Studying Japanese Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences in Japan

The field: Japanese studies, humanities and social sciences

This field covers Japanese studies and area studies, the humanities (literature, history, philosophy, cultural studies) and the social sciences (international relations, sociology, political science and related disciplines studied as neutral academic subjects). In Japan these sit in Faculties of Letters, International Studies, Liberal Arts and the social sciences, with taught and research programs at both undergraduate and graduate level.

This is a field-of-study guide, distinct from language-test (JLPT) and admission-mechanics guides. If your interest is understanding Japan and the humanities and social sciences academically, this page explains where English-medium study exists and how language study fits in.

Where English-taught programs exist

Japan has well-established English-medium liberal-arts and humanities routes. Waseda University's School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) offers a fully English-based interdisciplinary degree spanning humanities, social sciences and more, and Sophia University's Faculty of Liberal Arts has taught in English for decades across comparative culture, international business and economics, and social studies. The University of Tokyo has also run an English-taught liberal-arts route focused on Japan and East Asia.

Program names and intakes change over time, so treat named programs as examples and confirm current English-medium humanities and Japanese-studies offerings on each university's official page before you plan around them. Graduate area-studies and humanities research programs in English also exist at several universities.

• Waseda School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) — fully English-based
• Sophia University Faculty of Liberal Arts — long-standing all-English
• Confirm current program availability officially (offerings change)

How Japanese-language study is integrated

In most English-medium humanities and liberal-arts programs, you can complete the degree in English while taking Japanese-language courses alongside — useful both for daily life and for deeper engagement with Japanese studies. Some programs structure Japanese study into the curriculum by proficiency level.

If you plan to work with Japanese-language sources (for example in history, literature or area studies at an advanced level), stronger Japanese becomes valuable, and progress is often described using JLPT levels (N5 to N1). Check each program's page for how much Japanese is required versus offered, and whether the degree can be completed entirely in English.

Entry expectations

English-medium humanities and social-science programs typically assess your academic record, an accepted English test (IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent), essays or a personal statement, and sometimes a standardized test such as the SAT for undergraduate admission. Selective liberal-arts programs often weight your writing and reasoning heavily.

For graduate humanities and area studies, expect transcripts, references, a research proposal or statement of purpose, and an English test; research programs may also involve contacting a prospective supervisor. Requirements differ by program, so verify the official admissions page rather than assuming a single standard.

• Undergraduate: academic record + English test + essays; sometimes SAT
• Graduate: transcripts + references + research proposal/statement + English test
• Writing and reasoning often matter a lot for liberal-arts admission

Cost, scholarships and academic/career direction (neutral)

Tuition differs between private universities (such as Waseda and Sophia) and national universities and changes yearly, so read the current fees and application fees on each official page. MEXT, JASSO and university scholarships exist with their own official eligibility and deadlines — verify on the official sites, and disregard any paid "guaranteed admission" offer.

Graduates of Japanese studies, the humanities and the social sciences move into diverse directions — further study and research, education, media and publishing, international and non-profit organisations, and business roles that value language and cross-cultural skills. A humanities or social-science degree keeps a broad range of paths open rather than pointing to one. Working in Japan after study depends on the country's official rules for the relevant status; this is general information, not immigration advice — verify current rules on the official government source. This guide makes no salary or placement promises.

• Verify tuition and application fees on the official university page
• MEXT / JASSO / university scholarships — check official rules and deadlines
• Broad career paths; no guaranteed outcomes