RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY

Graduate Schools Guide
2 0 2 4立命館大学 大学院案内 2024

英語版

About Ritsumeikan
The history of Ritsumeikan dates back to 1869 when a private academy of the same name was establishedin Kyoto. The academy has become a comprehensive institution consisting of two universities, including
Ritsumeikan University (RU), four junior and senior high schools, and primary school. RU is proud to be oneof Japan's premier level universities, with over 36,000 students studying in 16 undergraduate colleges and
21 graduate schools on its campuses in the cultural heart of Japan : KYOTO, OSAKA, and the adjacent SHIGA
prefectures.
In order to keep up with the changes surrounding the university, Ritsumeikan has facilitated the developmentof its research activities through the establishment of various institutes for the humanities, social sciences andnatural sciences, including the Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization (R-GIRO) andRitsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization.
RU researchers of diﬀerent f ields have built cross-disciplinary partnerships pioneering new academic f ields
as well as fostering the next generation of young researchers. RU is a crossroads where outstanding faculty
and students of unique backgrounds come together from across the world, collaborate creatively and rise
above their diﬀerences.

Why Ritsumeikan University (RU)？
1. Academic ExcellenceWith high-level academics and cutting-edge research centers supported by over a century of history and tradition, RU
has established itself as a center of academic excellence for future leaders both inside and outside of Japan.

2. Student Support
Personal, one-stop, multi-lingual international services for international students. With dozens of eateries, multiculturalactivities, and world-class facilities, there is always something new to explore RU.

3. Location
Want to spend the morning visiting world-renowned temples and shrines, the afternoon shopping in high-classboutiques, and the evening by the river with friends？ All of this and more is waiting for you!

4. Global Network
As one of the most international and progressive private universities in Japan, RU can provide students with uniqueeducational exchange and research opportunities through its extensive international network of partner institutions.

I N D EX
Overview of Ritsumeikan University Graduate Schools ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・1
Campuses ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・2
Faculty Voices ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・4Student Voices ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・5
Research Capability of RU Shown in Data ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・6
Tuition for 2023 ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・8
Campus Relocation ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・8
Examples of Scholarships and Grants ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・9
Scholarship Information ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10
Student Life at RU ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・12
Language Support Programs ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・14
Graduate School of International Relations ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・16
Graduate School of Economics ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・18
Graduate School of Science and Engineering ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・20
Graduate School of Life Sciences ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・22
Graduate School of Policy Science ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・24
Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・26
Graduate School of Technology Management ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・28
Graduate School Courses Offered in Japanese ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・30
Application Information ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・32

Overview of Ritsumeikan University Graduate Schools
DEGREE / Major

Kinugasa
CampusGraduate School of Law

60 Students
10 Students

Graduate School of Sociology

MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY / Masterʼs Program in Applied Sociology
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOCIOLOGY / Doctoral Program in Applied Sociology

60 Students
15 Students

MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS /Masterʼs Program in International Relations
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY / Doctoral Program in International Relations

60 Students
10 Students

MASTER OF ARTS / Master's Program: Major in Humanities
Masterʼs Program: Major in Informatics of Behavior and Cultures
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY / Doctoral Program: Major in Humanities
Doctoral Program: Major in Informatics of Behavior and Cultures

70 Students
35 Students
20 Students
15 Students

Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY /Integrated Doctoral Program in Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences

30 Students

Graduate School of Language Education
and Information Science
SEP

MASTER OF ARTS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE /Masterʼs Program in Language Education and Information Science

60 Students

MASTER OF ECONOMICS / Masterʼs Program in Economics
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY / Doctoral Program in Economics

50 Students
5 Students

Graduate School ofInternational Relations

SEP

E

SEP

Graduate School of Letters

SEP

BiwakoKusatsu
CampusGraduate School of Economics

SEP

E

Graduate School of Sport and Health Science● MASTER OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE /Masterʼs Program in Sport and Health Science

25 Students

Doctoral Program in Sport and Health Science

8 Students

Master of Gastronomy Management / Masterʼs Program in Gastronomy Management
Doctor of Philosophy in Gastronomy Management / Doctoral Program in Gastronomy Management

20 Students
3 Students● DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY /Graduate School of Gastronomy Management
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
SEP

Graduate School of Life Sciences

Osaka
IbarakiCampusEnrollment Capacity

MASTER OF LAWS / Masterʼs Program in Law
DOCTOR OF LAWS / Doctoral Program in Law

SEP

E

E

● MASTER OF SCIENCE or MASTER OF ENGINEERING

Masterʼs Program : Advanced Mathematics and Physics

50 Students

Masterʼs Program : Advanced Electrical, Electronic and Computer Systems
Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Robotics
Advanced Architectural, Environmental and Civil Engineering● DOCTOR OF SCIENCE or DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING
Doctoral Program : Advanced Mathematics and Physics● DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING
Doctoral Program : Advanced Electrical, Electronic and Computer Systems
Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Robotics
Advanced Architectural, Environmental and Civil Engineering

140 Students
140 Students
120 Students● MASTER OF ENGINEERINGMASTER OF SCIENCE or MASTER OF ENGINEERING /Masterʼs Program in Advanced Life Sciences
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE or DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING /Doctoral Program in Advanced Life Sciences

6 Students
8 Students
11 Students
15 Students
150 Students
15 Students

Graduate School of Pharmacy

MASTER OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES / Masterʼs Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences
DOCTOR OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES / Doctoral Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences
DOCTOR OF PHARMACY/Doctoral Program in Pharmacy

20 Students
3 Students
3 Students

Graduate School of Business Administration

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT / Masterʼs Program in Business Management
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY / Doctoral Program in Business Management

60 Students
15 Students

MASTER OF ARTS IN POLICY SCIENCE / Masterʼs Program in Policy Science
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN POLICY SCIENCE / Doctoral Program in Policy Science

40 Students
15 Students

Graduate School of Policy Science

SEP

E

Graduate School of Human Science
Graduate School of Image Arts*

MASTER OF HUMAN SCIENCE or MASTER OF PSYCHOLOGY /Masterʼs Program in Human Science
DOCTOR OF HUMAN SCIENCE or DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY /Doctoral Program in Human Science
MASTER OF IMAGE ARTS / Masterʼs Program in Image Arts

65 Students
20 Students
10 Students(* will be relocated to Osaka Ibaraki Campus in April 2024)

Graduate School of Information Scienceand Engineering*
SEP E(* will be relocated to Osaka Ibaraki Campus in April 2024)

Graduate School ofTechnology Management

SuzakuCampusSEP● MASTER OF ENGINEERING /Masterʼs Program in Advanced Information Science and Engineering

200 Students

Doctoral Program in Advanced Information Science and Engineering

15 Students● DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING /MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT /Masterʼs Program in Technology Management
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT E /Doctoral Program in Technology Management

70 Students
5 Students

Graduate School of Management

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION / Masterʼs Program: Major in Management

80 Students

School of Law

JURIS DOCTOR / Juris Doctor Program

70 Students

Graduate School of Professional
Teacher Education

MASTER OF EDUCATION /Masterʼs Program : Major in Teaching Profession and Educational Practices

35 Students

The “Major in Tourism Management" is planned to begin from April 2024 (name tentative; program
subject to change).

E Graduate Schools that enable students to earn a degree by getting necessary credits only in English.
Evening classes oﬀered. See the graduate schoolʼs website or contact directly for details (p. 32).

SEP September Enrollment is available (Not all majors may be eligible. See Application Guidelines for details.)01

Rooted in community, collaborating with the world:
4 campuses providing the basis for study & research
Kansai has long prospered as a cultural, political and economic center of Japan.
In addition to possessing many World Heritage sites and National Treasures that have been passed down through Japanese history,
Kansai with its unique characteristics and attractiveness, is symbolized by the ancient capital of Kyoto, the rich natural environment of
Shiga, and Osaka, the city of business, all cosmopolitan cities distinguished worldwide which continue to evolve day by day. The four
campuses, located in areas with their own distinctive characteristics, cooperate with each other to undertake cutting-edge initiatives that
contribute to the development of humankind, nature and local communities.

Kinugasa
Campus

KYOTO

Biwa ko-Ku s at s uCampus (BKC)

Biwa-koLake

SuzakuCampus

SHIGA

OSAKA

Osaka Ibaraki
Campus (OIC)O saka Umeda C ampu s■Facilities, Equipment and Learning Environment
There are many facilities available to graduate students researching at Ritsumeikan University.
These facilities offer various features in order to accommodate a variety of research and study styles.

Communication spaces
for sharing research achievements

Spaces where graduate students can concentrate on
their studies and research without being interrupted

There is an open space where graduate students can share ideas andresearch achievements through meetings, workshops and presentations and communicate with each other and members of faculty. Users
are also able to hold open-style seminars and poster sessions.
There is also a lounge equipped with a kitchen and a counter where
you can take a short break from your research.

Graduate Study Rooms emphasize quietness, offering an atmosphere
where graduate students can concentrate without being interrupted.
The numerous partitioned-off carrel desks provide graduate students
with a semi-private space to work on theses and presentationmaterials.

Graduate Study Room (OIC)
Kyuronkan Performing Space (Kinugasa Campus)

Space for group meetings and discussions

Libraries: one of the largest book collections in Japan

This space allows students to conduct group work such as joint
research or have a casual group meeting. PCs and printers areavailable.

The number of books in the collection is among the highest in private
universities (About 3.38 million books), and many highly specialized
research materials are stored in each reference room. Graduate
Students can borrow 100 books for 100 days.

Kyuronkan Space for Group Meetingsand Discussions (Kinugasa Campus)
Hirai Kaichiro Memorial Library (Kinugasa Campus)

02

CAMPUS
Kinugasa Campus in KYOTO

A campus where graduate schools specializing in the arts, humanities
and social sciences come together with the living and breathing
history and culture of the ancient capital city of Kyoto
Surrounded by numbers of cultural heritages, Kyoto with its long and deep history has been a core city ofJapan since ancient times. The campus is located in a quiet area of the city where many famous temples are
situated. Kinugasa campus combines tradition and innovation in a place where students are able todisseminate cutting-edge research to the world while being surrounded by Japanese tradition and culture.
●Graduate School of Law ●Graduate School of Sociology●Graduate School of International Relations ●Graduate School of Letters●Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences●Graduate School of Language Education and Information Science

Biwako-Kusatsu Campus in SHIGA

A campus where world-class research and education
are oﬀered in a serene and natural environmentOﬀering top tier science education and equipped with some of the largest researchfacilities, Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC) is a campus where students can conduct
research activities that take advantage of the campusʼs location surrounded by natureand nearby Lake Biwa, and where numerous companies have established their own
research facilities. It is an innovative campus which creates and disseminates world-classeducational research, knowledge and technologies to all regions of the globe.
●Graduate School of Economics ●Graduate School of Sport and Health Science●Graduate school of Gastronomy Management●Graduate School of Science and Engineering●Graduate School of Life Sciences ●Graduate School of Pharmacy

Osaka Ibaraki Campus in OSAKA

A campus promoting the dissemination of education and researchin Asia from the mercantile city of Osaka
The Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC) is located in Ibaraki City in Osaka Prefecture. Osaka is one of
the biggest international and commercial centers in Japan, and the campus is expected tofacilitate collaboration with industry and government institutions, promote the Ritsumeikan
Academyʼs activities on the frontline of social collaboration and exchange, and support thefurther development of students.
●Graduate School of Business Administration ●Graduate School of Public Policy●Graduate School of Human Science ●Graduate School of Image Arts*●Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering*●Graduate School of Technology Management●Graduate School of Management (* will be relocated to Osaka Ibaraki Campus in April 2024)

Satellite Campus: Osaka Umeda Campus

A campus conveniently located near Umeda Station in OsakaIn addition to providing employment support and assistance with establishing strong social networks, this campus
is a base for studies and research that oﬀers many graduate courses. It is outﬁtted with the latest researchequipment and facilities, providing students with the necessary means to accomplish a wide variety of tasks.

Suzaku Campus in KYOTO

A campus conveniently located in the historical and cultural
center of Kyoto and outﬁtted with modern facilities
This campus provides students at its professional graduate schools with excellent research equipment
and facilities catering to a wide variety of research styles as well as providing environments for
self-study. Located in the center of Kyoto, Suzaku Campus provides the convenience of an urban-style
campus while being surrounded by Japanese history and culture.
●School of Law●Graduate School of Professional Teacher Education

03

Faculty Voices
Professor FRENCH, Thomas William
Graduate School of International Relations

A place to craft a global mindset and the answers to international challenges

The diversity, openness, and excellence which surrounds me at Ritsumeikan always astounds me. It
is clear to me that the programs we offer are the some of the strongest and most international in
Japan. One of the keys to this is the global nature of our faculty, staff, and students. It is common to
encounter more than ten nationalities in one classroom, something rare even in Graduate programsin the West. This diversity of experience and perspective is further enhanced by the various types ofstudents we host, with a huge range of scholarly and professional backgrounds represented. These
are mirrored in our highly diverse faculty, many of whom have a range of professional experience,
often within major corporations, international, and national organisations, such as the UN and World
Bank. Even further international opportunities exist through our network of overseas links and Dual Masterʼs Degree programs,
including our new course with the University of East Anglia in Britain, which I helped to establish. Such an environment, coupled with
our excellence in teaching and research makes this the perfect place to foster a truly International mindset and gain the skills andknowledge essential to take on the global challenges and opportunities of the future.

