International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA)

International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) is the English-taught division of the Japanese private university Yamanashi Gakuin (founded in 1946) in the city of Kofu. The college follows the American liberal-arts model: in the early years students study a broad range of disciplines and only then choose a concentration.

Instruction is entirely in English (apart from required Japanese-language courses, open to any level, including complete beginners). Over 80% of students are international, from 55+ countries; more than 88% of faculty hold degrees from abroad; and the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1 — meaning small groups and constant access to mentors.

Kofu is 90 minutes by train from central Tokyo and 45 minutes from Mount Fuji. The campus is within walking distance of two train stations.

iCLA in figures:

• #301 in Japan's national ranking
• 55+ countries students come from
• 60+ partner universities in 30 countries for exchange

iCLA students have access to both their own facilities and those of the parent Yamanashi Gakuin university: a library, sports and fitness halls, computer labs and campus shops. Dedicated spaces are equipped for music and the visual arts.

iCLA awards a single degree — the Bachelor of International Liberal Arts (4 years, in English). Students choose one of six concentrations:

• Data Science — data analysis in a humanities context
• Global Business and Economics — finance, international business, economics
• Interdisciplinary Arts — fine art, music, film, theater, anime and manga
• Japan Studies — Japanese culture, history, politics and language
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology and Linguistics

International applicants are admitted on the basis of a secondary school diploma and proven English proficiency. Japanese courses are available from scratch, so knowledge of Japanese is not required for admission.

Admission is to a bachelor's program; a motivation letter and extracurricular achievements help strengthen your application.

The standard admission route to International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) for international students looks like this:

1. Choose a program (9–12 months ahead). Decide on the field — business, economics and data Science — and the level: bachelor’s or master’s. Programs differ in requirements, deadlines and fees.
2. Language certificate. Core programs are taught in English, so you need English evidence; Japanese is not required and is taught from scratch as part of the curriculum.
3. Application. Applications are submitted online; once reviewed, the university sends an offer — with it you can plan finances and housing.
4. Student visa and relocation. After the offer, StudyU helps prepare visa or residence-permit documents for Japan; the consular or migration authority makes the decision.

• Passport
• A secondary school diploma and academic transcript
• An English proficiency certificate
• Motivation letter

The exact set depends on the intake and program — we'll help you gather and submit the documents.

Start with the slowest items — translations, apostille and the language exam: they take 1–2 months. We do the final package check for you.

Tuition at iCLA starts at approximately $8,550 per year (full price, before discounts). The college offers scholarships to international students based on admission results and academic performance.

During a consultation we'll explain which scholarships and discounts you can realistically claim and help you prepare the application.

Costs in Japan: costs depend on the university: our pages list full prices before discounts (for example, iCLA from about $8,550 per year, Waseda from $8,130 per year). Under an agreement with StudyU, we compare published scholarship terms; each university or funding body decides awards.

The total budget combines tuition, housing, insurance and one-off visa and relocation costs — we will help you calculate everything before applying.

iCLA offers student-residence accommodation — which helps you settle in faster and join the college's international community. Cafés, shops and sports facilities are available right on campus and nearby.

After graduation. Whether you can work after getting your degree depends on the current visa rules of Japan — we will help you review the up-to-date options before graduation.

International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) is strongest in business, economics and data science. Use the career service, job fairs and internships from your first semesters: practical experience matters most for a first job.

Another path is a master’s degree: with a bachelor’s from Japan you can apply to programs and scholarships worldwide.