Students will study in both Washington, D.C., the center of international politics and Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan.
*There is a different application process for applicants who possess only Japanese nationality and have graduated / are to graduate from Japanese high schools. See here.
*This is admission/program information for students who start their study at Ritsumeikan University (RU Home Students).
If you would like to apply the program starting from American University (AU Home Students), please visit AU SIS website.
Both Ritsumeikan University and American University will select applicants jointly for the JDP.
■ Main Application Documents
・Academic transcripts for all grades of high school or senior secondary education.■ Academic Transcripts
The JDP places great importance on the grades from the three years of high school.■ English Language Proficiency Test Scores
In order to attend American University, students must attain one of the following test scores by the end of their first year of enrollment.RU Home Students will pay the tuition fee for RU during their studies at RU and for AU during their studies at AU.
Note:
•The cost of tuition may change from AY2025 onwards. The tuition for AY2025 onwards will be posted on RU’s International Admissions website once finalized. Please check the site.
•The cost of tuition listed for AU is the cost per semester for registering 12-17.5 credits. The cost of tuition will be higher if registering for 18 or more credits.
•The cost of tuition, cost of housing, etc., at AU is subject to change annually. Please check the American University website for the latest information.
RU Home Students who meet the conditions described later may use Ritsumeikan University Study Abroad Challenge Scholarship. It is a grant-type scholarship that does not need to be repaid, aimed at assisting students while they study at AU.
* Any information provided below is for students enrolled in April 2025. For students enrolled in the academic year 2026 and thereafter, RU’s scholarship system may be subject to change.
" Ritsumeikan University Study Abroad Challenge Scholarship"
■ Award amount and period
JPY 1,000,000 per year, for the 2 year period during which the student studies at AU
■ Scholarship Requirements
(1) After enrollment in the American University – Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program, the students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 up to the end of the second semester and earn a minimum of 32 credits for graduation by the end of the second semester.
(2) The student must achieve the English test score stipulated by AU (equivalent to 80 or higher for TOEFL® iBT) .
■ Points to remember
・If a recipient becomes unable to travel to AU after the grant of the scholarship has been decided, the decision to grant the scholarship will be cancelled. If a recipient takes a temporary leave from school during his or her study at AU, the grant of the scholarship will be suspended during the leave.
・If a recipient of the stipend takes a temporary leave from school during his or her study at AU, the grant of the stipend will be suspended during the leave. If, during his or her study at AU, a recipient of the stipend cannot maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (the maximum in the AU scale is 4.0), or becomes subject to any disciplinary action stipulated by RU or AU, the student may be demanded to return of all or part of the stipend that has already been provided.
・Students appointed as recipients of the scholarship shall be engaged in future public relations for the American University – Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program and proactively accept a request for cooperation from RU.
International students with a status of residence of “student” while studying at Ritsumeikan University will receive a fee reduction through the RU Tuition Reduction Scheme. For more information, please visit the International Admissions website.
RU Home Students will be guaranteed a scholarship of 30% of their AU tuition fee for the first two semesters at AU and must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on the AU grading scale*, assessed initially after the first two semesters at AU, and then each semester thereafter, to maintain the award.
* RU’s scale is 5 point scale (A+ to F) and AU’s scale is 4 point scale (A to F). When courses, credits, and grades taken at one institution are shared and recognized by the partner institution, the grades will be calculated into the partner institution’s grading scale.
Note:
•The conversion rate used in the estimated costs to study in the U.S. is 1 USD = 130 JPY.
•Housing costs will change depending on the room or apartment.
•In order to receive the scholarship or tuition reduction, students must meet the academic requirements.
*Estimated cost of living off-campus (single occupancy) near RU Kinugasa Campus in Kyoto (Approx. ¥70,000 per month for rent)
RU Home Students will need to be able to submit a CFIS in order to meet the visa requirements to enter the United States and enroll at AU.
As of the 2023-2024 AU academic year, the amount they must be able to certify is $78,296. This amount is subject to increase each year based on the associated costs (such as tuition, mandatory fees, cost of living, etc.).
In order to attend AU, all students need to meet a minimum score of 85 or higher for TOEFL iBT® (scores for each section of the TOEFL should be 20 or higher), Overall Band-score 6.5 or higher for IELTS (scores for each component of the IELTS should be 6.0 or higher), or 60 or higher for the Pearson Test of English, sub-score 30 or higher for SAT Reading Test, 25 or higher for ACT English Test, or 115 or higher for Duolingo English Test, or 176 or higher for Cambridge Assessment English (sub-scores for each section should be 169 or higher) . A student who does not meet this requirement by the end of their 1st academic year will not be allowed to take courses at AU from the fall semester of their 2nd year, and their graduation will be delayed. In that case, upon the student’s request and with the College’s approval, the student may be allowed to transfer to Department of International Relations at RU.(Tests must have been taken within the last two years prior to May 1 of the 2nd academic year.)
Students of the American University and Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program are restricted from taking some courses, such as Teacher-Training courses, foreign language courses other than Japanese language courses, or courses offered by other colleges at Ritsumeikan University because of the program curriculum and the program structure. Furthermore, students will not earn credit from any other study abroad programs. When students apply for a leave of absence, they may only apply for units of one year (two semesters), not one semester.