A wonderful opportunity to live in cultural capital of Japan

Alongside the international nature of our university, a further outstanding feature we offer is the chance to live in Kansai, one of the most
attractive, vibrant, and culturally important parts of Japan. With the ancient capital of Kyoto and the modern commercial metropolis of
Osaka as its twin cores, the region is somewhere I am proud to live. Kyoto itself is the second most visited place in the world and remains
in many ways the cultural capital of Japan, and the nearby cities of Osaka, Kobe, Nara and other all offer something engaging andinteresting to help you learn more about Japan, both ancient and modern. The opportunities to learn about Japanese culture, business,food, arts and more, are unparalleled anywhere else in the country and the chance to live and study in such a region is a pleasure and aprivilege not to be missed.

Professor ARAKI, Tsutomu
Graduate School of Science and Engineering

The Appeal of Graduate School is the Continuation of“Challenges and Growth”

My research is the development of semiconductors. Nowadays, semiconductors are likeair; we cannot live without them. Going forward, they will continue to be needed in avariety of fields in order to achieve the goal of a society where everyone in the world canlive comfortably, safely, and sustainably, as is set forth in the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). For example, the realization of autonomous vehicles will require sensors
that accurately acquire information about their surroundings, AI that recognizes andevaluates this information, and a control device that moves the motor and steering
wheel according to commands, with semiconductors playing a role in all these.
A variety of technological developments, including cars, smart phones, and the COVID-19 vaccines are progressing amid intensecompetition. To graduate from college and enter the workforce is to place yourself in this competitive environment. In today'scompetitive society, there is a demand for people who can respond creatively to rapid changes in the world with advanced expertise as
their mainstay, and it is the responsibility of graduate schools to foster the development of this type of high-level human resource.
The appeal of going to graduate school is that people can continue to overcome challenges and experience growth through research
activities. Research is never ending. We make a plan to achieve our research goals, conduct experiments repeatedly, and if things don't
work out then we mull it over, think more, take actions, and sometimes get scolded, or commended. In graduate school, by going
through a number of challenging periods students acquire not only specialized knowledge and skills, but also the robustness that will
enable them to succeed in our harsh society.

Graduate School Forms the Foundation for the Rest of Your LifeIn the graduate schools of science, many students (graduate students and graduation research students) gather in laboratories and workon a daily basis. This includes colleagues from the same laboratory who share good times and hardships through mutual
encouragement, researchers from outside the university and abroad who are collaborated with in academic activities and joint research,
as well as young people of the same generation. Research is not something that can be done alone. We proactively incorporate
opportunities to broaden interdisciplinary perspectives, such as across different fields and across the humanities and sciences, to formrich networks that will provide intellectual nourishment not only during graduate school but also throughout studentsʼ future careers.
The two years of graduate school (master's course) is a very short time in this day and age when life expectancy is said to be 100 years.
However, the experiences you have during this time will become the roots that sustain you for the next 50 years or more of your life after
you take your place in society. I urge you to spend time in graduate school to grow into a large tree with firm roots.
04

Student Voices
Find out more...

01

ATTAKPAH TETTEY, Bright Seyram
Graduate School ofInterview
International Relations

Q1 What made you interested in studying in Japan?

Studying as an undergraduate political science student at the University of Ghana, I
was fascinated by the history of Japan and how it managed to become a modern
developed state after its defeat in World War II. Japanʼs technology, diplomacy,
no-war stance as stated in its constitution, and Oﬃcial Development Assistance(ODA) toward countries in East Asia and the world at large makes it a desirable andpeaceful country to study in. This desire led me to apply for a Japanese government
scholarship for three consecutive years until I was successful in 2022. The majority ofuniversities in Japan have a long history of excellence in academic research,state-of-the-art facilities, and faculty with international experience that may not be
available in most parts of the world. This makes Japan the preferred destination forhigher education for international students like me, coupled with guaranteed
support from the university community, authorities, and hospitable, charming
citizens.

you describe some of the good things about
Q2 Would
graduate school at Ritsumeikan University?
Acquiring a masterʼs degree from a prestigious university in Japan with international
exposure owing to the diverse background of its students and faculty, has been my
dream. Ritsumeikan University boasts many graduate schools and departments with
the Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR), the only oﬃcial member of the
Association of Professional Schools of International Aﬀairs (APSIA) from Japan, being
the most enviable in my opinion. The manageable class size and the deliberate eﬀort
to make every student contribution part of the continuous assessment arecommendable. This encourages studentsʼ participation in every academic activity
from lectures, discussions, and presentations to term papers. The continuous
engagement by the graduate school oﬃce has been amazing, no student is left outof all the programmed activities of the school. There are also extracurricular activities
such as cultural events, visits to tourist sites, and sports as well as a well-equipped
gym making life at Ritsumeikan University a complete experience for students.

Q3 Would you share your plans for after graduation?
First, I want to pursue a Ph.D. program after graduating from Ritsumeikan University.
Ritsumeikan GSIR is a rich academic environment for the study of International
Relations and other graduate programs. I also want to improve my Japanese
language to an advanced level during my studies here in order to take advantage ofthe many opportunities in Japan. Furthermore, I plan to work in an internationalorganization representing my home country or in an organization or company thathas links with Japan.

Would you leave a message for international
Q4 students
who are interested in applying tograduate schools at Ritsumeikan University?

Ritsumeikan University, undoubtedly is one of the best universities due to being
interlaced with a rich culture, history, and academic excellence because of its setting,the religious and traditional imperial city of Kyoto. I absolutely recommend thisuniversity because of its serene campuses, engaging and supportive faculty, the vastinternational student population, that provides its strong academic foundation, andthe chance for professional networking. I am pleasantly not surprised that I am living
my academic dream beyond my expectations here in Kyoto, Japan. With Ritsumeikan
University graduate schools, your holistic university education is guaranteed!

LAW, King Chuen
Graduate School ofLife Sciences

02

Interview

Q1 What made you interested in studying in Japan?

My initial interest in Japan stemmed from my previous studies of Japanese
language and culture during my high school years. This fascination persisted
throughout my academic pursuits at the University of California, Davis, where I
enrolled in courses on Japanese culture. Additionally, I had the opportunity tovisit Japan on multiple occasions for leisure and found myself immersed in theJapanese lifestyle. In 2020, I was accepted into a research program in Japan,
but the program was unfortunately cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Undeterred, I reapplied during Spring of 2022 and was ultimately accepted asa graduate student at Ritsumeikan University.

you describe some of the good things about
Q2 Would
graduate school at Ritsumeikan University?
Ritsumeikan University oﬀers high-quality education and academic programs
entirely in English for speciﬁc curriculum. The university provides many
resources to assist students in their studies. My department oﬀers Japanese
language and conversational classes with native speakers to improve myJapanese proﬁciency. The university frequently sends email alerts of thenumerous scholarships and academic subsidies available to students. The
lessened ﬁnancial burden allows me to concentrate on my research andpresent my ﬁndings at academic conferences. Students are also welcome tojoin specialized seminars and joint research symposiums held on campus tobroaden their knowledge.

Q3 Would you share your plans for after graduation?
Currently, I am studying as a masterʼs student at Ritsumeikan Universityʼs
Biwako-Kusatsu campus. After earning my masterʼs degree, I intend to pursue
a Ph.D. program in my current lab. Ideally, I would like to pursue a research
career in Japan. Ritsumeikan University has close connections andcollaborations with many top Japanese research facilities. Through these
relationships, I hope to build a strong network and gain relevant academic andwork-related experience.

you leave a message for international
Q4 Would
students who are interested in applying tograduate schools at Ritsumeikan University?

Ritsumeikan University is a prestigious private university with a wide-ranging
curriculum and ample opportunities for personal growth and development.
The professors I have met thus far are experts in their research ﬁelds and willingto share their knowledge. Besides academics, the university hosts interactive
and inclusive events for both local and international students to enjoy,
academic trips to deepen studentsʼ understanding of Japanʼs rich cultural
heritage, and plenty of clubs and circles to participate in to enrich your student
experience.

05

Initiatives for Advanced Research
Ritsumeikan University is proud of its high research capability when compared to other universities, as shown by its ranking as
the third largest (first in western Japan) private university recipient of “Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) for AY2021,”
only behind Keio University and Waseda University in the allocation ranking released by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology.
Ritsumeikan University strives to nurture graduate students through a variety of support programs in order to develop andproduce those who have the ability to be active at the forefront of society. Below is a list of some of the support provided tograduate students.

Research Support
for Graduate Students
In AY2010, the Graduate Student Career Path Support Center was
established to provide career path support specifically for graduate
students. The center provides comprehensive support for graduate
students to improve their research skills and career development
through cross-sectional collaboration in the areas of research,education, and career support.
Nearly 50 events are held annually, including the “Career Management Seminar (in Japanese)” in which those who are active at theforefront of universities and companies are invited to present aboutdeveloping transferable skills required by society, and the “PhD andCompany Matching Seminar (in Japanese)” * that creates theopportunity for private-sector job applicants and companies tomeet.
*For job-hunting assistance in English, refer to “PICK UP Employment Situation” on p.15.

From AY2021, two programs, the “Ritsumeikan University NEXT
(New Educational Xross-Training) Fellowship Program” and the“Ritsumeikan Advanced Research Academy (RARA) Next Generation Researcher Development Program” have been offered to
outstanding and highly motivated doctoral students to provide
them with financial support and research funding so they can focus
on research and to ensure an environment in which they can
devote themselves to interdisciplinary and leading-edge research.
These programs currently support 90 graduate students.
Here is an example of the programs provided.

Acquisition of Transferable Skills**Skills and abilities that can be applied across disciplines are called transferable skills.

With the aim of helping students acquire the transferable skills
required by society, we conduct career management seminars(in Japanese only) by inviting people who are active at the forefrontof universities and companies to present to students. Theseseminars are open to all graduate students in master's and doctoral
programs and includes a variety of content to “strengthen practicalskills for career creation,” ranging from topics such as how tochoose a company, why leadership is necessary, and how to faceunknown challenges, to practical content such as how to write aproposal.
We also hold events for English basis graduate students to improvetheir language skills and presentation skills, which are useful forboth their research and in society.
(The following programs were conducted in English in AY2023.)■ONLINE Academic Writing Tutorials■3-Minute Speech Contest■Hyakunin Ronbun (100 papers) at Ritsumeikan University

06

Research Organizations, Institutes, and Centers

Research organizations at Ritsumeikan University deploy various efforts to develop cutting-edge research. Such research contributes to society,and in turn leads to the advancement of research and education within the graduate schools. In order to promote research in the fields of thehumanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, RU has established various research institutions and conducts a wide variety of research
activities from basic to applied research. Those institutions also facilitate collaborations with industry and government institutions, working to
get results that give back to society.
* The following outlines information regarding research organizations, research institutions, and research centers as of March 1, 2023.

Ritsumeikan Global Innovation
Research Organization (R-GIRO)

Kinugasa Research Organization

R-GIRO is a research organization under the direct supervision of
the University President that was established in 2008 with the goalof “forming a research hub specifically for policy-driven research”
and “strengthening the development of young researchers whowill lead the next generation.” The organization aims to contributeto the next generation of society by producing valuable researchfindings and actively disseminating those findings through thepromotion of interdisciplinary research activities that integrate thefields of natural science with those in the humanities and social
sciences in order to achieve a society that maintains a type of
harmony between humans and nature.

Kinugasa Research Organization was founded in 1998 and it
supports research activity as a research organization which
manages the research institutes and research centers. The
organizationʼs goal is to contribute to human welfare and social
progress under the four principles of “autonomy,” “democracy,”“openness,” and “peaceful use”.
■Institute of Humanities, Human and Social Sciences■Institute of International Relations and Area Studies■International Institute of Language and Culture Studies■Institute of Human Sciences ■Art Research Center■Institute of Disaster Mitigation for Urban Cultural Heritage■The Shirakawa Shizuka Institute of East Asian Characters and Culture■Institute of Ars Vivendi ■Research Centers

BKC Research Organization of Social Sciences

Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization
The Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization is a researchorganization under the direct supervision of the University
President. With the mission, "Cultivating Asia-literate,
globally-capable human resources and contributing to thedevelopment of a common vision for the future of Asia and Japan,"it promotes research that contributes to the "Asian Era" that is both
strategic in nature as well as possessing concepts one would cometo expect from Ritsumeikan. Serving as the nucleus of a diverse
research network in collaboration with various institutions within
Japan and overseas, it aims to promote Asia-Japan research from a
global perspective. The organization focuses its efforts on
conducting comprehensive practical research that possesses theessence of the keywords, "Symbiosis," "Co-creation," and"Co-commitment," and disseminating the results of such research.
■Asia-Japan Research Institute

BKC Research Organization of Social Sciences was founded in 1998
in order to promote industry-academia- government collaborations
in Social Sciences at Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC). We also aim topromote interdisciplinary research through exchanges with Natural
Sciences in cooperation with the Research Organization of Scienceand Technology.
■Institute of Social Systems■Research Centers

Research Organization of Science and Technology
The Research Organization of Science and Technology wasestablished in 1994 as the Research Organization of Science andEngineering (changed to its present name in 2012) to contribute to
the development of science and technology and local society. The
organizationʼs goal is to contribute to local society through joint
research in industry-academia-government collaborations.
■The Institute of Science and Engineering ■Synchrotron Radiation Center■VLSI Research Center ■Institute of Advanced Research for Sport and
Health Science ■Research Centers

OIC Research Organization ofOpen Innovation and Collaboration
Respecting the three core concepts of Osaka Ibaraki Campus, AsiaʼsGateway, Regional Cooperation, and Urban Co-creation, Research
Organization of Open Innovation and Collaborationʼs goal is tofoster human recourses who can play an important role in the
global society, create innovation, and serve as a key player in theregional community.
■The Research and Development Institute of Regional Information■Research Centers

topicsRADIANT
Introducing Ritsumeikan Universityʼs Research Activities.

