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Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)

38 reviews
3.67 / 5 based on 38 reviews
7 – 12 of 38
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Useful  |  5
Not Worth the Money
Shelby
United States, Undergraduate
, 2020
Overall
If you attend this university, you will get a sub-par education in any of the majors. APU only offers two separate colleges, in which most classes are redundant and not at all useful. There are few professors with enthusiasm for their subjects, they often read off slides, and don't even use their own textbook. The exams are all multiple choice, with zero practical application. The professors are well known for giving random grades, despite your score or effort.  Japanese classes are required, but are heavily reliant on Asian style instruction, so if you have completed your primary education in a western country, it is almost guaranteed you will not pass the first time, unless you have prior Japanese language education. APU has a first come, first serve, class registration system and gives zero priority for major classes. There are no 400 level classes at all, the level only goes up to 300 throughout the university. As a senior, you will not be able to get sought-after classes, and if you finish early, you will still be required to stay for the whole four year period, paying tuition, despite completing all required credits.
Facility issue: you may own a scooter or motor bike, but the university does not allow you to own a car. You cannot even bring a car onto campus, you will get a warning of suspension if you do. Bus transportation fee is high, costing you $10,000 for year bus pass, or $5 per a ride to the university, if you want to pay in cash. The university does not turn on heating in many areas of the school, so it's freezing in the wintertime. Facilities have not been updated since 2010 at the latest.
Pros
Multi-cultural interaction, Japanese language education
Cons
subpar professors, no major class priority, low educational opportunities
Useful  |  3
Waste of money and time
Jbl
Japan, Graduate
, 2019
Overall
Pros: global environment. Easy to enter. Easy classes. Passive and kind easy A professors. Supportive admissions office. Situated in a good place, nice city.

Cons: If unlucky you will meet an egoistical professor that does not evaluate students properly. Majority of professors are bad in English. Professors don't give proper research advice. They don't evaluate properly the students and would just give easy A. This institution have passive, apathetic, and mediocre professors. You also have a lot of old traditional and close minded professors here, unable to change and cope with the changing times both in their lectures and in their classroom management. It collects students from all over the world disregarding quality, thus pulling all other students down. Students are too many in a class. An undergraduate will have 250 students in one lecture class, in MA it can have 20-50 in some required lectures. Courses are limited. They tell you you can choose, but because they have limited offerings you can really just get those available at a time. Some that are crucial to your research may never be offered during your stay. Their reason? "NO PROFESSOR" to teach the course. Other students who have poor researches can pass. Others will have their thesis downgraded to a research paper but will still get the same degree as those who with thesis (so no distinction). It's a waste of time and money to go to this school. The standard is just too low.
Pros
Living area, cheap living abroad, easy degree
Cons
Useless less impact degree, apathetic Professors, little research support, unfair evaluations
Useful  |  1
ninay
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Oita, Japan
Social Sciences, Undergraduate, Independent
Academic
Course recommendations
so much depends on professors... want good course? go for good the professors..
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
none
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  |  18
M C
University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, United States
International Relations, Graduate, Independent
Academic
Course recommendations
The courses are very repetitive, i.e. numerous courses that are listed as "Asia Pacific Studies" but all cover the same basics. There are a select few teachers that are good, however by and large most of the instructors are very sub-par and the teaching style is through power-points with little analysis. Again there are some good teachers here but most are quite bad.
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
The manner of assesment at APU is very very sub-par. It amounts to putting in input and then getting a grade back with no comments on performance. In a graduate level course I expect a lot of feedback and comments to aid in producing a sound thesis. This did not happen. I would suggest a complete overhaul of the academic program, one that focused on having a sound rational growth of classes and one that focused on sources rather than emotions, which is what many of the courses reflect. Grading needs to be more open and classes need to have a logical progression (not simply a series of identical introduction courses).
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  |  7
ninay
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Oita, Japan
Social Sciences, Undergraduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
nothing
In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
4
Campus life
4
Party / people
3
Weather / location
2
Personal recommendation
it s new. it s unique. it s great. I am happy to be here, cant believe that I am going to leave in 4 months... it has been real good uni life.
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
3
Improved language skills
4
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
it is very international university in my opinion. To enjoy compus life here the important thing is that we need to open our mind. Since it is a new university, there are still alot of space for student to create anything they like.. it is good.. students need to be active though.
Useful  |  3
M C
University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, United States
International Relations, Graduate, Independent
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
The school is too isolated but would move closer to the main town of Beppu.
Personal assessment
Cost
Facilities
Location
Cleanliness
Space
Personal comments
The dorms are quite small and again are isolated from everything else. Transportation from the dorms to the city costs $4 each way and takes @40 minutes. From where I lived it took @15 min. but cost $3 each way to get to the school. You are not allowed to have a car and the only other way to get to school is by scooter.
7 – 12 of 38
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