FAQ about university life

AP House / Living alone

  • If I want to live outside of the student dormitory, can I rent the apartment myself?
    Many students in their second year and above live in apartments or student dormitories in Beppu City. Many students rent an apartment with a friend and share a room to keep costs down. APU also offers a referral and placement service for rental apartments and student dormitories. CREOTEC Corporation (a company wholly owned by Ritsumeikan Educational Corporation) will mediate properties. Please be assured that 100% of the properties that are mediated are also occupied by APU students.　Creotech Co., >>
  • Can I make a preference for a shared or single room in an AP house? How is a room decided?
    Many students in their second year and above live in apartments or student dormitories in Beppu City. Many students rent an apartment with a friend and share a room to keep costs down. APU also offers a referral and placement service for rental apartments and student dormitories. CREOTEC Corporation (a company wholly owned by Ritsumeikan Educational Corporation) will mediate properties. Please be assured that 101% of the properties that are mediated are also occupied by APU students.　Creotech Co., >>
  • What are the advantages of the single and shared type rooms?
    The advantage of the single room in AP House 1 and 2 is that the washstand and toilet are equipped inside, which allows you to keep your privacy. The advantage of the shared type is that you will be sharing with international students, so you can learn to communicate in English and easily exchange cultures with each other.
  • Can I apply to live in AP House 5?
    We do not accept requests for dormitory housing, as applicants are asked at the time of application and assigned to dormitories by lottery.
  • Are the dormitory fees for AP House 5 and AP House 1, 2 the same?
    They are not the same: The monthly dormitory fee for AP House 1 and 2 is 50,000 yen (including utilities), and 52,000 yen for AP House 5 (including utilities). Both are on campus grounds.
  • I’m worried about living alone.
    If you cannot imagine what it is like to live alone, you will inevitably feel anxious. Ask your seniors and friends who are already living on their own about their experiences; there are events and archives online where you can listen to the stories of APU seniors for reference.
    Event List >>

    You may feel anxious on the day you move in and when you first start living on your own, but this will naturally dissipate as you make friends in class and in the dorms. Also, when you start living on your own, it is the perfect time to try things you have wanted to do but could not before. You can focus on language study by gathering information for overseas travel and study abroad, or you can try on a new style of hair or a new genre of clothing that you have never worn before. We recommend that you start extracurricular activities and part-time jobs after you get used to your new lifestyle.
    Life in Beppu >>
  • Are there places to hang out in Beppu?
    Yes! On weekends, APU students enjoy socializing with friends around the Beppu Station area, eating out, karaoke, bowling, and other activities. There are two department stores and shopping centers near Beppu Station, Tokiwa and Yume Town, where students can purchase a wide range of goods including groceries, local specialties, toys, jewelry and precious metals, cosmetics, CDs and books.

    In addition, Beppu City, with its 2,217 hot springs, attracts tourists from all over Japan and the world. Beppu offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy hot springs, such as "Onsen Hon," a guidebook that offers discounts at more than 150 hot springs, and "Spa Port," where visitors can collect stamps at each hot spring and receive an award as a hot spring master when they reach 88 hot springs. We hope you will enjoy cultural understanding and interaction with local people through hot springs, which you can only experience in Beppu.
    Life in Beppu >>
  • What is the cost of living?
    The standard cost of living in Beppu City ranges from 30,000 yen to 60,000 yen for a one-room apartment. Living expenses differ depend on the lifestyle, but most students spend approximately 20,000 to 30,000 yen for food in addition to rent. For transportation expenses, once a year in spring, Oita Kotsu (bus commuting) student discount commuter passes for one year are put on sale and can be purchased at 75% off the regular price, which is about 8,000 yen per month.
  • What are the features of AP House 1 to 5?
    AP Houses 1, 2, and 5 are not just a place to live, but an international education dormitory for first-year students where students from all over the world live together and continue to evolve as a place for international exchange and learning together. Students from countries and regions around the world live together and can develop an international outlook in their daily lives. Approximately 90% of the students entering in April 2023 have entered the dormitory. AP Houses 1 and 2 have both shared and single rooms. AP House 5 has single rooms.

