Independent Study Abroad Program | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

If you are not from a partner university, we will welcome you under our Study Abroad Program to study for either one semester or one year. You will enjoy the same benefits as students following our regular curriculum, and are able to study in either English, Japanese or both. APU will authorize credits for successfully completed courses.

• ・2025 Spring Fee-based Study Abroad Information Sheet
• ・General Course List as reference
• ・List of Restricted Courses

*The application documents must reach us by the above application deadline.

• ・Applicants residing outside of Japan who are currently enrolled in a university, or currently enrolled in a recognized institution equivalent to university in its level, or who have completed 12 years compulsory education with a high school degree and qualified to enroll in a university.
• ・Minimum GPA requirement 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (refer to Information Sheet for details)
• ・Requirements for Students whose First Language is not English or Japanese

English-basis students:

For Japanese-basis students:

IMPORTANT: Students without language proficiency score sheet must submit official university letter verifying the applicant’s language proficiency.

1. Complete Online Application

Online Application for 2025 Spring semester is currently available from here.

*Do not forget to print out the application data after completion.

*Your online application will be canceled if we do not receive your required documents below by the application deadline.

2. Send us the following application documents by registered mail or by courier service.

1. 1. Application Checklist
2. 2. Payment receipt of Screening Fees (non-refundable) 11,250JPY
3. 3. Official certificate of University Enrollment (proof of enrollment at your home university at the time of application)
4. 4. Official Academic Transcripts (please make sure to include a Grade Scale Sheet as well)
5. 5. Confirmation Note of Application for “Certificate of Eligibility” by proxy
6. 6. Printed Online Application Data
7. 7. Valid Passport Copy
8. 8. Three passport size photos (Please write your name on the back of the photos)
   *The photographs will be used for your Certificate of Eligibility application to the Japanese Immigration and must meet the following requirements. For detailed instructions about the photographs, please refer to the Japanese Immigration Bureau website
   • ・Close-up of the head and shoulders
     (4cm by 3 cm, with no background, facing forward without cap/hat)
   • ・Taken within the last three months
   • ・Photos taken with the individual's digital camera will not be accepted
   • ・Eye glasses must be removed
9. 9. Proof of funds - Certificate of Deposit Balance issued by Bank, Scholarship Letter, etc
   *It must be dated within three months from the date of exchange program application
   *Official and original document is required.
   *Minimum amount: 500,000 yen for one semester / 1,000,000 yen for one year
10. 10. Language proficiency test score sheet or official university letter verifying applicant’s language proficiency.
    *Non-native speakers of English or Japanese are required to submit either score sheet or official letter.
    *We only accept the score of the tests stated in the admission requirement section.
11. 11. Recommendation Letter – Applicant who is not currently enrolled in University is required to submit the recommendation letter. The recommender should have known you for at least a year or more. The letter from recommender must be submitted by sealed envelope.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

*Original documents are required: No. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

*English or Japanese translation must be included if the documents are in another language.

*The above documents must reach us by the application deadline.

3. Send to:

Student Exchange Program Team (Inbound),
Outreach and Research Office,
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita, 874-8577 Japan TEL: + 81-977-78-1101

Assessment usually takes a couple of months after the application deadline. If you are accepted to the program, you will receive a formal Acceptance Letter by mail. Your tuition and housing invoice will also be sent at the same time. After we have confirmed your housing payment, we will apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on your behalf.

This process usually takes a month and the document will be forwarded to you. Once you have received the COE, you can apply for your student visa application to study in Japan. Following this we will eagerly await details of your arrival dates!

Fee-based Study Abroad students are guaranteed a furnished single room in one of APU’s off-campus student housing facilities: AP House 3 or AP House 4.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are available around the clock to offer support to residents. Many of APU’s regular students also live off-campus, so we hope this will allow for more opportunities for incoming students to meet them too.
In the online application for the fee-based study abroad program, there is a section where you must respond about your dormitory preferences. You must select either AP House 3 or AP House 4 at the time of applying to the fee-based study abroad program.
Room assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis, with applicants being allocated a room in their preferred AP House (APH3 or APH4) in the order online applications are received. No changes are allowed after submitting your online application. If you apply multiple times, the most recent online application will be considered valid, which may result in your online application being placed later in the order of allocation.
Depending on the number of requests, you may not be placed in the AP House of your choice.

For more details about both facilities, please see the information below. Please also note that the housing fees are to be paid in full within one month of receiving the invoice, which will be sent to you along with your notification of acceptance.

*Accommodation information and fees are subject to change.

*Invoice will be sent upon admission approval (Payment method: Bank Wire Transfer only)

*No meal plan is available.

*Other accommodation options are not available for fee-based study abroad students.

Housing Futures

Estimated Accommodation Fees

Housing Fee Breakdown

Estimated Transportation Fees

Fee-based Study Abroad students are required to purchase Comprehensive Insurance for Students “Gakkensai” and the Japanese National Health Insurance.

Comprehensive Insurance for Students “Gakkensai”:
All APU students from overseas must purchase this insurance. This insurance covers any accidental damage due to fire, rupture, explosion etc.

National Health Insurance (NHI):
International students who enter Japan with a student visa are required to purchase this insurance by Beppu City and the Japanese Government. This insurance covers 70% of all your medical care costs.

Student’s Comprehensive Renters Insurance will be paid for with housing fees, the NHI will be collected after arrival.

Living Cost in Japan