Address: 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, 525-8577 Shiga, Japan (BKC – Biwako-Kusatsu Campus for Science/Engineering)
Information Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics
The private academy named Ritsumeikan was founded in 1869 by Prince Saionji Kinmochi on the site of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. In 1900 Nakagawa Kojuro, a former secretary of Saionji, established the Kyoto Hosei School, a law school, and the institution received university status in 1922.
Ritsumeikan University is a private university with campuses in Kyoto, in Kusatsu in Shiga Prefecture, and in Ibaraki in Osaka. The Kinugasa campus in Kyoto’s Kita Ward is home to colleges such as Law, Letters, Social Sciences and International Relations. The Biwako-Kusatsu campus, usually called BKC, hosts Science and Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Economics, and a College of Information Science and Engineering also belongs to the university.
More than 35,000 students are enrolled, and the university reports international students from dozens of countries. Its global programmes include an exchange with the University of British Columbia and dual-degree programmes with American University, and its English website lists the partner institutions and application windows for study abroad.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Ergonomics and UX, Fluid Dynamics, Food Science, Geotechnics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics, Transportations
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Private
Partnerships:
Member of APRU. Numerous international partnerships and industry collaborations.
Research:
AI and robotics, Life sciences and biotechnology, Nanotechnology and materials science, Sustainable energy and environment.
Famous Alumnis:
Momofuku Ando (attended predecessor)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2000
Current students***:
36000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Leading private comprehensive university, strong in IT and engineering, international outlook, multiple campuses.
Cons
Private university with tuition fees, engineering campus (BKC) is in Shiga, not Kyoto city.
Best For
Leading private comprehensive university with strong science, engineering, and IT programs.
Kansai University in Osaka is a private university whose listed strengths include mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, making it a regional peer.
Doshisha University sits in Kyoto itself, and as a private university with science and engineering plus life and medical sciences it overlaps strongly with Ritsumeikan.
Kindai University in Osaka is a private university with a wide range from fisheries and agriculture to engineering.
Waseda University in Tokyo is a private university with mechanical, electrical and computer engineering among its fields.
Meiji University, a private university in Tokyo, offers science and technology programmes in mechanical and electrical fields.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
ShanghaiTech University in China, in Shanghai, concentrates on information science and technology and physical sciences.
Hangzhou Dianzi University in China, a public university in Hangzhou, covers electronic science and computer science.
Universität Mannheim in Germany is a public university with computer science, data science and business informatics.
University of Warwick in the United Kingdom is a public university with business, economics and engineering.
Brunel University London in the United Kingdom is a public university with engineering and design.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What are the origins of Ritsumeikan?
The name goes back to a private academy founded in 1869 by Prince Saionji Kinmochi in Kyoto. The Kyoto Hosei School, started in 1900, is the other root, and university status arrived in 1922.
Where can I study at Ritsumeikan University?
Teaching is spread over the Kinugasa campus in Kyoto, the Biwako-Kusatsu campus in Shiga and the Osaka Ibaraki campus. Which campus you attend depends on your college.
Which colleges are on the Biwako-Kusatsu campus?
Science and Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Economics are among those located at BKC. Kinugasa hosts Law, Letters, Social Sciences and International Relations.
Is Ritsumeikan public or private?
It is a private university that grew out of a private academy. Fee levels vary by college and are published by the university.
How large is the student body?
Totals above 35,000 students are published, with the exact number varying by year and by the source consulted. Look for the annual figures on the English site.
Does it offer exchange or dual degrees?
Yes, including an exchange agreement with the University of British Columbia and dual-degree programmes with American University. The English site lists partner institutions and application windows.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Information Technology (IT), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Robotics, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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