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Ritsumeikan University is a multidisciplinary educational institution. Choose the direction and study program that are perfect for you.
Ritsumeikan University (RU) is a private university in Japan that traces its origins to 1869. Its main campus is in Kyoto, with additional campuses in Ibaraki (Osaka) and Kusatsu (Shiga). The university has 16 colleges and 22 graduate schools and is among the highest-ranked private universities in Japan. For international students, RU offers English-medium undergraduate programs in Kyoto and Osaka where no Japanese is required for admission.
Program | Campus | Enrollment | Application periods |
|---|---|---|---|
Global Liberal Arts, dual degree with the Australian National University (GLA) | Osaka and Canberra | April or September 2027 | April: August 19 – September 8, 2026 (closed); September: October 14 – November 2, 2026; December 2, 2026 – January 12, 2027; February 17 – March 9, 2027 |
Joint Degree Program with American University (JDP) | Kyoto and Washington, D.C. | April 2027 | February 18 – March 10, 2026 and August 19 – September 8, 2026 (closed) |
Global Studies Major (GS) | Kyoto | April or September 2027 | April: August 19 – September 8, 2026 (closed); September: December 2, 2026 – January 12, 2027; February 17 – March 9, 2027 |
Community and Regional Policy Studies Major (CRPS) | Osaka | September 2027 | December 2, 2026 – January 12, 2027; February 17 – March 9, 2027 |
Information Systems Science and Engineering Course (ISSE) | Osaka | April 2027 | February 18 – March 10, 2026 and August 19 – September 8, 2026 (closed) |
Item | Amount |
|---|---|
Application fee (per program, non-refundable) | 5,000 JPY |
Admission fee (one-time, paid on enrollment) | 200,000 JPY |
Educational background | Eligible? | What is needed |
|---|---|---|
11-year school, Kazakhstan or Russia | Yes (criterion E) | Certificate of general secondary education; these 11-year curricula are designated by Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) |
11-year school, Kyrgyzstan | Not directly | Kyrgyzstan is not on the MEXT list: a MEXT-accredited Japanese preparatory course (criterion F, not accepted for JDP), an individual eligibility review by Ritsumeikan (criterion I, age 18+), IB or A-Level (criterion D) or an exam such as GED (criterion G, age 18+) |
12-year school (for example Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools) | Yes (criterion A) | Certificate of completion of the 12-year curriculum and transcripts for grades 10 to 12 |
International school with IB, Cambridge or American curriculum | Yes (criteria B or D) | School accredited by WASC, NEASC, Cognia, COBIS, CIS or ACSI, or an IB Diploma or A-Level results |
11 years at home plus 12th grade abroad | Usually yes | Completion of the 12th year in an official foreign school system; confirm with the university in advance |
College after grade 11 | Yes for Kazakhstan and Russia | Eligibility is based on the school certificate; college transcripts must also be submitted |
College after grade 9, without an 11th-grade school certificate | Not directly | Individual eligibility review (criterion I) or a MEXT-accredited preparatory course (criterion F) |
National exams (UNT, ORT, EGE) are not required but may be submitted as optional documents. Eligibility questions and requests for an individual review must be sent to the International Admissions Office three weeks before the application period starts. All requirements must be met by the enrollment date: April 1 for April enrollment and September 26 for September enrollment.
The spring semester runs from April to July and the fall semester from September to January, with entrance ceremonies for April and September enrollees.
Students in English-medium programs can live in university International Houses with bilingual Resident Mentors and auto-lock entrances. Rent includes water, electricity and internet.
Dormitory | Rooms | Rent per month |
|---|---|---|
International House Taishogun | 190 single rooms, 20 minutes on foot from campus | 49,000 JPY |
International House Tokiwa | 52 single rooms, 20 minutes by bicycle | 39,000 JPY |
International House Utano | 35 single rooms, 15 minutes by bicycle | 49,000 JPY |
Additional costs: a security deposit equal to one month's rent, bedding rental of 2,000 JPY per month and a cleaning fee of 10,000 JPY. Residence is usually limited to one year. Students at Osaka Ibaraki Campus (GLA, CRPS, ISSE) use separate OIC dormitories.
Category | For whom | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Category I | Top 10% or less of admitted students | 100% tuition reduction for the first year (for example 1,469,200 JPY to 0 JPY) |
Undergraduate Category II | The next 10% or less | 50% tuition reduction (1,469,200 JPY to 734,600 JPY) |
Undergraduate Category III | All other admitted students | 20% tuition reduction (1,469,200 JPY to 1,175,360 JPY) |
No separate application is needed: applicants tick the scholarship option in the online application, and the first-year reduction is decided by the admission result; from the second year it depends on grades. Students must hold «Student» residence status. GLA students are eligible only for Category I, and JDP students only while studying at Ritsumeikan. The scheme from academic year 2028 is not yet decided.
Scholarship | For whom | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
JASSO scholarship | Enrolled international students | 48,000 JPY per month |
International Students Assistance Scholarship by RU Faculty and Staff | Enrolled international students | 250,000 JPY per year |
GLA study abroad scholarships | All GLA students studying at ANU | 700,000 JPY plus 300,000 JPY |
American University scholarship | JDP students starting at Ritsumeikan | 30% of AU tuition for the first two semesters at AU |
Ritsumeikan Study Abroad Challenge Scholarship (JDP) | JDP students meeting academic conditions | 500,000 JPY per semester for up to 4 semesters at AU |
MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship | Applicants recommended by Ritsumeikan to Japan's Ministry of Education | Full scholarship from the Japanese government |
Year | Event |
|---|---|
1869 | Prince Saionji Kinmochi founds the private academy Ritsumeikan in Kyoto, the origin of the university |
1900 | Kyoto Hosei School, the direct predecessor of the university, is founded by Nakagawa Kojuro |
1913 | The school takes the name Ritsumeikan |
1922 | Recognized as a university |
1994 | Biwako-Kusatsu Campus opens in Shiga |
2015 | Osaka Ibaraki Campus opens |
Ranking | Edition | Position |
|---|---|---|
QS World University Rankings | 2027 | =683 |
QS World University Rankings | 2026 | 680 |
QS Asia University Rankings | 2026 | 139 |
Ritsumeikan is consistently among the top three Japanese private universities in the QS World University Rankings.
