Internal Applicants | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

1. ADMISSIONS POLICY

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) welcomes students who will uphold the university’s basic ideals of Freedom, Peace, and Humanity, International Mutual Understanding, and the Future Shape of the Asia Pacific Region. These students should also be ready to acknowledge and understand differences in cultures and values, engage actively in an international campus community, and contribute to mutual learning.

New graduate school students must possess the following attributes and abilities in order to engage in this kind of learning:

1. 1.Specialized knowledge and global perspective required to pursue advanced studies in one’s graduate school and division
2. 2.Analytical skills, perceptiveness, and aptitude to solve real-world problems
3. 3.Requisite English language proficiency for research and study
4. 4.Desire to contribute to and make full use of a multicultural collaborative learning environment

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies

Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies

1. 1.High-level interest in research pertaining to specialist fields including international relations, social studies, and cultural studies required for the development of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large
2. 2.Strong intention to contribute to sustainable development and coexistence across the world

Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy

1. 1.High-level interest in research pertaining to specialist fields including administration, environmental studies, development, health science and tourism required for the development of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large
2. 2.Strong intention to contribute to sustainable development and coexistence across the world

Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies

1. 1.High-level interest in pioneering new academic disciplines required for the development of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large
2. 2.Aptitude and skills for mastering new academic theories and applications as an independent researcher
3. 3.Strong intention to contribute to sustainable development and coexistence across the world

Graduate School of Management

1. 1.High-level interest in solving the management issues faced by companies and other organizations within global society
2. 2.Ability to contribute innovative ideas to the sustainable development of the Asia Pacific region and the world as a whole, as a well-rounded manager and inclusive leader with a deep sense of social responsibility
3. 3.Analytical skills, perceptiveness, and problem-solving ability acquired through at least three years of workplace experience

In order to admit graduate students compatible with APU’s learning environment, research plans, assessment tests, interviews, academic transcripts, and other materials will be used in a multi-faceted evaluation of the aforementioned knowledge, attributes, skills, and intentions.

2. NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACCEPTED

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSA)

Master of Science in Asia Pacific Studies (APS)

Division	Intake per Year*	Enrollment Semester
International Relations (IR)	15	April/September
Society and Culture (SC)

Master of Science in International Cooperation Policy (ICP)

Division	Intake per Year*	Enrollment Semester
International Public Administration (IPA)	45	April/September
Development Economics (DE)
Sustainability Science (SS)
Tourism and Hospitality (TH)
International Material Flow Management (IMAT) Program		September Only

Doctor of Philosophy in Asia Pacific Studies

Major	Intake per Year*	Enrollment Semester
Asia Pacific Studies	10	April/September

Graduate School of Management (GSM)

Major	Intake per Year*	Enrollment Semester
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	40	April/September

*The student intake numbers represent all application categories combined.

3. APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must fulfill all of the following requirements.

1. ①

   Be scheduled to graduate from APU or Ritsumeikan University directly before enrolling into the Graduate School. Students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and above (APU) or 3.50 and above (Ritsumeikan University) are preferred.

2. ②

   Possess the ability to comprehend lectures, undertake independent research, and produce well written reports in English. Applicants must meet one of the following minimum English proficiency requirements. For applicants currently studying on an English-basis, submission of scores from one of the following tests is recommended but not compulsory.

*This table can be scrolled to the right.

1. ③

   MBA applicants are strongly encouraged to submit GMAT or GRE test scores, though it is not required

2. ④

   Doctoral applicants must also receive a signed Supervisor Confirmation Letter from a doctoral faculty supervisor before submitting their application. Please refer to the Doctoral Program Application Information Page for more information.

4. APPLICATION PROCESS

The process for applying to the master's program is as follows:

1. 1.

   Submit the online application and pay the application fee (including uploads of the digital copies of all required application documents)

2. 2.

   Submit the online assessment (including the online recorded interview and assessment tests)

5. APPLICATION SCHEDULE

April 2023 Enrollment

Master's Programs

Doctoral Program

September 2023 Enrollment

Master's Programs

Doctoral Program

6. ONLINE APPLICATION

Please submit your application through the APU Online Application System. In order to apply, you must first create an account within the system.

Applications are considered complete only when the online application has been submitted, the application fee has been paid, and the online assessment has been submitted. Please be sure to submit your online application, application fee payment, and online assessment by 23:59 (Japan time) on the day of the deadline.

In addition to the information below, please also review our online application guidelines before starting your online application.

