CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Profile of Osaka University
3. OUSSEP
   3.1. Academic Calendar
   3.2. Academic Program
   3.3. International Exchange Activities
   3.4. Admission Process
   3.5. Admission Requirements
4. Financial Aid
5. Immigration Procedures
6. Residence
7. Health Insurance
8. Weather and Climate in the Osaka Area
9. Mailing Address
10. Web Site

1. Introduction

Osaka University Short-term Student Exchange Program (OUSSEP) is designed to give those students from overseas, who do not speak Japanese well or who have not studied Japanese at all, an opportunity to study at Osaka University for one year. It offers a special academic program of courses taught in English. Although a growing number of students abroad desire to study in Japan, the language has always been a barrier. OUSSEP was started in 1996-97 as a way to overcome this barrier and will begin its third academic year in 1998-99. In each of its first two academic years, OUSSEP admitted twenty-two students. It plans to admit around twenty-five students next year.

There are two short-term exchange programs at Osaka University. The OUSSEP program is in addition to the regular short-term exchange program, in which students from overseas enroll as auditors in regular courses taught in Japanese in one of the faculties, or as research students in one of the graduate schools, of the University. The regular program admits about 20 students in each year. Both programs are offered under the provisions of Inter-University (or Inter-Faculty) Academic Exchange Agreements concluded between Osaka University and counterpart institutions abroad. Students admitted to either program are eligible to apply for a Short-term Student Exchange Promotion Program Scholarship provided by the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ).

This calendar describes the concept and the structure of OUSSEP, explains the application and admission process, and outlines the academic courses available in the special one year program. It also touches upon the financial aid that are available for OUSSEP students.

The students who are interested in the regular short-term exchange program should contact, through the international exchange offices of their home institutions, the individual faculty or graduate school of Osaka University in which the students would like to be enrolled.

2. Profile of Osaka University

Osaka University, a national university founded in 1931 by the Japanese Government with strong support from local governments in the Osaka area, was established with the aim of creating a higher-education center inheriting the liberal and progressive academic tradition of the area, which had been the center of trade of the nation for many centuries. The University now comprises ten faculties and twelve associated graduate schools, five research institutes, eighteen education and research centers, and two hospitals attached to the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry. Approximately thirteen thousand undergraduates and fifty three hundred graduate students, including over eight hundred foreign students are enrolled today. The academic staff exceeds two thousand, with a similar number of administrative and supporting staff. The University has two campuses, one in Suita (a northern suburb of Osaka) and the other in Toyonaka (a northwestern suburb of the Osaka), with a combined area of one hundred and fifty hectares, or three hundred and seventy acres.

More information about Osaka University may be found at the following web site : <URL:http://www.osaka-u.ac.jp>

3. OUSSEP

OUSSEP is a one-academic year program specially designed for students from abroad who have completed at least two years of undergraduate programs in their home institutions and who are interested in studying at Osaka University in a Japanese academic environment. OUSSEP is open to students from institutions which have concluded an Inter-University (or Inter-Faculty) Academic Exchange Agreement with Osaka University. We expect the students to register and pay tuition fee (or have it waived) at their home institutions and to return there, upon completion of OUSSEP, to continue their academic programs. Although the academic year for regular educational programs in most Japanese universities, including Osaka University, begins in April and ends in March, OUSSEP runs from late September until early August of the following year, divided into two 15-week semesters. We may consider accepting a limited number of students in April as well. One student from an Australian university joined OUSSEP in April, 1997 and will remain in the program till February, 1998.

3.1. Academic Calendar

Academic year 1998-99

September 28, 1998

Students arrive at Osaka

September 29 - October 2, 1998

Orientation and Opening Ceremony

98:Fall-Winter Semester

October 5, 1998

Classes start

December 25, 1998 - January 7, 1999

Year end / new year break

February 12, 1999

Classes end

99:Spring-Summer Semester:

April 12, 1999

Classes start

July 30, 1999

Classes end

August 2, 1999

Closing ceremony

3.2. Academic Program

International Exchange Subjects

In each semester, we will offer a series of lecture courses (2 credits each) in English taught by academic staff from different faculties of the University. We have listed the titles and brief description of the courses, to be given in the Fall-Winter semester of 1998 and the Spring-Summer semester of 1999, in the later pages. Half of the courses are in physical sciences, including engineering and health sciences, and the rest are in humanities and social sciences.

