ANU and Japan’s Ritsumeikan University to offer dual degree

The Australian National University (ANU) will build on its global expertise in the study of the Asia Pacific by offering a new undergraduate dual degree program with Japan's Ritsumeikan University (RU). The agreement will lead to Australia's first undergraduate dual degree with a Japanese partner, and will enable students from each institution to graduate with two degrees after four years of study ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC signed the dual degree agreement with RU President Mikio Yoshida at the RU Kyoto campus, following talks which began with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to ANU in Canberra July 2014. "Our ANU College of Asia and the Pacific has a global reputation as the best place in the world to study the politics, history, economics, culture and languages of our Asia-Pacific region," Professor Schmidt said. "This new dual undergraduate degree will give students from Japan and Australia a wonderful opportunity to deepen their knowledge of our region, and to learn from some of the best academics in the Asia-Pacific. "It also opens a new pathway for Japanese students to study in Australia and at ANU." Ritsumeikan University is one of Japan's leading private universities. Founded in 1900, it is committed to fostering an international outlook and an innovative culture. It has around 35,000 students, including 32,000 undergraduates.