1. Application form

1-1 Expected Graduation

Q1-1-1. I will graduate during my study period at Sophia, can I still apply?
A. No.
Exchange students must be enrolled in their home universities until the end of their study abroad.
Please be advised that our Spring semester is from April to the end of July, and the grades for Spring semester will not be available until the middle of September. Our Autumn semester is from late September to the end of January, and the grades for Autumn semester will not be available until the middle of March.

1-2 List of courses you wish to take at Sophia

Q1-2-1. How do I choose courses?
A. First choose the Sophia University Faculty based on your preferred area of study.
Then refer to the Course List in it’s Bulletin.
You can search for details of each course by syllabus inquiry system.
You must choose courses mainly from the Faculty you are applying.

Please refer to the Course Information & Bulletin below.
Course Information & Bulletin

Q1-2-2. Can I take language courses?
A. No.
Language courses except Japanese are not offered for exchange students.

Q1-2-3. When will the latest course list be published?
How do I choose a course when I apply?
A. The updated course information will be finalized and published in March.
Basically, the syllabus is almost same every year, but the schedule of some courses might be different next year.
We can’t guarantee that all of the courses will be offered and there might be time conflict in the schedule.
We advise students to refer to the current course list at the time of application, and fix the courses during the course registration period after coming to Sophia.

Q1-2-4. Are there any rules for taking courses or courses that exchange students cannot take?
A. Please read the following page carefully.
Course Registration and Obligations at Sophia

1-3 Japanese Language Course

Q1-3-1. Are there any points to keep in mind when taking Intensive Japanese?
A. The Intensive Japanese is a very demanding course. We usually recommend students to take no more than two courses besides Intensive Japanese.
https://sophia-cler.jp/study/ja/lesson.html

Q1-3-2. Which Japanese language courses should I choose for my application?
A. Regarding Japanese language course, unless you are a complete beginner who has never studied Japanese, you will have to take a Japanese placement test upon your arrival at Sophia.
You will be placed to the appropriate level following based on the results of the placement test.
In the meantime, please choose your expected level of the courses on the application form referring to the course syllabus.

Q1-3-3. How many credits may I take for one semester?
A. Please check the following page for the minimum course load requirement and the maximum number of credits allowed.
Course Registration and Obligations at Sophia

1-4 Reasonable Accommodation

Q1-4. Can I get Reasonable Accommodation, and what procedures do I need to follow?

A.  If you want to apply for Reasonable Accommodation for your study and research at Sophia, please refer to the following website. The application process will begin after you receive your acceptance notice.

Support for Students with Special Needs

2. Letter of academic recommendation

Q2-1. May I ask a teacher from another university to write a letter of recommendation?
A. No.
We require applicants to submit the letter from faculty member of their home institutions.

Q2-2. Can I ask a teacher who have not taught me in their class to write a letter of recommendation?
A. No.
The letter must be from a professor who has taught the applicant an academic course at your home institution.
We cannot accept the recommendation letter because if the teacher describes that they has not taught you in a class.

Q2-3. May I ask a tutor (such as “Graduate Instructor”) to write a letter of recommendation?
A. No.
This letter must be written by professor, assistant professor or lecturer.
We do not accept a letter written by a graduate student.

3. Official academic transcript(s)

Q3-1. Can I submit transcripts from previous semesters?
A. We require applicants to submit the most recent transcript.

Applicants for spring semester entrance: submit transcript including grades of previous spring semester.
Applicants for autumn semester entrance: submit transcript including grades of previous autumn semester.

Also, please submit the List of courses currently enrolled if the courses are not listed on the transcript. Please send us the information about what courses you are taking in this semester. The course title sent by text is fine for us.

Q3-2. I have no grades because I was on a leave of absence, what should I do?
A. If your transcript doesn’t include the grades for certain semesters, please let me know the reason for your leave of absence.

Q3-3. Can I submit a transcript written in a language other than English?
A. In case your transcript is not written in English, we would like to ask you to provide us with an English version or translation.
Documents in a language other than English or Japanese have to be translated into English or Japanese and certified by the home institution.

Q3-4. I am a transfer student and have no grades. What should I do?
A. Applicants must have completed at least one semester at their home institutions by the time of applying.
We are sorry that we will not be able to consider an application of students unless they have an official academic transcript showing courses taken and grades received from one of the partner institutions at the time of application period.
We cannot accept the transcript showing courses taken and grades received only from your previous home institution.
We need to know your grades of at least one semester taken at the current home university.

4. JLPT official test report

Q6-1. I will take Japanese Language Program and apply for FLA to take a couple of English-taught courses. Do I have to take JLPT?
A. No. As far as you do not take Japanese-taught courses, except Japanese Language Program, you do not need JLPT score. You will be placed to the appropriate level following based on the results of the placement test.

5. Photo copy of passport

Q9-1. My passport is expiring (has expired), what should I do?
A. Please complete your application with your current passport.
Please renew your passport and send a copy of renewed passport via email as soon as possible.

Q9-2. Which pages of my passport should I submit?
A. We need a copy of the entire passport photo page, Please do not submit any other pages, such as the cover page.

6. Application for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)

Q11-1. How much should I enter in the column “Method of support to pay for expenses while in Japan” to make the total?
A. Please make the amount 150,000 JPY per month in TOTAL.

7. Graduate Students

Q7-1. Can graduate students apply for undergraduate program?
A. Yes.
You can apply for Undergraduate program, but please be noted that it means you cannot take courses from the Graduate Program.

Q7-2. I have completed my undergraduate degree and will be entering graduate school. Can I apply for graduate school?
A. You can apply to the Graduate program, but you are required to submit Certificate of expected graduation of Bachelor’s program and expected enrollment in Master’s program. You must submit official documents which certify that you will complete undergraduate level study before coming to Sophia.
Also, please send us the Certificate of expected enrollment in Master’s program issued by your home university.

Q7-3. Are there any documents required when applying to graduate program?
A. All students who apply for Graduate level program must submit Diploma of Bachelor or official documents which certify that the student has completed undergraduate level study.
A transcript of bachelor’s program is also acceptable for us.

Q7-4. I have entered graduate school but have not yet received my transcript. What should I do?
A. You are required to submit a certificate of enrollment in the Master’s level program at your home university.
A transcript issued by the master’s program is fine for us, but if your transcript has not been issued yet, we request you to submit a certificate of enrollment instead of a transcript.