Description
Rikkyo University is modeled after the Western traditional liberal arts college. Known for its welcoming school environment, Rikkyo’s student population is small, and there is active communication among faculty, staff, and students. See Rikkyo’s virtual campus tour below.
Quick Facts
Partner Program Type – Exchange
Minimum GPA – 2.85
Prerequisites – Rikkyo University’s spring semester is not recommended for new fall-admit transfer students, nor is fall semester recommended for new winter-admit transfer students because of the recommendation requirement. Transfer students should complete at least one quarter at UCSC before applying to Rikkyo.
Eligibility – Good academic and disciplinary standing, Min Age: 18, Open to All Majors, Junior or Senior class standing by the time of departure
Term Options
Spring Semester – late March to late July
Academic Year – early September to late July
Partner Program deadline dates
Cost
Location
City & University
Rikkyo’s main campus is located in Ikebukuro, one of Tokyo’s multiple city centers, with plenty of entertainment, shopping, and dining opportunities. Tokyo, one of the world’s largest cities, offers a uniquely eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary attractions.
Accommodations
Upon request, Rikkyo will arrange dormitories for exchange students. However, housing is not guaranteed as there are a limited number of rooms in each dorm. Learn more about Rikkyo Housing. For students who wish to arrange housing on their own, Rikkyo will provide a list of recommended real estate agents for private housing.
You are responsible for applying for, securing, and paying for accommodations directly to the housing provider. Visit the host university website for actual costs.
Student Support
Rikkyo University’s International Office provides a range of services and support for exchange students. Additionally, Rikkyo offers resources and opportunities for you to integrate successfully into the culture and society.
Country Information Resources
- U.S. Department of State Country Information Page
- CDC Travelers’ Health
- OSAC Country Security Report
Students with Disabilities
If you need support services abroad, notify your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator.
Learn more about Support for Students with Disabilities at Rikkyo.
Identities Abroad and Away
UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe.
Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.
Academics
Host University Courses
As a Rikkyo University exchange student, you will enroll full-time in courses alongside other local and international students for a semester or full academic year.
Course Search
Explore the Fall and Spring Courses Lists on the Rikkyo Academics website.
- Most courses at Rikkyo are taught in Japanese. When viewing the course lists, filter column N to “English” to narrow your results to courses only taught in English.
- Rikkyo University offers English-taught courses in the Japanese Studies in Foreign Language Program designed for international exchange students, as well as some English-taught degree programs.
- Information on Japanese Language courses can be found on the Center for Japanese Language Education website.
Satisfying Requirements
It may be possible to satisfy major, minor, GE, and/or electives on this program.
Learn more about:
- How to request major or minor credit
- How to request GE credit
Course Load Requirements
You are required to enroll in a full-time course load while abroad as defined by your host institution:
- A full course load is 6 classes per semester. The maximum number of registration credits is 20 per semester.
As a UCSC student, you must also continue to meet UCSC Satisfactory Academic Progress, which requires students to enroll in a minimum of 12 UCSC quarter credits per quarter. At Rikkyo, you are required to ensure you meet this requirement by enrolling in the equivalent of at least 24 quarter credits in fall semester and at least 12 quarter credits in spring semester after conversion (see below).
Credit Conversion
Rikkyo uses semester credits. These will be converted to UCSC quarter credits when added to your UC transcript.
- 1 semester credit = 2 UCSC quarter credits
- 2 semester credits = 3 UCSC quarter credits
- 3 semester credits = 5 UCSC quarter credits
- 4 semester credits = 6 UCSC quarter credits
Academic Restrictions
Some courses abroad may have enrollment limitations and/or restrictions, such as prerequisites. Review course information provided by the university partner to understand any course limitations and/or restrictions prior to official course enrollment abroad.
If you are unsure about your eligibility to enroll, please contact UCSC Global Learning at globallearning@ucsc.edu before applying to this program.
Academic Differences
Please note that the academic system, such as assignments, exams, course structure, grading system, etc., at your host institution may be different from what you are used to at UCSC. We highly recommend researching the academic system at your host university in advance to best prepare for your experience abroad.
Academic Calendar
We recommend comparing the host university academic calendar to the UCSC academic calendar to see how the academic calendars, holidays, and breaks differ.