OSAKA UNIVERSITY SHORT-TERM STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM |
OUSSEP CALENDAR 1998-1999 |
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.
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>
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To
be eligible for OUSSEP, the applicant must:
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.
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:
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.
Note:
|
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.
Qualified
students selected by AIEJ are provided with the following financial aids.
* 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All
the documents for application for OUSSEP should be addressed and sent to
More
information related to OUSSEP, including a study and living guide for the
students, may be found at OUSSEP's web site.
<URL:http://ex.isc.osaka-u.ac.jp/oussep/>
OUSSEP |
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