Doshisha University

• Kyoto
• Private institution

• About the university
• http://www.doshisha.ac.jp/english/
• For prospective international students
• http://cjlc.doshisha.ac.jp/english/index.html
• For admissions
• http://cjlc.doshisha.ac.jp/ryugaku/english/studyinkyoto/front_01/03.html

• Address
• Karasuma Higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8580 JAPAN

• Contact
• Office of International Students, International Center
• TEL: 075-251-3257 (+81-75-251-3257)
• FAX: 075-251-3123 (+81-75-251-3123)
• E-mail: ji-intad@mail.doshisha.ac.jp

• Opening
• 1875

• Total number of students
• 28,642 (1,226 from overseas) as of 2012

• Fee
• Admission fee: 280,000 yen for 2012
• Tuition fee: 680,000 - 996,000 yen for 2012
• Other:152,000 - 315,000 yen for 2012

Education only is not sufficient to make men virtuous; neither intellectual nor moral philosophy is enough for it.

Spirit of Doshisha

Joseph Hardy Neesima, the founder of Doshisha University, disagreed with the rigid system of feudal society in Japan and left the country in search of freedom. After enjoying freedom to the fullest in the free society of America and returning to Japan, he established a highly liberal institution that was based on the Christian principles.

"Intellectual education" alone is not sufficient for personality development. Making a person be "a true man" is only possible when "education of soul" is also provided. This is Neesima's educational philosophy.

Neesima believed that "education of soul" would be offered most effectively if it is based on Christianity, especially Protestantism. The Chapel on Imadegawa Campus is truly a beautiful example of the Spirit of Doshisha.

He was a patriot, but not a narrow-minded one. He was truly an international-minded person. He was the first Japanese citizen to obtain an academic degree overseas. Doshisha University has been committed to international exchanges with overseas universities since its founding.

Message from the President

The educational goal of Doshisha University is to foster people as "the nation's conscience," and the basis of our moral education is the Christian principles. What sets Doshisha, a private university, apart from many other universities in Japan, both private and public, is its strong belief in the education of people based on Christianity. The passion of the founder of Doshisha University, Joseph Hardy Neesima, for education is encapsulated in the graven words on the memorial monument at the main gate of the campus, which reads, "I earnestly desire that many young people filled with conscience will be raised and sent out by our school."

Upholding the founder's spirit and pursuing the three fundamental educational ideals of Christian principles, liberalism and internationalism, Doshisha University has been recently working on active educational reforms to respond to the needs of the time. We opened the Graduate School of Health and Sports Science at Kyotanabe Campus and the Graduate School of Global Studies at Imadegawa Campus in April 2010. In addition to the Global MBA Course started in September 2009, new degree programs offered entirely in English have been launched. Starting with the International Science and Technology Course in September 2010, we opened the Faculty of Global Communication and the Institute for the Liberal Arts in April 2011.

As our history shows, Doshisha University has been aiming at education and research with a view to the world. In order to make Doshisha University an attractive international base of knowledge that stimulate the flow of students and researchers both to and from all over the world, we are determined to continue to work hard at taking international initiatives and improving even further its educational and research environments to fulfill our responsibilities and missions.

Human-sized campuses that make for an ideal study environment

Mathieu Trigatti

Mathieu Trigatti, Department of Media, Journalism and Communications / Faculty of Social Studies

I am a third year transfer student in Media and Communications at Doshisha University in Kyoto. My classes only started this April, but I have already made many friends among my classmates and I have been enjoying myself a lot. The Doshisha campuses provide students with an excellent study environment. I like studying at the library as it helps me with my research.

As a foreign student, I was wondering if I would understand enough of the classes to keep up with everyone, but the teachers often use slides and we also watch videos, which make understanding easier. I have had no comprehension problems so far. Registering for my classes was a little complicated as I come from France and the system is totally different there, but many people were here to help me figure it out. We also had a pre-orientation meeting with the other transfer students, which helped me a lot.

As for extracurricular activities, I am a member of the Transfer Student Union. Meeting other students outside classes is also a key part of student life, and I would recommend anyone to try to participate in clubs or just make as many friends as possible!

