Rikkyo University Admission Guide for International Students

Rikkyo University at a glance

Rikkyo University is a private university in Tokyo, historically also known as St. Paul's University. Rikkyo's official history records that in 1874 the private school of St Paul's School was founded in the foreign settlement of Tsukiji, Tokyo, by Bishop Channing Moore Williams — background on how the institution began, noted here as history only. Its main Ikebukuro campus, with its distinctive older architecture, sits in a lively part of the city, and a second campus is located in Niiza, Saitama.

Rikkyo teaches across the arts, sciences, business and social sciences, and is known for a liberal-arts ethos. For international applicants seeking an English-medium degree, its purpose-built Global Liberal Arts Program is the clearest entry point.

The Global Liberal Arts Program (GLAP)

GLAP is a four-year undergraduate program in which students earn a bachelor's degree taught in English. It is built as a small, discussion-based liberal-arts community, so class sizes are intentionally limited and students receive close guidance from faculty — Rikkyo describes small-class education and global leadership as core features.

The defining feature is the year abroad. Rikkyo states that all GLAP students are required to study abroad for one academic year at a partner institution, beginning from the Fall semester of their second year to the end of the Spring semester of their third year. Because the intake, class size and study-abroad structure are set by the university and can change, confirm the current details on the official GLAP pages before you apply.

• Four-year bachelor's degree taught in English
• Required one-year study abroad: Fall of year two to end of Spring of year three
• Deliberately small, discussion-based cohort

Specializing after you return

GLAP is not a single undifferentiated liberal-arts degree. Rikkyo states that, building on their prior learning and international experience, students choose one field of particular interest from among three areas — "Humanities," "Citizenship" or "Business" — for focused upper-level study after the year abroad.

That sequence matters when you plan: the first years build breadth and prepare you for the year abroad, and the specialization follows your return. Curriculum structures are set by the university and can be updated, so check the current specialization tracks on the official GLAP pages.

How GLAP admission works

GLAP admits through more than one entrance route. For the Entrance Exam for International Courses, Rikkyo's published schedule shows a first-round screening of your application documents, followed by a second-round screening consisting of a written exam and an interview — so this route does test you beyond your paperwork, unlike some document-only routes elsewhere in Tokyo.

Eligibility has centered on having completed (or being on track to complete) twelve years of school education or an equivalent qualification. Rikkyo lists English qualifications for this route including TOEFL iBT and IELTS (Academic Module) alongside options such as Cambridge English Qualifications, EIKEN, GTEC and TEAP, with scores generally required from tests taken within two years of the application period. Required scores, accepted qualifications and screening details are set by the university and can be updated each cycle — treat the official application guidelines as the authoritative source rather than any summary.

• First round: document screening
• Second round: written exam and interview
• English qualifications listed include TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic — verify the current list and scores

Fees, scholarships and the student visa

Tuition, application fees, scholarships and deadlines are set by Rikkyo and vary between years, so this guide does not list figures. Note that a required year abroad means study-abroad costs are part of the picture — Rikkyo publishes scholarship information alongside its admission pages. Verify all costs and dates on the official Rikkyo and GLAP pages before applying, and prepare official documents early since international certification can be slow.

Admitted degree students normally study in Japan on the "Student" status of residence, arranged through a Certificate of Eligibility. That immigration information is general and is not immigration advice — confirm current procedures on the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Study in Japan portals.