DATES:
Fall: September - February
Spring: March - August
Note: The academic year in Japan begins in April and runs through the end of March. Mason students can only participate on this exchange program during the spring semester. Fall semester participation is only possible if students opt for the entire year abroad, as Soka's fall semester does not end until end February.
PROGRAM FEE :
Paid to Mason:
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$125 Application Fee
--
$350 Administrative Fee ($550 for year long)
-- George Mason Tuition
Paid to Soka University:
-- Overseas student health insurance required (~$150)
Not Included:
-- International Airfare
--
Passport Fees
--
Visa Fees (U.S. citizens exempt from fee, but still need to apply)
-- Personal Expenses
Financial aid should apply, but you are recommended to discuss aid with your financial aid counselor when planning your study abroad.
NOTE:
If a student applies and is accepted into a direct exchange program and then drops out of the program,the $350 administrative fee is non-refundable. In addition, program fees are subject to change.
ELIGIBILITY:
This program is open to Mason students ONLY. Students must have completed at least 45 credits at the time of departure and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students should not study abroad the last semester of senior year if they plan to graduate on time.
CREDITS:
Students may enroll in a variety of courses and may transfer between 12-16 credits per semester back to Mason, provided the letter grade received is equivalent to a "C" or above. The courses are transfer credit, and therefore will not factor into the GPA of the participant.
Students may enroll in a variety of courses including:
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Business Administration
--
Economics
--
Education
--
Engineering
--
Japanese
--
Japanese Studies
-- Mathematics
HOUSING:
Students attending Soka University will be housed in off-campus dormitories and students will need to work with the International Offices at Soka University to arrange their housing.
Contact
Email Daria Stepanova or call (703) 993-2154
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Now accepting online applications!
Fall Semester: March 8
Spring Semester: October 1
Soka University is located in Hachioji, a suburb of Tokyo. Standing among the verdant forests of the Tama foothills, the spacious campus represents an ideal environment for scholarship and for the fostering of genuinely capable, contributive individuals.

The Central Tower on the Soka campus
The Soka University campus offers a serene setting in which to advance your Japanese language skills while absorbing the exciting and diverse culture of Japan. Students on direct exchange are administered by the Study Abroad Office while at the University.

Students studying at Soka University will take courses in English or Japanese in many different academic fields. Since 1971, the university has encouraged international exchanges. Currently, there are over 300 international students from 45 different countries across the world. There are many services and support systems to aid international students as well as provide them with opportunities to mix and mingle with local and other international students.

Aerial view of Soka Campus
Exchange students live in the University Dormitory and the housing fee is waived for Mason students. They are encouraged to participate in student organizations that facilitate international friendships. There are also many clubs and activities for students to enjoy and experience the language and culture of Japan. The university is also proud to provide students with opportunities to develop an interest and commitment to international peace and international mindedness.

Japanese sushi
Located just outside of Tokyo, Soka University is a great place for students wanting a fun and educational study abroad experience. They are able to easily navigate to Tokyo and enjoy all that a bustling city has to offer. Students can attend local museums, restaurants and historical sites to further expand their Japanese cultural experience.

Hachioji Station
VISA INFORMATION:
Once accepted into a program, it will be your responsibility to apply for a student visa and/or residence permit (if required, based on your citizenship). You will receive details on this with your acceptance letter. Do not apply for a visa until after you have been officially accepted. Visit the Embassy of Japan's website for further information.
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
Tokyo Tourism
U.S. State Department Travel Information
HOW TO APPLY:
Consult the How to Apply section first and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for a direct exchange program. Next, attend a Direct Exchange program information session. Do this prior to starting an application to ensure that you understand how to choose the right program and what is expected of you during the application process.
Check the course offerings at the school you are interested in applying to and check to ensure that they match your course requirements. See “Choosing Courses Abroad” section below.
Once you’ve selected an appropriate program that offers courses that match your major, complete the online application and pay the $125 application fee. Please note that all supplemental documents are also required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please contact the program officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.
CHOOSING COURSES ABROAD:
There is no list of pre-approved classes for you to take on a direct exchange program. It is your responsibility to select courses and get them approved for transfer credit. Please refer to the “Departments and Courses” link on the left-hand side of this page for a list of course options on this program. You must then complete a Petition for Transfer of Credits Form to ensure that your courses will transfer back to Mason. Download a petition form here.
Consult your program officer regarding petition form instructions for Soka.
You can fill out the petition form prior to acceptance into a specific study abroad program and in fact, you should begin this process when you first consider applying. Identify courses at the host institution that are similar to those at Mason that you need to take. This will increase your chances of receiving transfer credit approval from the Departmental Advisors who must sign your petition form. Follow complete instructions from the link above and contact your program officer if you have questions.
**Note: Make sure you find plenty of primary AND alternate course options before deciding on a specific program. Schedules are subject to change and registration in your preferred classes is not guaranteed, so you should have sufficient alternate course options. Also, please keep in mind that you must enroll in the equivalency of at least 12 U.S. credits per semester.
*CGE reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.


