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 is a young international college with a focus on individual attention:

• #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. Not necessarily: more and more universities offer fully English-taught programs, especially in business, engineering and the liberal arts. Japanese courses are usually part of the program, and you can start from scratch.
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, a student visa or residence permit for Japan is arranged. We handle this stage end to end.

After 11 years of school. The standard route is a language school (1-2 years): it closes the missing 12th year and preps for the EJU. English-track programs admit on documents and IELTS without it.

• 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.

Country benchmark for 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). During a consultation we'll explain which scholarships can lower costs.

Scholarships and grants. The best known is the government's MEXT scholarship, plus merit-based university grants. They can cover tuition, accommodation and even airfare. Competition is high, so documents are prepared early.

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.

The strong fields of International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) are business, economics and data Science. As at most universities in Japan, students have access to a career centre, job fairs and internships — use them from the first semesters: hands-on experience is decisive for the first job.

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