Academics

Trimester System

The academic year at ICU consists of the spring, autumn and winter terms, each lasting approximately 10 weeks (9 weeks teaching period + 1 week examination period, from AY2025). Each course concludes in one term. Students on the program design their own curriculum by taking courses that satisfy their needs and interests.

Please check your possible length of your program at ICU with your study abroad advisors. We have different policies with individual partner university.

Autumn term: Early September to end of November
Winter term: Early December to early March
Spring term: Early April to end of June

For detailed dates, please check our Academic Calendar.

Grading System

ICU adopts "GPA" (Grade Point Average) to measure students' academic performance. Credit transfer system varies according to home universities. A student's achievement is to be based on factors such as class participation and reports, as well as quizzes, tests, and examinations.

The class hour (period) is 75 minutes (from AY2025). Basically, 9 weeks × 1 class period amount to one credit/unit. It is assumed that students spend 2 class hours (150 min) studying outside the class room, in preparation, review and homework, for each hour in class. Most ICU courses count for either 2 or 3 credits/units.

Grades are fundamentally assigned in the 5 categories, A, B, C, D, and E, based on a scale of 100 points, with 60 points or above being evaluated as passing.

For further information, please check here.

Course Registration

Except for the English for Liberal Arts (ELA) Program courses, undergraduate-level exchange/invitee students can choose to take from almost all of the courses offered under the College of Liberal Arts. Graduate courses numbered in the 400-599 ranges are also open for upper-class undergraduate students with prior permission from the course instructor and academic advisor at ICU.

Currently, about 35% of all courses at ICU are offered in English.

The policy and rules concerning registration may be much different from those at your home university. We request each student to refer to our registration procedures, which will be explained in an orientation held upon your arrival.

Registration for classes takes place on the registration day of each term specified in the university calendar; therefore, no prior registration is necessary before arrival. Late Registration is accepted during the designated Late Registration/Registration Change Period of the term, but late registrants will be required to pay a fee of \3,000. If necessary, students can make changes within the designated period. After the registration change period, it is not possible to make any changes on the course registration.

The normal academic load is 13 credits/units per term. However, with the approval of your academic advisor, you may take courses within the limit of a maximum of 17 credits/units (from AY2025). Those who are on a student visa status, as long as you register at least 8 slots of classes per week (75 minutes times 8 slots, from AY2025) each term in order to maintain their student visa status, you are bound only by the requirements of your home universities and/or your own capacities and choices.

ICU New Class Timetable applicable from AY2025 (Click to enlarge):

How to Find Courses

Course offerings and class schedules for the following academic year (April to March) become available in February every year. You can check the current course offerings and syllabi here.

Please refer to [ICU] How to Search Courses.pdf that explains more specifically how to search courses.

If you are a graduate student, please consult your study abroad office before application.

Japanese Language Program (JLP)

ICU is widely admired for its excellent Japanese Language Program (JLP). Information for JLP curriculum can be found at our official website.
Taking JLP courses is not compulsory and whether to take it is up to the requirements of your home universities and/or your own capacities and choices, but JLP is open to Exchange/Invitee students without any extra fees.

Note: Those who wish to take JLP courses must take the placement test and it is only given at the beginning of Autumn and Spring Terms.

ICU International Summer Program in Japan (ISPJ)

If you would like to start your time in Japan ahead, you have an option to enroll in the ICU International Summer Program in Japan (ISPJ), a four-week intensive program of Japanese language and Japan studies in July. This program includes a) a task-based language study component and b) a thematic, omnibus component that focuses on various aspects of Japan such as culture, history, society, economy, politics, and business.

Note: This program requires a minimum Japanese language level of low intermediate (CEFR A2); no beginners will be accepted.

Japan Studies One-Year Certificate Program

The Major in Japan Studies uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore the people, languages and cultures that comprise Japan. Japan Studies encompasses numerous disciplinary fields including literature, history, art and cultural heritage, anthropology, sociology, politics, economics, and international relations. The Major employs a critical approach to the study of Japan. It interrelates and integrates knowledge about Japan while introducing contested representations of “Japan.” Through various disciplinary lenses, students learn to identify and confront assumptions about Japan that circulate in the world around them. The goal of the major is to enable students to apply a more nuanced understanding of Japan to their academic and professional careers.

The One-Year Certificate Program is specifically designed for students from overseas who wish to focus on Japan. The Certificate Program consists of courses about Japan conducted in English or Japanese, as well as a Japanese language training component. Each year, over 20 courses on Japan are offered in English. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the even broader selection of courses taught in Japanese.

Students who complete the required number of units with satisfactory grades are granted a Certificate of Completion.

For more information, please see the program requirements and course list below.

• Program Requirements for Japan Studies One-Year Certificate Program