������911

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Tentative Dates

Sep 15, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026

20 weeks

Costs

$26,950 See Full Breakdown

Credit

15-16 semester hours

22.5-24 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

March 1, 2025

Tentative Dates

Mar 27, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026

44 weeks

Costs

$26,950 See Full Breakdown

Credit

15-16 semester hours

22.5-24 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Dates

Sep 17, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025

19 weeks

Costs

$26,950 See Full Breakdown

Credit

15-16 semester hours

22.5-24 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Dates

TBD

Costs

$52,550 See Full Breakdown

Credit

15-16 semester hours

22.5-24 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Learn more about scholarships

Take your arts and sciences studies to the next level in Japan's exciting capital, Tokyo, which radiates light, energy, anime, manga, and games. CIEE's prestigious partner school, Sophia University, will be your host for coursework in English on anthropology, art history, cultural studies, history, international business and economics, linguistics, literature, political science, religion, and philosophy. While taking your courses in the heart of fascinating, sprawling, and densely populated Tokyo, it's easy to immerse yourself in the culture and language. Optional opportunities to volunteer in the community will further enrich your experience.

Your courses will include cultural activities and excursions organized by ��911beyond the city to enhance your classroom learning and provide intercultural understanding. In your free time, you'll have every opportunity to walk through the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden with friends or visit the observation deck Toyko Skytree for a fantastic view of the city.

See More On:

Unique Experiences

Take giant steps

in your Japanese language skills with classes at your level, from pure beginner to nearly fluent

Take the bullet train

to explore Hiroshima’s famous Peace Memorial Museum and see firsthand the impact of the world’s first atomic bomb

Share classes

and lasting friendships – with Japanese students

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

A city like no other, Tokyo is all about what’s new. With a population of more than 13 million people, it’s crowded, but it’s also super clean and safe. See how limited space has been maximized in ingenious ways and enjoy an astounding variety of shopping options and entertainment. In Tokyo, every customer gets the royal treatment - from helpful clerks and super-fast trains to plenty of places to relax in nature.

��911wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local ��911staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Tokyo.

The Culture

street signs and light up building tokyo japan

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.
Academic-year students take an additional weekend to discover other regions like Sendai, Kansai, or Nagano, practicing the language while they explore.
Choose from a range of group cultural activities – there’s always more to see and do.

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.
��Գٱ��Բ��󾱱��: We are happy to assist you with ideas for non-credit opportunities.

Program Blogs

gifts for someone traveling abroad study abroad

From CIEE

The 13 Best Gifts for a Study Abroad Student in 2024

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

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

From CIEE

5 Reflections from Studying Abroad in Tokyo

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

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

From CIEE

EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE: TOKYO

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

EAT Since the 17th century, soba (buckwheat) noodles have been a staple in the Japanese diet. These tasty noodles are as thick as spaghetti and are eaten either in a... keep reading

What People are Saying

"It was fun. I learned a lot of Japanese, and I made a lot of friends in the program and outside of the program at the university."

Izaak D., Iowa State University
"The program offers lots of opportunities to put yourself out there and learn the culture and history of the country you're staying in. It will also give you the opportunity to make new friends."

Caleb C., University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

Housing & Meals

Housing

��911Tokyo offers various housing options, including homestays or residence halls. Typically housing options are located within 45-75 minutes of ��911Tokyo.

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.

Typical housing for a homestay features a family residence with a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom shared with the host family.

Residence halls feature rooms with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi access, lounge areas, and laundry facilities. Residence halls house ��911students, 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 student apartment with a private bathroom. Residences are within 30 minutes of ��911Tokyo and/or the city center.

Select Plus Housing: Single occupancy room in a student apartment with a private bathroom. Residences are within 30 minutes of ��911Tokyo and/or the city center.

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.

Meals

Homestays: Breakfast and dinner are provided by your host family daily. Plan to get your own lunch.

Residence halls: Students are responsible for providing and paying for all meals and may prepare their meals in the shared kitchen.

Food Truck

Lunch break in Sophia University.

Meals

Obanzai

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 have the ability to take the Intercultural Communication and Leadership course taught by ��911as an elective course. Language level placement is based on Sophia University’s placement test conducted at the beginning of the semester. 1-2 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.

��911Tokyo is conveniently located on the Yotsuya campus of Sophia University, minutes away from the vibrant Shinjuku and Ginza districts in Tokyo.

GPA

Students need to have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. Applications will undergo additional scrutiny from Sophia University’s admissions committee if the GPA is 3.0+ but student only has one completed semester at the current institution at time of application, or if the GPA is between 2.75 and under 3.0 (these applications are also required to submit supplemental materials). Sophia University maintains the final decision on admission, looking at performance within areas of study related to its Faculty of Liberal Arts.

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for ��911courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and ��911staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

1 Japanese language course
1 required Japanese Studies-focused course
2-3 Sophia University/��911elective courses

Program Credit

Total credit range: 15-16 U.S. semester/22.5-24 quarter credits

Course Credit

��911course: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
Japanese language courses: 2-4 U.S. semester/3-6 quarter credits; 54-108 contact hours
Japanese intensive language courses: 8 U.S. semester/12 quarter credits; 270 contact hours
Sophia University courses: 2-4 U.S. semester/3-6 quarter credits; 30-54 contact hours

Academic Culture

Classes are held on weekdays. Attendance is mandatory. Teaching methods combine lecture and interactive styles.

