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RITSUMEIKAN ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY Program Level: Undergraduate Number of Weeks/Term: 16 |
- Background
- Location Information
- Program Dates
- Host Institution
- Academic Information
- Academic Disciplines
- Credit Transfer Information
- Eligibility Requirements
- Program Costs
- Housing and Meals
- Insurance
- Extracurricular Activities
- Climate
- VISA & Passport Information
- Your Next Steps
- Experiences of Former Students
- Contact Details
BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Japan
While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
Beppu
Beppu is the second largest city in Oita Prefecture, with 127,000 residents. It's home to the world's second largest outflow of hot springs and spectacular natural scenery and old-style Japanese architecture. Public transportation is comprehensive, although many students find travel by motorbike ideal. A population of 125,000 means there are many entertainment options, and societies exist for everything from martial arts to pottery, traditional music, painting and skiing. Fukuoka, Kyushu's largest city, is located northwest of Oita Prefecture. The cost of living in Oita Prefecture is relatively low compared with cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
Japan is a country with a rich culture that is very different from that of the West. Japan is Asia's most developed nation with a population of around 127 million. Before traveling to Japan it would be wise to do research on the country's customs. To find out more about Japan's unique history, culture and current economic status check out the Lonely Planet travel guide (available in most book stores and the Study Abroad Office) where you will find tons of interesting and useful information.
PROGRAM DATES
Spring Term: early April - mid August
Academic Year: mid September - mid August
NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the spring term or for a full academic year.
YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2008
HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is one of several educational institutions belonging to the Ritsumeikan Trust. Operating since 2000, APU has established itself as one of the top universities in Asia. APU's student body and teaching faculty, almost half of whom are from over 80 nations and regions outside of Japan, are dedicated to fostering greater understanding of the Asia Pacific region among the peoples of the world. At APU, almost all of the classes for first and second year students are offered in both English and Japanese. Foreign language education is built on the teaching method known as "Content-based Education". Using texts and examples that deal with issues of international society, instruction concentrates on developing practical expression skills, as well as academic knowledge. Their bilingual education system has attracted attention from around the world and has earned them a Good Practice award from the Japanese government. APU features the College of Asia Pacific Studies, the College of Asia Pacific Management, and the Language Institute.
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
Subject Areas Available:
- Accounting
- Economics
- History, Technology, and Society
- International Affairs
- Japanese
- Management
- Modern Languages
- Psychology
- Sociology
Language Information
Many courses are taught in English. Students may learn Japanese at the Language Institute during their term(s) abroad.
Course Information
For detailed course information: click here
Course schedules for the Spring term will typically be announced in March; course schedules for the Fall term are typically announced in September. Top
CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.
For detailed credit transfer instructions click here
For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here
CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.
Ritsumeikan APU uses the following credit transfer system:
1 Ritsumeikan APU Japanese language course = 1.75 GT credits
1 Ritsumeikan APU non-language lecture = 0.89 GT credits
GRADING SYSTEM
Ritsumeikan APU uses the following grading system listed below:
Ritsumeikan APU Grade = US Grade
A+ (90-100) = A
A (80-89) = B
B (70-79) = C
C (60-69) = D
F (0-59) = F
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally apply at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT.
Keep in mind the cost of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and visa. In general, Japan is more expensive than the United States. In fact it is one of the most expensive countries to travel to in the world. The currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen. Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.
DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here
Students who apply for this program may be eligible for a scholarship provided by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) which will cover a monthly stipend of about 80,000 Yen, and a settling relocation allowance of about 150,000 Yen. For more information, click here.
Following are cost estimates for one semester at Ritsumeikan APU that may help you prepare for your terms abroad. All costs are in USD.
In State Tuition $3,035 Out of State Tuition $3,285 GT Mandatory Fees $818 Books and Supplies $250 Administrative and/or Application fees $0 Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals) $950 Roundtrip Airfare $1,800 Room and Board $3,100 Additional Language Instruction $0 Mandatory Insurance $150 Total $10,103 (in state) $10,353 (out of state)
*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.
*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.
HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing
All exchange students are guaranteed a place in the AP House, which is the on-campus residence hall. Each student is allocated a private measuring about 13 sq.m. complete with a toilet, sink, air conditioner, bed, and refrigerator. The dormitory buildings have communal kitchens, Japanese-style rooms, meeting rooms, computer rooms, and spaces for parties and other social events. The AP House has an auto-lock system. Each resident is issued a key card and 24-hour security is in place at the entrance.