We will try to equalize the number of OUSSEP students majoring in each of these two fields. Students may select the courses according to their major and interest. We wish, however, to encourage the students to take courses outside their own major. This will help students to broaden their perspectives and at the same time understand Japanese society and culture better.

The University has officially designated these courses as International Exchange Subjects. They are specially prepared for OUSSEP and are taught in English. The University also offers these courses to its regular students as well as to other international students so that all can study in a truly international atmosphere.

The courses cover a wide variety of subjects from culture to science and technology. The students, native and international together, will also learn about Osaka and Japan. We believe this will help students to understand the world and the importance of international understanding and mutual respect. This program underscores the motto of Osaka University, "Be rooted in the community and grow into the world".

Due to the fact that we can offer only a limited number of courses taught in English, but must also try to satisfy students of different majors, universities, and countries, the courses often cannot help but be broad in scope and not so deep. Truly specialized studies are possible only by taking the Independent Study Course, described in the following course descriptions.

Japanese Language Courses

In addition to these courses, OUSSEP students may take either Elementary, Intermediate or Advanced Japanese classes (3 credits), if they so desire, according to their proficiency level. The students have to take a placement test at the beginning. The Japanese language classes take place three time a week.

OUSSEP is a special program in English, designed for students from overseas who want to study in Japan but who do not speak Japanese well or who have not studied Japanese at all. Therefore, it is not particularly suitable for students whose major objective is to master the Japanese language.

Independent Study Course

One of the unique features of OUSSEP is Independent Study (2 credits per semester). Students can propose a study topic and be assigned to a supervising professor in an appropriate faculty. The students may wish to study a particular subject which is not found in the International Exchange Subjects (Individual Study) or to conduct a research project on a particular theme (Independent Research). The students and their supervising professors will agree upon the scope and depth of the study at the beginning of the program.* The study usually continues for two semesters. At the end of each semester the student will submit a report on the topic to the International Student Committee of Osaka University. Refer to "Guide to Independent Study", issued separately, for further details.

* When the amount of the work required for the study is particularly large, the supervising professor and the International Student Committee may decide to grant up to 4 instead of 2 credits per semester for the Independent Study.

Time and Place

The classes meet for two days a week at the Suita Campus and for two days at the Toyonaka Campus. The Independent Study may take place at either Campus. Refer to the time table for the specifics.

Field Trips

OUSSEP offers frequent field trips for the students in order to give them opportunities to see as many things and to meet as many people as possible during their one year stay in Japan. They visit industries and public institutions as a part of the academic courses and also go on trips, including overnight trips, to different parts of the country to meet local people and experience local cultures.

Completion of OUSSEP

All the courses offered in OUSSEP, including Japanese Language and Independent Study, are elective. Students will select and register for the courses of their choice at the beginning of each semester. The minimum requirement for satisfactory completion of OUSSEP in each semester is 10 credits. We will give those students who have successfully completed two semesters of OUSSEP a certificate of completion.

3.3. International Exchange Activities

In addition to the academic programs we encourage the students to participate in various international exchange activities which the International Student Center of Osaka University organizes throughout the year. Other groups within the University and in the neighboring communities will participate in these programs.

3.4. Admission Requirements

To be eligible for OUSSEP, the applicant must:

1. Be enrolled in a university or college that has concluded an Inter-University (or Inter-Faculty) Academic Exchange Agreement with Osaka University.
2. Normally be a junior or senior (3rd or 4th year) students in an undergraduate course at his/her home institution during the term of OUSSEP.
3. Obtain recommendation from the academic staff of the home institution.

A basic knowledge of the Japanese language is desirable, but is not an essential requirement for the OUSSEP student. Applicants must, however, be proficient in English. A TOEFL score of 550 or more is a prerequisite for students from non-English speaking countries.

