Ritsumeikan University Admission Guide for International Students

Ritsumeikan University at a glance

Ritsumeikan University is a large private university with a multi-campus footprint across Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga. Its Kinugasa Campus (KIC) in northwest Kyoto is described by the university as its centre of liberal arts, social science and humanities studies, and is home to several colleges including the College of International Relations. The Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC) opened in April 2015 and hosts colleges including Policy Science and Information Science and Engineering, while the Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC) in Shiga was established in April 1994. Your program determines where you actually study.

Ritsumeikan is part of the wider Ritsumeikan Academy, which also includes the separately run Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Oita. APU is a distinct institution covered elsewhere and is not the same as the Ritsumeikan University campuses described here.

The five English-medium undergraduate programs

Ritsumeikan's International Admissions Office lists five English-medium undergraduate programs, and they are more varied than a single liberal-arts track. Two are collaborative degree programs: GLA, in the College of Global Liberal Arts, which Ritsumeikan describes as the first college-wide dual degree program in Japan in collaboration with The Australian National University, awarding a Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts from Ritsumeikan and a Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs from ANU; and the JD Program, in the College of International Relations, a joint degree with American University awarding a Bachelor of Arts in Global International Relations.

The other three are single degree programs: the Global Studies (GS) Major in the College of International Relations; the Community and Regional Policy Studies (CRPS) Major in the College of Policy Science; and the Information Systems Science and Engineering (ISSE) Course in the College of Information Science and Engineering, which awards a Bachelor of Engineering. Note that the English-medium list does not include an undergraduate business program — if that is what you are looking for, check the official list rather than assuming. Program lists, campuses and structures can change, so confirm them on the official English-medium undergraduate programs site.

• GLA — dual degree with The Australian National University (Osaka Ibaraki Campus and ANU, Canberra)
• JD Program — joint degree with American University (Kyoto and Washington D.C.)
• GS Major — College of International Relations, Kyoto
• CRPS Major — College of Policy Science, Osaka
• ISSE Course — College of Information Science and Engineering, Osaka (Bachelor of Engineering)

Inside the Global Studies major

The Global Studies (GS) major sits within the College of International Relations, which Ritsumeikan states was established in 1988; the university notes the GS major itself started in 2011. GS awards a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and is based in Kyoto, at the Kinugasa campus that hosts the college.

Ritsumeikan lists GS enrolment in both April and September, which gives you two natural planning points in the year rather than one. Students build skills in reading, writing, presentation and discussion in English, and typically take a second language during their studies. Curriculum specifics are set by the college and can evolve, so check the current structure on the official College of International Relations pages.

Intakes differ by program — check yours

One practical trap at Ritsumeikan is assuming all English-medium programs share an intake. They do not. Ritsumeikan lists GS and GLA with April and September enrolment, while the JD Program and the ISSE Course are listed with April enrolment and the CRPS Major with September enrolment.

Because several programs and intakes exist, identify your specific target program first, then follow its guidelines. English-medium undergraduate admission is handled through Ritsumeikan's International Admissions Office, and the up-to-date methods, eligibility and documents are published on the official English-medium programs site. Intakes and application windows can change — confirm the current position for your chosen program rather than relying on this summary.

• GS and GLA — listed with April and September enrolment
• JD Program and ISSE — listed with April enrolment
• CRPS — listed with September enrolment

English proficiency, documents and the student visa

English-medium programs expect evidence of English proficiency, and applicants supply academic transcripts and proof of secondary education. Accepted tests, any score expectations and any standardized-test requirements are set per program by the university and can change, so verify them for your specific program and cycle on the official English-medium programs site rather than assuming a common standard across all five.

Tuition, application fees, scholarships and deadlines vary by year and are not listed here — confirm them on the official site. Note that a collaborative degree such as GLA involves time at a partner university abroad, which affects planning and costs; check the official program pages. Admitted degree students normally study in Japan on the "Student" status of residence, arranged via a Certificate of Eligibility; this is general information, not immigration advice, so verify current procedures on the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Study in Japan portals.