university’s Latin motto, Lux Veritatis—“Light of Truth.” The Spirit of Sophia

The founders—Jesuit priests working with support from the Holy See—saw an urgent need for an institution in Tokyo that would cultivate globally minded graduates fluent in languages and capable of engaging diverse cultures. From its earliest years, Sophia specialized in foreign languages and international studies, and in 1928 it became the first Catholic university in Japan. The Yotsuya site—steps from Yotsuya Station—helped create an intimate, city-integrated campus where scholars and students from Japan and abroad could study side by side. Official Site | Background

Sophia’s mission matured through periods of challenge and change. In 1957, the institution transitioned from a men’s college to coeducation, a milestone that broadened access and enriched campus life. Today it maintains a notably high proportion of women students by national and global standards. Historical Chronicle (Sophia) | Gender Ratio (THE)

The university’s growth has been guided by a simple formula: global outlook + strong languages + interdisciplinary academics + location. Sophia expanded from Yotsuya to specialized campuses (Mejiro Seibo for Nursing; Shakujii; Hadano; and an Osaka Satellite) while maintaining an intimate learning environment anchored by small classes and faculty access. Its Jesuit identity continues to shape academic life and student formation, emphasizing the dignity of each person and a responsibility “for others, with others.” Campuses | Mission

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Global Liberal-Arts Core (FLA)

Sophia’s Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) is one of Japan’s most established English-medium undergraduate programs. It offers small seminars, writing-intensive coursework, and concentrations across comparative culture, social studies, and international business/economics. Student cohorts are notably international and bilingual, with more than half of faculty hailing from overseas. FLA Overview. According to admissions FAQs, roughly 30% of FLA undergraduates are non‑Japanese nationals in typical years, while English‑taught Science & Technology programs host even higher shares of international students. Admissions FAQ

STEM in English: Green Science & Green Engineering

Sophia’s Faculty of Science and Technology offers two English‑medium tracks—the Green Science program (Materials & Life Sciences) and the Green Engineering program (Engineering & Applied Sciences). Both emphasize sustainability and lab‑based learning, preparing graduates for advanced study or industry roles in Japan and beyond. Green Science/Engineering | Program Guide (PDF)

Flagship Faculty: Foreign Studies (Languages & Area Expertise)

A long-standing powerhouse in Japanese higher education, the Faculty of Foreign Studies combines deep language training with cultural and regional studies across English, German, French, Hispanic, Russian, and Luso-Brazilian fields—ideal for careers in diplomacy, media, and global business. See official overview and departments: Faculty of Foreign Studies | Faculty microsite.

Flagship Faculty: Liberal Arts (FLA – All-English Program)

One of Japan’s most established all-English undergraduate programs, FLA offers writing-intensive seminars and flexible concentrations in comparative culture, social studies, and international business/economics—drawing a highly international cohort on the central Yotsuya campus. Learn more: FLA (University page) | FLA official site.

Flagship Track: Green Science & Green Engineering (English-medium STEM)

Sophia’s Faculty of Science and Technology offers two English-medium bachelor’s tracks focused on sustainability and lab-based learning—preparation for graduate study or industry roles in Japan and abroad. Program overviews and admissions: Green Science / Green Engineering | Admissions (FST English programs).

Flagship Faculty: Law (International & Public-facing Legal Studies)

With pathways spanning general law, international legal studies, and the legal environment, Sophia’s Faculty of Law pairs legal reasoning with global issues—attractive for students eyeing government, NGOs, compliance, or graduate legal education. See details: Faculty of Law (Undergraduate) | Graduate School of Law.

SPSF: Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures

Launched in 2020, SPSF is an English‑based undergraduate pathway that spans six departments (Economics, Education, Global Studies, Journalism, Management, Sociology). It blends disciplinary depth with cross‑cutting sustainability issues and often attracts globally mobile applicants who want an English curriculum in Tokyo. About SPSF | SPSF 2025 (PDF)

Tokyo Location & Global Network

The Yotsuya main campus sits a few minutes from JR/Tokyo Metro Yotsuya Station—an urban, walkable location that makes internships, interviews, and cultural life convenient. Campus Access (Programs). Institutionally, Sophia maintains more than 300 partner institutions worldwide and runs robust exchange pathways through its Center for Global Education and Discovery. Exchange Programs | Exchange (Admissions). The university also operates overseas liaison offices and an Osaka Satellite Campus for outreach and continuing education. Campuses & Overseas Offices | Osaka Satellite (PDF)