Required Documents to be Uploaded by All Applicants

1. Applicant Information

Please enter all the required information within the online application. Personal information should be entered as shown on your passport.

Notes on sex as shown on your passport:
Information regarding sex will be used for university registration. As the university application system only provides two options (male or female) at this time, please choose one of the two as shown on or will be shown on your passport. If your passport indicates a third option or if you would like to share more about your gender identity, please contact the Office of International Admissions at [email protected] Please also refer to APU’s Policy Statement on Sexual and Gender Diversity for further details.

2. Personal Statement

Please follow the guidelines within the online application.

3. Research Proposal/Study Plan

Please follow the guidelines within the online application.

4. University Graduation Certificate(s)/Certificate of Scheduled Graduation

All applicants must submit proof of graduation from every university attended. If you are currently attending a university for a bachelor’s or master’s program, you must submit proof that the program will be completed prior to your intended date of enrollment at APU. High school graduation certificates are not required.

5. Academic Transcripts

All applicants must submit a transcript of grades for all university study to date along with information about the grading system.

If you have attended a language school or higher education institution in Japan for any length of time, please also submit academic transcripts and attendance reports covering your entire period of study.

6. Curriculum Vitae (Required only for MBA and IMAT program applicants)

Please submit a summary of your employment history, qualifications, education, and personal information in tabular form on at most two A4 pages.

7. Documents Proving English Proficiency

Please upload a digital copy of the original results from one of the accepted English language proficiency exams using the method specified below. If you have taken the TOEFL® iBT Test, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Language Assessment, please be sure to complete steps ①, ② and ③ in order to submit your test results.

Period of validity for language proficiency scores:

• April 2023 Enrollment: Only scores of examinations taken on or after June 1, 2020 will be accepted.
• September 2023 Enrollment: Only scores of examinations taken on or after September 1, 2020 will be accepted.

TOEFL iBT® Test, TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition:

Upload a digital copy of the score report within the online application.

More information about these tests can be found on the TOEFL website and the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition.

IELTS, IELTS Online:

Upload a digital copy of the Test Report Form within the online application.

TOEIC® L&R Test:

Upload a digital copy of the original score report within the online application.

PTE Academic:

Upload a digital copy of the score report within the online application.

Cambridge English Language Assessment:

1. ①Input the ID Number and Secret Number within the online application.
2. ②Upload a digital copy of the result statement within the online application.

TOEFL® ITP Test, IELTS (General Training Module), TOEIC® L&R Test (IP), Duolingo and PTE General are not accepted.

Exemption Requirements

The following applicants are exempt from having to provide documents proving English proficiency:

Master’s applicants

• Applicants who have graduated or are scheduled to graduate from a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (excluding Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, or USA.
• Applicants who can certify that they have graduated or are scheduled to graduate from a bachelor’s or master’s degree program offered in English in a country other than those listed above.

Doctoral applicants

• Applicants who can certify that they have graduated or are scheduled to graduate from a master’s degree program in Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (excluding Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, or USA.
• Applicants who can certify that they have graduated or are scheduled to graduate from a master’s degree program offered entirely in English in a country other than those listed above.
• Applicants who can submit a master’s thesis or a draft of a master’s thesis written in English. (Research report is not acceptable.)

Clear documented proof must be included with the application. Proof may be in the form of an official letter from the institution or any other official document such as a transcript indicating the language of instruction.

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements will not be considered. No exceptions will be made.

8. Sample Work or List of Research Achievements (Required only for IMAT or doctoral program applicants)

Applicants must submit either examples or a list of previous papers written and/ or presentations made which are relevant to their proposed field of study. Ph.D. applicants should also submit a copy of their master’s thesis. If the sample work is in a language other than English, please submit an English abstract.

9. Two Letters of Recommendation

Please request to send the letter of recommendation form directly to your recommenders from within the online application. The letter of recommendation form will be sent from APU to your recommenders by email.

One letter must be written by a university instructor who knows you well enough to write the recommendation. The second letter can be written by another instructor, employer, or someone who is a non-relative and knows you on a professional or academic level. Your recommenders should submit their letter of recommendation by your application deadline.

Please note that APU will only be able to accept letters of recommendation written in English.

10. Passport Scan (If available)

If you have a valid passport, please upload a digital copy of the information page showing your name, photograph, and passport number. If you have previously entered Japan, please also submit a copy of your passport pages with the immigration stamps showing your most recent arrival to and departure from Japan. Applicants who do not have a valid passport are still eligible to apply.

