Application Guide

Recommendation Admissions (English Basis)
FOR RELEVANT APPLICANTS ONLY
  • If the University determines that it is difficult to carry out admissions as stated in the Application Handbook due to unforeseen circumstances, there may be some changes. Changes regarding Recommendation Admissions (English Basis) will be announced on this website.

  • Starting your Application

    Below is a summary of the application information. For full details, please read the Application Handbook carefully. All the information you need to complete an application is written in the Application Handbook.

    Important Notes Regarding Applications
    • The University will contact applicants through the online application system and/or E-mail. It is the applicant’s responsibility to regularly check E-mail communication and the online application system, and respond in a timely manner.
    • All times indicated on this page refer to Japan Standard Time (UTC+09).


    Admissions Policies

    College of Global Liberal Arts

    The College of Global Liberal Arts at Ritsumeikan University seeks students who have the following abilities, skills, interests, and aspirations:

    (1) Students who possess English language ability and basic academic skills to intellectually discuss various issues in global society (specific English requirements are listed separately). 
    (2) Students who have a strong interest in various issues in global society, respect diverse cultures and values, and can work cooperatively with others.
    (3) Students who aspire to become global leaders who will proactively and practically solve various issues in global society by mastering academic skills and deepening their understanding of academic fields related to their interests and career paths through humanities, social sciences, and science and technology.

    College of International Relations

    In the Department of International Relations within the College of International Relations, students systematically learn three types of essential approaches to understanding global society: language skills, theories, and area studies. Throughout this learning process, students develop a high level of foreign language proficiency and the ability to think logically, while cultivating deeper intellectual capacities to better understand cultural diversity. The college seeks students who have the will to act independently and the desire to contribute to society in terms of governance, economics, culture, and peace.

    To this end, the college admits students who already possess the following abilities and motivations:
    (1) Basic academic skills necessary to analyze problems facing global society
    (2) A deep interest in the problems facing global society and the self-motivation to pursue them
    (3) Language abilities necessary to understand and explain the problems facing global society

    College of Policy Science

    The College of Policy Science seeks students who will challenge themselves both in practical and scholastic terms, with the aim of creating a better society through policy solutions. Thus, the College expects students to have the following academic abilities and interests upon admission:
    (1) Basic academic knowledge acquired at high school or equivalent educational institutions.
    (2) Interest in acquiring thinking skills and abilities for problem solving based on that knowledge.
    (3) Willingness to design and work on practical solutions to a wide-range of social problems.

    College of Information Science and Engineering

    Education and research at the College of Information Science and Engineering encompasses a wide range of topics. These relate to the core knowledge of technologies, and their application at the cutting edge. Our educational goal is to develop specialists and researchers with expertise in utilizing computers to obtain effective and innovative solutions to unforeseen issues. Graduates of CISE will be ready to play the leading role in a variety of organizations at the global level. With these objectives in mind, we welcome prospective students with the following qualities and attitudes.

    (1) The prospective students should have acquired logical thinking skills and fundamental understanding of mathematics and natural sciences necessary to pursue studies in information science.
    (2) For those who are to choose one of the six courses provided in Japanese, they should have sufficient Japanese proficiency to understand and produce Japanese texts, as well as the fundamental proficiency in English. For those who are to be enrolled in the course provided in English, they should be able to display sufficient command of English to pursue academic studies in the language.
    (3) They should have acquired academic underpinnings to start a wide range of studies at the tertiary education level.
    (4) They should have wide and keen interests in academic fields related to information technology.
    (5) They should be strongly motivated to acquire the fundamentals of programming.
    (6) They should have sincere motivation to acquire specialized and advanced knowledge and technologies, ethical attitudes, and leadership.
    (7) They should be fully aware of the significance of skills for problem-identifying/solving and those for communication, and are ready to improve those skills to the more advanced levels.

