Arts +Sciences (Sophia University)
Unique Experiences
EXPLORE BEYOND THE BIG CITY
and find hidden gems, such as the neighborhood of kichijoji and ome
EXPERIENCE JAPANESE CULTURE FIRSTHAND
try your hand at traditional indigo dyeing and make your own plastic food sample or relax at a tea-making ceremony
ELEVATE YOUR TASTEBUDS
by visiting the toyosu fish market and eating the freshest seafood right from the port
90
countries represented by Sophia University students
13.6 M
people make this the most densely populated place on Earth
142,000
square miles of total land space in Japan
Your Destination
Tokyo is a city like no other, where innovation meets tradition at every turn. With a population of more than 13 million, it’s a bustling metropolis that is also incredibly clean, safe, and well-organized. Discover how the city has ingeniously maximized its limited space, offering an astonishing variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. In Tokyo, customer service is more than a transaction – it’s a reflection of Japan’s deep-rooted values of respect, hospitality, and care. Expect to be treated with the utmost attention, from the helpful clerks who go above and beyond to the impeccable efficiency of the super-fast trains and even the peaceful, serene spaces in nature where you can relax and recharge.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Take an overnight trip to heritage sites where you will immerse yourself in Japanese culture
- Visit the Ghibli Museum, where Totoro is waiting for us at the entrance.
- Find your inner peace in an authentic Zen garden
- Get involved in campus life by joining a club at Sophia University.
- Enjoy weekend excursions to other regions in Japan, including Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba, Kanagawa, or Yamanashi
Projects
- Volunteering: We’ll help you find the perfect place to volunteer your skills: helping at a local school, collecting food for the homeless, or offering support to disabled youth.
- Internships: We are happy to assist you with ideas for non-credit opportunities.
Program Blogs
Top 10 Japanese Slang Words & Phrases You Must Know
Textbook Japanese is great and all, but if you really want to impress the locals, you need to know Japanese slang terms. These aren’t the phrases you’ll learn in class... keep reading
The 13 Best Gifts for a Study Abroad Student in 2024
Are you looking for the best gifts to give someone traveling abroad? Perhaps you need to find some study abroad gifts for a student planning to study overseas. You've come... keep reading
5 Reflections from Studying Abroad in Tokyo
Study abroad will change your life! We asked alumni to reflect on their time abroad and share a few tips to help future students prepare for the journey ahead. Check... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Tokyo offers various housing options, including homestays or residence halls. Typically housing options are located within 30 to 75 minutes of CIEE Tokyo.
Standard Housing: Includes a single room at a homestay with a local host family or a single occupancy room in an international student residence hall, within a 70-minute commute to CIEE Center
- Homestay: Homestays feature a family residence with a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom shared with the host family.
- Residence Hall: Residence halls feature dorm rooms with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi access, lounge areas, and laundry facilities. Residence halls house CIEE students, students from Sophia University, and other nearby universities, and other young professionals in modest-sized rooms. These private facilities are managed by bilingual staff who communicate with students and plan activities. Residence halls are co-ed, with a female-only floor available.
Select Housing: Double or triple occupancy room in a shared apartment or residence hall with a private bathroom. Residences are within 30 minutes of CIEE Tokyo and/or the city center. Select housing requires an additional fee.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Homestays: Breakfast and dinner are provided by your host family daily. Plan to get your own lunch.
- Residence halls & Apartments: Students are responsible for providing and paying for all meals and may prepare their meals in the shared kitchen.
Academics
Students enroll at the renowned Sophia University to explore Japanese language and culture, furthering their studies with courses from anthropology to political science (taught in English) while experiencing all that Tokyo has to offer. Students enroll in a Japanese language course and English-taught elective courses, one of which must have a Japan-related focus. Students can take the Intercultural Communication and Leadership course taught by CIEE as an elective course. Language level placement is based on Sophia University’s placement test conducted at the beginning of the semester. One to two semesters of college-level Japanese is recommended but not required. Students must be full-time students with at least one completed semester in a degree-seeking program at a four-year or two-year institution.
