Program Overview

Photo collage of Ritsumeikan and ANU campuses, students and faculty

At College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA), all students will be awarded degrees from both Ritsumeikan University (RU) and the Australian National University (ANU) through the Dual Degree Program. In Japan, they will study the liberal arts, with a focus on becoming a proactive member of the global society in the twenty-first century. In Australia, they will experience the dynamism of globalization firsthand and deepen their studies of the Asia-Pacific region.

Two degrees in four years

Upon graduation, students will earn two degrees, a Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts from RU, and a Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs from ANU.

Program outline

Enrollment Period April / September
Location and Schedule

April Enrollment
Semester 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8: RU, Osaka Ibaraki Campus
Semester 5, 6: ANU, Acton Campus (Canberra, Australia)

September Enrollment
Semester 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8: RU, Osaka Ibaraki Campus
Semester 4, 5: ANU, Acton Campus (Canberra, Australia)

Duration 4 years
Annual Student Intake 100 (The intake includes 10 students commencing their studies at ANU)
Degrees Earned

Ritsumeikan University
Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts

The Australian National University
Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs

Two curriculums.
One cohesive experience.

Photo collage of Ritsumeikan and ANU campuses, students and faculty

GLA students will spend three years in total at Osaka Ibaraki Campus of RU and one year studying abroad at Acton Campus of ANU in Canberra, Australia. Students will get an opportunity to build a strong foundation with ANU faculty members residing at Osaka Ibaraki Campus of RU during their first years in Japan, before they travel to Australia to study. Upon their return, they will continue taking ANU courses in Japan, followed by Capstone Studies as a culmination of their two-years study with both universities.

Learning schedule

Learning schedule varies by enrollment period. Those students who enroll in April study abroad at ANU in Australia during their fifth and sixth semesters while others who enroll in September study at ANU during their fourth and fifth semesters as shown below.

  • Study at Ritsumeikan University (RU)
  • Study at The Australian National University (ANU)

April enrollment

Year 1 (Semester 1 and 2): RU Courses, Year 2 (Semester 3 and 4): RU + ANU Courses, Year 3 (Semester 5 and 6): ANU Courses, Year 4 (Semester 7 and 8): RU + ANU Courses

September enrollment

Year 1 (Semester 1 and 2): RU Courses, Year 2 (Semester 3): RU + ANU Courses, Year 2 (Semester 4) and Year 3 (Semester 5): ANU Courses, Year 3 (Semester 6) and Year 4 (Semester 7 and 8): RU + ANU Courses

Hurdles

To be eligible to take ANU courses, students must meet standards for academic ability and English proficiency – Academic and English Hurdles. Hurdle requirement is assessed only one time after students have undertaken courses and received grades for a total RU 32 credits. Students who fail to meet the standards cannot continue coursework in the dual degree program and are not eligible to earn an ANU Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs degree. Such students can continue their study in the Single Degree Track to earn a bachelor’s degree from RU in Global Liberal Arts.

See Academic and English Hurdles for more information.

All classes taught in English

All subjects in the GLA curriculum are taught in English. English will be used in all classroom and assessment tasks. Students will further develop their confidence and abilities in both written and spoken English.

While all courses are taught in English, many students here at GLA take advantage of living in Japan and take the Japanese language course offerings as well.

One lecture + One tutorial

For every course, students and instructors meet twice per week for each subject for a fifteen week period. Each week consists of one lecture and one tutorial. The tutorials are based on student-centered learning that fosters dynamic problem-solving skills. Also, students at GLA in general take four courses a semester in order to ensure deep engagement with each course.

Academic Advising Center

Academic advising

GLA is committed to providing academic support to every student via the Academic Advising Center (AAC). The mission of the AAC is to help students navigate the GLA curriculum and to make sure students remain on track for graduation, all through individual guidance.

Student Support

In addition to its primary role of working with students, the AAC also refers them to available university resources and services which can appropriately address and support student need.