Sophia University Admission Requirements 2027 for International Students

Sophia University is a private Catholic university in central Tokyo. Its Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) is a long-running, fully English-taught undergraduate degree open to first-year and transfer applicants, admitting twice a year for Spring and Autumn entry.

Last verified 7 September 2026. Sources · Official site

Requirements

Bachelor's (Faculty of Liberal Arts)

Applicants need to have completed, or be on track to complete, 12 years of education outside Japan, or hold an IB Diploma or GCE A-Levels; junior-level transfer applicants need equivalent standing from a recognised university. No Japanese ability is required; instruction is entirely in English.

Master's and PhD

Each graduate school sets its own requirements and deadline; a relevant Bachelor's degree (or Master's degree for doctoral study) is the general baseline.

Documents

An online application, academic transcripts and certificates, an English test score (TOEFL or IELTS) unless exempt, and any further documents the yearly Application Procedure booklet lists, along with the JPY 35,000 application fee plus a JPY 1,100 online payment handling charge.

How to apply

Confirm your eligibility (12 years of non-Japanese schooling, IB Diploma, or A-Levels) and, for transfer applicants, your standing at your current university.
Prepare your transcripts and an English test score meeting FLA's minimum, unless exempt.
Submit your online application and pay the JPY 35,000 application fee (plus a JPY 1,100 handling charge) within the window for your chosen intake: Spring 2027 entry ran 11 November to 4 December 2026; Autumn 2027 entry runs 10 to 31 March 2027.
Wait for the admission decision, issued by document review; Spring results are announced by 5 February 2027 and Autumn results by 7 April 2027.
If accepted, Sophia's international office helps arrange your Certificate of Eligibility; use it to apply for a student visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.
Enrol in Tokyo, arrange health insurance and register your address.

English test waiver

The Faculty of Liberal Arts (FLA) asks for TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0 or above. The test is waived for applicants who have studied at least five of the last six years at a school where English is the primary medium of instruction, or who hold a C2 result on a Cambridge English Qualification.