Quacquarelli Symonds Rankings
The British university assessment institution Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) began independently publishing university rankings in 2010. It is considered one of the three major rankings, and compared to other rankings focuses on academic reputation (evaluations by academics of the best quality of research being produced at universities in their specific subjects) and employer reputation (evaluations by employers of the best quality of graduates produced). In addition, in order to receive high evaluation scores from international researchers and to rank in the top, universities must be globally recognized and must conduct world-class research. QS Rankings include World University Rankings and Asia University Rankings, as well as QS World University Rankings by Subject and QS Graduate Employability Rankings.
QS World University Rankings®
Ritsumeikan University has improved its position significantly up to 631-640th in the QS World University Rankings® published in June 2023. Among the Japanese private universities in the Ranking, Ritsumeikan University has been placed in the fourth (first among the private universities in Western Japan). In terms of ranking by evaluation indicator, the "Employer Reputation" is the most highly rated evalution indicator for the University, ranked 108th in the world (10th in Japan), followed by “Proportion of International Faculty" at 540th in the world (eighth in Japan). The University has been evaluated higher in these two indicators than in others.
QS World University Rankings®（announced in June 2023）
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private University) | Rank (World) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 28 |
| 2 | Kyoto University | 46 |
| 3 | Osaka University | 80 |
| 4 | Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) | 91 |
| 5 | Tohoku University | 113 |
| 6 | Kyushu University | 164 |
| 7 | Nagoya University | 176 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 196 |
| 9 | Waseda University | 199 |
| 10 | Keio University | 214 |
| 11 | University of Tsukuba | 355 |
| 12 | Toyota Technological Institute | 446 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 472 |
| 14 | Kobe University | 476 |
| 15 | Hitotsubashi University | 481 |
| 16 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) | 611-620 |
| 17 | Ritsumeikan University | 631-640 |
| 18 | Tokyo University of Science | 661-670 |
| 19 | Chiba University | 701-710 |
| 20 | Yokohama City University | 801-850 |
| Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | ||
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | ||
| Nagasaki University | ||
| 24 | Niigata University | 851-900 |
| Kanazawa University | ||
| 26 | Okayama University | 901-950 |
| Kumamoto University | ||
| Sophia University | ||
| 29 | Gunma University | 951-1000 |
| Gifu University | ||
| Tokyo Metropolitan University | ||
| Yokohama National University | ||
| 33 | Kagoshima University | 1001-1200 |
| Tokushima University | ||
| International Christian University | ||
| Shinshu University | ||
| Yamaguchi University | ||
| Doshisha University | ||
| Kyoto Institute of Technology | ||
| Kyushu Institute of Technology | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| Meiji University | ||
| 43 | Nagoya Institute of Technology (NIT) | 1201-1400 |
| Saitama University | ||
| Aoyama Gakuin University | ||
| Kindai University (Kinki University) | ||
| Kwansei Gakuin University | ||
| Rikkyo University | ||
| Shibaura Institute of Technology | ||
| 50 | Nara Institute of Science and Technology | 1401+ |
QS Asia University Rankings
Ritsumeikan University ranked 125th in the QS Asia University Rankings published in November 2023.
The University is evaluated quite highly, placed at the top among private universities in western Japan and 3rd in those in Japan nationwide.
The QS World University Rankings and the QS Asia University Rankings have different criteria and weightings. In the Asia University Rankings, Ritsumeikan University obtains higher evaluation than in the World University Ranking due to the increased weighting of "Employer Reputation" (39th in Asia, 10th in Japan) , in which the University demonstrates its strengths, as well as the additional indicator "Proportion of Outbound Exchange Students" .
QS Asia University Rankings（announced in November 2023）
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private Universities) | Rank (Asia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 14 |
| 2 | Kyoto University | 17 |
| 3 | Tohoku University | 20 |
| 4 | Osaka University | 24 |
| 5 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | 27 |
| 6 | Nagoya University | 30 |
| 7 | Kyushu University | 31 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 32 |
| 9 | Waseda University | 43 |
| 10 | Keio University | 45 |
| 11 | University of Tsukuba | 55 |
| 12 | Kobe University | 76 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 97 |
| 14 | Hitotsubashi University | 119 |
| 15 | Ritsumeikan University | 125 |
| 16 | Tokyo University of Science | 150 |
| 17 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University | 152 |
| 18 | Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | 159 |
| 19 | Nagasaki University | 170 |
| 20 | Chiba University | 173 |
| 21 | Osaka Metropolitan University | 199 |
QS World University Rankings by Subject
Ritsumeikan University has been ranked for two broad subject areas and ten narrow subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject published in April 2024. 1,559 universities worldwide have been scrutinized across 55 narrow subjects in five broad subject areas for the ranking. Universities must demonstrate outstanding research outcomes and reputation in each subject to be placed in the ranking; therefore, earning a position in the ranking even for one subject is not easy. The number of narrow subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked is ten, which is the 13th highest in Japan and the third highest among Japanese private universities.
Narrow Subjects in the Ranking
Methodology
*A variable approach to the weightings of five key assessment components for the different subjects has been adopted.
Broad subject areas for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked
| Broad subject areas | National Rank | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Humanities | 6 | 251 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 13 | 401-450 |
Narrow subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked
| Narrow subjects | National Rank | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Classics & Ancient History | 3 | 51-100 |
| Geography | 5 | 201-230 |
| Archaeology | 7 | 201-240 |
| Politics & International Studies | 6 | 201-250 |
| Modern Languages | 10 | 251-300 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 13 | 451-500 |
| Computer Science & Information Systems | 13 | 451-500 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 16 | 501-530 |
| Business & Management Studies | 10 | 501-550 |
Internal Reports
QS Graduate Employability Rankings
Ritsumeikan University ranked 201-250th in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings announced in September 2021. This ranking is designed to evaluate the employment support programs at universities and the employability of graduates. Only the top 550 universities are ranked.
Only six private Japanese universities were eligible for ranking, with Ritsumeikan University being the only one in western Japan (Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu). In terms of rank by category, "Employer - Student Connections" was ranked the highest, coming in 44th in the world followed by "Graduate Employment Rate", which ranked 96th, demonstrating the university's world-class career support.
QS Graduate Employability Rankings (announced in September 2021)
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private Universities) | Rank (Overall) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 25 |
| 2 | Waseda University | 37 |
| 3 | Kyoto University | 52 |
| 4 | Keio University | 56 |
| 5 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | 67 |
| 6 | Osaka University | 76 |
| 7 | Nagoya University | 92 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 131 - 140 |
| Kyushu University | ||
| 10 | Hitotsubashi University | 151 - 160 |
| Tokyo University of Science | ||
| 12 | University of Tsukuba | 191 - 200 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 201 - 250 |
| Ritsumeikan University | ||
| 15 | Kanazawa University | 251 - 300 |
| 16 | Chiba University | 301 - 500 |
| Kobe University | ||
| Osaka Prefecture University | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| Yokohama National University | ||
| 22 | Sophia University | 501＋ |
Internal Reports
QS Stars Rating System
The QS Stars Rating System is an international auditing service that evaluates universities, giving them from one to five stars in categories such as "Teaching", "Employability", "Research", "Internationalization", "Facilities", "Innovation", and "Inclusiveness", based on independent QS criteria.
The ratings provide a more accurate assessment and broader understanding of universities that cannot be measured by university rankings.
Ritsumeikan University was the first university in Japan to be evaluated using QS Stars in November 2018.
Teaching
Employability
Facilities
Innovation
Internationalization
Internal Reports