Ritsumeikan University regards as its social responsibility the creation of social impact through research and education and the provision of equal access to learning opportunities for all individuals who aspire to study at the university. As an inclusive university where people can learn together regardless of their financial circumstances, disability status, or other factors, we are committed to enhancing learning support and improving the learning environment.

We take seriously the recent notification issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), which reaffirmed the importance of considering students' freedom to choose their educational pathways and their financial circumstances when examining the role of admission fees at private universities.

The admission fee is paid to secure a student's place at the university and helps cover the costs of admissions screening, enrollment processing, and pre-enrollment educational programs and services. At the same time, we are keenly aware of the burden that paying admission fees to multiple universities places on students and their parents, a situation that has arisen as the range of test-taking opportunities has diversified.

In light of the MEXT notification, the university will continue to provide clear information to promote public understanding of the purpose and use of the admission fee. At the same time, to reduce the financial burden on students, we will review current fee levels and implement improvements.

On the other hand, revising how the admission fee is handled could lead to an increase or fluctuation in the number of applicants who pay the fee but ultimately decline to enroll. As a result, there is also concern that universities could come into conflict with government-required enrollment capacity management standards. In addition, the admission fee constitutes a portion of the fees paid by students and represents an important source of revenue supporting the financial foundations of private universities. A reduction in this revenue could undermine the quality of educational and research activities, and the university must avoid this situation at all costs. As we review admission fee levels, we will also continue to advocate for the further enhancement of government-led learning support programs (such as tuition reductions and exemptions and grant-type scholarships) to further advance meaningful reductions in the cost of higher education.

Going forward, Ritsumeikan University will continue to make every effort to balance reducing the financial burden on students with maintaining educational quality, but this issue cannot be resolved by individual universities alone. To ensure the sustainability and fairness of higher education as a whole, we will work to create a higher education environment in which everyone can pursue their studies with peace of mind by engaging in constructive dialogue with government agencies, relevant organizations, and society at large.