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 up to 701-750th in the QS World University Rankings® 2023 published in June 2022.
Among the Japanese private universities in the Ranking, Ritsumeikan University has been placed in the third for the second consecutive year.
In addition, "Employer Reputation" is the most highly rated assessment indicator for the University, climbing further from the previous year to the 103rd in the world (9th in Japan), followed by “Proportion of International Faculty" at the 508th (7th in Japan), for which the University is also highly evaluated.
QS World University Rankings®（announced in June 2022）
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private University) | Rank (World) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 23 |
| 2 | Kyoto University | 36 |
| 3 | Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) | 55 |
| 4 | Osaka University | 68 |
| 5 | Tohoku University | 79 |
| 6 | Nagoya University | 112 |
| 7 | Kyushu University | 135 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 141 |
| 9 | Keio University | 197 |
| 10 | Waseda University | 205 |
| 11 | University of Tsukuba | 312 |
| 12 | Hiroshima University | 338 |
| 13 | Kobe University | 363 |
| 14 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) | 392 |
| 15 | Chiba University | 490 |
| 16 | Yokohama City University | 501-510 |
| 17 | Hitotsubashi University | 531-540 |
| 18 | Niigata University | 561-570 |
| 19 | Nagasaki University | 571-580 |
| 20 | Gifu University | 601-650 |
| Kanazawa University | ||
| Okayama University | ||
| Osaka City University | ||
| 24 | Gunma University | 651-700 |
| Kumamoto University | ||
| 26 | Ritsumeikan University | 701-750 |
| Kagoshima University | ||
| Tokushima University | ||
| Tokyo Metropolitan University | ||
| Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | ||
| 31 | Osaka Prefecture University | 751-800 |
| 32 | International Christian University | 801-1000 |
| Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | ||
| Shinshu University | ||
| Sophia University | ||
| Tokyo University of Science | ||
| Yamaguchi University | ||
| Yokohama National University | ||
| 39 | Doshisha University | 1001-1200 |
| Kyoto Institute of Technology | ||
| Kyushu Institute of Technology | ||
| Nagoya Institute of Technology (NIT) | ||
| Saitama University | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| 45 | Aoyama Gakuin University | 1201-1400 |
| Kindai University (Kinki University) | ||
| Kwansei Gakuin Universit | ||
| Meiji University | ||
| Rikkyo University | ||
| Shibaura Institute of Technology |
QS Asia University Rankings
Ritsumeikan University ranked 127th in the QS Asia University Rankings announced in November 2021.
Ritsumeikan University ranked 1st for private universities in western Japan (Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu) and 3rd in all of Japan.
The QS World University Rankings and QS Asia University Rankings have different criteria and weightings. In the Asia University Rankings, "Employer Reputation" (42nd in Asia, 11th in Japan) has been given greater weight, and "Proportion of Outbound Exchange Students" has been added to, thus boosting Ritsumeikan University's evaluation score even higher than its World University Ranking.
QS Asia University Rankings（announced in November 2021）
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private Universities) | Rank (Asia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 11 |
| 2 | Kyoto University | 15 |
| 3 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | 21 |
| 4 | Osaka University | 22 |
| 5 | Tohoku University | 23 |
| 6 | Nagoya University | 28 |
| 7 | Kyushu University | 29 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 30 |
| 9 | Waseda University | 40 |
| 10 | Keio University | 46 |
| 11 | University of Tsukuba | 49 |
| 12 | Kobe University | 64 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 83 |
| 14 | Hitotsubashi University | 100 |
| 15 | Ritsumeikan University | 127 |
| 16 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University | 130 |
| 17 | Chiba University | 131 |
| 18 | Tokyo University of Science | 135 |
| 19 | Nagasaki University | 141 |
| 20 | Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | 145 |
| 21 | Kanazawa University | 153 |
| 22 | Tokyo Metropolitan University | 164 |
| 23 | Yokohama National University | 169 |
| 24 | Sophia University | 172 |
| 25 | Osaka City University | 174 |
| 26 | Kumamoto University | 187 |
| 27 | Okayama University | 189 |
QS World University Rankings by Subject
Ritsumeikan University has been ranked for two broad subject areas and four narrow subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 published in April 2022. 1,543 universities worldwide have been scrutinized across 51 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 subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked is four, which is the 19th highest among universities in Japan and the fourth 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 | 8 | 356 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 14 | 451-500 |
Narrow subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked
| Narrow subjects | National Rank | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Languages | 11 | 251-300 |
| Computer Science & Information Systems | 12 | 501-550 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 12 | 401-450 |
| Business & Management Studies | 8 | 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