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/radiant/eng/
Find out more about Ritsumeikan Universityʼs research activities...

07

Tuition for 2023
Please note that the university fee is composed of the “admission fee” and “tuition fee”.
Spring semester: from April 1 to September 25

Fall semester: from September 26 to March 31* The tuition fee students who entered the university in September pay as part of the admissions procedure covers tuition for the Fall Semester of the first year only.
* Tuition fees may be revised when social factors, such as rapid inflation, have a significant impact on the University.
* The Graduate Degree Programs offered in Japanese are not including in the table below.
* Tuition for 2024 will be announced by mid-July on the website below.
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gr/en/scholarship/tuition.html/

Admission Fee (Academic Year 2023 Entry)
Category

Tuition for Master's Program

(JPY)

Fee

-Admission-Transfer Admission

200,000

Notes:
1) Payment of the admission fee is required in the year of admission only.
(JPY)2) The students from Ritsumeikan Academy* are not required to pay the admission fee. For more information,please refer to the Application Guidelines.
*Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

Tuition for Doctoral Program*
1st Year
Spring Semester Fall Semester

250,000

250,000(JPY)

2nd Year
Spring Semester Fall Semester

250,000

250,000

1st Year
2nd Year
Spring Semester Fall Semester Spring Semester Fall Semester-Policy Science

381,400

381,400

381,400

381,400-Economics (MPED)-International Relations (GIRP)

457,700

457,700

457,700

457,700-Science and Engineering(except for Mathematics Course)

584,800

584,800

584,800

584,800(Mathematics Course)

546,600

546,600

546,600

546,600

578,300

578,300

578,300

578,300

3rd Year
Spring Semester Fall Semester

250,000

250,000-Information Science and Engineering-Life Sciences*Excluding Integrated Doctoral Program and Four-Year Doctoral Program
Notes:
1) Fourth-to sixth-year students who are enrolled in excess of the standard completion term in a doctoral
program are only required to pay one half of the amount stipulated in the chart.
2) The tuition fee for those who enrolled for longer than the standard term for course completion who havefulfilled all the relevant graduate schoolʼs requirements for completion, except those relating to the doctoral
dissertation, shall be 100,000 JPY per semester.

(JPY)

Graduate School(English-based Program)

Notes:
Third-and fourth-year students who are enrolled in excess of the standard completion term in a masterʼs
program are only required to pay one half of the amount stipulated in the chart.

Campus Relocation
Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering to Relocate to Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC) from Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC) in April 2024
With the relocation of distinctive colleges and graduate schools, Ritsumeikan will promote the transformation of OIC into a dynamic platform that expands theuniversityʼs connections with the community, where we can perform demonstrations, projects, and create value in order to find solutions to the issues facing society.

Graduate School ofInformation Science and EngineeringYear ofEnrollment
Sep. 2023→Relocation to Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC)2023
SpringSemester

2024
Fall

SpringSemester

Fall

SemesterSpringSemester

BKC→OICOIC

SpringSemester

Fall

SemesterSemester

OIC(Year 2)
(Year 1)

2026
Fall

Semester

OIC(Year 1)

Apr. 2024

2025(Year 3*)

OIC

(Year 2)

OIC

(Year 3*)
*Year 3: Doctoral Program only

Biwako-Kusatsu Campus in SHIGA

08

Osaka Ibaraki Campus in OSAKAExamples of Scholarships and Grants
Model case for receiving Scholarships and Grants
Many students take advantage of scholarships at Ritsumeikan University. Financial burden can be reduced through such awards.
*Please note that the details of the scholarships below are as of May 2023 and are subject to change. Please refer to pp. 10-11 for details.

International Student Masterʼs Program 1st Year
＜Tuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students, Graduate
Students CategoryⅠ＞
Privately financed international students with a resident status of“Student” who achieved outstanding results in the entrance examination
get a 100% tuition reduction.
There are also other scholarships and grants available such as GAKKAI
Scholarship. The GAKKAI Scholarship is limited to two disbursals per year.

＜SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 1st Year of Enrollment) andTuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students, Graduate
Students CategoryⅡ＞
Students who achieved great results in the entrance examination areawarded a SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 1st Year of Enrollment).
Also, privately financed international students with a resident status of“Student” generally get a 20% tuition reduction. For those who receive
the SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 1st Year of Enrollment) and get a
20% tuition reduction, the total tuition amount will be 532,320 yen.

Tuition915,400 yen
/year

100%
TuitionReduction＜Other support programs＞
GAKKAI Scholarship
5,000 yen〜10,000 yen : attendance
15,000 yen〜100,000 yen : presentation

20% Tuition
Reduction

Tuition915,400 yen/year

Scholarship
200,000 yen*

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship(For 1st Year of Enrollment)＜Other support programs＞
Tuition532,320 yen

GAKKAI Scholarship
5,000 yen〜10,000 yen : attendance
15,000 yen〜100,000 yen : presentation*In case of receiving 200,000 yen.

International Student Masterʼs Program 2nd Year
＜Tuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students,
Graduate Students CategoryⅠ＞
The reduction period is set as the standard program duration. Thus,
Masterʼs Program 2nd year students continue to receive benefits.
There are also other scholarships and grants available.

＜SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 2nd Year Students) andTuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students, Graduate
Students CategoryⅡ＞
Students who achieved great results in their studies and research
activities during their first year are awarded a SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA
Scholarship (For 2nd Year Students). Also, privately financed
international students with a resident status of “Student” generally get
a 20% tuition reduction. For those who receive the SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA
Scholarship (For 2nd Year Students) and get a 20% tuition reduction,
the total tuition amount will be 532,320 yen.

Tuition915,400 yen
/year

100%
TuitionReduction＜Other support programs＞
KENKYU-JISSEN-KATSUDO Grant
15,000〜30,000 yen : domestic
20,000〜200,000 yen : overseas

20% Tuition
Reduction

Tuition915,400 yen/year

Scholarship
200,000 yen*

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship(For 2nd Year Students)＜Other support programs＞
Tuition532,320 yen

KENKYU-JISSEN-KATSUDO Grant
15,000〜30,000 yen : domestic
20,000〜200,000 yen : overseas*In case of receiving 200,000 yen.

International Student Doctoral Program 1st Year＜KENKYU-SHOREI Scholarship A＞
Students who have achieved excellence in their field of research or can be
expected to, are awarded a KENKYU-SHOREI Scholarship A and get anamount equivalent to the total amount of tuition.
There are also other scholarships and grants available.

＜Other support programs＞
Tuition
500,000 yen

KENKYUSHOREI
Scholarship A
500,000 yen

Research Grant for Doctoral Students
100,000〜500,000 yen
GAKKAI Scholarship
5,000 yen〜10,000 yen : attendance
15,000 yen〜100,000 yen : presentation09

Scholarship Information
There are a number of scholarships that prospective students can secure before beginning their studies at RU, in addition to the scholarships andtuition reduction schemes that international students may apply for after commencing their studies. Scholarships are provided not only by RU,
but also by organizations such as ADB and the Japanese government.
＊Please note that the details of the scholarships below are as of May 2023 and are subject to change without advanced notice. Please refer to the application guidelines of each scholarshipand research grant or the website for detailed updated information.

Scholarship Type

Masterʼs Program

Doctoral Program

Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship
Prize Fellowships
forInternational Students(Governments, Organizations, etc)

Asian Development Bank-Japan
Scholarship Program
（ADB)

̶

Japan-International Monetary
Fund Scholarship Program for Asia(JISPA)̶

Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students
Ritsumeikan University Tuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students, Graduate Students CategoryⅠ(100％）

Fellowships
forInternational Students

Ritsumeikan University Tuition Reduction Scholarship for International Students, Graduate Students CategoryⅡ（20％）
Ando Momofuku Scholarship for International Students(RU)

International Students Assistance Scholarship by Ritsumeikan faculty/staﬀ

Prize Fellowships

Support Systemfor
Career Development

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 1st Year of Enrollment)(Academic Excellence Scholarship for 1st Year of Enrollment)

KENKYU-SHOREI Scholarship(Prize Fellowship for Doctoral Degree Students)

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship (For 2nd Year Students)(Academic Excellence Scholarship for 2nd Year Students)

NEXT Fellowship Program(NEXT Fellowship Students)

̶

RARA SPRING(RARA Student Fellow)

GAKKAI Scholarship(Academic Conference Scholarship)

GAKKAI Scholarship(Academic Conference Scholarship)

KENKYU-JISSEN-KATSUDO Grant(Grant for Students Participating in Study Programs)

Research Grant for Doctoral Students

Program to Support the Submission of Academic Papers in Foreign Languages (for Graduate Students)̶Grant for Publication of Doctoral Dissertation

Apply before enrollment
Qualif ications

Scholarship Name

Notes

Recipientsin 2022

Masterʼs 2years
Doctoral 3years

Applicants must apply to RU
via special MEXT
admissions

53＊4

147,000 yen / month, tuition
fees, travel expenses, bookallowance, medical andhealth insurance

2 years

Applicants must apply to RU
for admission and to ADB for
scholarship separately

5

All graduate
schools＊3

100% exemption fromtuition fees

Masterʼs 2years
Doctoral 3years

Awarded to Regular Admissions
applicants based on entrance
exam performance58(Masterʼs programs only)
All except School of Law
and Graduate School ofManagement

100,000 - 600,000 yen
deducted from tuition.
(varies by graduate school)

1 yearNationality & Age

Eligible Graduate School(s)Beneﬁts

PeriodJapanese Government(MEXT)
Scholarship＊1

Countries recognizedby the Japanese
government; Under 35

All graduate
schools＊3

145,000-148,000
yen/ month, tuition fees,
travel expenses

Asian Development
Bank-Japan Scholarship
Program(ADB)＊1

Citizens of
ADB developing member
countries; Under 35

Economics(Masterʼs program only)

Ritsumeikan University
Tuition Reduction Scholarshipfor International Students,
Graduate Students CategoryⅠ(100％）

̶

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA＊2 Scholarship(For 1st Year of Enrollment)(Academic Excellence Scholarship for
1st Year of Enrollment)̶＊1 Recipients of these scholarships may not accept any additional scholarships.
＊2 Notif ication of award is sent to the successful applicants along with admission results.

Admissions & Aid
Informa�on on scholarships
to apply for before enrollment

10

Scholarship Conditions

Awarded to Regular Admissions
applicants based on entrance

379

exam performance＊3 Actual graduate schools selected each year based on university protocol.
＊4 The number of students is for the MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship only.

Graduate Student
Career Path Support Center

Informa�on on scholarships and grants oﬀered by
Graduate Student Career Path Support CenterApply after enrollment (for self-f inanced international students)
Eligibility Criteria

Scholarship Conditions
PeriodApplication
PeriodRecipientsin 202220% exemption
from tuition
excludingadmission fee)

1 yearSpring / Fall

687＊1

All Levels(Under30)

1,000,000 yen / year

1 yearSpring2

International Students
Assistance Scholarship by
Ritsumeikan Faculty/Staﬀ

All Levels

250,000 yen / year

1 yearSpring7

Monbukagakusho
Honors Scholarshipfor Privately Financed
International Students

1 yearSpring16

All Levels

48,000 yen / month

6 months

Fall62(depending on graduate schools)

1 yearSpring or Fall
One timein the 2nd year380

S＊2: Equivalent to the yearly tuition
A: Equivalent to the yearly tuition
B: Equivalent to half of the yearly tuition

1 yearSpring or Fall
One time
Not all of graduate schools
recruit in the fall semester.

Scholarship/
Grant Name

Year Level/Age

Beneﬁts

Ritsumeikan University
Tuition Reduction Scholarshipfor International Students,
Graduate Students CategoryⅡ(20％）

All Levels

Ando Momofuku
Scholarship forInternational Students

SEISEKI-YUSHUSHA Scholarship
Enrolled in the 3rd(For 2nd Year Students)
semester of Masterʼs(Academic Excellence Scholarship
Degree Programfor 2nd Year Students)
KENKYU-SHOREI
Scholarship(Prize Fellowship for
Doctoral Degree Students)

Doctoral Degree
Program(

100,000 - 600,000 yen/ year（）

142＊1 After enrollment, all students in English-based programs who meet the eligibility requirements and complete an application by the deadline are granted the award. The number ofrecipients listed only includes newly enrolled student.
＊2 Students who have a status of JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists DC1/DC2, or who passed the 1st stage screening.

Scholarship/
Grant Name

Summary of
the Scholarship / Grant

Eligibility

AmountGAKKAI Scholarship(Academic Conference Scholarship)

This scholarship assists
with part of expenses for participation andpresentations at academic conferences.

All Levels

5,000 yen : online attendance
10,000 yen : attendance on site
15,000 yen : online presentation /proceeding（submitted paper）is published
30,000 yen : presentation in Japan
100,000 yen : presentation overseas

KENKYU-JISSEN-KATSUDO Grant(Grant for Students Participating inStudy Programs)

This grant is designated to support
a part of participation fee when
graduate students participate in study programs(KENKYU-JISSEN-KATSUDO) organizedby target graduate schools.

Masterʼs Degree
Program

15,000-30,000 yen：domestic
20,000-200,000 yen：overseas

Research Grant for
Doctoral Students

The purpose of this grant is to reduce theﬁnancial burden for the realization ofoutstanding research plans by outstanding
students, and to promote research activities that
contribute to the completion of their doctoral
dissertations as early as possible, thereby
supporting the completion of their doctoral
dissertations within the standard period of study.

Doctoral Degree
ProgramThree types: 100,000 yen/
300,000 yen/500,000 yen

Program to Support theSubmission of Academic
Papers in Foreign Languages(for Graduate Students)

The purpose of this program is to encourage andprompt graduate students to internationallydisseminate their research results throughresearch article publication in English.