Languages, Multicultural Campus & SDG Impact

Sophia offers language instruction in 22 languages and cultivates a multilingual campus culture—an attractive differentiator for students aiming at global careers. Multicultural & Languages. On impact, Sophia appears in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings with particularly strong results on Climate Action (ranked 75th in 2025), signaling activity connected to sustainability and SDGs across teaching and research. THE Impact Stats

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles. Sophia has a deep tradition of student clubs (“circles”), ranging from cultural and academic groups to sports and volunteer organizations. Exchange and degree‑seeking international students are welcome to join. Extracurricular Activities (English) | Clubs & Circles (Piloti)

Buddy & Language‑Exchange. The Language Buddy Program pairs international students with peers to practice Japanese and share culture—ideal for newcomers who want structured conversation support. Language Buddy Program

Dedicated Offices. The Center for Global Education and Discovery is the frontline for inbound exchange support (course registration, transcripts, general advising). Sophia also provides counseling services and guidance on daily life. Center Support (Overview) | Student Counseling | Exchange (Admissions)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Sophia partners with 300+ universities worldwide and receives exchange students under formal agreements; outbound Sophia students study abroad via semester or year‑long programs and short terms. Inbound exchange students typically enroll in the Faculty of Liberal Arts (English) or English‑taught options in Science & Technology and SPSF, with dedicated enrollment and registration workflows and official transcripts sent to the home institution. Exchange Programs (Piloti) | Admissions Exchange | Registration & Transcript

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Tokyo)

Weather pattern. Tokyo has a humid subtropical climate: hot, humid summers (rainy season in early summer; typhoons can affect late summer/early autumn) and cool, relatively dry winters with occasional snow. Climate normals (1991–2020) are published by Japan’s Meteorological Agency and the World Meteorological Organization. JMA Climate Normals | WMO: Tokyo

Cost of living. Official guidance for international students notes that national average housing runs around ¥41,000/month, while Tokyo averages about ¥57,000/month; total monthly funds in Tokyo commonly target ~¥150,000 depending on housing and lifestyle. Always budget for key money/deposits, transport, and utilities. Study in Japan (JASSO) | Sophia Living Expenses

Attractive environment. Yotsuya offers quick rail links to tech, media, finance, and government districts; galleries and museums in Chiyoda/Shinjuku are a short ride away. The campus’s compact footprint means cafés, libraries, labs, and gyms are within a few minutes’ walk, supporting a close‑knit community amid Tokyo’s scale. For campus access and facilities, see official pages. Campus Access

International Student Statistics

According to the Times Higher Education institutional profile for 2025, international students make up roughly 10% of Sophia’s total enrollment (student total reported: 13,078), with a student‑to‑staff ratio of 12.8 and a gender ratio of 61% female : 39% male. THE Key Stats

Sophia’s official “Facts & Figures” page similarly notes that roughly one in eleven students is a foreign national, reinforcing the 9–10% range. While the mix changes year to year, common home countries among international undergraduates include the United States, China, and South Korea. Facts & Figures | Admissions FAQ

Career & Graduate Prospects

Sophia graduates are known for strong employment outcomes aided by a Career Center that coordinates job‑hunting guidance, recruiter engagement, and alumni outreach. Public materials indicate that in typical years around 96–97% of graduating students secure employment (or proceed to further study), reflecting both market demand and student preparation. Career Statistics | Career Facts (Piloti) | Career Center

For English‑speaking employers in Japan, Sophia co‑hosts an annual career fair entirely in English with Temple University, Japan Campus—an efficient way for international students to meet global‑facing firms. Sophia–TUJ Career Fair

Alumni include leaders in government, media, business, and the arts. One prominent example is Morihiro Hosokawa, Japan’s 79th Prime Minister, who studied at Sophia before entering journalism and eventually national politics. Britannica: Hosokawa

Practical Notes: Admissions, English-Taught Degrees & Scholarships

Sophia’s English‑taught undergraduate options include the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Green Science/Engineering, and SPSF. Application windows, eligibility, and document requirements differ by program, and some programs admit in the autumn (September) as well as spring. Scholarship opportunities exist via Sophia and external schemes; many are need‑based grants rather than loans. English‑Taught Degrees (UG) | Tuition & Scholarships (Official) | Scholarships for International Students