Syrian Scholars Initiative

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE SYRIAN SCHOLARS INITIATIVE (May 31, 2022)

After five years of administering the Syrian Scholars Initiative, the Japan ICU Foundation has decided to make a change. Starting this year, JICUF will help fund and administer Pathways Japan’s Japanese Language School Pathways Program (JLSP). The JLSP is a two-year program where participants will study the Japanese language intensively. Pathways Japan and its predecessor the Japan Association for Refugees have been running the program since 2017, and have supported 24 students to date. Most of the graduates have been accepted by universities, and a few have found employment in Japan.

The original plan of the Syrian Scholars Initiative was to recruit a total of six students between 2018 and 2021, but it was extended for a year and seven students have been admitted to International Christian University (ICU) to date. Many lessons have been learned during this time, and we have come to the conclusion that all students would benefit greatly from receiving rigorous language training before entering a higher education institution.

Even though some institutions like ICU have intensive Japanese language programs incorporated into their curricula, mastering the language is a significant challenge for most students. Moreover, without Japanese language proficiency, students are severely disadvantaged when trying to find employment and setting up the foundation for stable, successful lives in Japan. For this reason, JICUF will encourage Syrian students to apply to the JLSP to study Japanese intensively and take the time to acclimate to life in Japan.

Beyond supporting the JLSP, JICUF plans to establish a new scholarship at higher education institutions so that the graduates of the JLSP can receive support while they pursue their degrees.

Application for the JLSP will open in the fall. We will post details in the next few months, and host online information sessions in the near future.

What is ICU?

ICU is a private, four-year liberal arts college in Tokyo. Founded on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ICU aims to cultivate “responsible global citizens” who will contribute to world peace and to help people from diverse backgrounds live together harmoniously. ICU has been a pioneer in liberal arts education in Japan since its founding in 1953, pursuing, as its name suggests, international, Christian and academic missions.

Although founded on Christian principles, ICU does not proselytize. The majority of students are not Christian. All undergraduate students are required to take “Introduction to Christianity,” but otherwise participation in Christian programs is completely optional. This scholarship is not limited to Christian students – we accept applications from students of all faiths and religions.

Learn more about ICU - Visit ICU's website

Application Timeline

Application Information

Eligibility
- Syrian national currently residing in Turkey, Egypt, or the UAE
- Single with no dependents
- Graduated from high school (certificate required)
  *If you have not graduated from high school, you can take the GED. Please note that if you are applying with the GED, you must also submit an additional education certification such as the SAT.
- Possess a good command of the English language
  *Minimum score requirement for IELTS is 6.5, TOEFL iBT is 79
  (ICU will not consider any applicant who has a score below the minimum requirement.)
  From 2021, JICUF will accept the Duolingo English Test (minimum score 105) in addition to TOEFL and IELTS, but ICU still requires a TOEFL or IELTS score for admission. Please see the “Required Documents” section for more information.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in studying in Japan and in the Japanese language
- Demonstrate an interest in pursuing a major offered by ICU
  *You do not have to be Christian to apply.
  *You do not have to have a valid Syrian passport, but we strongly encourage you to apply for one in Turkey/Egypt/UAE.
  *If you are a non-Syrian refugee currently in Turkey, Egypt, or the UAE, and are interested in this scholarship opportunity, please email information@jicuf.org. We are currently unable to accept applications from non-Syrian students, but there is a possibility that eligibility will be expanded. We will let you know in case there is any change.

Application Timeline

The timeline for application for enrollment in 2020 will be announced in spring 2019.

September 1, 2021	JICUF SSI application opens
October 15, 2021	JICUF SSI application closes
Early November 2021	Shortlisted candidates notified
November 2021	Interviews (shortlisted candidates only)
December 2021	JICUF SSI results announced
January 2022	Apply to ICU (Online entry)
February 2022	ICU results announced
Summer 2022	Travel to Japan
September 2022	Matriculation at ICU

How to Apply

Application will open on September 1, 2021 and close on October 15, 2021 (11:59pm Turkey time).
Before application opens, please make sure that you have all the necessary documents listed under the “Required Documents” tab. You will be able to upload all necessary documents through the application portal.

