Guide|Student Exchange|Kansai University Division of International Affairs

Guide for Exchange Students, 2007-2008
Kansai University

1.Introduction

■ Kansai University

Kansai University is located within one hour from downtown Osaka, and within two hours from Kansai International Airport. Approximately 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students are registered. There are ten faculties: Law, Letters, Economics, Commerce, Sociology, Policy Studies, Informatics, Engineering Science, Environmental and Urban Engineering, and Chemistry,Materials and Bioengineering , and one institute: the Institute of Foreign Language Education and Research. The Graduate school has courses in these fields as well.

There are many facilities on the campus. The university library is one of the largest in western Japan as a university library. The Information Technology Center offers basic instruction in computer usage. Computers are available there and in other special rooms around the campus. The Medical Center offers treatment for slight injuries and illness. Cafeterias, banking facilities, shops selling stationary and books, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and weightlifting facilities are available to students.

Osaka is the largest city in the western part of Japan. It was formed originally as a town of merchants and remains one of Asia’s most important economic and cultural crossroads. Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, which were economic and political centers once, are located near Osaka.

The climate in Osaka:

Spring (March−May) 5°C〜25°C
Most comfortable among four seasons. Still chilly in the morning and at night.

Summer(June−August) 20°C〜35°C
Hot and damp. The rainy season starts in June. Gets hotter after that.

Fall (September−November) 10°C〜25°C
Remains hot and typhoons bring humidity in September. Gets cooler in October.

Winter (December−February) 2°C〜 10°C
Snow is rather rare, but still need coat and gloves.

Center for International Affairs

2.Academic affairs

1.Academic Calendar for 2007-2008 (tentative)

September 12	Students who will be enrolled from Fall Semester check in at their dormitory
September 13	Orientation（dormitory）
September 14	Fall Semester Orientation
September 15〜16	Field trip to deepen understanding about Japan
September 18	Placement test in Japanese (tentative)
September 21 〜 December 20	Fall Semester
First week of November	School Festival (Exact date will be announced later.)
December 25	Move-Out Day for Webster students in the Special Program (Fall Semester)
December 21 〜 January 6	Winter Break
January 7	Fall Semester resumes
January 16 〜 January 30	Examinations*
January 31 〜 March 31	Spring Break
April 2	Spring Semester Orientation
April 4	Placement test in Japanese (tentative)
April 5 〜 July 10	Spring Semester
July 17 〜 July 28	Examinations*
August 2	Move-Out Day

＊Many of the examinations for exchange student courses might be held during the semester.
＊The above schedule is subject to change.

2.Holidays
National Holidays
(If a national holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday will be a holiday.)

September 17	Respect for the Aged day
September 23	Autumnal Equinox Day
October 8	Health and Sports Day
November 3	Culture Day
November 23	Labor Thanksgiving Day
December 23	Emperor’s Birthday
January 1	New Year’s Day
January 14	Coming-of-Age Day
February 11	National Foundation Day
March 20	Vernal Equinox Day
April 29	Showa Day
May 3	Constitution Day
May 4	Greenery Day
May 5	Children’s Day
May 6	Substitute Holiday
July 21	Marine Day

University’s Holidays

June 5	Anniversary of the Charter granting full university status
November 4	Anniversary of the founding of Kansai University as Kansai Law School

3.Classes
Kansai University offers Japan Studies classes in English for exchange students. Class schedules will be announced at orientation.
Exchange students are also welcome to take courses for regular full-time students, if their Japanese proficiency is high enough. Class credits are calculated by 1 period which consists of one and a half hours.
Graduate students will be able to study or engage in research in their majors. The following classes are also offered to graduate students.
As to courses, please note that they are available as of February, 2007 and are subject to change.

Fall Semester (September - January)

Japanese (Level 1−6)	2 classes ( 3 hours) per week	2 credits
Contemporary Japan	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Business Japanese	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Religion (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese LiteratureI(＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese CultureI(＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Economy (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Industries and Companies (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Society (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Popular Culture (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits

(＊)... taught in English

Spring Semester (April - July)

Japanese (Level 1−6)	2 classes ( 3 hours) per week	2 credits
Contemporary Japan	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Business Japanese	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese History (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese LiteratureII(＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese CultureII(＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Politics (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits
Japanese Computerization and Society (＊)	1 class (1.5 hours) per week	2 credits

(＊)... taught in English

Students are required to take 4 classes of Japanese Language classes and 3 classes of Research of Japan classes, which makes it a total of 7 classes. Among them, courses for regular full-time students can be included as part of these mandatory subjects.

4.Student ID Card
A student ID Card is required when you utilize university facilities or to get student discounts. It will be distributed during orientation.

3.University facilities

1.Library
There are approximately 2,000,000 books and 7,000 titles of periodicals and newspapers from all over the world. Book loan for undergraduate students is allowed up to 10 books for 2 weeks, for graduate students, 20 books for 3 months.
A Library tour will be held during the orientation.