11. Photograph

Please upload a photograph of yourself taken within the past three months, showing a front view above chest level with a plain background. Caps and hats are not allowed. Photographs may be in color or black and white.

12. Supervisor Confirmation Letter

Doctoral program applicants must submit a signed Supervisor Confirmation Letter with their application. Before contacting a faculty member to request a Supervisor Confirmation Letter, applicants need to review the faculty supervisors listed on the doctoral faculty page and find a supervisor whose research fields match their proposed area of research.

The Supervisor Confirmation Letter may be downloaded here.

13. GMAT® Results

We highly recommend that MBA applicants submit GMAT exam results, as strong emphasis is placed on GMAT results during the application evaluation process.

1. ①

   Request to have the score report sent directly to APU from the test center’s website.
   The APU Institution Code is 2791, and the Program Code is 6VF-X6-86.

2. ②

   Input the date you requested to have the score report sent to APU within the online application.

3. ③

   Upload a digital copy of the score report within the online application.

Test results are valid for five years from the test date. For more information, please refer to the GMAT® website.

14. GRE® and GRE® General Test at Home Results

We highly recommend that Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies applicants and MBA applicants submit GRE test results, as strong emphasis is placed on GRE results during the application evaluation process.

1. ①

   Request to have the score report sent directly to APU from the test center’s website. The APU Institution Code is 7116.

2. ②Input the date you requested to have the score report sent to APU within the online application.
3. ③Upload a digital copy of the score report within the online application.

Test results are valid for five years from the test date. For more information, please refer to GRE® test website or the GRE® General Test at Home website.

15. Certificate of Employment (Required only for MBA applicants)

If you have previous full-time work experience, please upload a digital copy of written proof of your employment. This proof may be in the form of a certificate of employment issued by your employer or a letter authorized by your former place of work that shows the period of employment and a simple description of your duties. This certificate or letter should also show the name and contact information of the employer in case we need to contact them to confirm the details given.

Applicants who wish for their full-time internship experience to be included as full-time work experience must also upload a digital copy of documentation that clearly proves this. This may be in the form of a letter from the internship provider stating the number of hours worked per week and the length of time worked, or an income statement showing the amount paid from that internship.

The certificate or letter can be in any format you choose but must be written in English or have an English translation attached.

If you do not have three years of full-time work experience at the time of application but will have three full years by the time you enroll at APU, you must submit an official Certificate of Employment verifying your total work experience to the Office of International Admissions upon enrollment.

Additional Documents for Submission (If Applicable)

1. Residence Card (both sides)/Certificate of Residence

If you live in Japan and do not possess Japanese nationality:
Please upload a digital copy of both sides of your residence card within the online application.

If you live in Japan and possess Japanese nationality:
Please upload a digital copy of your Certificate of Residence（住民票）within the online application.

2. Proof of Scholarships Received from Organizations Other than APU

Applicants who are due to receive scholarships offered by organizations other than APU after admission are required to submit proof of the scholarship award.

3. Additional Required Documents for Each External Scholarship

Please refer to each individual external scholarship application for more details.

4. Designation Page in Your Passport

If you have a valid Specified Visa – Designated Activities:

Please upload a digital copy of the Designation Page in your passport that shows the category of your Specified Visa – Designated Activities (e.g. working holiday, internship). In addition, please confirm with the Japanese immigration bureau in your area of jurisdiction that your status of residence can be changed to “student” while you are residing in Japan. Notify the Office of International Admissions promptly if you find that your status cannot be changed in Japan.

7. APPLICATION FEE

Please pay the application fee by credit card before you submit the online application. We will accept payment by bank transfer (international or domestic) only if you cannot pay by credit card. Applications are considered complete only when the application fee has been paid and the online application has been submitted.

Doctoral applicants applying directly to the doctoral program after completing a master's degree at APU are not required to pay the application fee.

Credit Card

Fee Amount:	36,500 JPY (35,000 JPY for evaluation and 1,500 JPY for administrative purposes)
Payment Method:	You will be able to pay the application fee within the online application system. After completing the payment and submitting the online application, the application will be considered complete.

Bank Transfer

Fee Amount:	35,000 JPY (5,000 JPY for evaluation and 2,000 JPY for administrative purposes)
Payment Purpose:	Application Fee
Contact Details:	Applicant's Name, Phone number
Bank Name:	Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Oita Branch
Branch Address:	1-3-22 Chuo-machi, Oita-city, Oita-Prefecture, 870-0035 JAPAN Tel : +81- 97-532-5161
Account Number:	1001673 (Ordinary Deposit Account)
Account Name:	RITSUMEIKAN ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Swift Code:	SMBCJPJT
IBAN Code (if necessary):	JP28 SMBC 0721 XXX2 4029 0868
Bank transfer fee:	Borne by remitter

If the application fee is paid in Japan, even if it is paid by a friend or relative in Japan, please write the applicant’s name and phone number in the contact details when the payment is made. After completing the payment, please upload a digital copy of the payment receipt within your Application Status Page.

