Private university in Kyoto, Japan

Ritsumeikan University Admission Requirements 2027 for International Students

Ritsumeikan University is a large private university with campuses in Kyoto and Osaka, offering several fully English-medium bachelor's degrees through its College of Global Liberal Arts, College of International Relations and College of Information Science and Engineering.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources Official site
Next deadline
8 Sep 2026
April 2027, Bachelor, early, 1 days left
Tuition
¥1,469,200 to ¥1,669,200
per year
English test
IELTS 6
TOEFL 76, waiver possible
Acceptance rate
Not published
Application fee
¥5,000

Requirements

Bachelor

Ritsumeikan's English-medium undergraduate programmes admit applicants who have completed, or expect to complete, secondary education equivalent to a Japanese high school diploma. English test minimums differ by programme: College of Global Liberal Arts asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 81, the American University joint degree asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 85, the Global Studies Major asks for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 76, and the Community and Regional Policy Studies major and the Information Systems Science and Engineering course ask for IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72. IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted and test scores must be within two years of the application deadline.

Documents

Academic transcripts, a certificate of graduation or expected graduation, an English proficiency test score report matching the programme's minimum, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and proof of the JPY 5,000 application fee payment for each programme applied to.

How to apply

  1. Choose the college and major that fits your field and English level.
  2. Check the exact opening and closing dates for that programme's current round on the How to Apply page, since each programme runs several rounds across the year.
  3. Submit the online application with transcripts, test scores and personal statement, and pay the JPY 5,000 application fee.
  4. Complete any interview or additional screening step requested.
  5. Pay the JPY 200,000 admission fee and first year tuition after an offer to confirm your place.

English test waiver

The IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 76 figures above are the Global Studies Major minimum. Other English-medium programmes set different minimums on the same How to Apply page: College of Global Liberal Arts asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 81, the American University joint degree asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 85, and the Community and Regional Policy Studies major and Information Systems Science and Engineering course ask for IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72.

Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/e-ug/
  2. https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/e-ug/financial_info/fees.html/
  3. https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/e-ug/apply/howto.html/
  4. https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/e-ug/news/article.html/?id=298
  5. https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/gla/curriculum/