2.Information Technology Center
The Information Technology Center lets you use computers and various software, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, Access etc, but mostly in Japanese.
A personal e-mail address is obtainable after an appropriate procedure.

4.Life at Kansai University

1.Dormitory
Kansai University, as a principal, provides dormitory accommodation for exchange students. The one for male students is called Student House [Shurei-ryo] and the one for female students is called Dormitory Tsukigaoka.
The following rules and systems should be understood in advance and strictly followed:

＊For further details please refer to the handbooks that are given when moving into your dormitory.

2.Student Activities
Student activities such as football (soccer), baseball, judo, karate, swimming, orchestra, tea ceremony, drama, flower arrangement, calligraphy, English studies, Chinese cultural studies etc. are very popular in Kansai University.
The number of registered groups is approximately 100 at present. Students will be able to not only enlarge their knowledge and improve their skills, but also make friends with members by participating in such activities.

3.Student Discounts
Students registered in universities in Japan are entitled to 20% discounts on their fare, if traveling over 101 km by JR (Japan Railway Co. Ltd.) trains or ships. Students can get 10 sheets of the proof of student discounts per year. (No more than 2 sheets per month)
Students obtain the certificates by an automated issuing machine on campus. Also, student discounts will be available at some museums, theaters etc. by presenting your Student ID card.
In addition, students are provided a “special admission card” with which students are able to go to museums/art museums without any admission fee in Osaka prefecture.

4.Restricted Part-time Work
Students, who enroll in Kansai University as exchange students, are generally not allowed to work. In case you are obliged to work part-time due to some unavoidable reasons, please be sure to contact the Center for International Affairs beforehand. Getting a part-time job without going through the required procedure and permission could result in deportation.
Recently immigration officers have become increasingly stricter about this issue.

5.Health

1.Medical Center
The Medical Center of the University provides exchange students medical services for free, if you have a slight sickness or injury. (You will be charged only for medicine as a rule.) A counseling Room for emotional/psychological problems is also available. In case you need to be hospitalized due to serious injuries or sickness, please notify the Center for International Affairs

2.National Health Insurance
All exchange students are required to join the National Health Insurance Program. Also, students are advised to join overseas travel accident insurance before coming to Osaka. The procedure of joining the National Health Insurance can be done at Suita City Hall. Please join this at the same time as when you apply for “Alien Registration.”
After the formalities, you will make monthly payments of the insurance fee. If you show a Health Insurance Card at the reception desk when receiving medical treatment, you have to pay only 30% of the incurred medical cost. Moreover, participants are eligible to receive Medical Fee Reimbursements (see next explanation). As a result, participants only pay approximately 20% of total costs. In the case of major medical expenses incurred as a result of hospitalization or surgery etc., the National Health Insurance will pay the amount which is not covered by Medical Fee Reimbursements as a Major Medical Expense.
＊When your period of enrollment is shorter than one academic year (two semesters) you do not qualify to subscribe to National Health Insurance. To prepare for unexpected illness and accidents, please make sure to purchase overseas travel insurance prior to your visit.

3.Medical Fee Reimbursement
Exchange students who undergo medical treatment will be partly reimbursed by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). The reimbursement will be given only to those who have joined the National Health Insurance. 35%＊ of the total amount will be compensated within 2 or 3 months (some restrictions may apply).
Invoice specifications (ask Center for International Affairs for this) need to be presented to the hospital when receiving medical treatment. After paying the total expenses for the treatment (except the expense the National Health Insurance Program covers), please bring the specifications to the Center.
＊...The rate is subject to change.

6.Miscellaneous

1.Alien Registration
According to the Alien Registration Law, all exchange students staying in Japan must register within 90 days of arrival in Japan. In order to register, Students need to go in person to Suita City Hall, fill in an “Application for Alien Registration”, and submit two copies of your photograph (4.5cm×3.5cm in size) taken within six months. Your passport is necessary when registering. The certificate will be issued within 2 weeks upon the completion of the application. At the time of registration, a Kansai University student will volunteer to come along with you. You will be introduced to him/her at orientation.
After receiving the “Certificate of Alien Registration,” you must go in person and notify the city hall where you live and make an application to register any changes in your (a) address in Japan, (b) immigration status, (c) authorized period of stay, (d) nationality, and/or (e) name, within 14 days of the change.

2.Temporary Leave and Re-entry
When leaving Japan for your home or travelling outside Japan, you are required to notify the Center for International Affairs in advance. A re-entry permit is required to return to Japan. Please apply and obtain your re-entry permit from the Osaka Immigration Bureau.
Re-entry cannot be made without the permit, even if you have a visa.
You will be requested to come back to Japan within the permitted period, after obtaining your re-entry permit. Please be aware that it takes complicated procedures all over again to re-enter Japan, if you try to come back after the permitted period. Your Alien Registration Card (see previous explanation) is also necessary.