International Christian University

International Christian University (ICU) has been a pioneer in liberal arts education in Japan since its founding in 1953 and was ranked 1st among private universities in Japan in the Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings 2023.

ICU offers 31 majors in its College of Liberal Arts and 35% of the courses are taught in English. ICU’s bilingual environment extends beyond the classroom to services, facilities, and dormitory life, and students can thrive in an English-friendly environment even without yet acquiring Japanese proficiency. ICU has 11 dormitories on campus, where Japanese and non-Japanese students live together and can share their diverse social, linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds and ways of thinking.

ICU’s 150-acre wooded campus is in Mitaka with easy access to downtown Tokyo.

  • Japanese Language Exchange
  • Please note you may be required to provide proof of financial resources as an immigration requirement in order to pursue an exchange in Japan.  

  • ICU permits exchange students to take not only Japanese Language Program courses but also other courses. English-taught courses are offered across 31 majors, and 35% of ICU courses are taught in English. 
  • Graduate courses numbered in the 400-599 range are also open for upper-class undergraduate students with prior permission from the course instructor and academic advisor at ICU.
  • Exchange students are not allowed to take English for Liberal Arts Program (ELA) courses.


  • On-campus dormitories are limited. 
  • If a student applies to stay in on-campus dormitories but is not successfully placed, ICU Service Co., Ltd. will support them in finding off-campus housing. 


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