Sophia University was founded by Jesuits in 1913, and today, is one of the leading universities in Japan. It welcomes more than 13,000 students, including international students from more than 90 countries. Located in central Tokyo, the Yotsuya campus includes a library, computer labs, faculty and administrative offices, classrooms, and sports grounds.
CIEE Tokyo is conveniently located on the Yotsuya campus of Sophia University, minutes away from the vibrant Shinjuku and Ginza districts in Tokyo.
Course Information
Course Notes
- One elective course must have a Japan-related focus.
- Students are legally required to enroll in 10 hours of contact hours per week under a study visa.
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Communication, Journalism, and Media
SOPHIA UNIVERSITY COURSES
Sophia University offers a large selection of Japanese language courses and area studies courses taught in English. Some courses are taught on a rotational basis and may only be offered in alternate years. Students are advised to remain flexible in selecting courses.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSES
Students are required to take one Japanese language course. For the most up-to-date listings on Japanese language courses, and regular and intensive tracks, visit Sophia University’s Center for Language Education and Research website. Advanced students with near-native fluency may enroll in courses with varying credits, then select three other courses. These upper-level language courses focus on subjects such as translation or advanced reading and writing. Level placement is determined by Sophia University’s placement test conducted at the beginning of the semester.
- Japanese M3 (4 credits)
- Business Japanese 1-2 (2 credits)
INTENSIVE JAPANESE LANGUAGE OPTION
Students who have taken at least one semester of college-level Japanese through intermediate-level Japanese have the option to enroll in the Japanese Language Intensive Program (JLIP) at the appropriate level. In the JLIP, students study Japanese for 16 hours and 40 minutes each week. Students then choose two other courses. Level placement is determined by Sophia University’s placement test conducted at the beginning of the semester. Recommended credit: 8 semester/12 quarter hours.
FACULTY OF LIBERAL ARTS COURSES
Students may enroll in courses under three majors: Comparative Culture, International Business and Economics, and Social Studies. Not all courses are offered every semester. For the most up-to-date elective course listings, visit Sophia University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts website.
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Fall 2025 20 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $26,950 |
| Program Academic year 2025-2026 | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date * | End Date TBD* | |
| Program Spring 2026 19 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $20,956 ** |
| Housing | $5,500 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $26,950 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Housing Fee | $3,000 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $700 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $100 |
| Books & Supplies | $200 |
| Visa Fees | $22 ††† |
| Personal expenses | $280 †††† |
| Other | $100 ††††† |
| Total Costs | $3,102 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $420 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††visa application fee
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries (Sim requires one-time fee of $25)
†††††Japanese National Health Insurance
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Brendan Delahunty
Center Director
Brendan is a long-time resident of Japan, originally hailing from Sydney, Australia
Saya Nishina
Director of Operations
Saya gained extensive experience in the language education industry, working in various departments including sales/marketing, human resources, academic affairs, new business development, and international operations in Japan for more than 20 years.
Rumi Mizusako
College Program Coordinator
Rumi is passionate about encouraging others to explore beyond what they have always known and to engage in different cultures and values.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Kyoto, Japan
- Full-Time Internship
Kyoto is Japan’s historic, culturally rich city, known for its serene atmosphere, unique blend of ancient traditions and modern influence.
- Tokyo, Japan
- Full-Time Internship
Spend 12 weeks interning abroad FT (30-40 hours/week) and earning academic credit while discovering Japanese culture, cuisine, and architecture in Tokyo.
- Kyoto, Japan
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Your CIEE Semester Intern and Study Abroad program in Kyoto lasts 12 weeks and features three key components: A part-time internship with an international organization (15-20 hours per week), an internship seminar, and two academic courses (six credits) taught by CIEE faculty or online through CIEE’s global academic partner, ASU.