PhD in Graduate Program in Global Studies

The Graduate Program in Global Studies at Sophia University is a doctoral program delivered in English, with a two-year duration and admission offered each April and September. Sophia University, based in Tokyo, hosts international graduate students from more than sixty countries and draws faculty from more than twenty countries, most with overseas study or research backgrounds. The program trains students in advanced analysis of global political, economic, and social issues, drawing on international relations, comparative politics, economics, and area studies to examine how states, international organizations, and non-state actors interact across borders. Doctoral study in global studies typically involves coursework in theory and methodology followed by independent dissertation research on a focused topic within international affairs, security, development, or global governance. Students work closely with faculty who bring research and professional experience from multiple countries, supporting comparative and cross-regional approaches to global issues. Graduates of doctoral programs in global studies commonly move into research and teaching positions at universities, policy analysis roles at international organizations and think tanks, and senior positions within government agencies or multinational institutions working on international affairs. Tokyo's status as a global political and economic center gives doctoral students access to embassies, international organizations, and multinational businesses relevant to global studies research. With two intake points each year, in April and September, the program offers some flexibility in when students begin their studies. The two-year duration points to a relatively compact doctoral timeline, meaning students are expected to move efficiently from coursework into dissertation research. English-medium instruction allows international applicants to pursue doctoral-level work in global studies without first needing Japanese language proficiency.