Class Format

��911students enroll in Sophia University courses alongside Japanese and other international students. The ��911course is offered only to Tokyo AS students.

Grading

Language classes: Students are graded based on the results from quizzes, exams, and homework assignments, in addition to class participation. Content courses: grades are based on class participation, a midterm exam, research papers, oral presentations, and a final exam. Some may include compulsory field trips with special assignments.

Language of Instruction

English and Japanese

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

Course

Language

Semester Credit

Course

Language English

Semester Credit 3

Communication, Journalism, and Media

Course

Language

Semester Credit

Course

Language English

Semester Credit 3

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 . 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 .

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between ��911and 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 ��911sites.

Scholarships & Grants

��911offers 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
��911Gilman Go Global Grant
MSI Grant

To be considered, submit the ��911Scholarships & Grants application within your ��911program 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 Spring 2025 18 weeks	Application Due Deadline Passed	Start Date March 27, 2025 ^*	End Date August 1, 2025 ^*	Fees & Housing $26,950
Program Fall 2025 20 weeks	March 1, 2025	Start Date September 15, 2025 ^*	End Date January 31, 2026 ^*	Fees & Housing $26,950
Program Calendar year 2025 44 weeks	Application Due Deadline Passed	Start Date March 27, 2025 ^*	End Date January 31, 2026 ^*	Fees & Housing $26,950
Program Fall 2024 19 weeks	Application Due Deadline Passed	Start Date September 17, 2024	End Date January 30, 2025	Fees & Housing $26,950
Program Academic year 2024-2025	Application Due Deadline Passed	Start Date March 27, 2025 ^*	End Date TBD^*	Fees & Housing $52,550

^*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

��911offers 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 ��911iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300^*

Educational Costs = $20,956^**

Housing = $5,500^***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $26,950

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 = $630^†

International Airfare = $1,700^†�Ġ

Local Transportation = $100^†�Ġ†

Books & Supplies = $200

Visa Fees = $22^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Personal expenses = $280^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}

Other = $100^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Total Costs = $3,032

Optional Housing

��911accommodation 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 = $750

Select Plus Housing Fee = $2,500

Financial Aid

��911offers 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.

^*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.

^†�Ġround-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

^†�Ġ†Local transit costs not covered by commuter pass

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}Visa application fee

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries (Sim requires one-time fee of $25)

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ}national insurance

Program Fees

Participation Confirmation = $300^*

Educational Costs = $20,956^**

Housing = $5,500^***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $26,950

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^†�Ġ

Local Transportation = $100

Books & Supplies = $200

Visa Fees = $22^†�Ġ†

Personal expenses = $280^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Other = $100^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}

Total Costs = $3,102

Financial Aid

^*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.

^†�Ġround-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

^†�Ġ†visa application fee

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries (Sim requires one-time fee of $25)

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}Japanese National Health Insurance

Program Fees

Participation Confirmation = $300^*

Educational Costs = $20,956^**

Housing = $5,500^***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $26,950

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 = $1,330^†

International Airfare = $1,700^†�Ġ

Local Transportation = $200^†�Ġ†

Books & Supplies = $400

Visa Fees = $22^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Personal expenses = $560^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}

Other = $200^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Expenses during break = $2,700^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ†}

Total Costs = $7,112

Optional Housing

Select Housing Fee = $750

Select Plus Housing Fee = $2,500

Financial Aid

^*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.

^†�Ġround-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

^†�Ġ†Local transit costs not covered by commuter pass

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}Visa application fee

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries (Sim requires one-time fee of $25)

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ}Japanese National Health Insurance

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†�Ġ†}academic year students who wish to stay onsite are responsible for arranging their housing and meals during the semester break

Program Fees

Participation Confirmation = $300^*

Educational Costs = $20,456^**

Housing = $6,000^***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $26,950

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 = $1,550^†�Ġ

Books & Supplies = $200

Personal expenses = $280^†�Ġ†

Other = $100^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Total Costs = $2,830

Optional Housing

Select Housing Fee = $750

Select Plus Housing Fee = $1,500

Financial Aid

^*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.

^†�Ġround-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

^†�Ġ†$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries (Sim requires one-time fee of $25)

^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}Japanese National Health Insurance

Program Fees

Participation Confirmation = $300^*

Educational Costs = $40,556^**

Housing = $11,500^***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $52,550

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 = $1,330^†

International Airfare = $1,550^†�Ġ

Local Transportation = $100

Books & Supplies = $400

Personal expenses = $560^†�Ġ†

Other = $200^{†�Ġ†�Ġ}

Expenses during break = $2,700^{†�Ġ†�Ġ†}

Total Costs = $6,840

Optional Housing

Select Housing Fee = $750

Select Plus Housing Fee = $1,500

Financial Aid