General questions
Q1: Is ICU accredited?
Q2: I don't know any Japanese. Can I still apply?
Q3: What is the student population? How many international students are studying at ICU?
Q4: I'm not Christian. Can I still apply?
Q5: What is the language(s) of instruction?
Q6: Can I just take courses in English and obtain a bachelor's degree?
Q7: If I enter as a September student, can I participate in the English Language Program?
Q8: Are September students able to take the same academic courses as April students?
Q9: I'm a Japanese returnee and I think I'm fluent in Japanese. Do I still have to go through the Japanese Language Programs?
Q10: I would like to participate just in the Japanese Language Programs. How can I apply?
Q11: I am interested in learning more about ICU. Do you have any other source of information that I can refer to?
Q12: Do I need to make an appointment to visit your campus?

Application Procedure/Eligibility
Q1: Is the application deadline a post-mark date?
Q2: What is the difference between the First Application Period and the Second Application Period? Is one advantagious over the other?
Q3: If my application for the First Application Period is not successful, can I reapply for the Second Application Period?
Q4: After graduating from high school in Japan, I entered college in the United States and will be completing my first year there. Am I eligible to apply through September Admissions?
Q5: I graduated from high school in Japan and am currently studying at a university in Canada. I am planning to enter ICU as a transfer student after spending two years here, but I am not sure if I'm eligible to apply for September Admissions because in the first year, I only took ESL courses.
Q6: I am completing my second year at the U.S. university before the enrollment of ICU, but I graduated from Japanese high school. Do I have to take SATs?

Admission Documents/Requirements
Q1: What is the minimum score requirement for TOEFL/SAT?
Q2: What is the minimum GPA required?
Q3: I am an IB full diploma student. Do I need to submit SAT scores as well?
Q4: Do you offer conditional admissions based on predicted IB scores/GCE A level?
Q5: I am studying in Germany and will take Abitur, but I cannot submit the final result of Abitur by the March 31 deadline. Can I still apply?
Q6: Can I send additional recommendation letters?
Q7: Is it all right if my SAT/TOEFL score report reaches ICU before my application?
Q8: I am a native speaker of English. Do I still need to submit the proof of English proficiency such as TOEFL?

Application Fee
Q1: I'd like to ask my acquaintance/family in Japan to pay my application fee. If the payment is made within Japan, do I still need to pay 23,500 yen?
Q2: My father would like to make a payment for application fee directly from his bank account. It will not be under my name. What should I do?
Q3: When making a bank transfer from abroad, can I pay in US dollars or in any other currencies?
Q4: I found that the Post Office in my town cannot issue a International Postal Money Order (IPMO) in Japanese Yen. Is IPMO in US dollars acceptable?
Q5: Is there a particular form (furikomi yoshi) to make a bank transfer?
Q6: Can I pay the application fee by credit card?
Q7: Can you waive my application fee?

Others
Q1: Are there scholarships/Financial Aid that I can apply for prior to enrollment?
Q2: Does the FAFSA Loan qualify for your university?
Q3: Can I get credits for AP and IB?
Q4: Can I find out how many credits can be transferred before enrollment?
Q5: I am interested in the six-week Summer Courses in Japanese. Can I apply through September Admissions?
Q6: Are dormitory rooms guaranteed for all new students from abroad?

Q1: Is ICU accredited?
A1: Yes. The academic programs of the College of Liberal Arts and the Graduate School are individually chartered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. ICU is a member institution of the Japanese University Accreditation Association. Credits earned at ICU are fully recognized by graduate schools of major universities in Japan, the United States and elsewhere; they are also normally accepted for transfer provided they fit into the student's overall program at his or her home institution.

Q2: I don't know any Japanese. Can I still apply?
A2: Yes. Students without previous knowledge of the Japanese language can apply through September Admissions. Those who are admitted will be trained in ICU Japanese Language Programs. Please be aware, however, that September Applicants are those who are proficient enough in English to do university level work in that language. Therefore, English proficiency is required at the time of application.

Q3: What is the student population? How many international students are studying at ICU?
A3: As of May 1, 2010, there are 2,809 students in undergraduate programs and 159 in graduate programs. Around 10% of the total population are international students.