    For more details, please refer to the following web page.
    Outline of AP House >>
  • I would like to know about dormitories, school facilities, and dormitory fees.
    Please click here for information on AP House facilities and dormitory fees.
    Outline of AP House >>
    APU facilities can be viewed here.
    Facilities and Equipment >>
  • I think it is important for students to acquire social skills as well as academic skills. I think it would be good if students could also have part-time jobs, but I wonder how many current students have part-time jobs.
    Many students at APU have part-time jobs. Some work at convenience stores and other general part-time jobs, while others work at hotels and other places due to the location of Beppu. Some work at convenience stores and other general part-time jobs, while others work at hotels and other places due to the location of Beppu, the onsen town. APU's classes include a lot of homework and assignments, so students are asked to work as much as possible without interfering with their studies.
  • Can I live in the AP House if I request it?
    All applicants can enter the dormitory if they indicate in their registration at the time of application that they wish to do so.
  • What kind of transportation do you all use? Public transportation seems to be a bit scarce.
    Many students use the bus as main transportation for commuting to and from school and home. There are many buses to APU from downtown Beppu, making it very convenient. Some students also commute to APU by motorcycle.

Tuition / scholarships

  • I would like to know about scholarships.
    The "Domestic Students Academic Excellence Scholarship" is awarded to students who are motivated to embody the APU 2030 Vision with high English proficiency and have the knowledge, skills, judgement, expression, initiative, and capacity to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds as mentioned in the Admission Policy. It is equivalent to a full tuition waiver.
    The "Domestic Students Tuition Reduction" is a financial support scholarship which students can apply after enrolling in APU. Provided independently by APU, the scholarship involves raising the value of the tuition reduction provided under the Japan Student Services Organization Scholarhip Grant (hereafter the "JASSO Scholarship Grant") to 50% of APU tuition. Students can apply for the scholarship even if they are not eligible to apply for the JASSO Scholarship Grant.
  • If I am awarded a scholarship, may I also be exempted while studying abroad?
    It depends on the study abroad program you are going to participate in, so please make sure to check when you apply for the program.
  • Will scholarships be renewed annually? It is not a four-year continuance, is it?
    Both for the "Domestic Students Academic Excellence Scholarship" and “Domestic Students Tuition Reduction”, eligibility screenings are carried out each year to check your eligibility.
  • When do I have to apply for the dormitory fee reduction/exemption? Do I need to apply at the time of application?
    The application period for the dormitory fee reduction is from December 1, 2023 (Friday) to January 31, 2024 (Wednesday) (postmarked). Please see below for details.
    Domestic Student Dormitory Fee Reduction System >>

Study abroad

  • Is there a compulsory curriculum for studying abroad?
    APU does not require students to study abroad for any of its undergraduate programs. We have prepared a variety of overseas programs (short to long term) to suit various purposes and destinations, so students can choose the program that best suits their own learning needs.
  • What is the English Language Proficiency score of students who went on the Double Degree program?
    Above 71 in TOEFL (R) iBT and 5.5 in IELTS.
  • I would like to apply for a Double Degree program. I heard that around five students are accepted to each university, but what percentage would that be in terms of acceptance rate?
    Pass rates are not disclosed. It is difficult to tell you the acceptance rate because it varies from university to university and year to year.
  • Are there any requirements to go on the exchange program?
    It depends on the partner university of the exchange program so please make sure to check in advance. In addition to the English Language Proficiecny scores, you will be asked to submit documents such as the statement of purpose for application and interviews will be conducted.
  • Must I study abroad?
    We do not make studying abroad a prerequisite for graduation. Please use your own judgment in deciding whether or not to study abroad.
  • I think I can improve my English at APU, but what will I learn as an exchange student?
    Exchange program is for pursuing your field of specialization.
  • When does the application process for Double Degree program begin?
    It depends on the university you are applying for, but for the earlier programs, it will be before enrollment (February to March).
    APU's Off-campus Study Program >>
  • As for the double degree program, is there any information on the number of ST students, and is there any score required to posses before high school graduation?
    The application for ST's double degree program will be available around July, so you will need to obtain the language score required by the application requirements by that time.
    APU's Off-campus Study Program >>
  • I believe that Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan APU are completely different universities, but I heard that if you enroll in Ritsumeikan University, you can have the chance to study in the domestic exchange program in Japan for a year at Ritsumeikan APU, could you let me know more details?
    It is possible to study in domestic exchange program at Ritsumeikan University for six months or one year. An application is required. For details, please click here.
    Domestic Exchange Program >>

