Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

Begin your global career at APU in Beppu, Japan!

When it was established in April 2000, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) embarked on an unprecedented mission for a Japanese university—to enroll a student body of approximately 50% Japanese and 50% international students and provide a path to global citizenship through an innovative undergraduate program offered in both Japanese and English.

APU's success in achieving and maintaining this goal has resulted in an immersive, international education and unparalleled intercultural student experience. By studying at APU, our students gain cultural knowledge and practical skills necessary to contribute to positive social change, intercultural coexistence, responsible business leadership, and sustainable development.

We invite you to join our nearly 14,000 alumni working around the world across all fields and industries.

APU by the numbers

Join our truly diverse and multicultural community from the first time you step foot on campus.

• Almost 6000 total students, including nearly 3000 international students from 90 countries
• Global network of nearly 14,000 alumni spanning 138 countries
• 50% international faculty from 25 countries
• 92% job placement success rate (before graduation)

*Data accurate as of the 2016 academic year.

Why an APU education is different

International students with no Japanese language background are welcome to study at APU, as we offer a bilingual undergraduate curriculum with English-taught and Japanese-taught bachelor's degrees, as well as graduate degree programs in social sciences and international business taught entirely in English.

Language is a major component of undergraduate studies at APU. Undergraduate students in our English-taught program are required to learn Japanese, while those in the Japanese-taught program are required to learn English. Many students also choose to study one of six other Asia Pacific languages offered at APU.

International Recognition

Despite the university's young history, APU is the third university in Japan to date to have achieved the prestigious AACSB accreditation for the undergraduate and graduate business programs. The university was also ranked No. 1 in the Times Higher Education 2017 Japan University Rankings for the Environment category and No. 24 overall.

Modern and Convenient Campus

Your transition to life as a university student in Japan will be smooth thanks to APU's campus and student support services. Undergraduate international students are guaranteed a place in our on-campus accommodation, AP House, for their first year of studies. This dormitory has both single and shared rooms, common kitchens, leisure facilities, and more. Graduate students live in university-owned housing located off-campus near many shopping options and a beach.

Ideal Study Location

APU is located in Beppu, a picturesque seaside city of 120,000 people surrounded by a dramatic mountainous landscape. The city is famous across Japan and internationally thanks to its abundance of natural hot springs, boasting the second highest amount of natural hot spring water in the world.

Most undergraduate students will move off campus and into the city starting in their second year of study. Beppu provides the perfect balance of nature and modern conveniences as the backdrop to your student life.

We invite you to shape your world and the world around you at APU.