Reforming Universal Admissions at ICU
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Message from ICU , No.13（October 18, 2024）
In order to accept students from countries and regions all over the world, ICU has an admissions framework called "Universal Admissions." In line with the reform of entrance examinations due to the revision of the Courses of Study by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the system of Universal Admissions has also been changed slightly. The Director of the Admissions Center will explain the key points of the changes, focusing on ELBA (English Language Based Admissions) for applicants whose first language is mainly English and EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) for applicants whose first language is neither English nor Japanese.
Reforming "Universal Admissions" at ICU
Katsuhiko Mori, Admissions Center Director
Regardless of the methods for admission to ICU, we continue to design admissions system to asses applicants' suitability for ICU's liberal arts education. They are the aptitude-based admissions for the image of ICU students who possess the four qualities indicated in our admission policy: intellectual curiosity, logical and critical thinking skills, dialogue skills, and a spirit of challenge.
ELBA and EJU Based Admissions for Applicants with Diverse Language Backgrounds
One of the things that makes ICU's undergraduate admissions different from other universities is that it takes into consideration applicants who have studied in various educational systems not only in Japan but also in other countries around the world. We have been literally conducting "universal admissions." To ensure diversity in the student body, we also implement the English Language Based Admissions (ELBA) for English speakers and the Examination for Japanese University (EJU) Use method for those who are not first language speakers of either English or Japanese. Both admissions are possible to matriculate in April or September. After admission, students take the Japanese Language Program (JLP) for ELBA admittees. EJU admittees will take either the English for Liberal Arts Program (ELA) or JLP.
The three Universal Admission methods -- April Admission for Rereturnees, ELBA, and EJU Based Admissions -- implement the so-called pre-arrival admission that does not require applicants to come to Japan for admission screening. Online interviews are conducted for the second screening of April Admission for Returnees, ELBA Type B, and EJU Based Admissions, but there is no online interview for ELBA Type A (SAT, ACT plus Writing, IBDP, GCE A Level scores required). In addition, we have abolished the conditional offer based on predicted scores that we had implemented for Type A applicants.
We have been selecting students according to the educational systems of more than 190 countries and regions around the world, and now, in the process of the ELBA Type B, we are introducing an online interview to further confirm aptitudes in more detail. The reason for this abolishment is that, unlike other universities where admission is often in late September or early October, ICU's September Entry starts at the beginning of September, so there were many cases where the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) was not issued in time if the applicant was conditionally accepted. To solve this problem, the pass/fail decision will be made based on the Type A score, even if it is a predicted score.
Enter Through the Narrow Gate?
ICU has been committed to Japanese-English bilingual education since its founding, and this is reflected in the admission methods. The language education program for graduation requirements for successful applicants to the General Admissions, April Admissions for Returnees, Sogogata Sembatsu, Admissions for Recommendees, andAdmissions for Shakaijin (Mature Students) are ELA. ELBA admittees are required to complete the JLP. EJU Based Admissions admittees will need to complete either ELA or JLP. Regardless of the admission method, you are free to choose a major or minor in ICU's later specialization process.
ICU is a small liberal arts college, and the number of places available for each admission method is not necessarily large. There is a verse that says, "Enter through the narrow gate," but there is not just one narrow gate. If you meet the application requirements, you will have the opportunity to knock on multiple narrow gates. If you knock on the gate that is right for you, as if a guest attending to ICU for a trial period, the gate will surely open for you.
Katsuhiko MORI, Director, Admissions Center
Received Ph.D. in Political Science from Carleton University (Canada) in 1994. Professor of International Relations and Global Studies, Admissions Center Director, and Social Sciences Research Institute Director. After arriving at ICU in 2004, he served as Director of the Admissions Center and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. He has been serving as Director of the Admissions Center again since 2023. Publications include The Century of Global Governance (Toshindo), Learning International Relations with Debates (Tamagawa University Press), Learning International Development with Cases (Toshindo), Teaching International Relations with Cases (Westview Press), International Relations of Biological Diversity (University Education Press), Acceleration for Sustainability Transformation (Toshindo).