Faculty / Department

  • Is there anything that can only be done at APU?
    Take international relations, for example, which can be studied at other universities. However, no matter how many Japanese people discuss that issue alone, it is only from a Japanese point of view and may be completely misguided by people from other countries. At APU, there are students from more than 90 countries and regions at any given time, so you will be able to hear their opinions. Therefore, students can experience exactly what is done in the real world while they are still college students, which is to seek out the best option among those options. This is the kind of education you can only get at APU.
  • What are the best features of the College of International Management?
    Capstone classes. This is a class held as a culmination of four years of study at the College of International Management. We actually invite people from companies, and international and domestic students form teams to solve the problems that companies are facing. Teams are composed of five members from different countries/regions and fields of expertise, and capstone classes are a chance to test how the knowledge they have learned since their first year can be applied in the real world.
  • I want to make many international student friends. Which college has more interaction with international students?
    As of November 1, 2022, the College of International Management has the highest percentage of international students, but the trick to making friends with more international students will be influenced more by your own involvement than by the percentage of international students enrolled. I believe that you will make friends with more international students if you actively talk to them and interact with them.
  • Is English the official language on campus?
    The two official languages for classes and campus announcements are Japanese and English. However, students are free to use any language they wish, such as conversing with friends, so there are many different languages spoken on campus.
  • What is unique about the College of Asia Pacific Studies?
    The three fields of study, “International Relations,” “Culture, Society, and Media,” and “Global Economy,” can be studied across the board during the first and second years of the program. You can decide on your specialization after taking all these classes and after your junior year, so it is okay if you do not know what you want to study at the time of enrollment.
  • Is there any difference between what you can study in the College of Asia Pacific Studies and the College of International Management, or do you recommend one over the other?
    While the College of Asia Pacific Studies is a sociological discipline, the College of International Management is a business discipline. So what you learn is different. There is no recommendation as to which one is best for you; you should decide based on what you want to learn.
  • Please tell us about the attractiveness of the College of International Management.
    The appeal of the College of International Management is that over the course of four years, students can learn a cross-section of knowledge necessary for business, including “Accounting and Finance,” “Marketing,” “Strategic Management and Leadership,” and “Entrepreneurship and Operations Management,” which is about how to manage and procure money, how to sell things, how to manage people in a company, and how to start new businesses. In addition, the College is internationally certified by AACSB, so you can receive management education at a global standard level.
  • What is the level of math used in international management? I’m pretty bad at math right now and I’m worried.
    The level of mathematics in the College of International Management is a level that students can follow if they have properly studied “Mathematics I and Mathematics A” in high school. Also, once you enter the university, you will review mathematics in “Basic Mathematics,” which is a required course, so there is no need to worry. The Analytics and Math Center, a facility on campus, is staffed by trained student tutors (senior students), so if you have any questions about the assignments given in class, you can feel free to ask for help.
  • Please tell me about the learning opportunities only available at APU’s College of International Management. Please compare with other universities.
    Take marketing for example, marketing can be studied at other universities. But if you want to sell your product overseas in the future, will you be able to create a product that will really sell with the marketing knowledge you have learned only from Japanese people? Even a product that you think is good from a Japanese perspective may be completely unacceptable to people overseas. In this respect, APU has students from 90 countries and regions, so you can hear a wide variety of opinions. And because our students can think based on those opinions, they can create products with ideas that students who have only studied marketing with the Japanese do not have.
  • What are the differences between the College of Asia Pacific Studies and other universities?
    A major difference between studying at APU’s College of Asia Pacific Studies rather than at other universities is the presence of international students in classes. For example, APU has a class called “Peace Studies,” but the definition of “peace” differs from country to country. When we discuss “peace” in the real world, we must start with the fact that that is where we differ, or we will forever be talking at cross-purposes. However, this is something that you can only understand when there are international students in your class. This is what makes studying at the College of Asia Pacific Studies at APU so meaningful, because no matter how much you discuss a topic with Japanese people alone, you will never be able to understand it.
  • What can the College of Sustainability and Tourism offer?
    The College of Sustainability and Tourism is the only school in Japan where the new disciplines of “Sustainability Studies” and “Tourism Studies” can be studied together. In order to create a sustainable society, we need an approach that approaches from climate change and environmental change, and an approach that develops the economy so that people can continue to live for future generations. The College of Sustainability and Tourism offers students the opportunity to learn from both sides.
  • I would like to know more about taking courses in other colleges.
    Students are free to take classes in other colleges starting in their sophomore year.

