Study Abroad

   Tokyo, Japan - Sophia University

   
Exchange places to Sophia University  are very limited and offered to students as they finish applications. If you are not offered an exchange place, you can still apply for an exchange program at a different university in Japan, or through a provider program which has different financial implications. Learn what this means here. If you have any questions, email studyabroad@umb.edu.

Sophia University is a private Catholic university located in the center of Tokyo, Japan’s political and economic hub. The university was founded in 1913 by the Jesuits with the mission to build bridges between Japan and the world, and is now one of the top private universities in Japan. Sophia University has been a pioneer of international education in Japan, attracting faculty and students from all over the world. The university has nine undergraduate faculties with 29 departments and ten graduate schools with 25 programs, serving more than 13,000 students at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels, including more than 1,300 international students. All departments have bilingual staff members who speak English and are able to assist international students. Students can study humanities, social sciences, business and economics, science and technology, and environmental studies in English.

To apply for the Exchange Program:

1. Confirm that this program works for you both academically and financially. Check the courses offered and speak with your academic advisor on which courses you should try to take while abroad that will count towards your degree. If you are receiving financial aid or want to apply for financial aid for the study abroad program, contact Nicole.Brennan@umb.edu so you know what you can expect in aid for the program. 
2. Once you are sure this is the program for you, apply on this website for the program (click apply at the bottom). 
3. Once completed, contact the Office of Global Programs to have your nomination submitted to Sophia. From there you will also need to submit the exchange application through Sophia University directly: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/admissions/exchangeprograms/index.html

For all of the steps and information on applying to study abroad through UMass Boston, download the checklist: Study Abroad Steps to Stay on Track 2020.pdf

COURSES
There are a wide variety of courses available in English in the following departments:
Undergraduate: Liberal Arts (Comparative Culture, International Business and Economics, Social Studies), and Science and Technology (Green Engineering, Green Science). Sophia University also provides multiple Japanese language courses for international students.Graduate: Global Studies, Global Environmental Studies, TESOL.

To find a list of available courses, click here. Click on the "Bulletin of Information for Each Program Taught in English" and then click the appropriate department. To obtain a syllabus, click "Course Syllabus Inquiry."

CREDITS
Students must study full time at the home and host Institutions. With the completion of the Request for Prior Approval of Transfer Credit of Study Abroad Programs form, your credits (not grades) will transfer towards your degree at UMass Boston. This form can be obtained from the Study Abroad office.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Autumn semester: September – February
Spring semester: April –July 

ELIGIBILITY 
University of Massachusetts students only. Undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate students who have currently completed at least one year of full-time study with the most recent semester completed at UMass Boston are eligible. Students must be in good academic standing (at least 3.0 GPA) with no disciplinary problems. Students must be proficient in English. Non-native English speakers must have a score of at least TOEFL iBT79 or IELTS 6.5. 

Nominated students must submit the required forms to the UMass Boston study abroad office.
Rules for submitting application to Sophia University:
1) The Application Form and other prescribed forms are available only at the office in charge of Exchange Programs in our partner institutions. The applicants are required to submit their applications through the exchange program coordinator of their home institution.
2) All documents have to be originals. If the original certificate (of language aptitude proof, etc) is unavailable, please submit a copy of the document certified by the home institution.
3) Documents printed in a language other than English or Japanese have to be translated into English or Japanese and certified by the home institution.
4) Application documents will not be returned. If an applicant withdraws from the exchange program, the application documents will be kept at Sophia for one year.
5) Please fill out all of the documents with pen.

Documents to be submitted to Sophia University:
1) Application form (form provided by study abroad office)
2) 4 photographs (length 4cm x width 3cm) *DO NOT STAPLE THE PHOTOS
3) Official Academic Transcript(s)
4) Two Letters of Recommendation (Form Provided)
5) Photocopy of Passport (and visa, if not coming on college student visa)
6) Housing Application Form (Form Provided)
7) Certificate of Health (Form Provided) 
8) English Aptitude Proof (for applicants from non-English speaking institution to English taught program)
9) Japanese Language Aptitude Proof (For undergraduate/graduate programs taught in Japanese ONLY)
10) Application for Certificate of Eligibility (To be submitted online)

COSTS
See budget sheet. Please note, the Office of Global Programs use estimated price values for our UMass Boston Reciprocal Exchange’ budget sheets. Actual prices may vary, please contact your program provider for more details. 

Do you receive any financial aid, such as scholarships or grants to fund your education? Find out if your financial aid will apply towards studying abroad using the following Financial Aid Guide here

The Financial Aid Guide provides lots of information. However, prior to applying it is advised to contact Financial Aid services for financial aid inquiries and concerns. Link to Financial Aid services website:


HOUSING
There are four off campus dormitories available to international students. Students can complete a housing form to have their accommodation arranged by Sophia University. Exchange students should expect a 45-90 minute commuting time to campus. Students who arranged their housing through Sophia University will be met at the airport by a local student and escorted via public transportation to their accommodation.

VISA

You are responsible for obtaining the correct visa before you travel. 

Students are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival in Japan. For more information on student visas, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website. To apply for a student visa, visit the Consulate General of Japan in Boston website. Some visas can take several weeks to obtain. Make sure you understand the requirements for your specific visa. 

Download: Japan Country Information and Visas.pdf

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Pre-decision Phase Instructions: 
This is a UMass Boston Reciprocal Exchange Program. There are two separate applications. First, students apply to the program by completing this online UMass Boston application. If eligible to study abroad, the UMass Boston Study Abroad Office nominates the student to the university abroad. The student is then informed with a letter or an email about next steps to complete the university's abroad application (online or hard copy forms). Please click here for application instructions. 
 
Post-decision Phase Instructions: 
The final decision to accept a student is made by the university abroad and the student will be emailed. Once accepted by the university abroad, UMass Boston students must complete all the requirements indicated by the university abroad, in addition to completing all forms and submitting all the post-acceptance documents to UMass Boston Study Abroad Office. Please click here for instructions and forms.