8. ONLINE ASSESSMENT

The online assessment is composed of a recorded video interview, the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal III test, and the Core Abilities Assessment test. The entire online assessment will last approximately 70 – 80 minutes.

Instructions for completing the online assessment will be made available within the online application system after you have submitted your online application and paid the application fee. Please be sure to complete these steps with enough time left to complete the online assessment before the application deadline.

Video Interview (20 – 30 minutes)

For the video interview, you will not be speaking with a person. Instead, through a video interview platform you will see a number of questions on your screen, and you will record your answers to them. Each question will have a set time limit for responding.

Watson-Glaser III Critical Thinking Appraisal (30 minutes)

The Watson-Glaser III Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGIII) measures a person’s ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as seek and evaluate relevant information to reach an appropriate and logical conclusion. The assessment reports on three aspects of verbal critical reasoning, specifically the ability to 1) recognize assumptions, 2) evaluate arguments, and 3) draw conclusions, as well as providing an overall measure of critical thinking proficiency.

Further Information about Critical Thinking:

https://admissions.apu.ac.jp/resource/load/documents/Tips_on_Critical_Thinking.pdf

Practice Critical Thinking (Watson Glaser) Test:

https://www.talentlens.co.uk/company/about-us/practice-aptitude/

Core Abilities Assessment (20 minutes)

The Core Abilities Assessment (CORE) consists of verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning items and measures an individual’s capacity to learn concepts and tasks, apply sound reasoning, and draw conclusions from information.

Core Abilities Assessment Sample Questions:

https://downloads.pearsonassessments.com/images/assets/caa/example_questions_coreabilities.pdf

9. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Your application will not be considered complete until you finish the following:

1. 1.

   Submit the online application and pay the application fee (including uploads of the digital copies of all required application documents)

2. 2.

   Submit the online assessment (including the online recorded interview and assessment tests)

In addition, applicants who are accepted to APU will also be required to send the original version of application documents to APU's Office of International Admissions by post as part of the enrollment procedures.

10. EVALUATION METHOD

All applicants are evaluated based on the information provided in their application documents, the video interview, and online assessment tests. If deemed necessary, the Office of International Admissions may also carry out the following:

• Contact the applicant’s place of study or the person who wrote the Letter of Recommendation.
• Ask the applicant for an explanation regarding their original submitted documents.
• Require the applicant to submit additional documents relating to academic background, transcripts, and/or language proficiency.

Internal Applicants

Applicants who do not possess Japanese citizenship must have a visa which is valid until the time of enrollment.

11. ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FROM APU

After your application is received we may need to contact you for further information, so please check your email regularly after you have submitted your application.
Please also make sure that APU emails are not directed to your spam box.

12. ADMISSIONS SUPPORT FOR PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR DISABILITIES

In accordance with the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Guidelines on Support Services for Students with Disabilities, APU offers special support during the admissions process to prospective applicants with medical conditions or disabilities when necessary. For those who would like to request this support, please read the following information carefully and submit the necessary documents.

Requesting Support During the Admissions Process

For prospective applicants who would like to request support during the admissions process, please submit the Admissions Support Request Form provided by APU before applying for admission. If possible, please also submit a medical certificate or patient referral document issued by a physician.

Step 1: Making the Request

• Download the Admissions Support Request Form from our website.
• If you are accepted into APU, you will need to submit a medical certificate or patient referral document. Only documents written in English or Japanese will be accepted. You will need to submit a translation if your document is written in another language.
• Title your email “Request for Support during the Admissions Process” and send your request to [email protected] within four weeks prior to the deadline of your intended application period.
• If you are unable to make the submission deadline due to unavoidable circumstances, include the reason in your email to [email protected] Note that even with a reason, late documents may not be accepted.

Step 2: Receiving the Support Request Arrival Receipt

APU will send an email upon receiving the support request documents from the applicant. Upload a digital copy of the receipt that is attached to this email in your online application.

Step 3: Notification of Support Request Results

APU will send the Support Request Results in an email within three weeks after sending out the Support Request Arrival Receipt.