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General questions
Q: My university is not a partner of ICU. Am I eligible for applying to the exchange/invitee program?
Q: Could I individually apply for the exchange/invitee program?
Q: I am an outstanding student with 3.90 GPA on 4 scale. Am I automatically permitted to study at your university if I apply for the program.
Q: Could I start to study at ICU from Spring term?

Curriculum
Q: Is there any course that exchange/invitee students cannot take?
Q: What is the languages of instruction?
Q: I don't speak Japanese but am interested in Japan and the culture. Is your program suitable for me?
Q: I am interested in the six-week Summer Courses in Japanese. Can I apply through the Exchange/Invitee program?

Application and Visa
Q: Do I need to pay the application fee?
Q: What are the required documents?
Q: Is it possible for me to stay in Japan without any visa?
Q: How can I get a student visa?

Housing and Life
Q: Is On-Campus Dormitory guaranteed for Exchange/Invitee students?
Q: Do you have a homestay option?

General questions

Q: My university is not a partner of ICU. Am I eligible for applying to the exchange/invitee program?
A: The exchange/invitee program is for those who currently enroll at one of our partner universities, so you are not eligible to apply for the program. But you are still able to study at ICU by applying through the September Admissions system. Please visit the website for further information.

Q: Could I individually apply for the exchange/invitee program?
A: No. You MUST be nominated by your home institution as an exchange/invitee student and it is also required that your application should be sent to us from the university/college directly.

Q: I am an outstanding student with 3.90 GPA on 4 scale. Am I automatically permitted to study at your university if I apply for the program.
A: Exchange/invitee students must be nominated by our partner university in order to participate in the program. As each institution sets its own screening procedures and requirements, please consult with the study abroad office of your university first. Please also note that our university will screen your application as well and decisions will be made based on a holistic evaluation. While a high GPA should be valued in our screening, it does not automatically guarantee your acceptance.

Q: Could I start to study at ICU from Spring term?
A: No. We only accept exchage/invitee students in September, from Autumn term.

Curriculum

Q: Are there any courses that exchange/invitee students cannot take?
A: Basically, exchange/invitee students are able to take any courses offered under the College of Liberal Arts except for the English Language Program courses. Graduate courses numbered in the 400-499 range are also open for upper-class undergraduate students with permission from the course instructor and your academic advisor at ICU.
However, there are some courses that set prerequisites and/or require special permission for your registration and please contact us for further details.

Q: What is the languages of instruction?
A: Japanese and English. 20% of all courses are offered in English, and the rest in Japanese or in both languages.

Q: I don't speak Japanese but am interested in Japan and the culture. Is your program suitable for me?
A: ICU does not require knowledge of the Japanese language prior to your entrance. Our Japanese Language Programs (JLP) offer different levels of courses including the one for total beginners in the Fall term. Although there are courses taught in English related to Japan, you are strongly encouraged to take JLP courses, which should give you better understanding of the country and its culture and make your life here more enjoyable.

Q: I am interested in the six-week Summer Courses in Japanese. Can I apply through the Exchange/Invitee program?
A: 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

Application and Visa

Q: Do I need to pay the application fee?
A: Exchange/Invitee students need NOT to pay the application fee. As for those who are not able to apply through their home institutions for some reasons, they have another option to apply for the One Year Regular status through the September Admissions.

Q: What are the required documents?
A: Please check "Application" for further details.

Q: Is it possible for me to stay in Japan without any visa?
A: Exchange/Invitee students must obtain a college student visa before entering Japan if you are not a holder of Japanese passport.

Q: How can I get a student visa?
A: We will initiate the visa application on your behalf. The Certificate of Eligibility(COE), which is a required certificate for visa application, will be mailed to the study abroad office of your university. You will usually have the college student visa issued within several days after presenting your COE at the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate.

Housing and Life

Q: Is On-Campus Dormitory guaranteed for Exchange/Invitee students?
A: No. Since we do not have enough number of on-campus dormitories, we cannot guarantee the place for all exchange/invitee students. For more information regarding the housing, please refer to "Accommodation" section.

Q: Do you have a homestay option?
A: Yes. We have the option. The information booklet will be provided in May along with our notification letter. For more information regarding the housing, please refer to "Accommodation" section.