Employment Opportunities

International Christian University (ICU) is a private, bilingual university that provides a first-class liberal arts education in a culturally and religiously diverse international community of students, faculty and staff. ICU's educational mission is based on Christian and democratic principles. ICU has approximately 3,000 students and over 150 faculty members from Japan and overseas. The university is located on a wooded campus in the suburbs of Tokyo.

  • Message from Vice President for Academic Affairs

  • The Christian Ideals of ICU

Openings for Teaching Positions

Closing Date Subject Description
June 20, 2024 Management (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) Open
April 1, 2024 Japanese Language Programs (Instructor (tenured)) Open
December 18, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (RCA Instructor by Contractual Appointment) Closed
November 30, 2023 Contemporary Philosophy Closed
November 27, 2023 Health and Physical Education Program (health/sport science, leisure/recreational studies, outdoor/experiential education, and/or physical education)  Closed
November 24, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (RCA Instructor by Contractual Appointment) Closed
November 10, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (ARW Instructor by Contractual Appointment) Closed
October 31, 2023 Quantum Electronics/Quantum Information/Quantum Internet Closed
October 30, 2023 Media, Communication and Culture(Media Technology and Popular Culture) Closed
October 22, 2023 Japanese Language Programs (Instructor by Contractual Appointment)
(Starting Date: 2024/4/1)
Closed
October 2, 2023 Japanese Language Programs (Instructor by Contractual Appointment)
(Starting Date: 2024/9/1)
Closed
September 1, 2023 Politics or International Relations Closed
August 31, 2023 Psychology (Cognitive Psychology, Psychology of Language, etc.)  Closed
August 15, 2023 Mathematics Closed
July 7, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (RCA Instructor [Tenured]) Closed
July 20, 2023 Management (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) Closed
May 6, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (RCA Instructor by Contractual Appointment) Closed
May 1, 2023 French Literature Closed
April 14, 2023 English for Liberal Arts Program (ARW Instructor by Contractual Appointment) Closed

FAQ for Applicants for Positions in Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor

Living in Japan

What kind of place is Mitaka City, where is ICU located?

Mitaka is a quiet and safe city located in what is known as the Musashino Plain, roughly 30 minutes by train from the center of Tokyo. There are several universities in the area and the city is also pursuing advanced initiatives in the field of education. Much of the greenery of the Musashino Plain has been preserved in the local area and several large parks nearby, including Nogawa Park, Inokashira Park and Koganei Park. You can see Mount Fuji from the campus on a clear day. For fans of Japanese animated films, Mitaka is also home to the Ghibli Museum.

Can you recommend any useful websites about living in Japan?

If you need help with the Japanese language, the Mitaka International Society for HOsPitality (MISHOP) provides various support services.

The website at the URL below has links provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on necessary procedures for daily living, such as opening a bank account, applying for national health insurance, or making a personal seal.

TIPS for Tokyo Life
How can I find the right school for my children?

ICU educational staff members often send their children to attend local municipal elementary and junior high schools near our campus, so these schools are familiar with how to connect with people who are not raised in Japanese language. (Examples of municipal elementary and junior high schools nearby our campus: Osawadai Elementary School, Mitaka City, Dainana Junior High School, Mitaka City)

Osawadai Elementary School, Mitaka CityDainana Junior High School, Mitaka City

Another option often used by ICU educational staff members is send their children to nearby international schools. Some public elementary schools accept returnee students (Japanese students who have lived overseas for more than a year), but in most cases this is only possible up to fourth grade of elementary school and lessons are taught in Japanese.

For kindergartens, you will need to apply separately to each local government authority that operates registered kindergartens, or apply to individual non-registered kindergartens. In general, schools receive more applications than the number of places available. Some childcare services at international schools only offer short periods of childcare.

ICU offers a Temporary Babysitter Dispatch System to help people balance work and childcare. ICU subsidizes the service fee up until the third grade of elementary school for employees who use the babysitter service when raising infants and children.

