Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Admission 2027: Deadlines, Requirements, Fees for International Students

Admission at a glance

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is a private university in Beppu, on the island of Kyushu, founded in 2000 specifically as an international, bilingual campus rather than adding an English track onto an existing Japanese university. International students have made up close to half of its student body since opening, drawn from a very wide range of countries, and every degree programme can be completed through English-medium study, Japanese-medium study, or a mix of the two.

APU admits twice a year, for April and September enrolment, and accepts applications from students living outside Japan through its own online application system, entirely without a campus visit for the standard track. Applicants need a minimum GPA of 2.40 on a 4.00 scale, an English test score (unless exempted by nationality or prior English-medium education) and financial proof covering at least one semester's costs at the time of application. Because APU is private, it charges considerably more than the national universities in this dataset, and its own fee schedule steps up after the first year. Graduate admission runs through separate schools (Asia Pacific Studies and Management) with their own deadlines and requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's

Applicants need 12 years of school education completed outside Japan (or an equivalent qualification), a minimum GPA of 2.40 on a 4.00 scale, and an English test score meeting the first-year applicant minimum, unless exempted by nationality or prior English-medium schooling. Transfer applicants into the second or third year need a higher English test score.

Master's and PhD

Admission is run separately by the College of Asia Pacific Studies and the College of International Management; a relevant Bachelor's degree (or Master's degree for doctoral study) is required, with further requirements set by each graduate school.

Full requirements and documents