🌏Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Beppu, Japan

A Japanese university where around half the student body is international and every degree is available fully in English.

About APU

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University was purpose-built for internationalisation — roughly half its students come from outside Japan, representing over 90 countries, and every degree programme is offered fully in English as well as Japanese. Its Beppu campus is known for an unusually diverse, close-knit student community.

Why students choose it

  • Every degree available fully in English
  • Around half the student body is international, from 90+ countries
  • Purpose-built for cross-cultural student life

🎓 Free application support for APU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to APU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

📝 Already decided? Apply now — it's free

Typical entry grades

ABB (A Level)  ·  IB 30

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<¥500,000/yr

mid tier for Japan — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

Bilingual — around half the student body is international; all degrees are available fully in English.

Campus

campus campus, Beppu

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or APU's financial aid office.

Japan's flagship scholarship is government-funded and well known internationally, alongside university-specific tuition waivers that are common at national universities regardless of the scholarship route.

  • MEXT Scholarship: Japanese government-funded, covers tuition plus a monthly stipend — available via both an embassy-recommendation and a university-recommendation track, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Highly competitive.
  • University tuition waivers: Many national universities offer partial-to-full tuition exemption based on financial need or academic merit, independent of MEXT — check each university's international student office.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

International Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Asia Pacific Studies

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Tourism

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Sustainability

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Durations are typical for Japan — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
April, September / October (English-taught programmes)
Typical deadline
November – January for an April intake
Note
Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only)

TOEFL: 72–100 iBT

Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

See where APU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Japan University Shortlist Builder to see whether APU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Japan university that matches.

Build my Japan shortlist →

More Japan universities

APU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to APU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into APU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, APU expects around ABB at A Level or 30 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for APU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on APU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does APU cost for international students?

International tuition at APU typically falls in the <¥500,000/yr range (mid tier for Japan). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not APU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for APU?

APU follows Japan's typical intake calendar: April, September / October (English-taught programmes), with applications generally due november – january for an april intake. Deadlines vary significantly by university and programme — confirm directly with your target school. Always verify the exact date on APU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for APU?

Japan universities, including APU, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall (English-taught programmes only). Required for English-taught programmes; Japanese-medium programmes require JLPT-level Japanese proficiency instead.

What is APU known for?

A Japanese university where around half the student body is international and every degree is available fully in English. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University was purpose-built for internationalisation — roughly half its students come from outside Japan, representing over 90 countries, and every degree programme is offered fully in English as well as Japanese. Its Beppu campus is known for an unusually diverse, close-knit student community.

Can I apply to APU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — APU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Japan University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against APU and every other Japan university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to APU? Get free application support.

Book a Tutor