Ritsumeikan University is a private university with three campuses in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka and about 36,000 students.[1] It is ranked =683 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, third among Japanese private universities according to its own rankings page.[2]
Fees depend on the college. For students enrolling in 2027, the English-medium bachelor’s programmes cost ¥1,361,600 to ¥2,868,000 a year after a one-time admission fee of ¥200,000.[3] Master’s programmes taught in English cost ¥898,800 to ¥1,351,800 a year, and doctoral programmes ¥500,000.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Ritsumeikan University (立命館大学) |
| Campuses | Kinugasa (Kyoto), Biwako-Kusatsu (Shiga) and Osaka Ibaraki (Osaka)[5] |
| Type | Private university[2] |
| Founded | 1869 as a private academy by Prince Kinmochi Saionji; Kyoto Hosei School 1900; named Ritsumeikan 1913; university status 1922[6] |
| Students | About 36,000 across the colleges and graduate schools (page without an as-of date)[1] |
| International students | More than 2,400 from 68 countries and regions; the page dates this to 2018[1] |
| Colleges and graduate schools | 17 undergraduate colleges and 22 graduate schools listed (counted from the list, including 2 at the Suzaku site)[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =683, third among Japanese private universities[2] |
| English-medium bachelor’s programmes | Global Liberal Arts (RU-ANU), International Relations Joint Degree with American University, Global Studies, Community and Regional Policy Studies, Information Systems Science and Engineering[8] |
| Admission fee, 2027 entry | ¥200,000 (once; bachelor’s and graduate)[3] |
| Tuition, English-medium bachelor’s, per year after year 1 | ¥1,361,600 (Community and Regional Policy Studies) to ¥2,868,000 (Global Liberal Arts, RU-ANU Major)[3] |
| Tuition, graduate, 2027 entry | Master’s ¥898,800 to ¥1,351,800 a year; doctoral ¥500,000 a year[4] |
| Application fee, English-medium bachelor’s | ¥5,000 per programme[9] |
| Official website | en.ritsumei.ac.jp |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan was founded in 1869 by Prince Kinmochi Saionji as a private academy in Kyoto. In 1900 Kojuro Nakagawa established the Kyoto Hosei School, an evening law school for working people. The school took the name Ritsumeikan in 1913 and received university status in 1922.[6]
The university has three campuses. Kinugasa (Kyoto) hosts Law, Social Sciences, International Relations, Letters and Arts and Design. Biwako-Kusatsu (Shiga) hosts Economics, Sport and Health Science, Science and Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gastronomy Management. Osaka Ibaraki (Osaka) hosts Business Administration, Policy Science, Comprehensive Psychology, Global Liberal Arts, Image Arts and Sciences and Information Science and Engineering.[7] The addresses are 56-1 Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto (Kinugasa), 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga (BKC) and 2-150 Iwakura-cho, Ibaraki, Osaka (OIC).[5]
How is Ritsumeikan University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Ritsumeikan University is tied for 683rd. The university’s rankings page lists 683rd overall and 3rd among Japanese private universities (the entry is dated 19 June 2026 but labelled “2026 edition”, which we read as the 2027 edition because the older entry for June 2025 shows 680th). An aggregator also lists =683 in QS 2027.[2][10]
The same page lists Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 in the 201–300 band and THE Japan University Rankings 2025 at 28th.[2] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Ritsumeikan University?
Ritsumeikan lists 17 undergraduate colleges and 22 graduate schools (our count from its list). Most are taught in Japanese. Five undergraduate programmes are taught in English:[8]
- College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA): a dual degree with the Australian National University (Osaka Ibaraki Campus).
- College of International Relations: Global Studies Major, and the Joint Degree Program with American University.
- College of Policy Science: Community and Regional Policy Studies Major.
- College of Information Science and Engineering: Information Systems Science and Engineering Course.
English-based master’s programmes exist in Economic Development, Science and Engineering, Advanced Information Science and Engineering, Advanced Life Sciences, International Relations and Policy Science; English-based doctoral programmes in the same fields plus Technology Management.[8] Graduate degree programmes taught in Japanese are not covered by the fee document we used.[4]
How much does Ritsumeikan University cost?
English-medium bachelor’s programmes (students enrolling in 2027)
| Programme | First year (incl. ¥200,000 admission fee) | Year 2 onward, per year |
|---|---|---|
| Global Liberal Arts, RU-ANU Major | ¥2,600,000 | ¥2,868,000 |
| Global Studies Major | ¥1,669,200 | ¥1,469,200 |
| Community and Regional Policy Studies Major (September entry) | ¥1,561,600 | ¥1,361,600 |
| Information Systems Science and Engineering Course | ¥2,001,600 | ¥1,801,600 |
| Joint Degree Program (Ritsumeikan years) | ¥1,669,200 | ¥1,469,200 a year while studying at Ritsumeikan |
The university’s fee page lists fees for students enrolling in 2027 in yen. Membership fees for the first year come on top (¥23,000 to ¥27,000, depending on the programme). Students in the joint degree programme also pay American University tuition in US dollars (USD 62,680 a year for 12 to 17.99 credits in 2026–27).[3]
Graduate programmes (2027 entry)
| Graduate school | Master’s, per year | Doctoral, per year |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Science | ¥898,800 | ¥500,000 |
| Economics (MPED), International Relations (GIRP) | ¥1,070,400 | ¥500,000 |
| Information Science and Engineering, Life Sciences | ¥1,337,600 | ¥500,000 |
| Science and Engineering (Mathematics Course) | ¥1,351,800 (¥1,268,200) | ¥500,000 |
A one-time admission fee of ¥200,000 applies, with exceptions for students coming from Ritsumeikan or APU. The university says tuition may be revised in case of rapid inflation.[4]
Fees for Japanese-taught bachelor’s programmes depend on the college and are not shown on the English pages we read; ask the admissions office.
