
The Faculty of Liberal Arts and the Graduate Program in Global Studies are the direct descendants of Sophia University’s International Division, established in 1949, as Japan’s first degree programs taught completely in English.
The Faculty of Liberal Arts offers degree programs in Comparative Culture, International Business and Economics, and Social Studies, as well as a full-range of Japanese language and studies courses for international students.
All of our faculties and graduate schools welcome international students. 1,148 international students come from more than 60 countries and from all parts of the world. Our faculty includes members from more than 20 countries, and most faculty members have overseas study and research experience.
We have research and student exchange agreements with 185 universities in 40 countries. We actively encourage our students to study overseas, and support international collaborative research projects by faculty and graduate students. Every year we welcome more than 200 exchange students who come to study at Sophia, and send the same number to our partners in Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
Sophia graduates are leaders in global society. As students, Sophians have opportunities not only to master foreign languages but also to gain experience in multi-cultural interaction that prepares them for careers in international organizations, international businesses, NGOs and NPOs.
Founded in 1913 as the first Catholic university in Japan, Sophia has grown to be one of Japan’ s leading private universities. Its reputation for excellence in undergraduate education, for outstanding graduate programs, and a competitive research environment have allowed Sophia to maintain its ranking as one of the top Japanese private universities.