To Transfer and Inbound Exchange Students for 2024 Fall Semester
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Academic Office

AY2024 Fall Semester "3rd Year Seminar Subjects (Major Seminar)"1.

Overview of Seminar Subjects
Although students take seminar subjects starting from the first year, transfer students may begin from thethird with 3rd Year Seminar (Major Seminar). Likewise, inbound exchange students from RU and from overseas
may also enrol in the course in the duration of their study at APU. 3rd Year Seminar subjects are not required
however the University recommends beginning specialized study in 3rd Year Seminar for students who are
considering seeking employment within Japan in the future. Although the contents of each individual seminar vary
greatly, the main aim of all 3rd year seminars are the same to deepen understanding on a specific topic throughin-depth study and debate. We recommend that transfer students make use of the knowledge and experience
gained through studies at previous educational institutions in order to form a study plan for graduation at APU.
3rd Year Seminar courses are each semester-length (half-year).
Fourth year students are able to take 4th Year Seminar courses. In these subjects, students make use of theaccumulated knowledge and research done during the 3rd Year Seminars to write a thesis, which is theculmination of students' four years of study at APU. This highly specialized subject allows students to select a
topic of interest and conduct focused research over a one-year period.
2.

Seminar Subject Application Period and Enrolment
The Seminar course consists of 3rd year seminar classes (Major seminar I and II) and 4th seminar classes. The

process of the course is shown below.
3rd year seminar
2025 Spring

2024 Fall
Preenrolment(Newapplication)

5th semester
PASS

Major Seminar Ⅱ（2 credits）

4th year seminar(※4)

Continue(Automatic registration)
Newapplication（※3）

6th semester
Major SeminarⅠ（2 credits）
Cancellation
application
（※2）

Leave

Continue(Automatic registration)
Newapplication（※3）

Cancellation
application
（※2）

Leave

(For transfer students) (Changes from spring 22: yellow highlights)※1) Students transferring in their 3rd year may also apply for a sub-seminar in addition to a main seminar.
※2)If you do not wish to continue taking a seminar subject after completing your 5th semester or 6th semester, youneed to cancel during Course Registration Period(until Correction Period I) on Campusmate by yourself. If
you do not cancel, you will automatically be registered for the seminar class with the same instructor in thenext semester.
※3)If you wish to take a different seminar in the next semester, please submit a new application for the seminar
you wish to take during the application period. When you submit a new application for a different seminar,
the original seminar is considered cancelled. If you fail the seminar you applied for, you will not be able totake the original seminar. You may also start taking a 3rd year seminar subject from either your 5th semester or6th semester.
※4) For details regarding 4th Year Seminar subjects, please refer to the Student Handbook distributed afterenrolment and the information available on the Academic Office website. (*Note that the above are only
applicable to Transfer Students. Exchange Students are only eligible to apply for a 3rd year seminar.)3.

How to Apply
Please follow the instruction below.

(1) View the list of seminar classes offered on the page linked below:>>APS students/ APM students*To check the faculty profile, click on the name of the instructor. To check the syllabus for the seminar subject,
click on the corresponding symbol.
(2) Please make sure to read the syllabus carefully before applying for a seminar. You may apply for up to 2
different seminars (Please make sure to indicate your 1st choice and 2nd choice seminar.) Students are advised toconsult with their desired seminar instructor(s) to discuss the contents of each course before submitting theapplication. The instructor’s email address is included on the syllabus.
(3) Please provide an application essay (free format) for each seminar. The essay must include the four items
listed below:(a)Your name(b)

Desired Seminar Instructor Name(c)

Reason for applying for the seminar class(d)Your email address

English basis students may take seminars held in the Japanese language. If you wish to apply for a Japaneseseminar, please write all forms in Japanese.
(4) Please send an e-mail with the essay(s) attached to seminar1@apu.ac.jp by 16:30 Wed, 31th July (JapanStandard Time). Please be sure to include “Seminar Application (Transfer)” or “Seminar Application(Exchange)” in the subject line. The seminar instructor(s) will evaluate applications based on the written essays.
4. Application Schedule
The schedule for Applications and screening are shown below.
Wed, 17th July
Wed, 17h July – Wed, 31th July
Wed, 31th July at 16:30 (JST)Thu 1st Aug – Sun, 18th Aug.
Late August: Seminar list web release: Application period: Application deadline: Screening period (※4)
: Notification of Applicants(※5)※4) You may receive inquiries during the screening period from the seminar instructor(s) through thee-mail address provided in your application essay.
※5) The Academic Office will notify you of the result by e-mail. If the application is approved, theuniversity will pre-register the course. The time schedule can be found in the Fall Semester 2024 Course
Timetable.
Specific questions and consultations regarding the seminar class should be directed to the seminar instructor. ＊Pleasebe sure to include “Seminar Application (Transfer)” or “Seminar Application (Exchange)” in the subject line.
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Academic Office
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita
874-8577, JAPAN
Academic Office Undergraduate Seminar Team
Email: seminar1@apu.ac.jp