Osaka University will have a room ready for each of the participants
by the time they arrive. Osaka University will make the best effort to provide
OUSSEP participants with low-cost accommodation in one of the university residences
for overseas students located near the two campuses. Due to the increased demand
of the campus dormitories by international students, however, we have to optimize
the university resources for the most appropriate students. In the 2006-2007
period, self funded students (without JASSO grants) may have higher priority
to be offered the low-cost university accommodations, compared with the JASSO
scholarship awardees. Needless to say, Osakafs Student Exchange Promotion Division
will certainly help all well qualified exchange students to find relatively
low-cost public sector accommodations, such as Senri International House of
Osaka Prefecture, before these students arrive at Osaka.
Those who wish to stay in a private apartment house in the Osaka
area should expect their average monthly living expenses (food, rent, and transportation)
to be no less than 100,000 JPY. Note that, those who make private accommodation
contracts need guarantors. The International Student Center cannot help to arrange
the guarantors for individual students. The university does not currently arrange
home-stay for OUSSEP students. Students may seek opportunities for home-stay
after they settle down at the above accommodation.
Upon arrival in Osaka, OUSSEP students must join a comprehensive
health and a personal accident insurance plan arranged by the University, which
includes the compulsory National Health Insurance and the Disaster and Accident
Insurance for Student Education and Research. The plan covers medical care and
hospitalization. The cost is reasonable and will be carried by the students.
In addition, students are expected to have liability
insurance. An adequate student liability insurance can be purchased
at the Osaka University COOP (student union).
Some students may buy international insurances at home, and are
not pleased to join the above plan provided by the University. Note that in
the event they need personalized certified translations for their own insurance
companies, such as medical certificates or police accident reports, the University
is not capable to translate these official documents. The students likely need
to find professional translation services by themselves outside the University.
The Japanese islands, which are situated in the Temperate Zone, generally enjoy a mild climate. There are four clearly marked seasons. The summer (June to August) is hot and humid with a rainy period in June and the first half of July. It begins to become cool in late September. In general, the fall is dry and cool. The winter (December to February) is quite mild in the Osaka area. The temperature seldom falls below freezing point. It stays very dry throughout the winter. There may be light snowfalls once or twice a year but the snow disappears very quickly. Spring (March and April) is the time of blossoms and the beginning of the new fiscal and academic years.