SOPHIA UNIVERSITY
Sophia University Scholarships
tuition only · bachelors, masters, phd
- Full first-year tuition (~1,400,000 yen, est.)Top Adachi award value
- 1/3, 1/2 or full tuitionNew Student Scholarship tiers
- 3 award schemesScholarships available
- Bachelor's, master's and PhDDegree levels covered
- International and Japanese studentsWho can apply
- English-taught programmes onlyProgramme requirement
At a glance
tuition only
Funding
€9k
Max amount
Apr 8, 2027
Deadline
All countries (international students)
Country
Sophia University
Provider
Sophia University is a private institution in Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, offering admission-linked scholarships for the 2026 intake across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes taught in English. Three awards run in parallel. The New Student Scholarship, open to both international and Japanese students, covers one-third, one-half, or the full amount of first-year tuition; first-year tuition for an English-taught faculty is roughly 1,200,000 to 1,500,000 yen, so a full award is worth about 1,400,000 yen (est.). The Adachi (Benefactors') Scholarship, for international students only, covers full first-year tuition plus the education enhancement fee. The Graduate School Scholarship for Fostering Researchers supports doctoral students by recommendation, with no separate application. Applicants must apply at the time of admission and submit the scholarship packet separately from the admission packet by post to the Center for Student Affairs at 7-1 Kioi-cho. Awards are announced together with admission results for each of the Spring and Autumn 2026 intakes. Because tuition figures, award shares, and deadlines are set each cycle, confirm the exact current-cycle amounts and dates on the official Sophia University scholarships page before you apply.
What's covered
- Full first-year tuition (Adachi) — The Adachi (Benefactors') Scholarship covers full first-year tuition plus the education enhancement fee for international students; first-year tuition is about 1,400,000 yen (est.).
- Partial tuition (New Student) — The New Student Scholarship covers one-third, one-half, or the full first-year tuition, so a half award is worth roughly ~700,000 yen (est.).
- Doctoral researcher support — The Graduate School Scholarship for Fostering Researchers supports selected doctoral students on the recommendation of their graduate school, with no separate application.
- Education enhancement fee — For Adachi recipients the first-year education enhancement fee (typically tens of thousands of yen) is also covered.
- First-year coverage — All admission-linked awards apply to the first year of study; continuation depends on the scheme and academic standing.
How to apply
Scholarship applications are submitted by post at the same time as the admission application, in a separate packet.
- Select an eligible programme — Choose an English-taught undergraduate or graduate programme at Sophia University for the 2026 intake.
- Prepare both applications — Complete the admission application and the scholarship application as two separate packets.
- Post the scholarship packet — Send the scholarship application by post to the Sophia University Center for Student Affairs, 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan (Building No.2, 1F).
- Meet the intake deadline — Submit within the application window for your intake (Spring or Autumn 2026).
- Await combined results — Scholarship awards are announced together with admission results for each intake.
Eligibility
Application timingMust apply for the 2026 entrance examination at Sophia University and submit the scholarship application alongside the admission application.
ProgrammeMust apply to one of the listed English-taught undergraduate or graduate programmes; Japanese-taught programmes are not eligible.
Merit and needMust demonstrate academic excellence and financial need.
NationalityOpen to international students with a student visa, domestic Japanese students, and foreign nationals on other visas who apply under the Japanese student category; the Adachi award is for international students only.
Transfer students applying to undergraduate programmes are eligible. The scholarship application carries no separate fee, but the admission application fee still applies.
Eligible countries
All countries (international students), Japan (domestic students)
Deadlines
Spring 2026 (window 1)~17 September 2025 (est.)
Spring 2026 (window 2)~12 December 2025 (est.)
Autumn 2026 graduate~8 April 2026 (est.)
Selection
Selection is made by the university on the basis of academic record, demonstrated financial need, and eligibility for the chosen English-taught programme. Scholarship decisions are tied to the admission decision, so a strong, complete admission application submitted within the deadline is essential. Doctoral awards under the researcher-fostering scheme are decided by recommendation from the graduate school rather than by application.
Verified sources
- Sophia University Scholarships (official)sophia.ac.jpofficial
- Sophia University Admissions (official)sophia.ac.jpofficial
About the provider
Sophia University (Jochi Daigaku) is a private Catholic research university founded in 1913 in central Tokyo, with a strong international focus and a wide range of English-taught undergraduate and graduate programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the Sophia University Scholarships?
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International and Japanese students applying for one of Sophia University's English-taught undergraduate or graduate programmes in the 2026 entrance examination.
Are these scholarships fully funded?
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The Adachi (Benefactors') Scholarship covers full first-year tuition plus the education enhancement fee; the New Student Scholarship covers one-third, one-half, or full tuition.
Do I have to submit a separate scholarship application?
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Yes. You submit the scholarship application in a separate packet but at the same time as your admission application.
Can transfer students apply?
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Yes. Transfer students applying to undergraduate programmes are eligible.
What is the selection based on?
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Academic excellence, financial need, and eligibility for the chosen English-taught programme.
Is there an application fee?
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The scholarship application itself has no separate fee, but Sophia University charges an admission application fee.
Can I apply if I am in a Japanese-taught programme?
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No. These scholarships are only for English-taught programmes.
When are results announced?
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Scholarship results are released together with admission results for each intake.
Are doctoral students eligible for funding?
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Yes. Doctoral students can be recommended by their graduate school for the Graduate School Scholarship for Fostering Researchers, with no separate application.
How do I submit the scholarship application?
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By post to the Center for Student Affairs, 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan (Building No.2, 1F).
How can I improve my chances?
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Submit a strong academic record, clearly document financial need, and provide a complete application package within the deadline.
Where can I confirm the exact award amounts and deadlines?
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On the official Sophia University scholarships page, which is updated for each entrance cycle.