Q4: I'm not Christian. Can I still apply?
A4: Yes. ICU is not a proselytizing institution and it does not see nurturing Christians as its main goal. However, it holds as its mission the establishment of an academic tradition of freedom and reverence based on Christian ideals. For more information about ICU 's mission, please refer to http://www.icu.ac.jp/english/info/history/commitment.html

Q5: What is the language(s) of instruction?
A5: Japanese and English. Over 20% of all courses are offered in English, and the rest in Japanese or in both languages.

Q6: Can I just take courses in English and obtain a bachelor's degree?
A6: September-entering students are required to include some courses taught in Japanese (excluding JLP courses) in the total number of credit units for graduation. Moreover, as mentioned above, only around 20 % of the courses are offered in English, therefore, students working for a degree will find it essential to be functionally bilingual in order to complete all the courses needed for graduation.

Q7: If I enter as a September student, can I participate in the English Language Program?
A7: September students, by definition, possess enough English language skills to take college level courses in English, so they are not allowed to take the English Language Program. Exceptions are "Advanced English Study" and "College Composition for September Students."

Q8: Are September students able to take the same academic courses as April students?
A8: Yes. Students enrolled in April and in September study at the same campus with the same curriculum except for the English Language Program (April students) and the Japanese Language Programs (September students).

Q9: I'm a Japanese returnee and I think I'm fluent in Japanese. Do I still have to go through the Japanese Language Programs?
A9: All students entering in September with previous knowledge of Japanese must take a placement test, which is conducted during the university's orientation program for the purpose of placing them in the most proper course. Depending on the result, some students will be exempted from the Japanese Language program requirement. However, many returnees are placed in Special Japanese (see Japanese Language Programs) to improve the skills that are lacking.

Q10: I would like to participate just in the Japanese Language Programs. How can I apply?
A10: ICU's Japanese Language Programs are NOT independent programs; they are part of the graduation requirements for those who seek for Bachelor's degree. If you wish to study Japanese for one year, you first need to become ICU student (as One-Year-Regular or Kenkyusei) by applying and being accepted through September Admissions.

Q11: I am interested in learning more about ICU. Do you have any other source of information that I can refer to?
A11; Please visit our "Web Campus" where you can find messages from professors and students of ICU.

Q12: Do I need to make an appointment to visit your campus?
A12; You can visit our campus anytime, but if you wish to talk to admission staff, we recommend you to inform us in advance. Please check here for further information on the campus visit.

Q1: Is the application deadline a post-mark date?
A1: No. All documents including test scores must reach ICU by the deadline.

Q2: What is the difference between the First Application Period and the Second Application Period? Is one advantagious over the other?
A2: The only differences between the two periods are the application deadlines and the notification dates. With respect to admission, there is no advantage or disadvantage in applying to either.

Q3: If my application for the First Application Period is not successful, can I reapply for the Second Application Period?
A3: No. You can only apply once in the same admission year, so once you receive a decision, you cannot apply until the next admission year.

Q4: After graduating from high school in Japan, I entered college in the United States and will be completing my first year there. Am I eligible to apply through September Admissions?
A4: No. In order to be eligible to apply through September Admissions, applicants must have attended schools outside the regular Japanese educational system for at least the last TWO YEARS prior to enrollment.

Q5: I graduated from high school in Japan and am currently studying at a university in Canada. I am planning to enter ICU as a transfer student after spending two years here, but I am not sure if I'm eligible to apply for September Admissions because in the first year, I only took ESL courses.
A5: The time in an ESL program cannot be counted towards the two year study abroad requirement for September Applicants. You need to spend at least one more year at your current university before applying as a transfer student.

Q6: I am completing my second year at the U.S. university before the enrollment of ICU, but I graduated from Japanese high school. Do I have to take SATs Admission Documents/Requirements?
A6: Yes. The requirements are just as same as the U.S. high school graduates.

Q1: What is the minimum score requirement for TOEFL/SAT?
A1: Minimum requirement for the TOEFL is iBT 79, PBT 550. There is no minimum requirement for SAT. For your information, the approximate average score of those admitted to ICU as September students between 2006 and 2009 is 102 (iBT) for TOEFL, 1784 for the SAT Reasoning Test and 25 for ACT with Writing (The data for SAT Subject Tests is not available.).
With regard to IB full diploma, 34 is the approximate average score of their final results between 2004 and 2009.

Q2: What is the minimum GPA required?
A2: We do not set a minimum GPA requirement as in some counties GPA system is not used. Also the screening committee will carefully examine not only your cumulative GPA but also your progress through high school and each course level of grades.

