Admissions

International Residences FAQ

International Residences

1 Are there international residences at Chuo University?

There are two international residences: “International Residence Chuo (IRC)” on the Tama Campus and “Seiseki International Residence,” about 8-minute walk from Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station on the Keio line. Undergraduate students, graduate students, exchange students, and research students enrolled at Chuo can live in the IRC and the Seiseki International Residence (Distance-learning division students and non-degree students are not acceptable).

International Residence Chuo (IRC)
IRC accepts applications twice a year (Spring move-in and Fall move-in) at the International Center. Please check the website for Spring move-in in early November and for Fall move-in in early June. Applications will be conducted online and residents will be decided by screening of documents and an interview (current students only). When applications begin, you can apply from the bottom of the application guidelines website.

Seiseki International Residence
Seiseki International Residence is a residence with private rooms for Chuo students, co-managed with Kyoritsu Maintenance. For inquiries and applications, please contact Kyoritsu Maintenance (+81-3-5295-7889).

2 Do the residences include meals?

Both IRC and Seiseki International Residence (co-managed with Kyoritsu Maintenance) are residences where students cook their own meals. Please use the common kitchen in the IRC and the kitchen in the private rooms in the Seiseki International Residence, or use university cafeterias or nearby restaurants.

1. Kyoritsu Maintenance has student residences with meals. For inquiries, please directly contact Kyoritsu Maintenance.

2. College Town (Hachioji-city) managed by Friend Park Co., Ltd. has student residences with meals.

3 Are there shops near the residences?

Besides the university Co-op, near the IRC are a pharmacy Welcia (2-minute walk), Starbucks (1-minute walk), 7-Eleven (1-minute walk), Family Mart (3-minute walk), and an OK discount store (about 15-minute walk).

Around Seiseki International Residence, there are Kodaira Udon (1-minute walk), Lawson (2-minute walk), and 8-minute walk, near Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station, there are many shopping buildings such as Keio Department Store, OPA, and many more shops.

About IRC

1 Residents

1-1. Please tell me about the residents.

＜In the 1st Term of 2025＞

【Nationality Breakdown】
International Students: 55% / Japanese Students: 45%
Students from 23 countries (South Korea: 49, China: 24, USA: 14, Taiwan: 9, Vietnam: 8, Germany: 7, France: 6, UK: 5, others: 28)

【Gender Ratio】
Female 64%: Male 36%

【Breakdown by Academic Year*】
1st Year: 52%, 2nd Year: 32%, 3rd Year: 10%, 4th Year and above: 6%

【Distribution by Faculty*】
Global Management: 29%, Economics / Commerce: 20%, Letters: 18%, Policy Studies: 11%
Law / Global Informatics: 1 student each, Graduate Students: 2 students

*Excluding exchange students

2 Applications (☆: excluding exchange students)

2-1. ☆ How can I apply?: Application guidelines will be released as follows:
Spring move-in: Mid to late November
Fall move-in: Late June
Applications can be submitted through the application form on our website.
2-2. Can anyone live in the IRC?: Undergraduate students, graduate students, international exchange students, and research students enrolled at Chuo can live in the IRC (Distance-learning division students and non-degree students are not acceptable).
2-3. What is the acceptance rate for the resident selection?: The acceptance rate is not disclosed because it varies depending on the number of international exchange students to be accepted and depending on gender as recruitment is separate for men and women. In addition, the numbers to be accepted for Spring entry and Fall entry differs greatly.
2-4. Can I choose my room?: No. The University will assign your room. Conditions may vary depending on the floor and room location, but you cannot change that room.
2-5. ☆ Results of entrance exams of other universities will be announced in late March. Can I still apply?: If you are already accepted to Chuo, you can apply even if you take entrance examinations for other universities. Please enter the details of the other universities you apply for in the designated field in the entry application. Taking entrance examinations for other universities does not affect the results of the application of the IRC. But depending on the situation, we select substitutes to fill vacancies, so please cooperate to enter the information.

3 Move-In Procedures (☆: excluding exchange students)

3-1. How do I pay the monthly rent?: Your rent payment will be automatically deducted from your designated bank account in Japan. For international students who have difficulty opening a bank account, payment by credit card is acceptable.
3-2. Tell me about the rental bedding set.: Rental fee is 1,760 yen (tax incl.) (monthly), plus a set-up fee: 770 yen (tax incl.) (first month only). A lump sum payment for the contract period is required and all residents need to rent a bedding set (7 sets: quilt, bed pad, pillow, blanket, quilt cover, sheet, and pillow case). The fee includes the cleaning of sheets and covers twice a month, and storage of a winter quilt during summer.
3-3. ☆ Do I need a joint and several guarantor?: You need a joint and several guarantor in Japan, but you can also use a guarantor company (19,380 yen/year).
3-4. ☆ Can I cancel the contract after moving-in approval?: If you cancel after completing the move-in procedure, you will be charged the amount equivalent to one month's rent (64,600 yen). In principle, you cannot move out early after moving in (the start date of the contract).
3-5. Can I ask my family to help me on move-in day?: Only on move-in day, family members (a limited number) can enter the IRC. One family member of the same gender as the resident is permitted to enter the room to help moving. Other family members need to wait in the common area. In the IRC, RA/UL can help you with your luggage, so there is no problem if you move-in without your family’s help.
3-6. Can I bring my belongings by car on move-in day?: Yes, but many residents arrive by car. As soon as you finish unloading your belongings from the car, please move to a nearby pay parking lot. Pay parking lots around the IRC may be full depending on the time of day. In that case, you need to park farther away.
3-7. Do I have to move my certificate of residence when moving in?: Within 2 weeks after moving in, please complete procedures, such as resident registry at the Hachioji City Office. By law, you are required to establish residency in the region where you live.

