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 September Enrollment |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Student Intake | 100 (The intake includes 10 students commencing their studies at ANU) |
| Degrees Earned |
Ritsumeikan University The Australian National University |
Two curriculums.
One cohesive experience.
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
September enrollment
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.