    Requirements

    Applicants MUST fulfill the following three requirements:
    (1) Recommendation under the Agreement
    (2) University Entrance Eligibility
    (3) English Language Proficiency


    In addition, GLA applicants must fulfill the following requirement:
    (4) Nationality / Visa Status

    1. Recommendation under the Agreement

    Applicants must be recommended by the principal of a school with which Ritsumeikan University has signed an agreement.

    2. University Entrance Eligibility

    Applicants must meet one of the following criteria before the enrollment date* at Ritsumeikan University.
    Applicants admitted into the University in the prospect of satisfying one of the requirements below should fulfill the requirement before the enrollment date; otherwise, the offer of admission will be revoked.
    * Enrollment date: April 1 for April enrollment / September 26 for September enrollment.

    A.Have completed a standard 12-year course curriculum, or an equivalent curriculum as designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
    B.Have completed a 12-year course curriculum at an international school accredited by an international accrediting organization (WASC, NEASC, Cognia, COBIS, CIS or ACSI)
    C.Have completed a 12-year course curriculum at a school for international students in Japan accredited by MEXT to be equivalent to a high school outside of Japan
    D.Possess a qualification of the International Baccalaureate Diploma, Abitur, Baccalaureate, GCE A-Level, International A-Level, or European Baccalaureate

    NOTE

    • Applicants who have completed a standard 12-year curriculum in less than 12 years with appropriate reasons, such as grade skipping or early graduation, will be regarded as having met the requirement.

    3. English Language Proficiency

      English Test Score

      In order to demonstrate sufficient English ability, applicants must take one of the tests listed below and achieve the minimum score indicated below.

      The English tests must have been taken within the two-year period before the last date of the application period that the applicant applies in and the test score must be available during the application period.
      • The University does not accept the TOEFL iBT® Home Edition or the TOEFL® Essentials™ Test.
      • The University only accepts TOEFL iBT® scores from a single test date, not MyBest® scores.
      • The University does not accept IELTS Online.
      • IELTS One Skill Retake is not acceptable.
      • The University does not accept institutional tests such as the TOEIC® IP Test.

      TOEFL iBT®Test 80
      with 20 in R&W (Reading and Writing), 18 in S&L (Speaking and Listening)
      IELTS Academic Module 6.5
      with 6.0 in each component
      PTE Academic 64
      with 55 in each of the communicative skills
      Cambridge C1 Advanced
      176
      with 169 in all sub-skills

      To commence taking courses offered by The Australian National University (ANU), students are required to undergo an admissions assessment conducted by ANU, in principle, one year after entering Ritsumeikan University. For details regarding the English language requirements and other eligibility criteria necessary to undergo this assessment, please refer to section 10. Notes for Applicants GLA (1) in the Application Handbook.

      TOEFL iBT®Test
      76
      IELTS Academic Module 6.0
      Duolingo English Test 100

      TOEFL iBT®Test 72
      IELTS Academic Module 5.5
      Duolingo English Test 95

      TOEFL iBT®Test 71
      IELTS Academic Module 5.5
      TOEIC®L&R Test 730
      Duolingo English Test 95


      Score Waiver

      Submission of English test scores listed above is not required of applicants who meet the waiver criteria stated below. For details on documents to be submitted instead of the English test scores, please consult the Application Handbook, "7.(3) Submission of Application Documents".

      Applicants who meet one of the following requirements.

      1. Citizenship and Prior Education:
        Citizens of a Group A Country who have undertaken at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) year 11 and/or year 12 (or equivalent) senior secondary education in English at a recognized institution in the national education system (or equivalent) of a Group A Country.

        Group A Countries: U.S., UK, American Samoa, Australia, Botswana, Canada (excluding Quebec), Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Zambia, Zimbabwe

      2. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma:
        Applicants who complete the IB Diploma taught and assessed entirely in English except for courses focused on the development of knowledge and skills in a language other than English.
        *Applicants who have not yet completed the diploma at the time of application must request the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to send their final IB results directly to Ritsumeikan University after receiving an offer of admission and before enrollment. If the applicant does not obtain the Diploma, the offer of admission will be revoked.