4 Period of Residence (☆: excluding exchange students)

4-1. ☆ Can I extend the period of residence?: The period of the contract is one year.
For residents who support daily dormitory activities as an RA or UL, a new one-year fixed-term lease contract may be exceptionally granted starting the day after the original contract expires. Please note that, in principle, living in the IRC is limited to one year.
4-2. ☆ If I am planning to study abroad, can I shorten the period of the contract?: In principle, you cannot change the period of the contract. Those who plan to move out early due to studying abroad should consult us at the time of application. Only for academic reasons, we will shorten the period of the contract in advance.

5 Rules and Regulations

5-1. Can I smoke in the IRC?: Smoking is prohibited both inside and on the grounds of the IRC. Except in designated areas, smoking is prohibited on campus (There are two smoking areas on the Tama Campus, and both are a little far from IRC).
5-2. Can I drink alcohol in the IRC?: You can drink alcohol in the IRC, but the IRC residents must sign a pledge regarding alcohol use. Please refrain from behaviors that trouble other residents. Drinking by persons under 20 years old is strictly prohibited.
5-3. Is there a curfew?: No, but when you return after 21:00, enter your room quietly so as not to disturb others in your unit.
5-4. Can I stay away overnights?: Yes. However, in preparation for emergency contact during disasters, when you stay away overnight or return home, please submit a temporary leave form to the Front Office in advance (Submission is online).
5-5. Can I invite non-residents such as friends or family?: Entry into the IRC by non-residents is prohibited. Family members of residents can visit only the common area on the fifth floor with advance permission.

6 Life and System

6-1. Is there a Resident Manager?: There are English speaking manager and staff in the Front Office on the 5th floor of the IRC. Office hours are 8:30～21:00. It is closed on Sundays, national holidays, summer vacation, and New Year holidays.
6-2. Can I consult the Front Office regarding sudden illness or injury?: First-aid kits and Ice-non (cool pad pillows) are available at the Front Office. Minor injuries can be treated, but there are no regular medicines. Please prepare and keep medicines on your own. For serious injury or poor health, you will consult external medical institutions. If the symptoms are potentially infectious, in principle, you will be asked to stay in a spare room.
6-3. Please tell me about the unit.: Each unit contains 6 members in principle, and among them there is a unit leader (UL). With a UL as a core member, unit members conduct activities, such as shopping, cooking and eating together. Twice a month, all members should have a meeting (exchange meeting).
6-4. Are there events in IRC?: Yes. Every month, events are held with RAs in charge of events as core members. Please be sure to participate in the IRC official events.

7 Facilities and Equipment

7-1. What is provided in the IRC and what are residents expected to provide when moving in?: Your belongings should be limited to what is necessary, and please buy things after moving in. There are tableware, pots, kettles, and other cookware in the common kitchen on the fifth floor, and items that can be checked out from the Front Office are: iron, ironing board, handy vacuum cleaner, and Ice-non (cool pad pillows). Things you need to bring are clothes, laundry detergent, shampoo, a hair dryer, food, and seasoning. Depending on your lifestyle there will be various necessities (if you don’t use a clothes dryer, you may need a pole or clothesline).
7-2. Can I watch TV in my room?: There is a TV socket in private rooms, so you can watch TV, but you need to pay the NHK reception fee. You can watch terrestrial channels only (satellite channels such as BS are not available).
7-3. Can I access LAN Internet in my room?: You can access both wired and wireless LAN in your room. You don’t need a wireless router, but please prepare a LAN cable if necessary.
7-4. Can I cook in my room?: Cooking in your room is prohibited. In principle, use the common kitchen on the fifth floor for cooking. There is a small kitchen in each unit, but it is only for simple cooking, such as reheating.
7-5. How much does the laundry cost?: Washing machine 200 yen per cycle, dryer 100 yen / 20 minutes. There is no automatic detergent or softener system (please check the timing and add these yourself).
7-6. Can I bring a bike or motorcycle?: Pre-registration is required for bicycles and motorcycles. Those who wish to use the cycle parking lot need to submit an application form for cycle parking at the Front Office. Motorcycle parking is charged (1,100 yen (tax incl.) a month). Bicycle parking is free of charge, but if there are many applicants, you may have to park in an area without a roof.
7-7. How can I receive mail and packages?: There are mail boxes for each resident. For a large package, you can use the delivery lockers. However, refrigerated or frozen foods cannot be stored in the delivery lockers. Please adjust the delivery time so that you can meet the delivery (The management office will not temporarily store deliveries).
7-8. Can I take a tour of the IRC?: We are not offering individual IRC tours, but there are some opportunities for tours, such as campus tours and open campus.

8 Departure month procedures

8-1. What is the procedure when I move out?: Please submit the move-out form by one month prior to the final month of the contract. You cannot shorten the period of the contract.