Asia Pacific Studies Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

Overview

A broad range of issues are addressed in the two divisions: International Relations and Society and Culture. The courses taught under this program consist of four pillars: analytical foundation courses, core courses on the Asia Pacific region, division specific courses and intensive research-oriented seminar courses. This master's program in Asia Pacific Studies is offered at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

Key Facts

Most courses are run on a quarterly basis, each lasting approximately two months. This program nurtures students' research skills, including the ability to formulate frameworks for analyses, collect and analyze data and test arguments and hypotheses.

Students are expected to conduct research under a specific theme in a systematic manner throughout their studies. At the end of the program, students must submit a thesis or report on a theme of their choice, which they have developed under personal guidance from their supervisors in the seminar courses run throughout the duration of the program.

During this process, students are encouraged to conduct field surveys in the Asia Pacific region. Students can apply for financial support for these field surveys through the graduate school. In addition, APU organizes numerous seminars and conferences and invites prominent scholars and researchers to share on their fields of expertise. Students are encouraged to develop their research by taking advantage of these opportunities.