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Sophia University

Available places: 4 semester places for Autumn semester 2024, 4 semester places for Spring semester 2025.

Established: 1913
Number of students: 14,000-15,000
Campus: The campus is centrally located within walking distance of the National Diet, Imperial Palace and the State Guest House. Shinjuku, the world's busiest transport hub is just 5 minutes' train ride away from Yotsuya, the closest station from Sophia University.
Student life: There are more than 270 clubs and circles at the university, who function to provide extracurricular activities to all students. For more information including the list of student clubs and circles, please visit the page Student life and Support

Sophia University offers a student supporter programme, where incoming students are paired with Sophia University students. The supporter student is often the first Sophia student an exchange student meets before classes begin, and is a useful tool to integrate into life at Sophia.

Sophia University is a private Jesuit university located in the heart of Tokyo and is one of the top private universities in Japan.

About Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the largest cities in Asia, with a population of 9 million in the city and 35 million in the metropolitan area. That makes Tokyo one of the most populous areas. The city has many skyscrapers, more than New York. There are also several parks where it's possible to see the blooms of the cherry trees in the spring. Tokyo Sky Tree, which was opened to the public in 2012, is the city's tallest and the world's second tallest building. The tower has a lookout deck and is a popular tourist destination.

Information from Sophia University

General information

Only students studying a programme taught in English at Umeå University, or students who can provide a valid Official Language Proficiency Score certificate may apply to Sophia University.

Please note that you need to be aware of the instruction language of the programmes offered. Incoming exchange students need an undergraduate diploma in order to apply for graduate courses.

Please refer to this webpage for more information regarding closed programmes, programmes with limited access, and specific qualifications for programmes: Course Information

Course Restrictions

FLA core programs, FST laboratory classes, GPGS compulsory courses, the foreign language courses (except Japanese language) and Seminars, are not open to exchange students. The following courses are also closed to exchange students: “Studies in Christian Humanism: For Others, with Others”, “Liberal Arts of the Body”, “Critical Thinking & Writing”, “Overview of Data Science” and “Thinking about Issues, Perspectives and Positionality”.

Please note that exchange students should choose most courses from the departments/graduate program that they are enrolled in.

The course syllabus is subject to change and may vary each year. Please refer to the latest information available online. 

For more information regarding restrictions, please see: Course Registration and Obligations

Full time studies (corresponding to 30 hp):

16 credits per semester (3-4 courses).

Exchange students must register for the equivalent of at least 10 hours of instruction per week.

Course types:

Lecture course: 2 or 4 credits per course. One credit=675 minutes class successfully completed
Language course: 2-8 credits, depending on the course. One credit=1,350 minutes class successfully completed.

Course levels:  Graduate and Undergraduate

Academic year

Autumn term: September– January/February
Spring term: April–August

Read more at

Living Expenses and Housing Arrangement

Exchange Programme

Sophia University Instagram

Disability Services

Student grants and loans for studies outside of Sweden

You may be entitled to student grants and loans from CSN when studying abroad.

As the cost of living and accommodation may be higher abroad, you can apply for an extra loan known as an additional loan for studies abroad.

You can also apply for an additional loan to cover additional costs, i.e. travel and insurance costs. 

Latest update: 2023-10-13