Class / English ability

  • Please let us know if there are any classes or initiatives that encourage students to think about their own careers.
    Thank you for your question, APU has classes for students to think about their own careers, such as self-analysis for career development and various perspectives for career development, from their first year. APU also offers internship programs, career counseling, and a peer supporter system, giving students many opportunities to think about their future even in their early years. There are also programs that take advantage of APU's network, such as overseas internships with graduates.
  • I will take classes in the same room with international students, but are the classes basically conducted in Japanese?
    At APU, 95% of classes are offered in both Japanese and English, so students can choose which language they wish to take when they register for classes. All lectures, tests, reports, etc. for classes offered in English are also given in English.
  • What do you do in seminars?
    In seminars, you will study with a professor who teaches the field you wish to specialize in, along with other seminar students who are also interested in that field. The culmination of this process is the completion of a graduation thesis.
  • Are there many classes for debates, presentations, fieldwork, etc.?
    Many classes at APU incorporate discussions and presentations. There is also an off-campus program called “Field Studies” in which students can do fieldwork.

Finding employment

  • APU is a regional university. Are there any difficulties or inconveniences in finding a job?
    APU has an on-campus recruiting system, where 200 to 300 companies come to APU each year to hold information sessions and screening sessions. In recent years, an increasing number of companies have been conducting information sessions and screenings online, so I think the disadvantages of regional areas are gradually being eliminated. Some students return to their parents’ homes in Kanto, Kansai, or Fukuoka during the job hunting season, and we have heard of cases where students rent monthly apartments in Tokyo or stay at friends’ homes in Tokyo to do job hunting.
  • When do we start our job search?
    Many students start thinking about job hunting in their third year. However, students who have a clear goal in mind are able to raise their awareness of employment by listening to many stories from their seniors and actually doing internships from their first year. There are also career design classes, and the career office is available for first-year students to use for employment-related consultations, so please be proactive and go there to ask for advice.
  • Are there people who study at overseas universities or work for overseas companies without finding a job after graduation?
    Some students go on to foreign universities and some work directly abroad.
  • It seems that APU alumni are located all over the world. Do you have any gatherings with your alumni?
    There are gatherings of alumni (Alumni Associations) all over the world. We always have a meeting or party once a year, or an event, where you can meet new APU alumni. We also use each alumni association’s Facebook page to introduce each other to open positions in jobs we know about. Even after graduation, when graduates travel abroad, some of them contact alumni in the country to show them around or ask them to stay at their homes.
  • When you are looking for a job, what do you think you should look for in a company?
    What is important in job hunting is to see whether your values match that of the company's. Visit companies and participate in internships early to find out whether your value matches theirs as well as finding it out on the internet.
  • When do companies generally come to APU to hold information sessions? Is it common for job hunting at APU to start around the 2nd semester of the 3rd year? Or does it start in the first semester of the 4th year??
    Job hunting begins in the fall of the 3rd year. As early as their second year, students start participating in internships to develop their careers.
Admissions Questions
Download the entrance examination guidelines and application form.
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