International Christian University is a private institution of higher education in Mitaka, Tokyo Japan. It was established in 1949. The Motto of this university in English is “Expanding Potential”. This university is also known as the ICU.
International Christian University History
After the end of World War II in the fall of 1945, a group of Japanese Christian Educators started a move to create a university based on Christian principles. The Foreign Missions Conference of North America & the U.S. Education Mission both visiting Japan at the time gave their unconditional support and conveyed this plan to people in the United States.
In 1948, the Japan International Christian University Foundation was formed in New York to manage fundraising efforts in the U.S. People in Japan also find hope in a cause dedicated to world peace. Firms, Organizations, and individuals made contributions to this motivated task despite their religious orientation and the often destitute conditions in the immediate post-war years.
The Bank of Japan Governor headed the supporting organization to lead the National fund-raising drive. This university has been unique from its establishment with its donation procured through goodwill transcending national borders. Japanese & North American Christian leaders convened at the Gotemba YMCA Camp to found the International Christian University (ICU) on June 15, 1494.
The founding principles & a fundamental educational plan were laid down with the initiation of the Board of Trustees & the Board of Councilors. Establishing an inter-denominational Christian university had been a dream of Japanese & American Christians for half a century. Gotemba Conference had finally realized their aspirations.
This university purchased a large site in Mitaka City on the outskirts of Tokyo in 1950 with the contributions that it received in Japan. Japanese Ministry of Education authorized this university as an Incorporated Educational Institution in 1953. ICU celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999 with various events & projects during the memorial 5-year period leading to March 2004.
President of the International Christian University
Hibiya, Junko is the President of this university.
Student Enrolled at International Christian University
This university enrolled almost 2,944 students from almost 53 countries & regions filled with individuality that transcends national or cultural boundaries.
Documents Required for Admission at International Christian University
- Certificate or Verification of Graduation
- Transcript
- English Proficiency Documents
- Letter of Recommendation
- Results of GRE & other Graduate School Admissions Standardized Tests
- Letter of Consent of a Faculty
Tuition & Fees at International Christian University
For Undergraduate Students
Academic Year 2023:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥1,101,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥1,455,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥367,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥118,000
- Sum: ¥485,000
Academic Year 2024:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥1,107,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥1,461,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥369,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥118,000
- Sum: ¥487,000
Academic Year 2025:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥1,137,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥1,491,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥379,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥118,000
- Sum: ¥497,000
Academic Year 2026:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥1,167,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥1,521,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥389,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥118,000
- Sum: ¥507,000
For Graduate Students
Master Courses
Academic Year 2023:
Natural Sciences Program:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥906,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥459,000
- Sum: ¥1,365,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥302,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥153,000
- Sum: ¥455,000
Other Program:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥906,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥345,000
- Sum: ¥1,251,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥302,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥115,000
- Sum: ¥417,000
Academic Year 2024:
Natural Sciences Program:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥906,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥459,000
- Sum: ¥1,365,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥302,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥153,000
- Sum: ¥455,000
Other Program:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥906,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥345,000
- Sum: ¥1,251,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥302,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥115,000
- Sum: ¥417,000
Doctoral Courses
Academic Year 2023:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥420,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥765,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥140,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥115,000
- Sum: ¥255,000
Academic Year 2024:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥420,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥765,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥140,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥115,000
- Sum: ¥255,000
Academic Year 2025:
Per Year:
- Tuition: ¥420,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥354,000
- Sum: ¥765,000
Per Term:
- Tuition: ¥140,000
- Facilities Fee: ¥115,000
- Sum: ¥255,000
Campus at International Christian University
The main campus of this university is on 150 wooded acres and is located in Western Tokyo with downtown areas like Shinjuku about half an hour train ride away. At the campus of ICU, Computer & Internet access is available. The campus sits on the earliest pre-Jomon & Jomon Archaeological which allows students to take part in Archaeological Fieldwork.
Excavated items on the campus are on permanent display in the Hachiro Yuasa Memorial Museum. Further, the campus is openly on the earlier location of a Nakajima Aircraft Company factory. In a quiet wooded area of the campus & through a large thatched gate is the Taizanso Garden which was established in the 1920s.
This garden includes a traditional Japanese Tea House & Historically significant Mat Room constructed out of wood gathered from hallowed and historic sites throughout Japan. This university owns a 240-acre campus in Nasu and a 13-acre Retreat Center in Karuizawa, Kitasaku District in Nagano Prefecture.
This university houses a Rotary Center for Peace & Conflict Resolution partnering with Rotary International. Also, it is only one of 7 Peace Centers in the world. The University of California Tokyo Study Center which hosts the University of California Education Abroad Program to Japan is also situated on the campus of this university.
Ranking of International Christian University
In 2024, ICU is ranked #1001-1200 by QS World University Rankings. This university was ranked as #11th among all of the universities of Japan in 2019 and # 1st among the private universities by Times Higher Education & Benesse. In 2016, it was ranked as # 174th in Asia by QS World University Rankings.
Academics at International Christian University
This university offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Arts fields as well as Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Public Administration, Education, Comparative Culture, and Natural Sciences. About 18% of the faculty comes from overseas.
