Tokyo's Sophia University: A Student Hub

Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, is a private Jesuit research university with a diverse student population. The university has a total of over 13,900 students, including 1,500 international students from 85 countries. Sophia University offers a wide range of academic programmes and is known for its rigorous training in foreign languages. The university has a centrally located urban campus and is considered one of the top private universities in the country.

Undergraduate and postgraduate student numbers

Sophia University in Tokyo is a private Jesuit research university with a diverse student population. It was founded in 1913 and became the first Catholic university in Japan in 1928. The university has a total of over 13,900 students, including over 1,500 international students from 85 countries.

As of 2022, there were 12,080 undergraduate students and 1,357 postgraduate students at Sophia University. The undergraduate population is distributed across 9 faculties and 29 departments, while the postgraduate population is spread across 10 graduate schools.

The Faculty of Liberal Arts, formerly known as the Faculty of Comparative Culture, is one of the largest faculties at Sophia University, with approximately 70% Japanese students and 30% foreign nationals. This faculty offers American-style liberal arts education with programs in social sciences, humanities, international business, and Japanese language and studies, all taught in English.

The Faculty of Science and Technology, on the other hand, has a higher proportion of international students, with approximately 80% foreign nationals in its English-taught programs. This faculty offers programs in science and technology, integrating studies in the humanities to prepare students for complex problems in today's world.

Sophia University provides a holistic educational experience, with a focus on "the highest wisdom" across diverse areas of study. The university's small class sizes, with over 70% of courses taught in classes of 40 students or fewer, enhance the learning experience for its undergraduate and postgraduate students.

International student numbers

Sophia University in Tokyo is known for its diverse student population, with over 1,500 international students from around 77 countries contributing to the internationalisation of the campus culture. This number constituted approximately 9% of the student body as of 2022.

The university has exchange agreements with 400 universities in 81 countries, and students can take advantage of extensive opportunities for study abroad, including long-term and short-term programs, study tours, and overseas internships. The university's quarter system, which divides the spring and fall semesters into two halves, corresponds to the academic calendar of overseas universities, making it easier for students to study abroad or take a leave of absence.

The university's diverse curriculum facilitates learning more than one language, and many students take this opportunity, learning three or more languages. The university also has approximately 96 full-time faculty members from overseas, fostering a global perspective through a rich cross-cultural education.

The main campus at Yotsuya, in the heart of Tokyo, is urban, consisting of roughly 25 large, modern buildings. The faculties of Theology, Humanities, Law, Foreign Studies, Economics, Liberal Arts, and Science and Technology are all based here. The Tokyo office of the Council on International Educational Exchange, the student exchange organisation that oversees roughly half of the international students, is also based on the main Yotsuya Campus.

Total student population

Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, has a diverse student population of over 13,000 students. The university is known for its international student body, with over 1,500 students from 85 countries contributing to the internationalization of the campus culture. The student population is made up of 12,080 undergraduate students and 1,357 postgraduate students, with approximately 9% of the student body being foreign nationals.

The university has 9 undergraduate faculties and 10 graduate schools, with a total of 29 departments. The faculties include Humanities, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Foreign Studies, Global Studies, Liberal Arts, and Science and Technology. The graduate schools cover a range of disciplines, including science and technology, global environmental studies, economics, human sciences, law, theology, applied religious studies, humanities, global studies, languages and linguistics, and international cooperation studies.

The student population at Sophia University is highly diverse, with students from 77 countries and exchange agreements with 400 universities in 81 countries. The university is committed to providing a global education, and this is reflected in its student body. The main campus at Yotsuya is urban, with 25 large, modern buildings in the center of Tokyo. The majority of the 10,000 undergraduate students spend their time at this campus, which houses the faculties of Theology, Humanities, Law, Foreign Studies, Economics, Liberal Arts, and Science and Technology.

The university offers a range of English-taught academic programs, such as those provided by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and the Faculty of Science and Technology. These programs attract a significant number of international students, further contributing to the diversity of the student population. The university also has a variety of extracurricular activities, including 19 cultural clubs, 10 musical clubs, and 8 theatrical clubs, as well as Catholic organizations such as the Catholic Student Association.

Popularity of different faculties

Sophia University in Tokyo is a highly globalised university with a diverse student population. It has a total of over 13,900 students, including 12,080 undergraduates and 1,357 postgraduates. The university consists of 9 undergraduate faculties and 10 graduate schools.

The Faculty of Liberal Arts (formerly known as the Faculty of Comparative Culture) is one of the most popular faculties at Sophia University, with approximately 70% Japanese students and 30% foreign nationals. The faculty offers American-style liberal arts education with programs in social sciences, humanities, international business, and Japanese language and studies taught in English. The faculty is located on the main Yotsuya campus, which is in the heart of Tokyo and consists of roughly 25 large, modern buildings.

The Faculty of Science and Technology is another popular choice, especially among international students. In the English-taught programs, approximately 80% of the students are foreign nationals, many of whom come from Southeast Asia. The faculty offers programs in science and technology, as well as Green Science and Engineering courses taught in English. These programs aim to prepare students to tackle complex problems by integrating the studies of humanities and science.

The Faculty of Foreign Studies is also well-regarded, taking a multi-dimensional approach to the rich and diverse world. The faculty aims to produce individuals who are strong in languages and can use them as tools to better understand the world.

The Faculty of Global Studies is designed to foster competent individuals equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the globalised world as "global professionals".

The Faculty of Economics, which includes the Department of Economics and the Department of Management, is also popular among students seeking to prepare for the business world. These departments cover large areas of study in economics, commerce, and marketing.

The Faculty of Human Sciences focuses on the core idea of "the dignity of individuals," offering programs that cover theoretical and practical approaches to policy management, human care, and human science.

Student accommodation

Sophia University in Tokyo offers a range of student accommodation options, both on and off-campus. The university has three directly managed dormitories: Soshigaya International House, Arrupe International Residence, and Edagawa Men's Dormitory. These dorms are located between 10 and 50 minutes from the university and offer various facilities, including kitchens, laundry rooms, lounges, libraries, and sports facilities. The dorms also provide support for students living away from home, with welcome events, cooking classes, and other social events.

In addition to the directly managed dormitories, Sophia University has a group of designated and recommended dormitories owned and operated by private housing companies. These include the Higashi Nakano Dormitory, Kasai International House, and Student House Luxlass. These dorms are located in different wards of Tokyo, such as Nakano, Edogawa, and Shinjuku.

For international exchange students, Sophia University offers off-campus housing arrangements on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can also arrange private housing through a housing agency if needed. There are also many options for student accommodation near the university, provided by companies such as Student.com and uhomes.com. These options include apartments and student residences within a mile of the university, with various features such as window views, balconies, air-conditioning, and proximity to subway stations.

Overall, Sophia University and the surrounding area provide a variety of accommodation choices for students, ensuring they can find a suitable place to live during their studies.

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