A major leap from 17th place 10 years ago…3rd place after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University! Surprising universities with a “dramatic increase in successful applicants” for the national civil service career-track positions

The University of Tokyo ranks third in the nation behind Kyoto University!

Proudly, the University of Tokyo ranks third in the nation after Kyoto University! This is the official website of the university that saw a dramatic increase in the number of students who passed the national civil service career-track exam this year.

The official website is operated by Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto Prefecture. The following is a list of the top five universities in terms of the number of successful candidates for the national civil service career track, which are candidates for senior positions in the central government, in the 2012 academic year.

No. 1: University of Tokyo, 189

2nd : Kyoto University 120

3rd : Ritsumeikan University 84

4th : Tohoku University 73

5th : Waseda University 72

Ten years ago, the University of Tokyo alone accounted for 23% of successful applicants.

In the past, prestigious universities such as the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University dominated the number of successful applicants for the national civil service career track. Compared to the current fiscal year, the large number of applicants from the top three universities is striking.

No. 1: University of Tokyo, 438 students

No. 2: Kyoto University, 160

No. 3: Waseda University, 140

No. 4: Keio University 92

Fifth: Tohoku University, 78 students

At that time, the top-ranked University of Tokyo alone accounted for nearly 23% of all 1,900 applicants. In recent years, however, the number of Tokyo University graduates leaving the national civil service has been accelerating.

The work of central government careers in running the country is certainly rewarding, but it is hard work. It is common for monthly overtime work to exceed 100 hours. During the busy season, I sometimes stay up all night. Furthermore, the Shinzo Abe administration has established the Cabinet Personnel Bureau, which has shifted from ‘bureaucrat-led’ to ‘politician-led,’ with national public servants making policy. This may be the reason why central government offices are less attractive to Todai students than before.

Instead, consultants are gaining in popularity among Todai students. In addition to being able to contact a variety of industries and acquire specialized skills, consulting offers good earnings and the opportunity to make decisions that affect business management. It is no wonder that students at prestigious universities such as the University of Tokyo, who are looking for a more rewarding career, are increasingly turning away from national public service.

Difference in Percentage of Students from Kinki Region

University journalist Reiji Ishiwata speaks of the current job market.

The current job market is a seller’s market for prestigious universities such as Tokyo University and Kyoto University. They are able to choose companies with favorable conditions, such as consulting firms. It is likely that many students think that working for a private company is more advantageous than working for a central government agency, where there are many hardships.

On the other hand, there is a surprising university that has dramatically increased the number of students who have passed the national civil service career-track exam. It is Ritsumeikan University, mentioned at the beginning of this article. The number increased from 28 in 2002 to 84 this year. The university’s ranking also jumped from 17th to 3rd. The aforementioned Mr. Ishiwata explains.

Ritsumeikan University as a whole is very enthusiastic about helping students find employment as public servants. In 2001, the university opened “Ritsumeikan Kasumi Juku,” a program to train administrative leaders. We also actively hold lectures and discussions by current national civil service careerists. The students’ aspirations to work in the central government and the university’s support for civil service employment seem to have matched well.

Among the prestigious private universities in Kansai (Kansai University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Doshisha University, and Ritsumeikan University), Ritsumeikan University has the strongest elements to challenge the national civil service career-track examination. The other three universities are also enthusiastic in providing support for civil service employment, but the percentage of students from the Kinki region is as high as 60-80%, and the applicants are mainly from the Kansai region, such as Osaka Prefecture officials. Ritsumeikan University, on the other hand, has about half of its students from the Kinki region. It is likely that the university has a higher awareness of the central government than other universities in the Kansai region.

It may not be long before Ritsumeikan University becomes the largest faction in the central government career field.