      NOTE
      To commence taking courses offered by The Australian National University (ANU), students are required to undergo an admissions assessment conducted by ANU, in principle, one year after entering Ritsumeikan University. For details regarding the English language requirements and other eligibility criteria necessary to undergo this assessment, please refer to section 10. Notes for Applicants GLA (1) in the Application Handbook.

      Applicants whose most recent 6 years of formal education before the enrollment date were conducted and instructed only in English.

    4. Nationality / Visa Status (GLA only)

    Due to the Australian Commonwealth legislation, Australian domestic students are not eligible to apply through Ritsumeikan University and must instead apply through ANU. An applicant is considered an Australian domestic student if they are one of the following:

    1. Australian citizen
    2. New Zealand citizen or a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand, a member of the staff of such a representative or the spouse or dependent relative of such a representative, excluding those with Australian citizenship (Note: includes any such persons who have Permanent Resident status)
    3. Australian permanent resident
    4. Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder

    However, Australian domestic students who hold citizenship of a country other than Australia or New Zealand, including dual citizens, are eligible to apply through Ritsumeikan University. Applicants who meet this criterion are advised to review additional conditions in section 10. Notes for Applicants GLA (4) in the Application Handbook.


    When and How to Apply

    Private URL for TAO Applications

    All applications are to be submitted via the online application system, “The Admissions Office (TAO)”. The applications for Recommendation Admissions will NOT be listed on Admissions Schemes on TAO, as they will be limited to the relevant applicants. The links to the applications for Recommendation Admissions will be provided below prior to the start of each application period.


    Applicaton Period: 2025/8/20 Wed - 2025/9/9 Tue
    Access the links below to start your application.
    Apply GLA

    Apply GS Major

    Apply ISSE Course


    1. Download and Consult Application Handbook


    Download the following documents:
    • Application Handbook
    • Certificate of Recommendation
    Download Documents

    2. Check Application Period

    Enrollment Period Country Dates
    April 2026
    1 Korea, Canada 2025/8/20 Wed - 2025/9/9 Tue
    September 2026
    1 Countries
    except Korea
    2025/10/15 Wed - 2025/11/4 Tue
    2 2025/12/3 Wed - 2026/1/13 Tue
    3 2026/2/18 Wed - 2026/3/10 Tue
    Enrollment Period Country Dates
    April 2026
    1 Korea, Mongolia 2025/8/20 Wed - 2025/9/9 Tue
    September 2026
    1 Countries
    except Korea
    2025/10/15 Wed - 2025/11/4 Tue
    2 2025/12/3 Wed - 2026/1/13 Tue
    3 2026/2/18 Wed - 2026/3/10 Tue
    Enrollment Period Dates
    September 2026
    1 2025/10/15 Wed - 2025/11/4 Tue
    2 2025/12/3 Wed - 2026/1/13 Tue
    3 2026/2/18 Wed - 2026/3/10 Tue
    Enrollment Period Country Dates
    April 2026
    2 Korea 2025/8/20 Wed - 2025/9/9 Tue

    3. Create Your Account on Online Application System

    Applications must be submitted via the online application system called The Admissions Office (TAO).

    NOTE

    By creating an account on TAO, applicants agree to the terms of use and handling of personal information designated by TAO Co.,Ltd.
    The applications for Recommendation Admissions will NOT be listed on Admissions Schemes on TAO, as they will be limited to the relevant applicants. The links to the applications for Recommendation Admissions are to be provided above prior to the start of each application period.

    4. Register Application on TAO

    Applications can only be submitted during each application period.
    The links to the applications for Recommendation Admissions are announced at the beginning of this section.
    Separate applications are required when applying to multiple programs.

    5. Submit Documents

    Fill in the necessary information and submit the required documents online through TAO. For full details on what to submit and how, please consult the Application Handbook "7.(3) Submission of Application Documents".

    【Examples of Application Documents】
    • Certificate of Recommendation
      Download the form here.
    • Certificate of (Scheduled) High School / Senior  Secondary Graduation
    • Documents Proving English Language Proficiency
    • Academic Transcripts
    • Application Essay(s)
      The topic of each essay and the number of essays required for each program can be found in the Application Handbook.
    • Letter of Reference
      Send a request for the letter of reference to your referee via TAO. The letter must be directly submitted to TAO applications by referees.

