International Christian University Admission 2027: Deadlines, Requirements, Fees for International Students

Admission at a glance

International Christian University, ICU, is a small private liberal arts university in western Tokyo built around a single College of Liberal Arts with more than 30 majors that students choose after enrolling. Alongside its Japanese-language admission routes, ICU runs English Language Based Admissions, ELBA, a track conducted entirely in English for applicants who do not yet need Japanese proficiency; successful students still complete a compulsory Japanese Language Program during their degree. ELBA requires an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5, taken within the stated validity window, with a single test date required for TOEFL applicants since ICU does not accept combined MyBest scores. ICU offers two entry points a year, April and September, each with its own application deadline, and charges an application fee of JPY 30,000 plus an JPY 880 payment system fee for first-year and transfer applicants. Tuition and fees rise gradually for each entering cohort over their four years, so the exact figure depends on the year a student enters; the AY2026 entering cohort pays JPY 1,167,000 a year in tuition plus a JPY 354,000 facilities fee, on top of a one-time JPY 300,000 matriculation fee for regular students. ICU's Christian, bilingual character and small class sizes make it one of the more established English-medium options among Japanese private universities.

Requirements

Bachelor

ELBA admits applicants who have completed, or expect to complete, secondary education equivalent to a Japanese high school diploma, with an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or higher required; ICU also accepts TOEFL iBT, but its published TOEFL equivalent changed for tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, so applicants should confirm the current TOEFL figure directly on ICU's own page. No Japanese proficiency is required at application, but the Japanese Language Program is compulsory after enrolment.

Full requirements and documents