All Levels

up to 50,000 yen : Proofreading
Expenses
up to 50,000 yen : Submission Expenses

Grant for Publication ofDoctoral Dissertation

This program is to encourage and prompt graduate students
to publish their dissertation. This program will provide
ﬁnancial assistance to support those who earned
Doctoral Degree
a doctoral degree from Ritsumeikan University to publish
Programtheir doctoral dissertation. Published books will be stored
and shelved in Ritsumeikan University Libraries.

Maximum of
1,000,000 yen

Other available scholarships for international students

For more information about scholarships available for international students, please refer to the International Student Handbook.

Inquires：International Center at BKC

cger-bkc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
11Student Life at RU
Student Support

Peer Support

RU oﬀers the complete range of student advisory services,

Outside of the regular curriculum RU provides an extensive

including career planning, academic guidance, and services

support net for its students, stretching from “Peer Support” whichcatering specifically for international students, such as

is oﬀered by fellow students, to the “Orita” (also known as “Enta”)

assistance in obtaining visas and support for finding

system, in which students in their 2nd year and up help incoming

housing. There is also an extensive range of dining andstudents get accustomed to university life. This system was ﬁrst

retail options close to each of the campuses. RU is

introduced by Ritsumeikan and has since gained traction at othercommitted to providing students with the best possible

universities here in Japan. In addition to these, the “Tutors foropportunity to reach their full potential.

International Students Assembly” support program (TISA) is also
maintained by the university. TISA consists of currently enrolled
students who assist both newly incoming and currently enrolledinternational students in their daily and academic life.

International Center
At the International Center, students can receive assistancewith visa issues, accommodation, health, and day to day
life. When new international students arrive at RU, theInternational Center organizes thorough o r ient a t ion sthat i ncl u d e s es s i ons o ut lining t he procedures for
obtaining their residence card, health insurance, andbank accounts.

A few words from the International Student Support Coordinator"After traveling overseas to study with us, I'm sure you willencounter all sorts of fun and new experiences here in
Japan. By that same token, however, it's also quite likelythat you will face new diﬃculties and experience anxiety
which you may not ever have dealt with in your homecountry.
Of course there is the language barrier, but beyond
that there are certain to be diﬀerences in culture,
customs, and even the way of thinking between
Japan and your home country which will occasionallycome up and cause you problems, or at least a bit ofuncertainty, in your daily life. While living in a foreigncountry, Japan, and while studying hard at the sametime, you will most likely feel stressed at one time oranother. Many international students go through andovercome similar experiences before heading out into

Health Care
■ Health Center
Located on campus, the health center promotes the health ofstudents through a combination of general health support
services and a medical oﬀice that specializes in internal
medicine. To ensure their good health, all students must takepart in a yearly health check that assesses their overall healthcondition and, depending on the result, follows up withadditional tests as necessary.
■ Student Support RoomAlso available for students of RU is the "Student Support Room."
Students are free to use this room's facilities and consult its
experts when they are feeling down or are in need of expert
consultation or advice. Professional counselors can assist
students in English or Japanese.

the world post-graduation. It is through these trials
that international students often show such splendid
development as people by the time they reach theirgraduation.
Since the 2019 academic year, International Student
Support Coordinators have been stationed at theAdministrative Office of Each Graduate School
The administrative office of each graduate school provides
advice on all academic matters, including on course registrationand internship opportunities.

International Centers on each of Ritsumeikan's campuses tohelp international students deal with and overcome theproblems and issues they face during their life studying

Career Center

abroad. Our support isn't limited to just big problems either we are happy to hear and help you work through any small

The Career Center oﬀers career support for international

worries or concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate tostudents looking to pursue future employment in Japan. In

speak with us when you visit the International Center!

addition to providing career consultation, information on

We look forward to talking with you!"internships, and on-campus company information sessions,the center organizes various career development events
throughout the year.

12Regional Exchange

Eateries
Each of RUʼs three main campuses houses at least one large cafeteria,

Students at Ritsumeikan University have ample opportunity towith Kinugasa and BKCʼs cafeterias open until 8:00 pm, and OICʼsinteract with members of the local community. Community

cafeteria open until 7:00 pm. These cafeterias stay open late to ensure

members are invited to participate in events held on campus,that students ﬁnishing up evening club activities or attending late

giving students and members of the community a chance tolectures can relax and have a healthy meal afterwards. For students

meet and deepen their understanding of Japanese culture andstarting things oﬀ early the “100 Yen Breakfast Set” has become a popular

local traditions through a variety of activities. At the same

choice. Meal plans are also available.

time, international students have many opportunities to give

In addition to the large mainpresentations and share the culture and traditions of their own

cafeterias, each campus is home tocountries with their fellow students and the community.

multiple smaller eateries and places
to relax including Tully's Coﬀee at
Kinugasa Campus, Starbucks at
OIC, and “SHIRU CAFE” at BKC.

Events on Campus
Throughout the course of the year, the university's International
Center organizes a variety of exchange events for students. From
visits to historical sites in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka to hands-on
workshops in Japanese arts, crafts, and cooking, students areprovided with plenty of opportunities to experience and enjoy
Japanese culture outside of the curriculum.

Living in Japan
Living expenses will vary depending oneach student's individual lifestyle, but thefollowing is a list of estimated expenses for

Housing
RUʼs three main campuses each has an international dormitory, known as an I-House, located nearby.
*There are three dormitories at Kinugasa Campus, however, graduate students are not admitted.
Monthly Lodging Fees

an average student.

BKC I-House
Approximate Monthly Cost

Room Type

Rent

30,000 ‒ 60,000 yen

Rent

Utilities

10,000 yen

Internet

4,000 yen

Basic Food

30,000 ‒ 50,000 yen

National Health Insurance

2,000 yen

Mobile Phone

4,000 yen

Local Transportation

12,000 yen

Leisure Activities

25,000 yen

Total

117,000 ‒ 167,000 yen

Notes

Type A (Single,
private toilet only)

OIC I-House

Type B (Single,
private shower & toilet)

Shared (6 students/unit(private bedrooms))

39,00047,00050,000Electricity charged as used.
Rent includes internet andwater.

Electricity charged as used.
Rent includes internet andwater.

7,200

Bedding Rental
Fee

2,000

2,000

2,000

Security Deposit

Equal to one month's rent

Equal to one month's rent

Equal to one month's rent

Utilities(Electricity,
Internet, etc.)*Fees are current as of April 2023.

Initial Move-in Fees
・BKC I-House: Security deposit, 2 monthsʼ rent and bedding rental fees.
・OIC I-House: Security deposit, 1.5 - 2 months' rent (depending on move-in date), 2 months' ofutilities and bedding rental fees, and the entrance fee 10,000.
For more details: https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/lifecareer/dorm/

All Campuses:

Students can ﬁnd information about campus-area apartments at the Student Co-op.

BKC International House :Private Room Type A

13

Language Support Programs
Ritsumeikan University oﬀers the following language support programs to International Graduate Students.
For details, please visit our website ▶

ritsumei Language Support Programs

1) ONLINE Academic Writing Tutorials
The ONLINE Academic Writing Tutorials provide you with the opportunity to have your written work checked by an English instructor. You cansign-up for a private (one-on-one) tutorial session in which an instructor will check your actual paper to ﬁnd areas which need improvement.
Students who are planning on submitting a thesis or any other form of academic paper but lack conﬁdence in their English writing ability shouldtake advantage of this opportunity.
<Session Schedule>
These sessions are scheduled to be oﬀered during a designated period each semester (subject to change).
The number of sessions oﬀered, however, diﬀers each semester.
Please check our website below for detailed information.
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ru̲gr/g-career/eng/language/

Tools used: Zoom

<Notes>・The instructor will NOT instruct or give professional advice on the contents of your research.
・You must bring your own paper (or select pages from your paper) on the day of the tutorial
since the writing instruction will be based on your actual written work.

2) Japanese Conversation Program
The purpose of this program is to improve international graduate studentsʼ Japanese skills.
Itʼs mainly geared towards students enrolled in English-based programs, and is oﬀered online.
<Course Schedule/Description>
For details, please check our website.
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ru̲gr/g-career/eng/language/

ONLINE/ App etc.

English Academic Writing (e-learning)
Graduate Students can attend the English academic writing program for researchers (Springer Natureʼs nature masterclasses).
This e-learning system helps students learn how to write scientiﬁc papers and understand peer review method.
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/member/news/detail/?id=219(See the nature masterclasses Online Course Registration PDF to learn how to register.)

14

Beyond Borderʼs Plaza (Commons)
The Beyond Borderʼs Plaza (BBP) is a student commons designed for student exchange, inbound and outbound study abroad support,
and language learning, with one location on each of the three main RU campuses. Each BBP is composed of several diﬀerent areas,
including the Reading Space ‒ a relatively quiet study area stocked with language education texts, books from overseas, comics andmagazines; the Support Desk ‒ where a special lecturer is stationed to provide students with advice; the Communication Rooms ‒ wherestudents can pick up a foreign language through conversation classes, and which can be rented by students for private group study; andthe Commons Space ‒ where international exchange events and activities are held.

BKC

KIC

OIC

The BBP provides student services such as the Communication Room language classes, help at the Support Desk,intercultural advising, events and so on. See the website for further info and check our SNS for upcoming events! !
【BBP Website】https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/bbp/

PICK UP

Employment situation

In Japan, most students decide their post-graduation career path while still in college/graduate school. Job-hunting in Japan usually
begins when students are in their third year of undergraduate studies or ﬁrst year of their master's program.
For international students with a resident status of “Student,” job hunting is only permitted up until their graduation. The best tip for
successful job hunting in Japan is to develop your Japanese language proﬁciency as much as possible and develop a deep understandingof Japanese culture while in college/graduate school. It is common even for foreign owned corporations in Japan to require you to havea high Japanese language level since their customers are mainly Japanese.
We encourage you to discover your future career path during your college life and utilize all the support provided by the Career Center.
The Ritsumeikan University Career Center provides career support services, especially for international students seeking employment inJapan.

Graduate student employment rate 97.8％*Those who sought a job and were assured an employment opportunity in FY 2022.

Career center provides a wide range of support for job-hunting for international students
・Individual career counseling (English and Japanese)
・Company information session (English and Japanese)
・Entry sheet (Resume) writing work shop (Japanese)

Major employers recruiting international students in Japan
ABeam Consulting Ltd., Accenture Japan Ltd, Bosch Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Kyndryl Japan KK, Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Nissan MotorCo., Ltd., Rakuten Group, Inc., etc.

15

KYOTO

Kinugasa
Campus国際関係研究科

Graduate School ofInternational Relations (GSIR)

Global International Relations Program / International Relations Program (Masterʼs Program)

OutlineWe are living in a connected world which faces a growing number of global issues; these are issues that no single state can cope with alone. The
global pandemic, climate change, refugees and migration, terrorism, and natural disaster are all global issues that require dialogue and close
cooperation between various national and international actors. Our Master of International Relations degree is designed to train future leaders,
who are equipped with the skills and expertise to address pressing global challenges which cut across politics, economic development, culture,and society.

Features・We oﬀer an unique interdisciplinary program that links politics, economics, media and culture with a global perspective.
・We embrace a diverse group of students from over 30 countries.
・We are located in Kyoto, voted the worldʼs best city to visit by Travel + Leisure magazine.

ProgramCourses offered in Japanese / Courses offered in English

The GSIR’s Master of Arts inInternational Relations
program is designed to offer
two programs, in Japaneseand English.
* Admitted students areaffiliated only with theirprogram and not with any
particular cluster.
* Students may take courses
from any cluster.
* Not all courses are offered
every year. Please confirm
the exact information at theorientation after enrollment.

Support for individual Research (Masterʼs Thesis)
Students receive comments and feedback from professors at the regular presentations prior to the submission of their Masterʼs thesis.
Student questionnaires show a high degree of satisfaction with our guidance.
For details, please visit the website ▶

16

ritsumei gsir eng

Curriculum*Please see our website
for more details.

