📖International Christian University

Tokyo, Japan

A small, highly selective Tokyo liberal arts college teaching in both English and Japanese.

About ICU

International Christian University runs a genuine bilingual liberal arts curriculum — students take courses in both English and Japanese and can major across disciplines rather than a single fixed subject. Its small size and selectivity make it one of Japan's most distinctive undergraduate experiences.

Why students choose it

  • Bilingual liberal arts curriculum — English and Japanese
  • Small, highly selective admissions
  • Flexible, cross-disciplinary majors

🎓 Free application support for ICU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to ICU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

AAB (A Level)  ·  IB 34

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<¥500,000/yr

mid tier for Japan — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

Bilingual — a small, highly selective liberal arts college teaching in both English and Japanese.

Campus

campus campus, Tokyo

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or ICU's financial aid office.

Japan's flagship scholarship is government-funded and well known internationally, alongside university-specific tuition waivers that are common at national universities regardless of the scholarship route.

  • MEXT Scholarship: Japanese government-funded, covers tuition plus a monthly stipend — available via both an embassy-recommendation and a university-recommendation track, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Highly competitive.
  • University tuition waivers: Many national universities offer partial-to-full tuition exemption based on financial need or academic merit, independent of MEXT — check each university's international student office.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Liberal Arts

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

International Relations

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Comparative Culture

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Education

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Durations are typical for Japan — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
April, September / October (English-taught programmes)
Typical deadline
November – January for an April intake
Note
Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only)

TOEFL: 72–100 iBT

Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

See where ICU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Japan University Shortlist Builder to see whether ICU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Japan university that matches.

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ICU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to ICU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into ICU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, ICU expects around AAB at A Level or 34 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for ICU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on ICU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does ICU cost for international students?

International tuition at ICU typically falls in the <¥500,000/yr range (mid tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not ICU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for ICU?

ICU follows Japan's typical intake calendar: April, September / October (English-taught programmes), with applications generally due november – january for an april intake. Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school. Always verify the exact date on ICU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for ICU?

Japan universities, including ICU, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only). Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

What is ICU known for?

A small, highly selective Tokyo liberal arts college teaching in both English and Japanese. International Christian University runs a genuine bilingual liberal arts curriculum — students take courses in both English and Japanese and can major across disciplines rather than a single fixed subject. Its small size and selectivity make it one of Japan's most distinctive undergraduate experiences.

Can I apply to ICU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — ICU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Japan University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against ICU and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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