    6. Pay Application Fee

    Fee Amount: 5,000 JPY
    For full details, please consult the Application Handbook "7.(4) Application Fee".

    7. Completion of Application

    Once completing an application, you must click the “Complete my application” button and confirm the application status has changed to “Application Completed” .
    You are able to click the “Complete my application” button if you have successfully:

    • Had your referee submit the letter of reference via TAO
    • Paid the application fee by the application deadline
    • Submitted all required documents

    Important Notes

    • The University will contact applicants through the online application system and/or E-mail. It is the applicant’s responsibility to regularly check E-mail communication and the online application system, and respond in a timely manner.
    • Submission of application documents and payment of application fee(s) must be completed by the end of each application deadline. The University will NOT accept applications submitted after the application period.

    8. Screening and Notification of Results

    The decision on an application will be made based on a review of application documents.

    Enrollment Period Final Result
    April 2026
    1 2025/10/30 Thu.
    September 2026
    1 2025/12/18 Thu.
    2 2026/3/5 Thu.
    3 2026/4/30 Thu.

    The decision on an application will be made based on a review of application documents and the applicant’s performance in the interview.

    Enrollment Period
    Interview
    Final Result
    April 2026
    1 2025/11/15 Sat.,
    2025/11/16 Sun.
    2025/11/27 Thu.
    September 2026
    1 2025/12/13 Sat. 2025/12/25 Thu.
    2 2026/3/14 Sat.,
    2026/3/15 Sun.
    2026/3/26 Thu.
    3 2026/5/9 Sat.,
    2025/5/10 Sun.
    2026/5/21 Thu.

    The decision on an application will be made based on a review of application documents and the applicant’s performance in the interview.

    Enrollment Period
    Interview
    Final Result
    September 2026
    1 2025/12/13 Sat. 2025/12/25 Thu.
    2 2026/3/14 Sat.,
    2026/3/15 Sun.
    2026/3/26 Thu.
    3 2026/5/9 Sat.,
    2026/5/10 Sun.
    2026/5/21 Thu.

    The decision on an application will be made based on a review of application documents and the applicant’s performance at the interview.

    Enrollment Period
    Interview
    Final Result
    April 2026
    2 2025/11/15 Sat,
    2025/11/16 Sun
    2025/11/27 Thu


    Applying to Multiple Programs

    Applying to Multiple Programs at the Same Time

    When applying to other English-medium undergraduate programs offered at Ritsumeikan University during the same application period, applicants must upload application documents and pay the application fee for each program. Applicants do not need to prepare a different letter of reference for each program as one can be used for all applications.

    After Admission

    For Incoming Students

    Once you are admitted to a program at Ritsumeikan University, you must take the necessary steps according to our instructions. Please refer to the information on the following page:

    For Counselors / Teachers

    Documents that can be directly submitted by the school *Optional

    The following documents can be submitted by the school on behalf of the applicant. In this case, applicants must send a request to the school via TAO for the school to upload these documents to TAO.

    Access TAO
    *Please also refer to Help for recommenders/requestees on TAO.

    Template: Certificate of (Scheduled) Graduation
    *If necessary, schools may use this template to provide certification of a student’s graduation or scheduled graduation from high school / senior secondary school.

    Letter of Reference

    Ritsumeikan University (RU) requests a letter of reference for applicants. Applicants send requests for the letter to their referees on the application system (TAO).

    • When counselors/teachers receive a request from an applicant, an automatic email will be sent from TAO. A recommender account must be created with the same email address to which the request was sent.
    • There is a designated field in the form if the referee chooses to upload their own format as well.
    • After filling out the form, please confirm that the status is "Submitted".
    • The letter must be written in English.
    • Please note that RU may contact the referee for confirmation.
    Access TAO TAO Tutorial Video
    *Please also refer to Help for recommenders/requestees on TAO.