NO WORRIES ABOUT ENROLLING AT APU!
We support a "safe" campus life!
Entering APU means taking the first step into a new world. It takes courage for anyone, and there is a strange mixture of anticipation and anxiety. However, there is no need to worry at all, as all students who come to APU are in a similar situation.
No more worries about living alone!
Approximately 90% of APU students are from outside of the prefecture. Therefore, the percentage of domestic students living in lodgings is about 90%! Most students will be living alone for the first time, so the situation is the same for everyone. Don't feel alone in your concerns, but share them with your friends as much as possible.
Beppu City, a hot spring resort town, is also an academic city, and the city is actively working to make it a comfortable place for students to live. There are areas of the city with a high concentration of APU students, and it is not unusual to find that the majority of residents in the apartments are APU students.
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Three well-balanced meals in the cafeteria!
I think the biggest concern for everyone living alone in Beppu is the food.
The APU cafeteria is operated by the Ritsumeikan Co-op. The cafeteria is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., so students can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Co-op's meals are nutritionally balanced, and your receipt will show you the nutrients you have consumed at that time. You can eat a full meal for just one coin, so it is good cosmetics.
(Co-op HP)
(Co-op HP)
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COOP and Lawson have most daily necessities!
Another concern is how to shop for groceries when the campus is on top of a mountain. There is a Lawson store and a COOP operated by the Ritsumeikan Co-op on campus.
At Lawson, you can pay utility bills and there is also an ATM, so there is no need to take the bus down to the city. At COOP, you can buy most daily necessities, and you can also buy textbooks for your classes, so you can have everything you need on campus.
(Co-op HP)
(Co-op HP)
Reliable Support
The nearest supermarket is 20 minutes away by bus.
In the city it's about 30 minutes!
The nearest supermarket is about 20 minutes away by bus. You can also reach Beppu City in about 30 minutes by bus. There is a Starbucks in front of the station, as well as some cute cafes. There is also a commercial facility called Amu Plaza Oita at Oita Station, a 10-minute train ride from Beppu Station. If you're going to the movies, this is the closest and best place to go!
STUDENT VOICE
That is why I like Beppu.
Although hot spring resort towns have a strong image of sightseeing, there are actually many places where you can enjoy yourself in a student-like manner, such as fashionable cafes, restaurants, and karaoke places. Of course, you can enjoy so many things that you will never get tired of visiting hot springs.
As a lover of the sea, I am most pleased that there are many beaches along Beppu Bay. I usually get together with friends to enjoy barbecues, fireworks, fishing, etc., and in the summer we dive straight into the sea for a swim.
No more worries about English!
You may be thinking, "All the students who enter APU seem to speak English well. What should I do? Don't worry! Many of the Japanese students who enroll at APU (hereafter referred to as "domestic students") have never studied abroad. Also, APU has an English placement test at the time of enrollment, so you can begin your English studies at a level that suits you best.
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Get a solid English "foundation" before you enroll!
You do not need to be able to speak English fluently before entering the school. Rather, we would like you to have good grammar and vocabulary skills by the time you enter APU. If you have a solid foundation, you will be able to take advantage of the APU environment to improve your speaking ability, so make sure to review your junior and senior high school English! We recommend the Kikutan and Mr. Evine series, which are also used by many APU students!
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Improve your English through classes and self-study!
At APU, English classes are offered six times a week. Each class is 100 minutes long, and basically, English teachers teach the four skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) "in English," so English skills will improve rapidly.
In addition, students can ask questions during office hours when teachers are not in class.
In addition, there is a facility on campus called the Self-Access Learning Center for Languages (SALC), where students can consult in Japanese about any questions or clarifications they may have in their English classes. Take full advantage of these facilities to improve your English!
Safety point
You can start with "Hello"!
Let's talk to international students (hereafter referred to as "international students").
Most international students can speak English and their native language, but not Japanese.
And they come to APU because they want to make Japanese friends, so you can start with "Hello"! Please try to talk to them.
Even if you don't speak Japanese well, your desire to communicate is important!
The more you use your English, the better you will become.
STUDENT VOICE
APU, so maybe I could change.
APU values the autonomy of its students, even when it comes to circle activities. I joined a club casually, but through working with international students in its management, I learned a sense of responsibility and leadership in a practical way, and I believe that I have grown as a person.
I was a shy person, but when I gathered up the courage to talk to international students, I was able to become very friendly with them, which gave me confidence.
APU's Co-op "New Student Support Site FY2023" also has lots of great deals!
