Program Information

About the Undergraduate Non-degree Program

The Undergraduate Non-degree Program is designed for students who are willing to attend our regular undergraduate courses or study Japanese language and culture for one or two semesters. The program is available for those international students who fulfill the following conditions:
  • Are or were enrolled in a higher-education institution, such as a university, junior college, or vocational school, outside of Japan.
  • Are already highly proficient in the Japanese language and wish to take the specialized undergraduate courses offered in Japanese.
  • Are highly proficient in the English language and wish to take the undergraduate courses offered in English.
  • Are not completely new to learning Japanese but wish to further improve Japanese proficiency level. *Submission of a proof of proficiency is required. 

Ⅱ Academic Terms, Units, and Completion

An academic year at Soka University consists of two semesters as indicated below, and students start the program in either April or September:
  • Spring Semester: the beginning of April to the end of July
  • Fall Semester: the middle of September to the end of January
For each semester, course credits will be accredited upon completion of a 15-week coursework and corresponding examinations.
  • Japanese Language Courses: a 90-minute course per week times 15 weeks counts as one credit
  • Lecture/Seminar: a 90-minute course per week times 15 weeks counts as two credits
Certificate of Completion will be given if 7 or more classes per week are taken and 10 or more credits are earned.
Transcripts will be issued as follows:
  • Spring Semester: Early September (following the completion of the spring semester)
  • Fall Semester: Early March (following the completion of the fall semester)

Ⅲ Course Requirements

Japanese Language Course (Table Ⅰ)

Students who will take a Japanese language course (course for studying the Japanese language) are required to have Japanese language proficiency of at least the N5 level on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or equivalent at the time of applying.

Students will be placed in seven classes according to their placement test results: Basics (ES), Pre-Elementary (E0), Post-Elementary (E1), Pre-Intermediate (E2), Intermediate (E3), Post-intermediate (E4), and Advanced-level (E5).

Undergraduate Course in English (Table Ⅱ)

English proficiency of at least 71 on the TOEFL-iBT, an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher, or a CEFR level B2 or above, or equivalent to those, at the time of applying, is required. However, students who have received six years of secondary education in English in Ireland, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand may submit academic transcripts for those six years in lieu of the abovementioned proof of English proficiency.

Undergraduate Course in Japanese (Table Ⅱ)

Students who have been placed in E4 or E5 level classes are allowed to take approved electives among the undergraduate courses.

Students are required to have Japanese language proficiency of at least the N2 level on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or equivalent at the time of applying.

Some courses, such as “Japanese Traditional Culture”, are open to all students irrespective of their language proficiencies.

Table of permitted courses
Japanese Language
Proficiency Level		 Japanese Language Course
Table Ⅰ		 Undergraduate electives (English)
Table Ⅱ		 Undergraduate electives (Japanese)
Table Ⅱ
Below N5 ○（ES） ○ Partially available
Below N5 ○（E0） ○ Partially available
N5 equivalent ○（E1） ○ Partially available
N4 equivalent ○（E2） ○ Partially available
N3 equivalent ○（E3） ○ Partially available
N2 equivalent ○（E4） ○ ○
N1 equivalent ○（E5） ○ ○

Students cannot be enrolled for more than two consecutive semesters.
Please note that the program does not offer an academic degree upon completion.

Ⅳ Tuition and Dormitory Fee (for students enrolling in the Non Degree Program)

Tuition and fees (for 1 year)
 
  One Semester Two Semesters
Admission Fee 50,000 JPY 50,000 JPY
Tuition 250,000 JPY 500,000 JPY
Registration Fee 10,000 JPY 20,000 JPY

Registration fee includes Health-care Service, Accident Insurance, etc.
Heath-care Service is for the on-campus Health Center fee.
Accident Insurance includes the fee for the Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research.
Fees are subject to change.


Dormitory Fee

Students living in the dormitory will pay the following fees:
(Fees vary according to the dormitory of choice)
 
  2 semesters (1 year) Dormitory Entrance Fee
Dormitory for male students 318,000 ～ 378,000 JPY 50,000 JPY
Dormitory for female students 308,000 ～ 378,000 JPY 50,000 JPY

Applicants will pay the tuition and dormitory fees during the enrollment procedures by credit card via Soka University Japan Studies Center website.