Document Screening & Interviews

Once you have submitted your application, it will be examined by our document screening team.

A small group of successful candidates will be invited for interviews in November.

The finalists will be selected in December.

Application to ICU

The finalists will apply to ICU in January 2022. Most of the necessary documents have already been submitted to JICUF, so this process should not be difficult. JICUF staff will also assist the application process.

Admission to ICU

The results will be announced by ICU in late February, 2022. Upon acceptance, the scholars will begin preparation for travel to Japan.

Scholars will begin studies at ICU in September 2022.
(If possible, the scholars will participate in a summer course in Japanese on the ICU campus in July and August.)
Required Documents
- Application form which will include ..
  – Personal statement (500-600 words) on why you would like to study at ICU, and what your plans are after graduation
  – Short essay (400-500 words)
- Transcript/report card
- Educational certification such as Syrian Baccalaureate, IB, SAT, ACT with writing, GCE A levels, etc. Please inquire if you have another type of certification.
  *You only need one type of educational certification.
- IELTS or TOEFL score* Minimum score: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, PBT 550
- 2 letters of recommendation**
- Copy of legal document (passport, temporary protection card or visa)
If you are unable to obtain any of the above documents, please contact us at information@jicuf.org as soon as possible. We will work with you to gather supplementary documents.

*Note on TOEFL/IELTS

If you do not already have a valid score, please arrange to take a test in a convenient location as soon as possible. JICUF will accept a copy of the PDF score report which is downloadable approximately 2 weeks after the test. However, please note that ICU requires an official TOEFL or IELTS score to be sent directly from the testing institution by the specified deadline (end of January 2020) .

For more information on TOEFL, please visit the ETS website.
For more information on IELTS, please visit their website.

If you are unable to afford the fee to take TOEFL or IELTS, you may take the Duolingo English Test (DET) instead. The minimum score requirement for DET is 105.
Please note, however, that ICU still does NOT accept DET. Therefore, students who submit their DET scores to apply for the scholarship and are shortlisted must take TOEFL or IELTS in November or December 2021. JICUF will cover the cost of TOEFL or IELTS for shortlisted students. If shortlisted students do not obtain the minimum score required by ICU in TOEFL (79) / IELTS (6.5), they will not be able to proceed to apply to ICU.

**Note on Recommendation Letters

One recommendation should ideally be from the high school principal or guidance counselor, and the other should be from an instructor of a core academic subject.

If you are currently attending or have attended university, one letter can be from the university dean, department head or academic advisor, and the other can be from a university instructor of an academic subject.

If it is not possible to get letters from these people, please contact information@jicuf.org, and we will be happy to discuss alternatives with you.

Here is the process for submitting recommendation letters.
(1) When you open the application form, you will see that under “Section V Recommendation Letters,” there is a place for you to put the names, phone numbers, email addresses for two recommenders. You will also see a button that says “send request now.” When you fill out the recommenders’ information and click on this button, an email will be automatically sent to them, asking them to upload their letters. The automatic email will be titled “You received a request from <student name>.” It will say: “<Student name> requested you complete this form to supplement their submission or application to Japan ICU Foundation.” and there will be a button that says “Complete Form.”

(2)When the recommender clicks on the link, it will connect to Submittable and the following 3 choices will be displayed:
i) Upload a PDF or Word file (on Submittable)
ii) Mail to our JICUF office
iii) Email to JICUF office

(3) We do not recommend (ii) because of the unpredictability of the international mail service.

If the recommender selects (i), it will prompt them to upload a PDF or word file. (Please see the screenshot.) The recommender can simply upload the letter in PDF or word format and click on “submit form.”

