About APU | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

APU Graduate School Facts

APU’s History

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) first opened its doors in 2000 thank to a collaboration between the Ritsumeikan Trust, Oita Prefecture and Beppu City. With an entirely new multicultural learning environment consisting of half international students and half Japanese/domestic students, APU’s aim was to provide an international education that lead to the development of global leaders, working in a diverse range of fields and industries. In these past fifteen years, this goal has not only been reached as APU now has over 10,000 alumni from over one hundred thirty countries and regions.

Leading the Way in Internationalization

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) was Japan’s first genuinely international university. Our graduate schools welcome students into fully English-based curriculum within a uniquely multicultural environment. APU’s graduate schools are accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Since 2016, the Graduate School of Management has been accredited by AACSB International.

Since the opening of APU’s Graduate Schools, efforts have been made to further its education and research initiatives and expand its contributions to the Asia Pacific region. The Graduate Schools at APU focus on Asia Pacific studies, with study options geared towards tackling the complex issues facing the societies and environments of the Asia Pacific region, as well as management, with a focus on the Japanese business style and the dynamic world of international business.

A Truly International Environment

APU’s campus is a unique doorway to the world, attracting students and faculty from all over the globe. Our Japanese faculty members also come to use with diverse international careers and academic experiences. This extremely rich mixture of language and culture has earned APU the reputation of being Japan’s ‘global village’. Our aim is to bring together talented individuals to study and live within this unique environment. APU encourages all students to bring and share their own unique thoughts and ideas. In this one of a kind environment, students naturally acquire intercultural communication skills.

As APU’s graduate programs are offered entirely in English, students are not required to know any Japanese to gain admission. English speaking students come to APU and study their degree in English, are taught by international professors and lecturers, and study alongside English speaking classmates from around the world. Our system has made it possible for outstanding scholars to study in Japan in an unprecedented international learning environment.

World Class Education

APU’s graduate programs have been selected for several prestigious scholarship schemes in recent years. These include the Joint/Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program and the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program, which provide support to students from member countries to undertake graduate studies at renowned institutions of higher education around the world. APU is also among the very few institutions to be selected by the Japanese government for scholarships such as the Student Priority Placement Program. Some of the other organizations that have sponsored students to study in our graduate programs include the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Japanese corporations, local government bodies and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This is a testimony to the value placed on APU’s graduate programs by both public and private sectors in Japan and throughout the world.

The Japanese Experience

Japan has a long and rich history and is a diverse cultural mix of East and West, old and new, and natural and highly engineered. Having gone through various stages of development, the nation’s rich and unique culture is what led it to emerge as a world leader in terms of economy and technology. Its strong economy, combined with a culture that places a great deal of importance on respect for others, also make it one of the safest countries in the world. For international students, it is an ideal environment in which to live and study.

international accreditation

-As of August 2016-
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is an accredited member of AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB International Announcement (August 10, 2016)
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-As of August 2020-
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is an accredited member of AMBA — The Association of MBAs.

AMBA Accredited Business Schools (August 2020)
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APU GRADUATE SCHOOLS FACTS AND FIGURES

190

total students
95%

international by students
59

countries and regions represented by students
3:1

student-faculty ratio
50%

international faculty
25

countries and regions represented by faculty
100%

of classes taught in English
90%

of students receive a scholarship
136

countries and regions represented by alumni
"Global Hub Universities"

Selected as one of Japan's Top "Global Hub Universities"