Global International Relations Program (English-Based Program)

Cluster

Cluster

Cluster

Cluster

Global Governance
Cluster

Sustainable Development
Cluster

Culture, Society and MediaCluster

Global Japanese Studies
ClusterCore CoursesCore CoursesCore CoursesCore Courses

Theories of International Relations

Introduction to Macroeconomics

Global Sociology

Japanese Culture

International Security

Introduction to Microeconomics

Cultural Theories

Japanese Economy and Business

International Organizations

Development Studies

Media Studies

Japanese Diplomacy

Politics in Developing Countries

International Economics

Japanese Politics
Japan in East Asia
Introduction to Japan Studies

Advanced Courses

Advanced Courses

Advanced Courses

Advanced Courses

Global Political History

Development Economics

Migration Studies

Global Governance Cluster

International Human Rights

International trade and Investment

Globalization and Gender Issues

Sustainable Development Cluster

Global Peace Studies

Policy Evaluation

Media and Cultural industries

Culture, Society and Media Cluster

Conflict resolution and Peace building

Local and Regional Development

Globalization of religion

Non-Traditional Security

Development FinanceRace and Ethnicity

Environmental Policy

Public Diplomacy

International Political Economy
International Finance

Cross-cluster course selections are strongly encouraged
Area Studies Courses
East Asian Studies

South East Asian Studies

South Asian Studies

European Studies

African Studies

Middle Eastern Studies

American Studies

Academic Advisors for Global IR Program (English-Based Program)
Professors
ADACHI, Kenki
AMEKAWA, Yuichiro
ATAKA, Hiroaki
CHEUNG, Yukman
DANISMAN, Idris
FRENCH, Thomas William
FUKUMI, Sayaka
HAYASHI, Daisuke
HIRONO, Miwa
HONNA, Jun
ISHIKAWA, Sachiko
ITAKI, Masahiko
IWATA, Takuo
KAWAMURA, Satoko
KIMIJIMA, Akihiko
KOGA-BROWES, Scott Philammon
MASUDA, Minoru
MATSUDA, Masahiko
MATSUSAKA, Hiroaki
NAKATO, Sachio
OCHI, Megumi
OHTA, Hideaki
OYAMA, Shinji
RAJKAI, Zsombor Tibor
SHIMADA, Haruyuki
SHIRATO, Keiichi
SMITH, Nathaniel M.
SONODA, Setsuko
SUECHIKA, Kota
TOKUMARU, Hiroshi
TORIYAMA, Junko
TSUJIMOTO, Toshiko
UEMATSU, Hiroki
WATANABE, Hiroaki Richard
WATANABE, Matsuo
YANE, Haruka

Subject of ResearchInternational Politics, Disarmament and Arms Control, Global Governance, Civil Society
Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Social development, sociology of agriculture/environmental sociology, Area studies (Southeast Asia, especially Thailand)
Critical International Relations Theory, International political Economy
Cultural-Historical Sociology, Nationalism, Urban Sociology, Japanese Studies, Japanese subcultures (anime), Hong Kong Studies
Religion and International Relations, Islamic Thought, Turkish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Multiculturalism
Japanese History, Japanese Politics, History of US-Japan Relations, History of UK-Japan Relations
International Relations, Non-Traditional Security Threats
Political economy, Environmental policy, Climate change policy, Energy policy
Chinaʼs International Relations, Security Studies
Politics and International Relations in Southeast Asia, Indo-Paciﬁc Strategic Aﬀairs, Non-Traditional Security, Democratization, Civil-Military Relations/Security Sector Reform
International development cooperation theory, Conﬂict and peace studies, Regional studies (Southeast Asia, ASEAN)
International Economy, International Surplus CapitalComparative Politics, African Studies
International Relations (Governance of Advanced Technology, International Thought), International Administration, The Law of International Relations
Constitutional Law, Peace Studies
Media Studies, Visual Semiotic Analysis of TV NewsInternational History, History of British Politics and Diplomacy
Agriculture and Rural Development, Area Studies (Southeast Asia, Myanmar)
Global and Transnational History, Intellectual and Cultural History, North American and East Asian Studies, Transpaciﬁc Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
IR(International Relations)/IPE(International Political Economy)
International Criminal Justice (International Law, International Organizations, Peace and Conﬂict Studies)International Finance, International Economics, International Development Finance, Development Macroeconomics, Regional/Global Economies
Cultural Studies, Media studies, Creative/Cultural Industries Studies: Critical Brand Studies
Social and Cultural Studies, Modernization of Non-Western Societies, Family Studies
International Development and Cooperation, Development Economics, International Relations, Area Study（South and South East Asia）
Journalism Studies (Japan, African Countries), African Area Studies, Japan-Africa Relations
Cultural Anthropology: Far Right Political Activism, Urban Studies, Japan Studies
History, Area Studies, Overseas Chinese Studies, Modern Chinese History
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, International Relations, Comparative Politics
Monetary Economics, International Finance
Gender Studies, Gender Studies on the Middle East, Cultural Anthropology
Transnational Sociology, Studies on International Migration and Gender, Philippine Studies
Development Economics, Poverty and Inequality, Sustainable Development, International Cooperation
International Relations, Comparative Political Economy (East Asia/Asia-Paciﬁc, Europe, USA)
Economic Development, African Economies, West Balkan Study (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
International Economics, International Trade and Labor, Economic Policies
For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶ gsir Academic Advisors

17

SHIGA

Biwako-Kusatsu
Campus

経済学研究科

Graduate School of Economics
Masterʼs Program in Economic Development (MPED) / Doctoral Program

Nurturing knowledge professionals with a base in economics
OutlineSince its establishment in 1950, the Graduate School of Economics has produced many outstanding graduates who have entered the businessworld, central and local governments, and various research organizations. Located near Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, the campus oﬀers abeautiful natural environment along with the highest level of facilities and equipment. The faculty of Economic has nurtured as much as 50,000
students with independence and ability in business. We feel proud that we kept a prominent position among a lot of graduate schools andfaculties of economics in Japan in terms of quality of education and research.

Features of Program
Masterʼs Program

The school has oﬀered the program for international students in English since 2001. These have proved popular with international students who
enjoy taking courses in English in a Japanese academic environment, while working with their academic advisors on the writing and submissionof their theses. The Master's Program in Economic Development (MPED) starting from September 2002 is a course in fundamental economic
theory such as Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics and applied economics, conforming to international standards and taught
entirely in English. This course accepts students with strong interest in Japan and the Asian regional development from developing anddeveloped countries, and will foster researchers - who have acquired specialized knowledge along with a strong sense of reality - and highly
specialized professionals who can lead the international community. The aim of this program is to nurture talented individuals with wide-ranging
discernment who can become leading f igures in international society (in whichever f ield).

Doctral Program

In the Doctoral Program, which was established in 1964,
researchers acquire a broad perspective, higher specializationin knowledge and skills, and a superior capacity to
independently pioneer new spheres of research. As a result,
this program has produced a large number of talented
individuals who are working for a wide range of universities
and research institutions.

1 8 For details, please visit the website ▶

ritsumei mped

Program Structure
Masterʼs Program in Economic Development
Degree Requirements Students must acquire 30 credits in the two years, including:・4 credits from Core courses.
・4 credits from Elementary Seminars Ⅰ and Ⅱ in the f irst year.
・4 credits from Special Seminars Ⅰ and Ⅱ in the second year.
（Special Seminar is the individual thesis instruction by supervisor.）

Type of Courses

Program Schedule
First YearFirst Academic Year

Second YearCore
Courses

Microeconomics I
Microeconomics II
Macroeconomics I
Macroeconomics II
Econometrics I
Econometrics II

Elective
CoursesDevelopment Economics
International Economics
International Finance
Financial Economics
Topics in Economics

Japanese Economy
Public Policy
Environmental Economics
Internship Program
Applied Economics

Thesis;Elementary Seminars
Special Seminars
Research Seminars

Elementary Seminar I
Elementary Seminar II

Special Seminar I
Special Seminar II
Research Seminar I
Research Seminar II

Learning in PracticeOpen Seminar, Workshop, Fieldwork, Study Tour

CourseWork

Doctoral Program
Degree Requirements ・Enroll for more than 3 years.

September
February ‒ March
April

Entrance Ceremony, Fall Semester Begins
Spring Break / Winter Intensive Course
Submission of Research Plan

April
June
August ‒ September

Spring Semester Begins / Health Examination
Announcement of Supervisor and Sub-supervisor
Summer Break / Summer Intensive Course

Second Academic Year
September
January
January
February ‒ March

Fall Semester Begins
Interim Presentation
Submission of Special Seminar Report
Spring Break / Winter Intensive Course

April
July
July
AugustAugust ‒ September
September

Spring Semester Begins / Health Examination
Final Presentation
Submission of Masterʼs Thesis
Oral Examination of Masterʼs Thesis
Summer BreakCommencement Ceremony

・Earn 12 credits or more including Research Seminar Ⅰ〜Ⅳ.
・Submit a doctoral dissertation. Submitted dissertation must pass the Dissertation Review by Graduate School of
Economics.

Faculty members
Name
ADACHI, Yusuke
AONO, Kohei
GOKAN, Yoichi
GOMBI, Ichiro
HARIMAYA, Kozo
HAYASHI, Hiroaki
HORI, Kazumi
ICHINO, Yasukazu
INASAWA, Izumi
KAKINAKA, Makoto
KAWAGISHI, Taketo
KINOKUNI, Hiroshi
KOBAYASHI, Mizuki
KURIHARA, Yukiko
KUROKAWA, Kiyoto
LEE, Kangkook
MASWANA, Jean-Claude
MATSUMOTO, Akira
MINETOSHI, Chiho
MOMOTA, Akira
NAKAMOTO, Satoru
NIIGATA, Atsushi
NITTA, Kohei
NOMURA, Ryoichi
ODAMAKI, Tomoko
OHASHI, Akira
OHNO, Atsushi
OKAWA, Masayuki
OSHIO, Ryohei
QIN, Jie
SANO, Sayaka
SASAO, Toshiaki
SATOH, Takashi
SEKI, Mai
SHEN, XUEMEISHIMADA, Koji
SUGITA, Nobuki
SUSA, Taiki
TAKEUCHI, Ai
TERAWAKI, Taku
TOKUMARU, Natsuka
VIXATHEP, Souksavanh
YAMAI, Toshiaki
YOSHIOKA, Shinji

Field of Research, Subject of Research, Research Theme etc.
・Regional Economics ・Urban Economics ・Applied micro-econometrics
・Empirical Study on Japanese Stock Market Empirical Analyses on the Impacts of Unconventional Monetary Policy
・Endogenous business cycle theory: in determinativeness and branch theory
・A Theoretical Study on Determination of Exchange Rate and International Balance of Payments
・Empirical analysis of ﬁnancial institutions and ﬁnancial markets ・Empirical analysis of the eﬀects of industrial policy
・Comparative Study on Socio-economic Problems of Transition Countries
・Contract Theory・Organizational Economics ・Applied Microeconomic Theory
・Diversity and international trade ・Gains from trade ・Flipped classroom in teaching economics
・International Comparative Analysis of Policy Making Process in Energy / Environmental Sectors
・Public Policy ・Financial Systems ・International Economics
・Macroeconomic Theory ・Economic Growth Theory ・Dynamic Macroeconomic Analysis
・Industrial Organization ・A Theoretical Study on Durable Goods Monopoly
・Automobile industry ・Relationship between automobile companies and suppliers
・Micro data Analysis Based on Secondary Utilization of Oﬃcial Statistics
・Regional Development Economics. ・Private sector development study in developing countries. ・Economic Resilience・Macroeconomics of inequality and economic growth・Financial development, ﬁnancial globalization and income distribution
・Development theories and policies ・Trade and Sustainable Development ・Asia-Africa's Economic Interactions
・Study on systematizing of the international economics with the international value theory as the key concept
・Tourism Economics ・Tourism Education ・Conservation and Inheritance of Regional Resources
・Economic growth theory ・A theoretical study on macroeconomic dynamics under low fertility and aging societies
・Political economics analysis of the contemporary U.S. economy ・Study of shift towards service economy
・Financial market analysis ・Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on ﬁnance ・Financial industry analysis
・Experimental Economics and Behavioral Economics ・Research on Social Norms ・Layered Public Goods Game・Strategic Trade Policy ・International Trade Theory
・Social Policy ・Co-production of Welfare Services
・U.S. Economy ・Modern Economic History of the U.S. ・A Political Economy of the U.S. Financial System
・International Political Economy ・Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption ・WTO and Development Policy
・Study on the Theory of International Trade Theory under Imperfect Competition
・European Economic History ・Socioeconomic history of performing arts and theatre in Vienna ・Socioeconomic history in modern Austria
・Financial Economics ・Behavioral Finance ・Market Microstructure ・Emotion and decision making
・Rural economy ・Development economics ・Economics policy (Agricultural policy) ・Agribusiness and Cooperatavies in Brazil
・Environmental Economics ・Economic Analysis of Waste Management and Circular Economy
・Marxian Economic Theory ・Theory of Capital ・The Theory of Capitalist Economy
・Labor economics ・Economics of education ・Development economics ・Applied microeconometrics
・General equilibrium model ・Global value chain ・Input-output analysis ・Public ﬁnance・Energy Consumption Behavioral change using pricing and nudge ・Renewable energy policy and market evolution
・Economic Policy of Japan ・Measurement of Income Disparity ・Regional Development Policy
・Public Economics ・Political Economics ・Intergovernmental ﬁscal competition under globalization and eﬀects on political process・Institutions to raise and sustain cooperation ・Eﬀects of information on behavior
・Economic valuation of non-market goods with stated preference approaches
・Economic Philosophy ・Experimental Economics ・Micro-behavioral Theory of System and Ethics
・Economic Development Studies ・Southeast Asian economies ・Enterprise development, entrepreneurship, innovation ・International trade and economic development
・Modern European social economic history centered on 19th and 20th century Germany
・Business cycle in Japan, and applying for development economics, and policy analysis in general
For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

researcher s db ritsumei

19

SHIGA

Biwako-Kusatsu
Campus

理工学研究科

Graduate School of
Science and Engineering
International Program for Science and Engineering (Masterʼs and Doctoral Program)

Powering the Future -The Structure of the FutureOutline
To train researchers and professionals to possess not only a high level of theory and skills in the specialized fields of science andengineering, but also the ability to make creative discoveries.
The society of the 21st century becomes more diverse and complex, expecting towards graduate education in science and engineering to be greater than everbefore. Furthermore, we now must think about technology in terms of its potential contributions to a sustainable global society. In order to meet these requirements, we oﬀer diverse programs: Advanced Mathematics and Physics, Advanced Electrical, Electronic and Computer Systems, Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, and Advanced Architectural, Environmental and Civil Engineering. Our graduate school is staﬀed with professors who are capable of fulf illing
our educational philosophy, and well-equipped with facilities such as laboratories that satisfy all essential requirements for advancing education and research.

