Reviews of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) | Japan

Useful | 2

“A multicultural environment”

Nguyen A

Japan, Undergraduate
Marketing and Sales Management, 2020

Overall

The selling point about my university is that is one of a few universities which offer English course and the environment where you can meet people from more than 80 nationalities. Along with this uniqueness, all the knowledge is based on multidimensioned viewpoints. Teachers are really opened for discussion and motivating students to explore and try out new things as the motto "Shape your world" of my university.

Pros

There are varied types of activities and clubs to stimulate the multicultural spirit. The campus is like an experiment ground for you to try out all of your pop-up ideas.

Cons

Moderate academic support here.

Useful | 3

aimee k

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Oita, Japan
Sociology, Undergraduate, Independent

Academic

Course recommendations

Chose carefully as some of the professors are pretty tuff!

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

There needs to be more discussion in classes, because most of the professors lecture and most people don't end up listening, and because of language barriers, it is always hard to follow

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 44

M C

University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, United States
International Relations, Graduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

I wish I had known that the shool was as isolated as it is from the town and that the town itself is so isolated. Transportation expenses are also high. The quality of instructors and classes is far below what I expected, with many of the graduate classes being of a level below 100 level classes I had as an under-grad. If I had known all of this I would not have choosen APU, as I find that the expenses, quality and opportunities that it offers are at best negligible.

In my opinion:

Stay home.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

3

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

2

Campus life

2

Party / people

3

Weather / location

3

Personal recommendation

It needs to find a focus. At present it is neither focused on the students nor on the faculty but seems to be focused on the administration. It needs to focus on its customers/students, improve the curriculum and the level of the instructors, support graduate students more and be far more open and conducive to change than it is.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

2

Improved language skills

2

Met people from other countries

2

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

2

Experienced a change in life

2

Advanced my studies & career

2

Final comments

One of the biggest problems is that APU has a very hard time getting capable instructors. This is made clear due to the fact that it is unable to put out a time-table for classes until within 17 days before the semester starts. Grades are not released until two months after the semester ends, which is not very open or transparent. Courses are redundant and non-progressive. Instructors often are sub-par. The administrative staff is less than helpful and seems to operate at their convenience rather than aiding the students. Many of the problems come from a lethargic and entrenched bureaucracy that stifles any reform or improvement to the institution.

Useful | 4

“Pros & Cons on APU”

Kobayashi H

Japan, Undergraduate
, 2021

Overall

When I first came to APU, I got a lot of support from the university. For example, I automatically got registered to a Jasso scholarship for 6 months so I can focus on learning and adjusting my life without worrying about money. But, as time goes by, the support from the university was fading away. For example, when I want to complain to the university about the quality of the professor who teaches with horrible accents, or about the inconvenience of grade inquiry, etc. The staff from the academic office couldn't really help me at all. It seems like I got no place to convey my opinions. But overall, I would say that I give a so-so rank to this university since sometimes they can provide you with adequate support.

Pros

multicultural and also provide additional scholarship for the first 6 months.

Cons

lack of academic office supports

Useful | 1

jjho

,
Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, Independent

Academic

Course recommendations

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

Establish your own study group, not only can have more chance to intercourse with local and foreign students, and very efficient as well. It is so much fun!

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 5