We will later send a form for Health Certificate to the students whom the University will have admitted to OUSSEP. We will then request each student to take a physical examination and return the form completed and signed by a physician.

3.5. Admission Process

Students interested in OUSSEP should first consult with their academic adviser. On approval by the adviser, applicants should obtain the necessary forms from their university or college office. These should be completed and submitted, through the same office, to Osaka University together with supporting documents. The following documents are required:

1. A completed OUSSEP application form
2. Completed Application for AIEJ Short-term Student Exchange Promotion Program (Inbound) Scholarship (form 2-3)
3. Completed Certificate of Enrollment of the Applicant for AIEJ Short-term Student Exchange Promotion Program (Inbound) Scholarship (form 2-4)
4. At least two recommendation letters written by the faculty members of the home institution; only one letter from a language instructor is acceptable. The letters should be written in either Japanese or English.
5. A transcript of academic record
6. A short essay of approximately 500 words in total, completed according to the attached format
7. Independent Study Form (Form: Ind.Study-1) (All Applicants)
8. A proposed topic for the Independent Study of approximately 500 words in total (Form: Ind.Study-2) (Applicants who elect to take the Independent Study Course)
9. TOEFL score record (Applicants from non-English speaking countries)

Applications for OUSSEP 1998-99 should reach Osaka University by April 15, 1998 (Japan time). The application should be sent in a complete package containing all the above documents.

4. Financial Aid

Prospective OUSSEP students are eligible to apply for the following scholarship offered by the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ). All the students admitted to OUSSEP in the academic years of 1996-97 and 1997-98 were granted the scholarships.

AIEJ Short-term Student Exchange Promotion Program (Inbound) Scholarship

Qualified students selected by AIEJ are provided with the following financial aids.

• A monthly stipend of 80,000 yen
  OUSSEP students will usually receive the stipend for twelve months.
• An economy class single journey air ticket* when coming to and leaving Japan (between the international airports nearest to the home and host universities)
• Settling-in allowance of 25,000 yen
  

* AIEJ does not bear any tax included in the air fare and payable to the government of a foreign country. The students will be asked to pay that amount, if any, after they arrive at Osaka.

Tuition

Tuition fee for the OUSSEP courses is currently 13,100 yen per credit. The fee is liable to change without notice. Students from the institutions which have concluded a mutual tuition waiver contract with Osaka University will be granted a tuition waiver.

5. Immigration Procedures

Before coming to Japan, prospective students will need to obtain a "college student" (Ryugaku) visa issued by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. We will send a certificate or letter of acceptance to the students who are officially accepted to OUSSEP. Concurrently Osaka University will request Japanese Immigration Bureau to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (CESR) for each of the students. Only the latter document will serve as a proof of student status when the student applies for the visa, which is a requisite for entering Japan as a student. The process of obtaining CESR takes time and the certificate usually does not come until the last moment; early September for students who are coming in late September and late March for students who are coming in early April. Applicants should follow the advice of the Japanese diplomatic office in their home country concerning the procedure for obtaining the visa.

6. Residence

Osaka University will provide all OUSSEP students with low-cost accommodation in the housing for overseas students located near the Suita Campus. Students who wish to stay in a private apartment in Osaka Area should expect their average monthly living expenses (food, rent, and transportation) to be not less than 100,000 yen. We currently do not arrange "home-stays" for OUSSEP students. They may seek opportunities for home-stay after they settle down at the above accommodation.

7. Health Insurance

Upon arrival in Osaka, OUSSEP students must join a comprehensive health and personal accident insurance plan arranged by the University, including the compulsory National Health Insurance, and Disaster and Accident Insurance for Students Education and Research. It will cover medical care and hospitalization. The cost of the total plan is very reasonable and will be carried by the students.

8. Weather and Climate in the Osaka Area

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 Osaka Area. Temperature does not drop below freezing point so frequently. It stays very dry throughout the winter. We may get light snow falls 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.

9. Mailing Address