Completion Requirements
Masterʼs Degree Program < Standard Period of Study: 2 years>
Students must gained 30 credits and handed in a Masterʼs thesis.
・Not less than 4 credits from Common Subjects must be acquired
・Not less than 10 credits from Major Subjects must be acquired
・16 credits from Research Subjects must be acquired
Doctoral Degree Program < Standard Period of Study: 3 years>
Students must gained 8 credits and handed in a Doctoral dissertation.
・8 credits from Research Subjects must be acquired

A Model of Research Flowchart in Masterʼs Degree ProgramFirst Year

Second Year

Setting of a research theme and embodiment of issues to be solved
First
Semester

Drafting of research plan / Conﬁrmation of research guidance proposal

Drafting of a research plan based on achievement
progress and achievement objective
Third
Semester

Research

Summary of research achievement, Consideration of paper submission

Conﬁrmation of the research progress andconﬁrmation or modiﬁcation of a research plan
SecondSemester

Research, Consideration of academic conference presentation
Interim debrieﬁng session for thesis, summary and evaluation ofresearch achievement during one year

Research, Consideration of academic conference presentation

Outline of essential points for thesis
FourthSemesterWriting of thesis, application for awarding degree,
determination of chief examiner/vice-examiner
Defense, Screening
For details, please visit the website ▶ ritsumei gsse

20

Program Features and Courses■ All courses and research supervision in English■ Opportunity to receive focused supervision on your particularf ield of interest■ 4 degrees available: Master of Science, Master of Engineering,
Doctor of Science, and Doctor of Engineering■ Practical result-oriented research to prepare
you to excel in a leading f ield of technology■ Multinational faculties and students■ Learn how to express your research mission eﬀectively totechnical experts, industrial specialists, and government
representatives■ Learn how to make use of acquired experience andskills to regional development※At the Masterʼs level, the Physics Course is only
available for Japanese-based students.

ADVANCEDMECHANICALENGINEERING AND
ROBOTICSDOCTORALPROGRAMADVANCED
ELECTRICAL,ELECTRONICAND COMPUTERSYSTEMSADVANCED
ARCHITECTURAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND CIVIL
ENGINEERING

・Mathematics Course
・Physics Course

・Mechanical Engineering Course
・Robotics Course
・Micro Systems Technology Course

ADVANCED
MATHEMATICS
AND PHYSICS・Mathematics Course
・Physics Course

ADVANCED
MATHEMATICS
AND PHYSICSADVANCEDMECHANICALENGINEERING AND
ROBOTICSMASTERʼS
PROGRAMADVANCED
ELECTRICAL,ELECTRONICAND COMPUTERSYSTEMSADVANCED
ARCHITECTURAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND CIVIL
ENGINEERING・Electrical, Electronic andComputer Systems Course

・Civil Engineering Course
・Environmental Systems
Engineering Course
・Architecture and Urban
Design Course

Past Research Topics
Advanced Mathematics and Physics

Advanced Architectural, Environmental and Civil Engineering

Mathematics Course
・Chern-Simons theory and its applications
・Applications of Stochastic Calculus based on Hyperbolic Brownian Motion
・Numerical analysis for stochastic diﬀerential equations with irregular coeﬃcients

Civil Engineering Course
・Study on Paste Dripping of Porous Concrete and New Evaluation Method forFresh Porous Concrete
・Evaluation of Rebar Corrosion in RC using Acoustic Emission and Half-Cell
Potential under Electrical Corrosion Test
・Eﬀectiveness of Bike to School Policy for Junior High School Students in Blitar
Municipality, Easy Java Province, Indonesia

Physics Course
・Indirect signature of Kaluza-Klein dark matter・Electronic States of the First Order Ferrimagnet ErCo₂ Studied by Polarization
Dependent Hard X-Ray Photoemission Spectroscopy
・One Loop Analyses of Superstring Vacua on Asymmetric Orbifolds

Advanced Electrical, Electronic and Computer Systems

・Eﬃcient thermal analysis algorithm for Lithium ion battery modules
・Transient stability analysis of a multimachine power system using Lyapunovʼs
second method
・Advanced Positioning Algorithms for Automotive Single Frequency Receivers
Based on PPP/VPPP GR Models

Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Robotics
Mechanical Engineering Course
・Investigation of Power Electricity of Small Propeller in Waste-water Pipe
・Design and Parametric Study of Micro Compressor for Micro Gas Turbine using
Computational Fluid Dynamics
・Study on Deformation Behavior of Heterogeneous Structure Materials via
Multi-Scale FEM Analysis
Robotics Course
・Design of an Under-Actuated Adaptive Prosthetic Finger
・Variable Conﬁguration Stereo Using Two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
・Mechanical Design and Control of Inﬂatable Robotic Arm

For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

Environmental Systems Engineering Course
・Exploring the Potential of 3D Printing for Building Houses in Nigeria and Brief
Numerical Analysis of Lintels in 3D Printed Houses
・Assessment of Secondary Lead Reserves and Potential Lead Waste of Nations
・Exploring and Comparing the Quality of Public Transportation Services fromSocial Media: Case Study of Greater Jakarta
Architecture and Urban Design Course
・Development of a Sustainability Assessment Tool for Cities in Indonesia using
the Analytic Hierarchy Process Method
・Architectural Heritage Preservation as a Tool for Sustaining the Architectural
Identity・Electrical Resistivity Measurement Based of Compressive Strength Control forHigh Fluidized Soil Improvement Construction

Find yourpotential supervisor

researcher s db ritsumei

21

SHIGA

Biwako-Kusatsu
Campus

生命科学研究科

Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS)International Program for Life Sciences（Masterʼs and Doctoral Program）

Cultivating human resources that can contribute to solve the challenges ofall humankind in the 21st century
Outline
The Graduate School of Life Sciences focuses on integrated and collaborative education in the life sciences where students can proactively study
related ﬁelds while simultaneously deepening their understanding of their specialized area of study. We educate students and conduct researchin the hope of cultivating individuals with a depth and breadth of knowledge who manifest independence and initiative.
International students are accepted for all courses, which are taught in English.
The program is designed to foster the acquisition of broad knowledge and specialized skills related to the life sciences.

Research Topics of Faculty
Applied Chemistry Course

Bioinformatics Course

・Synthesis and Physical Properties of Novel Organic Functional Materials

・Analyze Tissue and Organ Function Based on the Accurate Cell Level Model

・Interpretation of Catalysis Reaction for Future Material Development

・Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Stresses Tolerance in Plants

・Molecular Spectroscopic and Computational Studies on the Molecular Mechanism

・Understanding from Genome to Life System

for Structural Formation and Changes of Biomolecules and the Related Molecules

・Elucidation and Application of Structure-Function Relationship of Bio-molecules

・Developments of Novel High-Performance Photofunctional Materials Based on

・How Photosynthetic Microorganisms Respond to Changes in Their Environment?
・Rhythms in Motion and Rhythms in Brain: Deciphering Neural Information Process-Physical Chemistry・Design and Construction of Chemical Reaction Spaces Ｕsing Biomolecules
・Fabrication of Electronically and Electrooptically Functional Materials Throughing from Rhythm
・Mathmatical Models for Understanding Life as Information Processing Machinery・Understanding the Function of Biomembranes in Plant Growth and Environmental

Synthesis and Assembly of Unexplored Molecules
・Elucidation of the Photochemical Dynamics by Femtosecond Pulse Laser Measurements

Stress Tolerance

and Quest for Application
・Development of Next Generation Rechargeable Battery Based on Solid Electrochemistry
・Redox Biochemistry
・Creating Future Polymer Materials by State-of-the-Art Nanotechnology
・Design of New Metal Complexes and Their Application to Transformation of Inert
Molecules

・Study for Pathologic Elucidation and Treatment of Diabetes
・Roles of Protein Modiﬁcations in Biological Phenomena and Disease Onsets

・Molecular Mechanism of Biosynthesis and Degradation of Plant Glycans, Plant-Derived
Biomass Resources
・Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light・Protection of Environment, Organic Agriculture, Function of Microorganism
・Structural Bioscience for Improvement of Nature Environment and Drug Design
・Clariﬁcation of Biological Roles of Glycans by Synthetic Molecular Probes
・Development of the Production System of Valuable Materials Using Enzymes andFermentation
・Generation of Virus- and Viroid-Resistant Plants through Genome Editing
・Mechanism of Bacterial Metabolic Pathways
・Elucidation of the Molecular Mechanism of Intracellular Degradation and Secretory
Pathway in Fungi

22

・Dissecting the Process of Somatic Cell Reprogramming and Stem Cell Diﬀerentiation
・Remodeling of Neural Network Underlies Vigorous Adaptability of the Brain

Biotechnology Course

For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

Biomedical Sciences Course
・Proteomic Study on the Diseases

researcher s db ritsumei

・Assessing the Value of Health Technologies and Supporting Policy Decision Making

Program and Courses
MASTER Major in Advanced Life Sciences

Applied Chemistry Course
Studying both theory and technology inchemistry at the molecular level, and exploringnew materials, new energy sources, and new
biomaterials.

Biotechnology Course
Studying both theory and technology inbiology at the molecular level, and exploring
new frontiers in environmental technology,
food technology, bio-resources, and energy
technology.

[Keywords]
New materials
Nanotechnology
Environmental analysis
Energy conversion
Functional materials

Bioinformatics Course
Studying both fundamentals of life science andinformation science, and exploring new
frontiers in life sciences by combining those
two perspectives at the molecular level.

Biomedical Sciences Course
Studying both the forefront of medical
sciences and their fusion fields, and exploring
new frontiers in life sciences, medical scienceand medical policy.

[Keywords]
System biology
Genome analysis
Information science
Bioinformatics

Completion Requirements

Biotechnology
CourseMasterʼs Program
Category

Credits Required

Common Subjects
Core
Subjects

Major
Subjects

Not less than
10 credits

Electives
Research Subjects

Not lessthan
30 credits

AppliedChemistry
Course16 credits

Doctoral Program
Category

Credits Required

Total

Major Subjects-

Research Subjects

Not less than 8 credits

Not lessthan
8 credits

MASTER[Keywords]
Genome medical chemistry
Tailor-made medicine
Gene therapy
Preventive health medicine

DOCTOR

Total

Not less than 4 credits
Not less than
6 credits[Keywords]
Microorganisms
Bio-energy
Molecular biology
Environmental purification
Biological resources
Plant

Bioinformatics
Course

DOCTOR Major in Advanced Life Sciences
The Doctoral program engages in graduate-level education andresearch and makes use of highly specialized laboratories andequipment. There are also myriad cooperative research projects
conducted at the international and regional levels with domestic
and foreign companies and other graduate schools within theuniversity.

Biomedical
Sciences
CourseStudent Voice
Indonesia

ANDRIANI Furoida

Bangladesh

Level of Study: Doctoral Program
Course: Advanced Life Sciences

Q What is your favorite thing about Ritsumeikan University?

One thing I admire and am grateful to Ritsumeikan University for is its full support
A of International students. There are plenty of international students in Ritsumeikan
University from all over the world, who surely face a lot of diﬃculties during theirstudy in Japan. Nevertheless, Ritsumeikan University has a friendly community
and is welcoming to international students. One support system for International
students is the Beyond Border Plaza (BBP) that provides Japanese language andculture learning opportunities. They also frequently hold small events or parties
for students to help International students and Japanese students connect.

China

HUANG Yihao
Level of Study: Masterʼs Program
Course: Biotechnology Course

KHAN Md. Riad Hossain
Level of Study: Doctoral Program
Course: Advanced Life Sciences

Q How do you think your experience at Ritsumeikan University will help
you achieve your goals?

A Higher study with speciﬁc goals is very important in any studentʼs

educational journey. I think the knowledge I learned from Ritsumeikan
University will help me in my future research activities. Cutting-edge
research facilities with diverse faculty members enriched myknowledge which will help my future career development. Moreover,I think, the job placement support system will help me to get mydream job in the future.

Bangladesh

MAJUMDER Toma Rani
Level of Study: Doctoral Program
Course: Advanced Life Sciences

Q Were you worried about your new life at Ritsumeikan University

Q Why would you recommend studying at Ritsumeikan University to future students?

A I was more worried about life issues and communication with Japanese people

the countryʼs largest. The international environment, high-quality education
standards, strong research-oriented background, and research facilities, alongwith the number of scholarships it provides, are the top reasons to recommend
this university. The career planning events and placement support systems forboth Japanese and international students are very helpful for deciding futuregoals. Studying abroad is very challenging and exciting. I encourage everyone totry applying for an international graduate program at Ritsumeikan University.

before your arrival? If so, how did your worries change after arriving?

and between people in general. Fortunately, the staﬀ in the oﬃce helped me a
lot when I ﬁrst came to Japan, and even though Japanese people at otherinstitutions might not be able to speak English, they patiently used translation
technology to help me understand. As for interpersonal communication, mostJapanese classmates are shy, but in fact they are very willing to help you. If you
take the initiative to communicate with them, it is not diﬃcult to make friends.

A Ritsumeikan University is one of the top private universities in Japan and one ofFor details, please visit the website ▶

ritsumei gsls

23

OSAKA

Osaka Ibaraki
Campus

政策科学研究科

Graduate School of Policy Science
Masterʼs Program / Doctoral Program

Building the ability to implement policies through direct interaction with society

OutlinePolicy science is a new discipline that involves interdisciplinary and practical studies.
The curriculum of Graduate School of Policy Science (GSPS) is characterized by its “Research Project” program, which aims to open up intellectual
spaces where faculty members of diﬀerent specialties work with graduate students each of whom pursues diﬀerent research themes. There, they
are guided by their respective motivations to explore policy design to f ind solutions to policy issues that have taken place in real society, byconstantly alternating between practical and basic theoretical approaches.