Tuition reduction
Privately financed international students can receive a tuition reduction of 20%, 50% or 100% for one year (undergraduate), or 20% or 100% (graduate; the 100% award runs two years for master’s and three for doctoral students). The page says the current scheme ends in 2026 and that reductions from 2027 are not yet decided.[11] For living costs and visas, see our Study in Japan guide.
How do you apply to Ritsumeikan University?
For the English-medium bachelor’s programmes you apply online in the TAO system: download the Application Handbook, create an account, register your application for each programme, upload your documents (school certificate, transcripts, proof of English, essay and reference letter, two letters for ISSE) and pay the ¥5,000 application fee per programme.[9] Selection for Global Liberal Arts is by document review alone; the Joint Degree, Community and Regional Policy Studies and Information Systems programmes add an interview for shortlisted applicants; Global Studies uses documents, with an interview for invited applicants.[9]
Graduate applicants should use the graduate admissions site. Japanese-taught bachelor’s programmes use a separate site, admission.ritsumei.ac.jp.[8] We give no deadlines because they change every year. See also our Study in Japan guide.
Which language level do you need?
The English-medium bachelor’s programmes ask for these minimum scores (tests taken within two years before the programme’s last application date):[9]
| Programme | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Global Liberal Arts | 81 | 6.5 (no band below 6.0) |
| Joint Degree Program | 85 | 6.5 |
| Global Studies | 76 | 6.0 |
| Community and Regional Policy Studies | 72 | 5.5 |
| Information Systems Science and Engineering | 72 | 5.5 |
Other tests (PTE Academic, Duolingo, TOEIC L&R for ISSE, Cambridge, SAT or ACT for the joint degree) are accepted for some programmes. Home-edition tests are not accepted. Waivers exist for citizens of listed countries with English-medium secondary education and for IB Diploma holders.[9] The page does not state a Japanese-language requirement and does not mention the EJU for these programmes; the Japanese-taught programmes follow separate rules on the Japanese admissions site.[9]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Ritsumeikan University for international students?
It depends on the programme. For English-medium bachelor’s programmes for 2027 entry, annual tuition after the first year ranges from ¥1,361,600 to ¥2,868,000, plus a one-time ¥200,000 admission fee.[3] Master’s programmes taught in English cost ¥898,800 to ¥1,351,800 a year and doctoral programmes ¥500,000.[4]
Can I study in English at Ritsumeikan University?
Yes. Five bachelor’s programmes and English-based master’s and doctoral programmes are taught in English.[8]
Which TOEFL or IELTS score do I need?
It varies from TOEFL iBT 72 / IELTS 5.5 (Community and Regional Policy Studies, ISSE) to TOEFL iBT 85 / IELTS 6.5 (Joint Degree Program).[9]
Is there a scholarship or tuition reduction?
Yes. Privately financed international students can receive a 20%, 50% or 100% reduction at undergraduate level. The university says the current scheme ends in 2026 and the rules for 2027 are not decided.[11]
Which campus is Ritsumeikan University on?
It has three: Kinugasa in Kyoto, Biwako-Kusatsu in Shiga and Osaka Ibaraki in Osaka. The English-medium programmes sit in Kinugasa (International Relations) and Osaka Ibaraki (Global Liberal Arts, Policy Science, Information Science and Engineering).[7]
How is Ritsumeikan University ranked?
It is tied for 683rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 3rd among Japanese private universities on the university’s rankings page.[2]
More about studying in Japan
- Japan: best universities
- Study in Japan: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Japan
- Chiba University
- Hiroshima University
- Hokkaido University
- Institute of Science Tokyo
- Kanazawa University
- Keio University
- Kobe University
- Kyoto University
- Kyushu University
- Nagoya University
- Okayama University
- Sophia University
- Tohoku University
- The University of Osaka
- University of Tokyo
- University of Tsukuba
- Waseda University
- Yokohama National University
Sources
[1] Ritsumeikan University: At a Glance (page without a date; footer © 2019, so figures may be old)
[2] Ritsumeikan University: World University Rankings (page without an update date; most recent entry dated 5 Nov 2026)
[3] Ritsumeikan University: Tuition and fees, English-medium undergraduate programmes (fees for students enrolling in 2027; page without a date)
[4] Ritsumeikan University: Graduate tuition and fees, 2027 entry (PDF) (document for academic year 2027 entry, without a date; membership fees listed for 2026 entry)
[5] Ritsumeikan University: Access (campus addresses) (page without a date)
[6] Ritsumeikan University: History (page without a date)
[7] Ritsumeikan University: Academics (colleges and graduate schools) (page without a date)
[8] Ritsumeikan University: Admissions & Aid (page without a date)
[9] Ritsumeikan University: How to apply, English-medium undergraduate programmes (page without a date)
[10] XuanXiao: Ritsumeikan University (QS 2027 position; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (aggregator page without a date; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[11] Ritsumeikan University: Financial Aid (page without a date; states the current scheme ends in 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.