Ryukoku University

About Ryukoku University

Ryukoku University (龍谷大学 - Ryūkoku Daigaku) is one of Japan's oldest and most historically venerated private comprehensive universities, with an extraordinary heritage spanning over 385 years. Founded in 1639 (Kanei 16) during the early Edo Period as an educational seminary (Gakuryo) by Ryonyo, the 13th Abbot of the world-famous Nishi Hongwanji temple, Ryukoku was chartered as a modern university under the Japanese University Ordinance in 1922. The institution's founding spirit is grounded in Buddhist humanism, Jodo Shinshu philosophy, and the pursuit of truth, cultivating graduates committed to the university motto: "You, Unlimited" (真実を求め、真実に生き、真実を顕かにする). Today, Ryukoku University enrolls over 20,400 students across 10 faculties, 1 junior college, and 10 graduate schools, operating on three distinct, state-of-the-art campuses across Kyoto and Shiga: 1. Fukakusa Campus (Kyoto Main Campus): Located in historic Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, near the world-renowned Fushimi Inari Shrine. Serves as the administrative center and houses the Faculties of Economics, Business Administration, Law, Policy Science, and International Studies. Features red brick architecture, modern academic towers, Wajunkan, and the Central Library. 2. Omiya Campus (Kyoto Historic Campus): Situated in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, immediately adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nishi Hongwanji temple. The campus features exquisite Meiji-era Western-style stone architecture built in 1879, where the Main Building (Honkan) and the North and South Lecture Halls are designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan (重要文化財). Houses the Faculty of Letters (Literature, History, Philosophy, and Buddhist Studies). 3. Seta Campus (Shiga Science & Agriculture Campus): Situated across scenic green hills in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture near Lake Biwa. Home to the Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Faculty of Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture (established in 2015), and Faculty of Psychology (launched in 2023). Ryukoku University is a founding pillar of the prominent "Sankin-Koryu" (産近甲龍 - Kyoto Sangyo, Kindai, Konan, and Ryukoku) consortium of leading Kansai private universities. International students benefit from the university's generous 40% to 50% International Student Tuition Reduction Scheme, pre-arrival Numata fellowships, MEXT full-ride scholarships, and comprehensive Japanese language support. With an outstanding 97.4% employment success rate with major corporations across Kansai and Tokyo, Ryukoku University provides a deeply enriching academic experience blending classical Kyoto heritage with forward-looking scientific and global research.