Study Abroad

For students in the International Relations Major and Global Studies Major, studying abroad is not a requirement. But every year, many students participate in study abroad programs at overseas universities that have agreements with Ritsumeikan University.

* A two-year curriculum is set up for the Joint Degree Program (JDP) with American University (US).

Table of Contents

Study Abroad Program

At Ritsumeikan University, the International Education Center provides study abroad opportunities for students in all of the school’s colleges. The length of the programs offered can vary, anywhere from one to two weeks for short-term programs to a year or more for long-term programs. As far as possible destinations, there are an array of locations from which to choose, ranging from North America to Europe, Southeast Asia, and more.

For the majority of short-term study abroad programs, there is no selection process, and any student is welcome to participate. However, for long-term programs ranging from six months to more than a year, there may be a document screening and/or interview process where only successful candidates will be eligible for the program.

Please visit the website below for more information on the study abroad program.

Past Study Abroad Statistics for
International Relations Students

Number of students who participated in 2024: 162

Short-term programs (1-6 weeks)
Number of students: 49
Primary destinations: Canada, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan
Long-term programs (4-10 months)
Number of students: 113
Primary destinations: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia/Europe
Details and breakdown of participation is Here

Exchange Program Participant Interviews

College of International Relations
Original Study Abroad Program:
International Organization Training Program in Bangkok

The College of International Relations offers the International Organization Training Program in Bangkok for students who are considering future careers with international organizations. In this program, participants visit various international organizations (UNESCAP, UNHCR, etc.) that are active in Bangkok, Thailand; Thai government offices that work in cooperation with the UN; as well as a local university, in order to observe their activities.

The goal of this program is to increase the level of motivation within participating students through briefings, sessions, and workshops with officials at the various organizations and international exchanges with local university students, and to help them create concrete plans as they look toward a career at an international organization. This program is conducted entirely in English, so in order to participate, students must possess a sufficient level of language ability as well as meet certain requirements in the selection process for acceptance.

In recent years, the number of students looking at careers with international organizations has been on the rise, and the number of inquiries regarding such matters has increased proportionally. Therefore, it is a goal of the College of International Relations to respond to the various needs of those students whose sites are set on global institutions.

Interview with International Organization Training Program in Bangkok Participants

FAQ

Can overseas students also participate in study abroad programs?
Yes. However, depending on the program, application requirements may vary, so please visit the International Center’s website, etc., for more details.
Is it required to study abroad in the College of International Relations?
No.
Studying abroad is optional. However, many students in this college are interested in studying abroad, so every year a large number of them participate in study abroad programs.
Is it possible to graduate in four years even after having participated in an study abroad program?
Generally speaking, graduating in four years is possible.
By participating in a study abroad program at a university that has an agreement with this one, it is possible to earn credits at the overseas school that also meet this university’s requirements. Therefore, even if one participates in a long-term program (two semesters or more), graduating in four years is possible.
However, careful planning is necessary, so it is strongly recommended that students interested in a long-term study abroad program visit the college’s administrative office to discuss a course registration plan towards to graduation.
What is the most popular year for students to participate in a study abroad program?
Many students choose to participate in an exchange program for six months to a year during the fall semester of their second or third year.
I am in an English-based major, but will I need to present any language proficiency scores to participate in an exchange program?
Students will need to submit some form of standard certification of language ability in the form of test scores, etc.
Requirements regarding language and GPA may vary depending on the overseas partner school, so please see the application guidelines provided by the International Education Center for details.