Departments and Faculties

• School of Theology
• Department of Theology
• The history of the Doshisha School of Theology dates back to the establishment of the Doshisha Eigakko (Doshisha Academy) in 1875. Joseph Hardy Neesima, after completing nine years of studies in the United States, returned to Japan as a missionary of the Congregational Church and established Doshisha. The Doshisha School of Theology has the longest history of any theological education and research institute in Japan. It currently has 300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, and it has fostered countless specialists in Christianity, including ministers, teachers of religion at Christian schools, social workers and counselors working at hospitals and welfare facilities.
  Web site: http://www.d-theo.jp/en/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Letters
• Department of English
• Department of Philosophy
• Department of Aesthetics and Art Theory
• Department of Cultural History
• Department of Japanese Literature
• If one has a deep understanding of humanity, one will have the courage and resilience to get through anything, regardless of how much society changes. Making the most effective use of the features of its five departments, the Faculty of Letters endeavors to explore the efforts and workings of humanity, whose profound existence has led to the creation of language and culture, as well as thought and history. The "fundamental intellectual vitality" acquired through studies at the Faculty of Letters will undoubtedly serve throughout one's entire life as a source of strength to survive and thrive in society.
  Web site: http://letters.doshisha.ac.jp/
  
  

• Faculty of Social Studies
• Department of Sociology
• Department of Social Welfare
• Department of Media, Journalism and Communications
• Department of Industrial Relations
• Department of Education and Culture
• The individual demonstrates behavior similar to other people when put in a group. Why? Sociology is the discipline that pursues the answer to this puzzling aspect of society. A society is created by individual people. It is for this very reason that the aim of the Faculty of Social Studies is to maintain a love for mankind in studying the relationship between man and society. Through love, logic, and practical action, the Faculty of Social Studies meets the challenges of the many issues troubling society, such as the declining birthrate, NEET phenomenon, gender gap and social conditions.
  Web site: http://ss.doshisha.ac.jp/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Law
• Department of Law
• Department of Political Science
• Cultivating the Legal Mind and Professionalism Required for a Future Career in Law
  The Faculty of Law equips future legal professionals with the ability to identify problems in many social spheres and provide a better choice of solutions. Providing "better solutions" demands that one have deep professional insights as well as a legal mind backed by accurate value judgments and a sense of fairness. Obtaining a hands-on education that stresses both of these strengths will open the door to specialist careers in the legal profession, journalism and related fields.
  Web site: http://law.doshisha.ac.jp/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Economics
• Department of Economics
• Many of the problems burdening modern Japanese society, including those having to do with the public pension system, health care and chronic job-hoppers, involve a complicated array of factors and are not amenable to quick solutions. Students examine these issues and explore paths to their solutions by applying a mixture of theoretical, policy-based and historical perspectives. In the process, they cultivate their formal economic views, powers of logical reasoning, analytical abilities and skills in the use of information technology. This approach is designed to produce individuals with a broad education and vision to assume leading roles in society.
  Web site: http://www.econ.doshisha.ac.jp/english/
  
  

• Faculty of Commerce
• Department of Commerce
• The Faculty of Commerce aspires to provide the Japanese economy with fresh stimuli by supplying the rapidly changing business community with individuals that display leadership qualities, a strong spirit of challenge and powers of coolheaded judgment. Indeed, this is our vision. Building on the quality education offered by Doshisha University, we prepare students for future careers in business by instilling a strong sense of purpose with hands-on educational programs that stress high ethical standards backed by broad-based perspectives and the sensitivity to anticipate evolving business trends.
  Web site: http://com.doshisha.ac.jp/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Policy Studies
• Department of Policy Studies
• Equipping Individuals with Problem-Solving Skills Required by Different Segments of Society
  The Faculty of Policy Studies utilizes a diversity of perspectives to study and examine solutions to various local and international issues. Our mission is to equip our students with skills to independently discover and solve important social problems. In a world of diverse values, having the ability to find pathways leading to better solutions for different problems is an asset desired not only by corporations and public institutions, but by all segments of society as well.
  Web site: http://policy.doshisha.ac.jp/
  
  

