Hi all,
I’m in my second year of studying English at a world-class university. I have long been interested in the cultural landscape of Japan, despite having no personal ties to the country.
I’ve visited Japan multiple times over the years and my recent trip has reaffirmed my desire to pursue a graduate program in Japanese Studies, on completion of my undergraduate degree. I’m looking at a Mphil course in my home country that requires a Japanese minimum language proficiency of around N3.
My Japanese right now is only N5 level (though I don’t have a certificate), but I plan to self-study intensely and take JLPT N4 in July 2025.
However, if I applied straight to the Mphil programme with this N4 certificate I likely would not receive an offer, as my Japanese level would not be competitive enough.
I’m therefore considering taking a year out after I complete undergraduate in June 2026, and studying Japanese intensely before applying to the Mphil in 2027. During this year out, I want to enrol on a Japanese language course in Japan for the equivalent of one or two semesters. I’m hoping this would bring me to around N3 level in time for applying to the Mphil.
Sophia University seems to have an option for non-degree students to study Intensive Japanese for one or two semesters at their Tokyo Campus. I’m wondering if anyone here has experience of being a non-matriculated student at Sophia in a similar position, using it as a stepping stone for further study elsewhere. The other option is to apply directly to the English-taught MA graduate degree at Sophia and take Japanese language class options whilst studying there.
Any stories and advice would be greatly appreciated!
TL;DR: does anyone have any experience of being a language student at Sophia University (or similar) without being on exchange / on a degree programme?
Thank you so much for your help.
by miniejaginim