FAQ for Families, Teachers, and Counselors| APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

APU is located in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. The city is located on the island of Kyushu in southwest Japan and is a famous tourist destination known for its variety and volume of hot springs. To access APU, you can travel via Fukuoka International Airport which has direct flights to over 20 major cities around the world. This airport is a two-hour bus ride from APU. Alternatively, you can travel via Oita International Airport, which has fewer direct international flights but is only an hour away by bus from Beppu City.

If you travel on your own to APU and inform us in advance, we are more than happy to give you a tour of our campus! Please send your request via the Inquiry Form to reserve a time. However, please note that we may not be able to arrange a tour depending on the timing.

Yes, we can help arrange a trip that would be tailor-made partnered with the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB). Please send your request via the Inquiry Form. We would be happy to help you with bringing your students on a trip but please note that we may not be able to make arrangements depending on the timing.

We do not accept requests from individuals to receive materials. Please check our Downloads page since you can find our materials there. However, we do accept requests from schools so you may distribute our materials to your students. Please send your request via the Inquiry Form.

Beppu is one of the safest destinations for studying abroad. In fact, it also has a much lower crime rate compared to Tokyo or other major cities in Japan. Additionally, the local community is very welcoming and it is common that neighbors/members of the local Beppu community will offer help when your child/student needs it.

All international students will have a chance to live in APU's on-campus residence, AP House, in their first year. AP House provides a perfect environment for students to concentrate on their studies and adapt to their new life in Japan while establishing a network of good friends for themselves. From their second year, many students move off campus and into apartments, independent housing, or shared housing. APU supports students in finding off campus accommodation should they require assistance.

APU has a health clinic on campus open between 10:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and holidays on which classes are held. Should your child/student need counselling during off hours or more specialized care, Beppu City has many clinics and hospitals to meet these needs. As all students are covered by the Japan National Health Insurance, in most cases, your child/student will only need to pay 30% of the medical fees.

There are several places to buy vegetarian food and halal food both on and off campus. There is also a mosque and churches in Beppu that many APU students choose to attend. APU also has a dedicated Quiet Space on campus for meditation, prayer, and other forms of calm, quiet reflection.

International students with valid work permits are allowed to work up to 28 hours a week during the semesters and up to 41 hours a week during vacations. A visa liaison service is available at the APU Student Office to help students apply for the correct work permit. Information regarding on-campus jobs are available through the APU On-Campus Student Job Center in both English and Japanese.

The APU Career Office provides career guidance to support your child/student in designing their career path as early as in their first year at APU. Built on that, there are workshops and individual counselling that helps students acquire the skills necessary for job hunting. From their third year, students can attend on-campus recruiting events where companies from Japan and overseas provide information and interviews, and directly hire APU students. Every year, over 100 companies come to APU campus for this purpose. Career development for students is also supported by APU's global alumni network.

The following are the steps to enroll at APU as a first year student:

1. Your child/student will first need to create an account within the APU Online Application System. The general application period is June to October for April enrollment and September to March the following year for September enrollment (for international students residing outside Japan).
2. The next step is for them to enter their personal information and upload all required documents in their online application.
3. Once this is done, they can submit the online application and pay the application fee by credit card or bank transfer.
4. The next step is for them to complete their video-recorded interview and online assessment to finalize their application.
5. Your child/student will receive their application results, APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship results^*, and AP House Global Community Scholarship results^*. ^*If applicable.
6. If accepted, they will need to complete the enrollment procedures: Enrollment Fee 1 payment, Document submission, Enrollment Fee 2 payment.
7. APU will apply for the COE on behalf of the admitted applicant at the Japanese Immigration Bureau.
8. Once the COE has been issued, APU will send it to your child/student via email.
9. They must then apply for their student visa directly at the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate.
10. Once they have their student visa, they may decide their dates for travelling to and entering Japan. They should enter Japan right before the AP House move-in period, which will generally be around mid-March for April enrollment and mid-September for September enrollment. APU will inform all incoming students in advance regarding the exact moving-in period for AP House.
11. Your child/student will then officially become an APU student!

APU offers a tuition reduction scholarship to outstanding international students in percentages of 30%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 100% lasting for four years of study. This scholarship is based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, past academic performance, language ability, extracurricular activities, personal achievements, economic factors, application documents, the online assessment, and video-recorded interview. A review of academic performance and other criteria will be conducted each semester to determine whether or not recipients qualify for the renewal of the APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship.

APU has several overseas offices where you or your child/student can make inquiries in your native language. We have overseas offices in the following countries/regions and also overseas representatives who support applicants residing in the following countries/regions. You can find their contact information on the Contact Us page.
Overseas Offices: China, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Viet Nam
Overseas Representatives: Hong Kong and Macau SAR, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka

If you live in a country without an APU office or representative, please contact APU's Office of International Admissions. Our admissions counselors will answer your inquiries. For questions about graduate studies, please see here. We also regularly hold webinars for anyone interested in APU. Please check the upcoming webinar schedule.

Yes, all international students are required to have a student visa to study in Japan. APU will assist in the visa process for admitted applicants by applying for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on their behalf. Once the student receives the COE from APU, they themselves must apply for the student visa at a nearby Japanese embassy/consulate.

For graduating international students who find employment in Japan, APU and the Japanese employer will support the student in obtaining the appropriate work visa.

You are welcome to attend the Entrance Ceremony and visit your child/student at APU at your convenience, however, we will not be able to help you with the visa application. In regard to accommodation, AP House is designated for students only and cannot lodge anyone visiting a student. However, since Beppu is a tourist city, many Japanese and Western-styled hotels and inns are available and can be booked online.

For essentials your child/student should bring with them, please take a look at our admissions website article, What I Brought to Japan as a New Student, and various YouTube videos for details. A list of essential items can also be found in the Enrollment Procedures Handbook they receive after acceptance to APU. Other basic necessities are easy to buy in Beppu and are not expensive. Once your child/student arrives at AP House, Resident Assistants (RAs) will be available to advise and assist them.

Generally, most airports in Japan have English-speaking staff. APU also offers the Arrival Assistance Service, available during specified periods at Fukuoka International Airport. At the airport, your child/student will be greeted by APU-affiliated staff and directed to buses bound for APU. Prior registration for this service is required.