Ritsumeikan University Japan

The history of Ritsumeikan dates back to 1869, when Prince Kinmochi Saionji, an eminent cosmopolitan statesman of modern Japan, founded it as a private academy in Kyoto. Ritsumeikan has now become an integrated academy with a rich culture of individuality and international awareness accommodating a total of 49,000 students. The current Ritsumeikan Academy has campuses in Kyoto, Shiga, Hokkaido, and Oita and encompasses two universities, Ritsumeikan University (RU) and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), four high schools, four junior high schools, and one primary school.Since Ritsumeikan’s establishment, approximately 300,000 people have graduated from RU, 5,000 from APU and 90,000 from the affiliate schools. Ritsumeikan fosters learning and the development of individual talents in order to nurture just and ethical global citizens.Resting on a tradition and history that span across three centuries, Ritsumeikan Academy stands out for its distinctive character and internationalism.

Ritsumeikan University (RU), a private university founded in 1900, is one of Japan’s most well-known universities.

RU has 36,500 students who study and research across the University's three campuses; Kinugasa Campus and Suzaku Campus are located in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and Biwako-Kusatsu Campus is located in neighboring Shiga Prefecture. RU offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across a wide range of academic disciplines including humanities, social science, arts, science and engineering. RU attaches a great deal of importance to international education, and through its links with over 370 overseas universities offers a range of study abroad opportunities to its students.

In order to promote the internationalization of education and research, Ritsumeikan University is actively accepting international students from many different countries and regions throughout the world. As of May 1st, 2010, 1,113 international students from Asia, America, Europe, Oceania and Africa were studying at Ritsumeikan University.Students currently attending a university in their home country who would like to attend RU on a short-term basis (i.e. one year or less) are invited to apply to the Study in Kyoto Program (SKP). SKP offers numerous courses in Japanese language and culture, utilizing the extensive historical and cultural resources of the ancient city of Kyoto. SKP also offers courses in English on Japan and business-related subjects. For more information, please see 

Another unique study opportunity is the Ritsumeikan Summer and Winter Japanese Program (RSJP/RSWP), a five-week or two-week program designed for college and university students with minimal knowledge of the Japanese language. RSJP/RSWP provides a comprehensive introduction to Japanese language and culture. Program participants are immersed in an optimal environment for short-term intensive language study with the added benefit of cultural exchange and exploration. For more information please see the website: Ritsumeikan Summer/Winter Japanese Program In order to address the needs and expectations, as well as the anxieties and concerns of students, RU offers a wide variety of student support services. These services aim to provide information, starting from pre-enrollment, on the academic system, student life, scholarships, etc. at Ritsumeikan. In addition, an informative orientation is held for new international students upon arrival.

Students at RU work voluntarily as "tutors" to help international students adjust to campus life and daily life in Japan. These tutors are called TISA, Tutors for International Students Assembly. These tutors play a very important role in promoting interaction between international and Japanese students. With this objective, the tutors organize an orientation and student gathering for newly enrolled international students each year. Their activities also include preparing notifications for international students regarding courses and examinations, organizing cultural events between Japanese and international students and developing a network of activities between international students and regional and self-governing organizations. Currently, there are around 80 volunteer student tutors including international students on both campuses involved in these activities.