Off-campus options include apartments and International Student Dormitories. These options are more expensive than on-campus housing.
Meals
The AP House has several communal kitchens, which students are welcome to use to prepare their own meals. APU also has on-campus cafeterias. Top
INSURANCE
Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
APU has over 100 student clubs and associations that are divided into four main categories: Sports, Academic Research, Culture and Arts, and Social Organizations. There are many sports clubs that you can join for some serious competition, or just for fun! Options range from familiar sports like soccer, tennis, and rugby to more traditional Japanese sports such as Tae Kwon Do and other martial arts, Kyudo (Archery) and Naginata (Spear). The Academic and Social clubs include the debating club, the Spanish study club or other academic clubs to improve your study, and volunteer groups that work in the local and overseas communities. Finally, the Culture and Arts clubs serve to help students learn about the multicultural nature of APU through traditional dances and music clubs. Many modern dance and music clubs are also represented. Many special events are held on campus throughout the school year, such as language weeks, special lectures, and a New Year's party.
CLIMATE
Located on the southern island of Kyushu, Beppu has a mild climate compared to other parts of Japan. However, you will still be able to experience the full four seasons. The maximum temperature in Beppu is around 35 C degrees (95 F) and the minimum temperature is around -4 C degrees (25 F). August is the hottest month of the year, while February is the coldest. In the Summer, humidity is high. During Fall, watch the leaves change gold and brown on the surrounding mountains. Days are still warm, but nights and mornings start to get cool. In the Winter, you might get the chance to see snow around APU. Temperatures can get down to as low as 3 degrees centigrade on some days, so warm weather gear such as gloves, scarfs, thick socks and a coat are required. Spring brings the perfect weather for watching the Cherry Blossoms "Sakura" in the park. Days start to get warmer. Watch out for the UV rays in early May when they are at their strongest. June brings the rainy season known as "Tsuyu".
VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here
Unless you are a Japanese citizen, you'll need a passport and a visa to participate in this program. In order to obtain a student visa for study in Japan, you will need to gather several documents and take them to the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta. You should contact the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta to obtain information on how to apply for a student visa click here
One of the documents you will need to obtain your visa is a Certificate of Eligibility. After receiving your application documents, APU will request a Certificate of Eligibility from Immigration on your behalf. The Certificate of Eligibility, which takes a several weeks to be prepared, will be sent to us in the Office of International Education and we will forward it to you.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:
EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Jennifer Evanuik, Study Abroad Advisor (Exchange Programs)
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: jennifer.evanuik@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here
Host/Program Web Site: click here
Beppu
Japan
Asia
Semester
16
12
English/Japanese
For more info, contact OIE.
Can I go abroad while pursuing a GT degree?
GT students have many opportunities to participate in semester/exchange and study abroad programs. In a semester program, you actually take classes with the host universitys students and faculty. (In some cases, this means that you must have excellent knowledge of the local language to participate). Semester program participants usually pay normal GT tuition and fees for each term abroad. Credits can be pre-approved to transfer back to GT so that you do not get behind in your studies. The application deadline for fall and academic year programs is in early February; for spring programs the deadline is in September/October.
In a study abroad program, the courses are taught by GT faculty and you register for regular GT courses. Residents pay normal matriculation fees, but do not pay ancillary fees (athletic, health, etc.). Non-residents only pay resident matriculation plus $250 ($1500 for GTL Summer/$2000 for GTL Spring/Fall) . This is a savings of over $6,000 for out-of-state students who participate in GT study abroad programs as full-time students! Deadlines for summer study abroad programs vary from early January to mid-February.
In most cases, if you are eligible for financial aid or scholarships, you can apply your grants, scholarships, and/or loans toward the expenses associated with participating in all GT programs.
GTs International Plan: More than just study abroad
Your major is participating in this new initiative!
The International Plan is an intensive, degree-long program designed to prepare GT graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the 21st century. Requirements of the program include international coursework, two terms abroad (any combination of study, research or internship abroad), proficiency in a second language, and a culminating course. Students who complete the program will have a designation on their diploma indicating completion of the degree with global competence: for example, BS in Mechanical Engineering: International Plan. For more information or an application, contact your major advisor or OIE and visit the website: click here