“Research Project”and the Three Clusters, Characteristics of Policy Science
PUBLIC POLICY CLUSTER
Describes and elucidates how a policy
is shaped, decided, and implemented
in public sphere and conducts researcheyeing future development possibilities

ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER
Aims to “pursue and design the theory forsustainable society”.
Conducts research from the following 3
approaches; 1. mastering policy science /engineering, 2. solving the same-dimension
problems regarding human, society, andeconomics which arise according to regional
environment change, 3. acquiring f ield
research technique

Project-type research guidance to deal with
policy issues
What is unique in our graduate school is “project-type”
research guidance in which instructors from diﬀerent
expertise organize joint research teams and students
participate in the joint research process within the group.
The purpose of this Research Project is not just giving
research guidance from one academic supervisor for one
specif ic area, but rather several instructors who diﬀer intheir specialties with common interests in the area / themeof study collectively directing the students.

RESEARCH
PROJECTSOCIAL MANAGEMENT CLUSTER
Focuses on the current state andproblems of the social system and/or
network which designs such policies as
welfare and/or regional management,
and its management process multidirectionally

Project-type research guidance (by several instructors)

Instructor

Instructor

Instructor

24

ritsumei gsps

Instructor
Guidance/
adviceGuidance/
adviceStudent
Research guidance at the Graduate School of Policy Science

For details, please visit the website ▶

One-to-one

Student
General guidanceCourse Titles
Policy Case Reading I(Studies in Culture and Public Policy)
Policy Case Reading I(Environmental Policy Analysis)
Policy Case Reading I (Local Governance)
Policy Case Reading I (Japan Studies)
Introduction to Public Policy
Introduction to Social Management
Introduction to Sustainable Development
Policy Case Reading II(Planning Science and Technology)
Policy Case Reading II (Social Welfare Policy)
Policy Case Reading II(Statistical Analysis for Policy Studies)

Policy Case Reading II (Japan Studies)
Policy Case Writing I
Policy Case Writing II
Participatory Case Research Analysis
Social Survey Data Archive Analysis
Policy Science Special Lecture(Technology Management I･II)
Advanced Policy Studies
Research Project I
Research Project II
Research Project III
Research Project IV
Regional Co-creation Study

Reseach Project Guideline
ExampleExampleEnrollment

Enrollment•Organize the past research and narrow down the research theme• Preparation for dissertaion, contribution of articles, and presentation at academic conference

1st Year(1st Semester)

1st Year(2nd Semester)

2nd Year(3rd Semester)

2nd Year(4th Semester)

Research Project I- Advanced Policy Studies- Submission of Research Paper I- Submission of Research Plan andResearch Advisory Plan

Research Project II- Presentation at the Policy Science
Workshop- Submission of Research Paper II

Research Project III- Submission of Research Paper III- Submission of Research Plan andResearch Advisory Plan

Research Project IV- Presentation at the Policy Science
Workshop- Submission of Master’s thesis orapplication for the extension of theperiod of enrollment- Oral examination- Degree Conferment Ceremony

1. Acquire at least 30 credits intotal
2. Acquire a minimum of 6 credits
for 3 courses including“Research Project IV A” among“Research Project I A”,“Research Project II A”,“Research Project III A” and“Research Project IV A”
3. Present oral research reports
at the Policy Science
Workshops held in the 2nd and4th semesters.
4. Attain a passing mark forevaluation and oral
examination conducted at thetime of the “Research
Project IV A” evaluation.

1st Semester

Registration for Research Seminar
Research・Surveys
・Submission of Research Plan and Research Advisory Plan

2nd Semester

Registration for Advanced Research Seminar
Presentation at the Policy Science Workshop
Preparation of the Research Report•Organize the past research and narrow down the research theme• Preparation for dissertaion, contribution of articles, and presentation at academic conference
3rd Semester

Registration for Research Seminar
Research・Surveys
・Submission of Research Plan and Research Advisory Plan

4th Semester

Registration for Advanced Research Seminar
Presentation at the Policy Science Workshop
Preparation of the Research Report・Submission of "Dissertation Proposal"•Preparation for doctoral dissertaion, contribution of articles, and presentation atacademic conference
5th Semester

Registration for Research Seminar
Research・Surveys
・Submission of Research Plan and Research Advisory Plan

6th Semester

Registration for Advanced Research Seminar
Presentation at the Policy Science Workshop
Preparation of the Research Report
Submission of Ph. D Dissertation or application for the extension of the periodof enrollment
Oral Examination and Final Examination (Dissertation Public Hearing)
Degree Conferment Ceremony

Masterʻs Thesis Titles / Doctoral Dissertation Titles, and Faculty Members
Please access the links below for masterʻs thesis, doctoral dissertation, and faculty members.
【Masterʻs Thesis】

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsps/eng/education/thesis/masters.html/【Doctoral Dissertation】 https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsps/eng/education/thesis/doctoral.html/【Faculty Members】

https://research-db.ritsumei.ac.jp/scripts/websearch/gakubu.htm?DISP̲KIND=1&lang=en

For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

researcher s db ritsumei

25

OSAKA

Osaka Ibaraki
Campus

情報理工学研究科

Graduate School of Information
Science and Engineering (GSISE)
Promoting Education and Research in Cutting Edge IT* GSISE will be relocated to Osaka Ibaraki Campus in April 2024.
See "Campus Relocation" on p. 08 for detail.

OutlineInternational students can enroll in either Japanese or English-based curriculum of instruction. This program is designed to support engineers
capable of actively participating in global-level careers.

Appeals of GSISE■ Professors Covering Various Fields
There are over 100 professors in our graduate school and our graduate school is one of the biggest graduate schools in IT ﬁeld in Japan. Our professors cover a lot of
research ﬁelds and have various research themes. Students can study under all of our professors in English. Our professors are also active in their research activities
and obtain budgets from Japanese government for their unique research which its results boast to the world. That makes students study based on the latest researchachievements.

■ Countries of International Students from 2012
China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Malaysia, USA, Cote d'Ivoire, Pakistan, Hungary, Bangladesh, Morocco, Rwanda, Russia,
Uzbekistan, South Africa, Philippines, India, Mongolia, Ukraine

For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

26

ritsumei gsise eng

MASTER

Advanced Information Scienceand Engineering Major
The Master's Program aims at fostering researchers andspecialists who are ready to tackle and solve issues
pertaining to today's information society at the local andglobal levels. Students will gain competencies inanalyzing and solving problems, communicative
proficiency in Japanese and in English, understanding ofdevelopments in theories and cutting-edge technologies
in information processing, network construction andsystem architecture, media technology, technologies
applied to human life and intelligence, and ethics inscience and technology.

DOCTOR

Advanced Information
Science and Engineering
Major

DOCTOR

Advanced Information Scienceand Engineering Major

MASTER

Advanced Information
Science and Engineering
Major

The Doctoral Program fosters researchers and specialists who can function
at the forefront of various domains in order to solve, with creative andinnovative approaches, important and critical issues of society. Acquiredin the program are understanding of theoretical and technologicaladvances in information technology, knowledge and attitudes in research
ethics, creativity in identifying, analyzing, and solve problems, and skills in
pursuing research activities and those in effective communication.

Curriculum■ Subjects in Master's Program

Advanced Technology Management
Advanced Topics in Image Processing
Advanced Topics in Knowledge - based Systems
Research for Master in Information Science and Engineering 1 〜 4(extracted subjects from Special Major Subjects are shown below)
Advanced Topics in Global Software Engineering
Advanced Topics in Computer Science
Advanced Topics in Communication Science
Advanced Topics in Human Factors for Systems Engineering
Advanced Topics in Computational Intelligence in Games■ Subjects in Doctoral Program(Special Research Subjects)
Research for Doctor in Information Science and Engineering 1 〜 6

Flow chart (M・D)
Masterʼs Program Research and Instruction Flowchart

Doctoral Program Research and Instruction Flowchart

Enrollment

Enrollment

Deciding the Subject of Research and Narrowing Down the Assignment

1stSemester

1stYearStudent

1stYear
Student

Planning of Research Plan
Specify the Research
Deciding the Temporary Deputy Examiner

2nd
Semester

2ndYear
Student

Conﬁrming the Goal Set During the 1st Year and Plan a Response Based on the Evaluation Result

2nd
Year
Student

Planning of Research Plan

2nd
Semester

3rd
Semester
4th
Semester

Deciding the Temporary Deputy Examiner
Workshop to Present the Concept of Doctoral Dissertation
Summary of the Fiscal Research Result

Conﬁrming the Goal Set in the 1st Year Plana Response Based on the Evaluation Result
Promote ResearchWorkshop to Present the Midterm of Doctoral Dissertation
Summary of the Fiscal Research Result

Promote ResearchWorkshop to Present the Midterm of Masterʼs Thesis

4thSemester

Deciding the Subject of Research and Narrowing Down the Assignment

Specify the ResearchWorkshop to Present the Concept of Masterʼs Thesis
Summary of the Fiscal Result of Research

3rdSemester

1st
SemesterWrite the Masterʼs Thesis and Apply for Masterʼs Degree
Deciding the Chief and Deputy Examiners
Defense and Degree Judge

Completion

3rd
Year
Student

5th
SemesterConﬁrming the Goal Set in the 2nd Year
Plan a Response Based on the Evaluation Result
Promote ResearchWorkshop to Present the Midterm of Doctoral Dissertation

6th
SemesterWrite Doctoral Dissertation and Apply for Doctoral Degree
Deciding the Chief and Deputy Examiners
Defense and Degree Judge

Completion
For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

researcher s db ritsumei

27

OSAKA

Osaka Ibaraki
Campusテクノロジー・マネジメント研 究 科Graduate School ofTechnology Management
Masterʼs program in Japanese / Doctoral program

Realizing new potential by bridging business with Technology
OutlineManagement of Technology (MOT) concerns how firms to capitalize ontechnology. The relevant technologies in research involve a wide arrayof industries including automobile, electronics, telecommunication,energy, utility, and so on. MOT as a research discipline surpasses thetechnical realm of streamlining management. Along with the f ields of
R&D, operations management, corporate organization and f inance,
the curriculum of MOT also incorporates strategic management oftechnology, technology marketing, and innovation strategy. The
Graduate School of Technology Management provides Masterʼs
Programs only in Japanese and Doctoral Programs in both Japaneseand English for global career as well.

Engineers withManagerial
Expertise

Managers withTechnologicalExpertiseIntellectual
Property
Experts

Consultants

Value
Creation
thru
Innovation

Entrepreneurs ofTechnology-Based
Venture Capitals
Financiers ofTechnology-Based
Venture Capitals
Practitioners ofIntellectual Property and
Policy Makers

Academics with
MOT Field
Knowledge &Experiences

Program Overview and Features
Masterʼs Program

Doctoral Program

DegreeMaster of Technology
Management

Doctor of Philosophy inTechnology Management

Language of Instruction

Japanese

English and Japanese

Enrollment Semester

April and September

April and September

Duration

2 Years

3 Years

Enrollment Capacity

70 Students

5 Students

The Graduate School of Technology Management (MOT) at Ritsumeikan is the only one of its kind in the
Kansai region that develops talented young leaders at the Master's and Doctoral levels and gives them afoundation in the management and technology pillars as well as practical experience with leading
Japanese enterprises. We oﬀer weekday, evening, and weekend classes, bringing together students at alllevels of academic and professional development from all over the world at Osaka Ibaraki Campus, tointegrate a rich diversity of cultures and experiences into a unique educational environment that will
prepare our students to become leaders on the international stage.
For details, please visit the website ▶

28

ritsumei mot eng

Research Field of MOT

For details about researchers, please visit the website ▶

researcher s db ritsumei

Strategic Management ofTechnology

This research f ield concerns the practice and theory of strategic decision-makings in technology
management. A rich variety of business cases, contextualizing how, why, and when technology-driven innovations were realized, should be examined to comprehend the critical nature oftechnology management.

Technology FinanceEvery innovation involves high risk and high return, and the main interest in this research f ield
pertains to the strategic practice of f inancial management, including capital and asset management, technology evaluation, and corporate risk management in general.

Intellectual Property
Management

This research f ield relates to managerial practice and theory of strategic intellectual properties.
The key focus is placed on exploration, evaluation, protection, and exploitation of intellectual
properties.

Technology Marketing,
Roadmapping

Reading and shaping the future is the most strategic perspective in technology management.
This research f ield embraces the practice of exploring both needs and seeds of innovation thatwould provide new technological foundations for competitive advantage.

Operation Management

Technology-driven innovation necessitates strategic design and management of value chains inoperation. This research f ield aims to explore the essential theory and practice of data analysis
and knowledge management to sustain competitive advantage in market.

Entrepreneurship andInnovation Enterprise

Every innovation derives from entrepreneurship. This research f ields entails in-depth investigation of the essentials of innovative enterprises. A wide array of analyses should be conducted toenrich our understanding: new product development, f inance, strategic alliances, customer
relation management, regional development, and business history.

Human Resource Management

No technology will result in innovation without successful HRM. This research field looks comprehensively into how to manage vital human resources. Alongside the traditional perspectives of
HRM, technology and innovation management requires in-depth analyses of corporate training
and education systems for technologists, and of organizational design.

R&D Policy and Triple Helix

Innovation comprises more comprehensive phases of technological development and commercialization. Realization of more competitive R&D has become the key to corporate success andsustainable competitiveness. This demands more intensive Government-Industry-University
alliances nowadays, and Triple Helix would facilitate innovations henceforth.