There is a strong English Language Program taught by tenured & contract faculty English teachers which was involved in a controversial curricular reform in 2010 which led to the name being changed to the English for Liberal Arts program in April 2012.
Academics who aspire to teach at this university are required to submit a reference who can be a witness to their commitment to Christianity despite the university’s position that increasing adherents to the Christian faith is not its main goal.
Undergraduate Programs
In 2022, more than 30 of the majors are offered at this university out of which students can choose one or two majors as a single major, double major, or major or minor. Some of the majors are:
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Education
- Global Studies
- Arts & Archaeology
- Asian Studies
- Development Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Language Education
- Gender & Sexuality Studies
- Global Studies
- Japan Studies
- International Relations
- Law
- Sociology
- Public Policy
- Psychology
- Politics
- Physics
- Peace Studies
- Mathematics
- Literature
- Music
- Philosophy & Religion
Graduate Programs
Graduate programs at this university involve:
Master of Arts in Public Administration
Master of Arts in Natural Sciences
- Concentrations: Mathematics & Information Science, Material Science or Life Science
Degree in Master of Arts in Education
- Concentrations: Education, Psychology or Language Education
Degree in Master of Arts in Media & Language
Master of Arts in Comparative Culture
- Concentrations: Japanese Culture Studies or Trans-cultural Studies
Degree of Master of Arts in Public Economics
Master of Arts in Peace Studies
Bilingual Academics at International Christian University
The languages of instruction at this university are Japanese and English. About 30% of all courses are offered in English and others are in Japanese or both languages. Forthcoming students without earlier Japanese language knowledge can apply through a Documentary Screening Process instead of undergoing the entrance exams held in Japanese.
These students are mandatory to have college-level English proficiency and take Japanese Language Programs courses of this university to gain bilingualism and finally take courses taught in Japanese. Students take language courses for their non-dominant language in their freshman and sophomore years under the policy of bilingualism in the curriculum of this university.
Each campus department staffs employees with strong domination in both languages. Student Resources, ICU Websites, and Campus Bulletin Boards are in both Japanese and English to house students from any language background.
Trimester System at International Christian University
The academic year at this university is divided into Trimesters of around 11 weeks each with every course lasting one trimester term. This allows for an energetic learning experience one where students can design their curriculum as their interests change & develop.
Japan ICU Foundation
On November 23, 1948, the Japan ICU Foundation was integrated into New York State. It helped to establish this university in 1953. Nowadays, this foundation maintains 2 nonprofit corporations which are:
- The Japan ICU Foundation, Inc
- The JICUF Endowment, Inc
This foundation supports ICU in different ways as providing Scholarships, funding for international programs & projects, running a Faculty Exchange Program, and helping to find new buildings on campus. This Foundation has offices in New York City.
Student Life at International Christian University
Demographics
This university had almost 2851 Undergraduates studying in the College of Liberal Arts with 1041 male students & 1810 female students in 2011. ICU Graduate School had 150 students with 64 men & 86 women.
90.5% of Undergraduate and Graduate students at this university are Japanese citizens and the remainder represent 44 countries. The majority of students live off campus either at home with their families or in apartments.
International Education Exchange Programs
Almost half of the students partake in study abroad programs during their time at this university. The percentage of students who study abroad through this university program before they graduate is almost 55.5% in the year 2014. Students who come from abroad to study at this university on a yearlong exchange program are referred to as Year Regulars.
ICU Dining Hall
ICU Dining Hall is also known as Gakki. It is the official cafeteria of this university and was rebuilt in 2010. Gakki is a public and self-service cafeteria.
Student Clubs or Circles
The students of this university are known for their outstanding energy & initiative in creating a kaleidoscope of student-led and student-managed co-curricular activities.
There are around 100 student-led Clubs and organizations in the Arts, Sports, Academic, and Social Fields. New Clubs at this university are formed as student Interest Dictates and most students of the university participate in one or more of these organizations.
Research Institutes at International Christian University
This university has 5 Research Institutes & one Center dedicated to diverse disciplines. These institutes plan & sponsor Conferences, Lectures, Symposiums and seminars and provide students with opportunities to meet excellent and distinguished scholars from Japan & overseas.
- The Institute for Educational Research & Service
- The Social Science Research Institute
- Institute for the Study of Christianity
- The Institute of Asian Cultural Studies
- The Peace Research Institute
- The Center for Gender Studies
- Rotary Peace Center
- Jonathan Edwards Center Japan
Partner Institutions of International Christian University
- University of California System
- University of Pennsylvania
- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- Yonsei University
- University College London
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University of British, Columbia
Contact Us
Address
3 Chome-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585, Japan
Phone No
+81 422-33-3131
Official Website
www.icu.ac.jp
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the GPA requirement at International Christian University?
At this university, the average GPA requirement is 3.
What is the acceptance rate of International Christian University?
The acceptance rate of ICU is almost 38%.
What is the student ratio from male to female at this university?
The ratio of female to male students at this university is 61: 39.
What is the student-faculty ratio at International Christian University?
The student-faculty ratio at this university is 17:1.