Q3: I am an IB full diploma student. Do I need to submit SAT scores as well?
A3: No.

Q4: Do you offer conditional admissions based on predicted IB scores/GCE A level?
A4: Yes for IB full dipoma. If you would like us to consider your International Baccalaureate test results for your application, please request your school to issue your IB predicted grades using this form. Decisions will be made based on your predicted IB grades and other application documents, however acceptance may be conditional upon receipt of final IB results.
For GCE A-Level, however, we do not offer conditional admissions based on predicted grades. Admission decision will be made upon the receipt of your final result of the examination.

Q5: I am studying in Germany and will take Abitur, but I cannot submit the final result of Abitur by the March 15 deadline. Can I still apply?
A5: Yes. Those who do not obtain the result of the examination by March 15 (French Baccalaureat, Abitur, etc. except IB; please see above.) should submit all other documents by March 15 and send the final result as soon as it becomes available. Please note that the admission decision will not be made until we receive the final result.

Q6: Can I send additional recommendation letters?
A6: As long as we recieve the two recommendation letters from persons we require, additional recommendation letters can be sent.

Q7: Is it all right if my SAT/TOEFL score report reaches ICU before my application?
A7: Yes. We will keep your test score report(s) such as SAT, TOEFL or others until your application reaches us. As it may take more than a month to reach us after your order, we strongly encourange you to make the score report order well in advance as instructed in "Information for September Applicants."

Q8: I am a native speaker of English. Do I still need to submit the proof of English proficiency such as TOEFL?
A8: A proof of English proficiency including TOEFL is optional if the applicant has 1) spent continuous last six years at an institution in which English is the language of instruction OR 2) taken English as a Language A1 subject in the IB Diploma Program. Please check Information for September Applicants 2011 for further information on the requirement.

Q1: I'd like to ask my acquaintance/family in Japan to pay my application fee. If the payment is made within Japan, do I still need to pay 23,500 yen?
A1: If the payment is made within Japan, you should pay 22,000 yen even if you attend school outside of Japan.

Q2: My father would like to make a payment for application fee directly from his bank account. It will not be under my name. What should I do?
A2: In principle, the payment must be made under applicant's name, however, if the bank transfer is made directly from your parents/acquaintance's bank accounts, please indicate the applicant's name under "Purpose of Remittance" or "Message for Payee" when making a remittance.

Q3: When making a bank transfer from abroad, can I pay in US dollars or in any other currencies?
A3: All payments must be made in Japanese yen.

Q4: I found that the Post Office in my town cannot issue a International Postal Money Order (IPMO) in Japanese Yen. Is IPMO in US dollars acceptable?
A4: In case of International Postal Money Order, you can make one in US dollars as long as it is equivalent to 23,500 yen. For the exchange rate, please ask the Post Office when you order IPMO. Also, IPMO should be addressed to International Christian University.

Q5: Is there a particular form (furikomi yoshi) to make a bank transfer?
A5: No.

Q6: Can I pay the application fee by credit card?
A6: Yes. The information will be available once the application period begins.

Q7: Can you waive my application fee?
A7: No.

Q1: Are there scholarships/Financial Aid that I can apply for prior to enrollment?
A1: Not many but there are some. For more information, please refer to Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Q2: Does the FAFSA Loan qualify for your university?
A2: Unfortunately not at this point. Please contact them directly regarding any related issues.

Q3: Can I get credits for AP and IB?
A3: We recognize AP and IB as advanced level courses at the time of admissions, but unfortunately we do not give any university credits for these tests.

Q4: Can I find out how many credits can be transferred before enrollment?
A4: Credits may be granted recognition only after students are officially enrolled at ICU. Interviews will be given during the orientation program. Please refer to "Transfer Students" for more details.

Q5: I am interested in the six-week Summer Courses in Japanese. Can I apply through September Admissions?
A5: No. Application for Summer Courses in Japanese is handled by the Research Center for Japanese Language Education. Please check their website for more information: http://subsite.icu.ac.jp/scj
Please also note that applicants should be 18 years old or older and currently enrolled as degree-seeking students in or have graduated from a college or university. Senior high school students cannot apply for the Summer Courses in the year of their graduation.

Q6: Are dormitory rooms guaranteed for all new students from abroad?
A6: Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a place at our dormitory for all students as the number of dormitory applicants is much larger than the number of vacancies. However, our university will support you to find off-campus housing in case you did not get a room at one of our dormitories.