Ritsumeikan University Tops Japan's Study Abroad Rankings in 2025

University Power Rankings

On August 5, 2025, Popcorn Inc., headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, unveiled its latest report on study abroad programs titled 'International Student Dispatch Rankings' through its media outlet, 'University Power Rankings.' This report outlines the number of Japanese students studying overseas, compiling data from major universities across the country.

The study, conducted between April and July of 2025, relied on a range of sources, including official university information, government announcements, and scholarly literature, to evaluate and present up-to-date findings on Japan's international education capabilities.

Ranking Overview

According to the ranking, a total of 89,000 Japanese students commenced their study abroad journeys between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. This number marks a notable rebound, about 60 times higher than the figures recorded during the immediate post-COVID period.

Top Universities for Study Abroad

1. Ritsumeikan University - Taking the lead, Ritsumeikan University has established partnerships with 474 institutions across 69 countries and provides approximately 1 billion yen in scholarships aimed at realizing its goal of 'Study Abroad for All.'

2. Kwansei Gakuin University - Coming in second, Kwansei Gakuin University offers collaboration with 310 universities in 59 countries and provides scholarships up to 1 million yen. Under its initiative 'Study Abroad for All,' the university has dispatched 2,081 students.

3. Waseda University - Ranking third, Waseda University possesses a network of over 800 partner institutions globally. The college supports a diverse range of programs, including AI English tutoring, sending out 1,986 students.

The subsequent positions are occupied by prestigious institutions such as the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, Kyoto University, Meiji University, Doshisha University, Toyo University, and Sophia University. These universities have shown exceptional performance in sending students abroad through research-oriented programs, hybrid short-term training, and online support systems.

Future Prospects

Popcorn Inc. has committed to continually publishing academic and educational research reports that combine proprietary and open data, further promoting the visibility and effectiveness of international education in Japan. Their research aims to provide reliable indicators of the various strengths that universities hold and aid researchers and corporate stakeholders.

About University Power Rankings

The 'University Power Rankings' endeavor is designed to support research institutions and those in the educational sector by delivering comprehensive insights through the largest and most frequent quantitative research on various metrics. These include study-abroad participation, accolades from prestigious global academic awards, citation counts, and international collaborative research achievements.

For referencing this report, please credit the following: Popcorn Inc. / University Power Rankings Link