If this is too complicated, the recommender should select (iii) and send the PDF or Word document as an attachment to our email address (information@jicuf.org) with the title “Recommendation letter for <student name>.”
FAQ

ABOUT ICU

Q: Where is ICU?
ICU is located in Mitaka City in Western Tokyo. The closest train station is Musashisakai on the Chuo Line, and it is located about 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo.

Q: How many students are enrolled at ICU?
As of October 2020, there were 2,908 undergraduate students and 197 graduate students. (Total number of students was 3,105.)

Q: What fields can I study at ICU?
ICU offers 31 majors. The list is available here.
Please note that ICU does not offer engineering or medical science.

Q: How many international students are there at ICU?
As of October 2020, there were 336 international students, which is about 10.8% of the total student body. The international students came from 50 countries.

Q: Where will I live if I am accepted to ICU?
You will live in one of the dorms on campus. ICU has housing for 900 students. The newest dormitories opened in April 2017.

*Visit ICU’s website to learn about its curriculum, student life, mission and history, etc.

ABOUT APPLICATION

Q: Do I have to be Christian to apply?
No, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria listed on this page, you can apply regardless of your religion.

Q: I do not have a passport. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply even if you do not have a passport. However, we strongly encourage you to apply for a passport before traveling.

Q: Is there an age limit?

No, there is no age limit to SSI. However, mature students who already have a bachelor’s degree and/or significant professional experience are unlikely to be selected.

Q: I do not have a Syrian Baccalaureate. Can I still apply?
If you graduated from a Turkish high school, please present your Turkish certificate. If you have other education certificates, please inquire in advance. (information@jicuf.org)

Q: I don’t have a TOEFL or IELTS score. Can I apply with another certificate?
No, ICU requires either a TOEFL or IELTS score. If you do not have a score, please register to take either test as soon as possible. Please note that the official score must be sent directly to ICU (for TOEFL, ICU’s institution code is 0860). However, you can send a PDF copy of your score report to apply for SSI.

Q: My TOEFL score is lower than 79 (or my IELTS score is lower than 6.5). Can I still apply for SSI?
Unfortunately, these are minimum scores required for admission to ICU. Therefore, you are unable to apply for SSI.

Q: Do I have to know Japanese to apply?
No, prior knowledge of Japanese is not required to apply to ICU or this scholarship. However, all international students at ICU are required to study Japanese. If you are not interested in learning the language, this scholarship is not the right opportunity for you.

Q: Can I apply if I have not graduated from high school?
The only way you can apply if you have not graduated from high school is to take GED, which is a high school equivalency exam. In Turkey, it can be taken in Istanbul only.

ABOUT SSI

Q: What is covered by SSI?
SSI covers full tuition, housing, living expenses, health insurance, travel from Turkey/Egypt to Japan (including domestic travel within Turkey/Egypt if the student does not live in Istanbul or Cairo), visa application fee.
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31 Majors Offered at ICU

Above are the majors offered for undergraduate studies at ICU. For details about each major, click on the above image.

Where is ICU?

Upcoming Information Session

We will host online information sessions in late summer.

If you have any questions, please contact information@jicuf.org.

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Please Support SSI

Since civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, it has quickly become the top source country of refugees with 6.7 million registered refugees as of December 2018. With the backdrop of this global refugee crisis, JICUF, in partnership with ICU and Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), established the Syrian Scholars Initiative (SSI). SSI aims to support Syrian refugee youths currently residing in Turkey for their entire undergraduate education at ICU. SSI will cover tuition, housing and living expenses. We aim to provide comprehensive support for the students, including academic, legal and psychological support. Our first two scholars matriculated at ICU in September 2018, and two more in September 2019.

However, providing scholarships for subsequent cohorts depends largely on our ability to raise additional funds. We ask for your support to help provide higher education opportunities to additional youths whose lives have been affected by war.

Donation Form