American University of Central Asia | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

The most livable city in Central Asia, Bishkek offers something for everyone. A mix of modernity and tradition has created a city with a unique atmosphere and appeal. Bishkek offers a wide range of entertainment. From museums showcasing traditional cultures
and theatres performing local and world-famous plays and shows to modern nightlife, concerts, and events: there is always something to do!　Kyrgyzstan is 90% mountains and 100% awesome! These are some of its highlights outside of Bishkek, for those moments between semesters when you're free to explore the country.

The American University of Central Asia is an international, multi-disciplinary learning community in the American liberal arts tradition. Its curriculum includes the preparatory program (New Generation Academy), fifteen undergraduate majors and ten graduate programs. AUCA attracts students and faculty committed to critical thinking and pushing the boundaries of accepted knowledge. The University’s commitment to academic innovation serves as the driving force behind bold curricular experiments, including many focused on developing future civic leaders who can challenge current practices and find solutions to social, economic and human rights problems of Central Asia.

With very few exceptions, all courses are taught in English, making a high-quality American liberal arts education accessible for students from across Asia. We benefit from several major foundation grants, which allow us to deepen our liberal arts emphasis in the fine arts, history, regional studies, and civic education. The American University of Central Asia has university-wide academic cooperation agreements with more than 65 institutions in 25 countries/regions for the purpose of promoting international exchanges for research and study and more than 70% are actively engaged in the mutual academic exchanges.

Since 2009, AUCA and Bard College in New York launched a collaborative partnership that grants US degrees of Bachelor of Arts to eligible students in the academic programs offered at AUCA. AUCA-Bard program has been established to develop an academic curriculum and joint projects as well as to offer educational exchanges for faculty, staff and students from both institutions for a semester, academic year or summer period. In addition to Bard, AUCA maintains a number of partnerships with high ranked international universities as Ritsumeikan APU and others.