Recent Doctoral Dissertation Titles■ A Study on Chinese Patientsʼ Decision-Making in Online Health Communities■ A Study on Social Application in the Development of Mobile Health■ A Study on Chinese Short-Video Using Social Media Advertising Model■ An empirical study of the factors aﬀecting customer satisfaction and intention to use food delivery apps before and during the COVID-19 inThailand■ The Role of Innovation Policy and Science Communication in Accepting New Food Technology■ A Study of Nonakaʼs Wise Leader Practices and an Image of Leadership from the Perspective of Subordinates, to Promote Management
Innovation Performance via Stimulating Employeeʼs Knowledge Sharing Aspiration■ A System Dynamics Modelling for Healthcare Demand and Smartphone-based Technology Adoption in Malaysian Public Hospitals■ Analyses of inter-organizational collaboration for personalized medicine development, and organizational structure suitable for successful
outcomes■ Exploring Knowledge Process and Organizational Culture to Promote Individual Learning: An Empirical Study in Science Museums■ Maximization of Energy Safety Using Neuro-Fuzzy Systems■ Alliance Management during Joint Development between Corporations -Investigation into important items when undertaking joint development
and examination of a general-purpose model■ Market Creation for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: Infrastructure Dependent New Products and Expectations■ Implicit Patent Alliance Acquiring the Appropriability of Innovation■ Exploratory research on collaboration: Approach to individual, organization and strategy■ Institutional study of the regional brand protection system in Japan
29

Graduate School Courses
Oﬀered in Japanese
RU oﬀers the following Graduate Degree Programs oﬀered in Japanese
For details, please visit the website ▶ ritsumei academics graduate

Kinugasa Campus in KYOTO
Graduate School of Law（M/D）
Since its founding in 1950, the Graduate School of Law has produced many
individuals outstanding in their ﬁelds, including research academics, complementing the over 100 years of tradition at the College of Law. The past few
years have also seen the school achieve admirable results in cultivating highly
specialized professionals, including lawyers and tax accountants.
■ Four courses
・The Legal Specialist Course̶Cultivating specialists in areas requiring
essential knowledge of the law.
・The Public Administration Course̶Developing specialized knowledge
for professional work in the public sector.
・The Law & Politics Research Course̶Deepening academic involvementin the various issues of law and politics.
・The Doctoral Research Course̶Fostering future legal researchers.

Graduate School of Letters（M/D）
The Graduate School of Letters oﬀers two majors comprising 14 programs.
The school continues to build upon traditional literature studies developing
new academic f ields incorporating information technology.
■ Two majors and 14 programs
・A major in Humanities―1) Philosophy, 2) Educational Anthropology, 3) Japanese
Literature and Linguistics, 4) Chinese Literature and Thought, 5) English andAmerican Literature, 6) Japanese History, 7) East Asian History, 8) European andIslamic History, 9) Cultural Dynamics Studies, 10) Modern East Asian Languages andCultures, 11) Languages, Cultures, and Area Studies of English Speaking Countries.
・A major in Informatics of Behavior and Cultures―12) Geography andRegional Tourism Studies, 13) Digital Humanities for Arts and Cultures,
14) Archaeology and Cultural Heritage.

Graduate School of Sociology（M/D）
The Graduate School of Sociology was established in 1972 to promote acomprehensive understanding of an increasingly complex world and to tackle
issues of modern society in collaboration with many sociological subfields, aswell as social policy, social welfare, anthropology, and economic sociology.
■ Four major research f ields
・Modern Society
This research f ield aims to provide students with opportunities and tools
for sociological analysis and insight.
・Human WelfareThis research f ield aims to enable students to engage with social issues inhuman development, welfare policy, and social work practice.
・Sports & Society
This research ﬁeld aims to enable students to analyze sports culture andthe relation between sports and society.
・Media & Society
This research ﬁeld aims to enable students to analyze media culture andmedia society from various perspectives.

※M: Master's Program

D: Doctoral Program

Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences（Integrated Doctoral Program）
The Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Science was established forthe purpose of examining and seeking solutions to the problems that havebeen passed down to the 21st century and making approaches to common
issues for all humanity from the four perspectives of Publicness, Life,
Social-Cultural Symbiosis, and Representation, with an emphasis on core
ethics. We adopt integrated doctoral program consisting of transversal
lectures and exercises from diﬀerent f ields.
■ Four f ield themes
・Publicness̶Publicness in the 21st century
・Life̶Life as an Issue
・Social-Cultural Symbiosis̶Possibilities and Limitations in Sociai-Cultural Symbiosis
・Representation̶Analysis of Culture and Art through Representative Theory

Graduate School of Language Education
and Information Science（M）
The Graduate School of Language Education and Information Science will be
relaunched in 2024. It will consist of three courses, two focusing on language
education (English and Japanese) and one on linguistics and communication
studies. For language education, the aim will be to develop the teaching skillsof prospective and practicing teachers. In addition, other aims will include
innovation in language education practice, teacher and student development, and research on issues in second language acquisition. For linguistics
and communication studies, students will be able to focus on various
subdisciplines and conduct signiﬁcant research in these areas.
■Three courses
・English Language Education Course
・Japanese Language Education Course
・Course in Linguistics and Studies of Communication and Expression

Suzaku Campus in KYOTO
School of Law（Juris Doctor Program）
The School of Law nurtures “Global-Citizen Lawyers” that think and act
based on the global perspective and common sense. We educate students
with various backgrounds to be the legal professions, each person who hasrich humanity, a keen sense of human rights, and profound education witha global perspective and high-leveled specialties.
■ Specialized subjects
・Bankruptcy Law, Tax Law, Economic Law, Intellectual Property Law, Labor
Law, Environmental Law, International Private Law and International
Public Law

Graduate School of Professional Teacher Education（Master of Education）
The Graduate School of Professional Teacher Education nurtures highly
skilled teachers who have the ability to tackle issues that are getting more
and more complicated at schools.
We aim to combine theoretical education and practical training andcooperate with not only our aﬀ iliated schools but also other schools in
Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka where the University has its campuses so that wecan provide unique programs associated with a series of f ieldwork and along-term internship to the students. The students will learn from various
type of teachers, from experts in education study to instructors withexperience of teaching, and are expected to acquire excellent skills required
for teachers and school leaders. We oﬀer 3 courses, 1) Clinical Research on
Human Development and Education, 2) Educational Methods and Learning
Sciences, and 3) International Education which propose the distinctive
education of Ritsumeikan University.

30Biwako-Kusatsu Campus in SHIGA
Graduate School of Sport and Health Science（M/D）
The Graduate School of Sport and Health Science aims to foster highly-specialized professionals and researchers who have expertise in the f ield andadvanced practical and leadership skills as well as the capacity to contributeto society. The school supports your research with top-level faculty andcutting-edge facilities and equipment.
■ Two courses in the Masterʼs program
・Sport and Exercise Science̶Focusing on education and research toanalyze sports performance from a scientif ic approach and to elucidate
the maintenance and furtherance of health based on scientif ic evidence.
・Sport Pedagogy and Management̶Focusing on education and research
to improve studentʼs educational and management abilities in the f ieldof sport and health science.

Graduate School of Gastronomy Management（M/D）
The Graduate School of Gastronomy Management aims to rear a new generation of highly skilled professionals and researchers who possess practicalmanagerial skills by research economic activities related to gastronomy
using their expertise in economics and business administration.
■ Three social priority issues
・Management and innovation in the gastronomy industry
・Creating a multicultural community through gastronomy
・Welfare and health coordination through gastronomy

Graduate School of Pharmacy（M/D）
The Graduate School of Pharmacy consists of two majors: a four-year
doctoral program in pharmacy, and a two-year masterʼs program and athree-year doctoral program in pharmaceutical sciences.
■ Two majors
・Doctoral Program in Pharmacy ― Aims to train pharmacists, medical
personnel, and researchers who will contribute to advanced medical careas a leading role.
・Masterʼs Program and Doctoral Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences ―Aim to deepen research in the ﬁeld of drug discovery and to train
researchers who will be engaged in the discovery and creation of new
drugs.

Osaka Ibaraki Campus in OSAKA
Graduate School of Business Administration（M/D）
The Graduate School of Business Administration is a strong academic
community that provides a solid practice ground for future business leaders
and academic researchers. The school acknowledges the need to respondthe tumultuous global market and increasingly globalized business competition. Our research consists of seven f ields, each focusing on the global issues
and the latest academic debates. The students will expand their research into
practical business agenda, and are expected to become truly inﬂuential
leaders of the future generation of business practice and management
research.
■Seven research f ields
Technology Management and Strategies, Organization and Human
Resources, Marketing, International Business, Accounting, Finance, andDesign and Management.

Graduate School of Human Science（M/D）
At the Graduate school of human science, a new academic research ﬁeld willbe established in 2022, called “Human science in practice”, Faculty members
and graduate students work together, to realize new academic ﬁelds ofhuman science.
■ New research ﬁelds
・Psychology: To expand studentsʼ academic understanding, courses including
cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, andresearch methods are oﬀered.
・Human science in practice: Oﬀering subjects that correspond to character
formation and clinical education, analysis and disability and behaviorfamily function and clinical sociology. In addition to the above, weare oﬀering subjects based on putting Problem Based Learning into
practice.
・Clinical psychology: Oﬀering subjects that correspond to the curriculum
stipulated by the Japanese certiﬁcation board for Clinical Psychology, ourschool is designated typeⅠgraduate school for Clinical Psychologists.

Graduate School of Image Arts（M）
The Graduate School of Image Arts leverages all the benefits of Ritsumeikan's
organization as a comprehensive university to provide broad education,
aiming to cultivate skills, techniques and analytical methodology related tovisual image production (extending beyond the making of visual image
products and including development and application) and visual image
studies as well.
■ Subject Zones
・Content Business Management
・Film Arts
・Game Entertainment ・Society and Images
・Creative Technology

Graduate School of Management / MBA（M）
The Graduate School of Management aims to develop business leaders who
can contribute to the sustainable development of Japan and the whole world
through creating businesses. We oﬀer two tracks based on students' previous
work experience.
■Two tracks
・Management Track−Focusing on advanced management expertiseneeded to create and grow businesses, this track aims to train those whohave more than three years of work experience to become highly capablebusiness leaders.
・Career Development Track−Focusing on basic business skills andmindsets, this track prepares students with little or no work experience for
their future career pathways.

31

Application Information
How to Apply
Ritsumeikan University releases application information approximately 1 year before admission.

Step1. Find out more about the programs we oﬀer by visiting our website.
https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/admissions/

Step2. Obtain the guidelines and read carefully.
Contact the department in charge of your desired program of study.
Applying for Pre-enrollment Scholarship Programs：（Ex. Monbukagakusho, Asian Development Bank）■ International Center at BKC：cger-bkc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
・Please check our site beginning from October 2023
for more information on how to apply for scholarships forthe 2024 academic year.

Applying as a Self-financed Student：■ Graduate School of International Relations：ir-adm@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Economics：gs-ec@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Science and Engineering：se-admw1@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering：gsise@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Life Sciences：gsls@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Policy Science：gsps-adm@st.ritsumei.ac.jp■ Graduate School of Technology Management：moten@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

Step 3. Submit all application forms.
Send all your application documents during the application period.
Sample list of required application materials (for a full list, please see the guidelines)
・Application for graduate admission at RU ・Letter of recommendation ・Research proposal ・Certificate of graduation
・A photocopy of applicantʼs passport information page ・Proof of linguistic talent / practical expertise (TOEFL test, TOEIC test, etc)32Frequently Asked Question
Q1. What are the application requirements?
Requirements diﬀer based on the graduate schools and their procedures. Please review the Application Guidelines of each graduate school andcheck the appropriate eligibility criteria mentioned in Eligibility Requirements”.

Q2. What is the screening method like?
Screening is conducted mainly based on submitted materials. Written tests and / or interviews are also conducted in some graduate schools.
Please refer to the Application Guidelines for details.

Q3. How can I find my desired major and supervising professor?
RU has many graduate schools and research areas may be oﬀered by one or more graduate schools. Prospective students are expected to f ind
out which graduate school oﬀers a program related to their area of research interest and decide from which faculty member they should receive
supervision by checking the website for each graduate school or the laboratory of each faculty member before the application submission.

Graduate school〈Example〉※This is only an example, andthere may be other choices.

Keyword

Graduate School of
Science and Engineering

・Disaster mitigation
・Water environmental engineering
・Enviromental inﬂuence assessment
・Sustainable resource and waste management

Graduate School of Policy Science

・Disaster prevention
・Environmental Policy・Resource and environmental economics

Graduate School of Economics

・Environmental economics

Graduate School of Life Sciences

・Bioengineering

Research topics
・Environment
・Disaster prevention
・Climate change

General information of each graduate school is available in the "Guidebook Brochure" or on the Ritsumeikan University website.

Guidebook Brochure

Ritsumeikan University website

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gr/download/index.html/

https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/academics/

You can also ﬁnd a potential supervisor by entering keywords such as dissertation titles or research topics, in the "Ritsumeikan University
Researcher Database" shown below.

Ritsumeikan University Researcher Database
https://research-db.ritsumei.ac.jp/rithp/TOP?lang=en

Q4. Is it possible to directly contact the professor who I would like to be my supervisor?
You are able to contact faculty directly if they have made their email address available on the graduate school's website, Researcher's Database,etc.

Q5. How can I obtain a student visa before coming to Japan for the first time?
The International Center will help international students who are entering Japan for the ﬁrst time to obtain a student visa. Please ask theadministrative oﬃce of your graduate school after passing the entrance examination.

Q6. Is Japanese language ability required?
If you wish to enroll in the English-based program shown on pp. 16-29, Japanese language ability is not required. The entire program including
lectures is conducted in English.
That being said, some knowledge of Japanese language will help you adjust to life in Japan. RU oﬀers "Language Support Programs" tointernational graduate students. Please refer to p. 14.
(If you are interested in the Japanese-based program shown on pp. 30-31, Japanese language ability is necessary. See the Application Guidelinesof each graduate school for details.)

More FAQs
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gr/en/faq/index.html/

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2023.06