Moving

I have been appointed from overseas. Is it possible to get assistance with moving?

ICU will subsidize a portion of the moving costs (luggage transportation costs) for assistant professors, associate professors, and professors. The subsidy covers shipping costs up to a certain capacity or weight (based on the following criteria)

Eligible persons Scope of subsidy
Employee 2m3or322kg
Spouse or partner 2m3or322kg
Up to 2 children 1m3or166kg per child
Can you recommend a moving company?

We can introduce you to several moving companies but it can be difficult to find moving companies in Japan that have English speaking staff. Please see the separate information posted above if you need help with the Japanese language.

I will be coming to Japan from overseas, and I am concerned about finding accommodations.

Finding a place to live in Japan can take roughly 2-3 weeks. You may also be asked to find a guarantor who can co-sign your rental contract. The option of on-campus housing may be available for full-time faculty and staff. In assigning on-campus housing we give priority to faculty members who are arriving from overseas, but the number of units of on-campus housing is limited and it may not be possible to meet your needs. It is possible to stay in our short-term accommodation for researchers while looking for housing off campus, but please be aware that the short-term accommodation is not suitable for children.

Are there any points I should be aware of when I am moving?

You might feel that houses in Tokyo are small compared to those available overseas, and you may find that not all of your belongings will fit in your new residence. If you will be arriving in Japan before you have found housing, the moving company you are using may be able to store your belongings for as much as a month until you have a firm destination address.

Visas

Can I get help with applying for a visa?

We will help you and your family members obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that is required for your visa application. The Personnel and Financial Affairs Division will help with this. If either you or your partner have Japanese citizenship, you do not need to apply for a visa for your children. You will be asked instead to show their passports, so please obtain them in advance.

Other questions

What level of living expenses should I prepare upon arrival?

Your first month's salary will be paid on the 20th of the month, so please prepare enough funds in advance to cover your living and educational expenses for your first month in Japan. Also, if you decide to move into off-campus housing, you may be required to make a lump sum payment when you move in.

Working at ICU

From which universities have ICU faculty received their PhDs?

Most faculty members at ICU have received their postgraduate degrees overseas regardless of their home country or region. Many earn their PhDs from Ivy League graduate schools or R1: Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity, so you will get to work with high-level faculty.

Do you have orientation sessions for faculty?

ICU launched its New Faculty Development Program for new faculty members in 2017 with the aim of improving the faculty and researcher capabilities at liberal arts universities. It is also a popular opportunity for faculty to interact with each other. The program consists of on-demand or live sessions, with the live sessions being held every Tuesday, third period, during the autumn term. Please see the dedicated website for more details.

Do you assign a mentor to new faculty members?

Associate professors and professors receive mentoring for one year and tenure-track assistant professors are mentored by full-time faculty until tenure is attained. Please feel free to consult with us regarding any concerns you have after your arrival at ICU.

Can faculty members receive research leave?

In principle, associate professors and professors can take a one-year research sabbatical every seven years during which they devote themselves to their respective research activities either in Japan or overseas. It is also possible to take advantage of ICU agreements to conduct research at an overseas university.

What kind of tenure track system do you have at ICU?

We use a review system that is based on regulations that specify the criteria needed for tenure and promotion. Assistant professors who are granted tenure will be promoted to the rank of associate professor and will be guaranteed employment until the retirement age of 65 years. The scope of voting rights at faculty meetings also increase with promotion to higher ranks. We will explain the details of our tenure system more fully at the interview stage.

Are faculty from overseas treated equally?

Yes, non-Japanese faculty are treated equally, and ICU has a deeply-ingrained culture of mutual respect regardless of a person's nationality. To give one example, our first Vice President of Academic Affairs was Dr. Maurice Emanuel Troyer, and many other non-Japanese faculty members have served in positions of authority at ICU.

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