• Faculty of Culture and Information Science
• Department of Culture and Information Science
• Cultivating Specialists with the Ability to Comprehend Culture Using Data and Logic
  In modern society, it has grown increasingly important to understand not only the natural world around us as human beings, but also the cultural forces that support us and our activities. Enlisting the techniques of data science, a field that deals with the proper collection and analysis of enormous volumes of information, the Faculty of Culture and Information Science endeavors to train specialists in the discovery and solving of problems relating to humans and culture.
  Web site: http://www.cis.doshisha.ac.jp/english/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Science and Engineering
• Department of Intelligent Information Engineering and Sciences
• Department of Information Systems Design
• Department of Electrical Engineering
• Department of Electronics
• Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering
• Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering
• Department of Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
• Department of Environmental Systems Science
• Department of Mathematical Sciences
• Sights on the World — Fostering Scientists and Engineers Who Are Guided in New Technology Development by the Doshisha Principle of Conscience
  The Faculty of Science and Engineering Program provides a thorough knowledge base in order that students may become capable of responding to the science and technology of the 21st century, with its trends toward segmentation and specialization. The program instills a broad perspective that goes beyond the student's field of specialty, developing engineers who are capable of acting from a holistic view of science and engineering, and of the world.
  Web site: http://se.doshisha.ac.jp/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences
• Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Department of Biomedical Information
• Department of Medical Life Systems
• Preparing Highly Educated Engineers and Researchers for the Future of the Life and Medical Sciences
  Interest in medicine, welfare and health has dramatically increased. We have also noticed a strong need for solutions to problems - for example, how to increase our healthy life span and how to lower the huge social burden associated with medical and nursing care-related costs. The Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences was established to meet these contemporary social demands. On the basis of broad expertise in the various engineering fields, we will develop professional researchers and engineers who can contribute to the future of medicine.
  Web site: http://biomedical.doshisha.ac.jp/
  
  

• Faculty of Health and Sports Science
• Department of Health and Sports Science
• Nurturing Capable People Who Can Lead a New Era in Sports and Health
  In order to become pioneers capable of leading a new era in sports and health, students in the Faculty of Health and Sports Science comprehensively and from various viewpoints study both the theoretical and practical aspects of health science, which is aimed at promoting good health and physical fitness desired by contemporary society; training science for improving the skills of even front-line athletes; and sports management for opening up the sports environment to the general public.
  Web site: http://sports.doshisha.ac.jp/
  
  

• Faculty of Psychology
• Department of Psychology
• The Faculty of Psychology provides a systematic education of specialized knowledge and skills related to the field of psychology. The emphasis has been placed on the experimental approach for the understanding of the mechanisms of human behavior. In addition to the lecture courses, practice in psychology testing, statistics, and fundamental and advanced experiments are also required for all students. Three courses are offered in the Faculty of Psychology: Neuropsychology and Behavioral Psychology, Clinical and Social Psychology, and Developmental and Educational Psychology, providing students with a broad range of studies in psychology.
  Web site: http://psych.doshisha.ac.jp/index.html
  
  

• Faculty of Global Communications
• Department of Global Communications
• The Faculty of Global Communications deepens and expands on the tradition of striving to be on the cutting edge of the academic world as it integrates itself with all facets of society.
  Three courses of study, English, Chinese and Japanese, equip students with valuable language skills and the consciousness of how to adapt, proceed and succeed in the many aspects of the rapidly changing world. With the good knowledge of strategies acquired in the Faculty, graduates are expected to become talented facilitators, negotiators and administrators in the current and still-to-emerge organizations and relationship possibilities in international business, education and culture.
  Web site: http://globalcommunications.doshisha.ac.jp/english/
  
  

• The Institute for the Liberal Arts
• The Liberal Arts Program (Bachelor of Arts degree)
• What is The Institute for the Liberal Arts?
  The Institute for the Liberal Arts at Doshisha University represents a coming together of world-class approaches to university liberal arts education. The Institute has a private American liberal arts college atmosphere and educational approach (Doshisha's founder was a student at Amherst College, Massachusetts from 1867-1870 and our institutions are sister schools today). We combine this approach with an emphasis on building partnerships between students and professors in small classes all conducted in the English language.
  Web site: http://ila.doshisha.ac.jp/