Student Exchange Program
1.About Student Exchange Program
Kansai University accepts exchange students from overseas partner universities that have student exchange agreements with Kansai University for a period of 6 months (1 semester) to 1 year (2 semesters).
The number of exchange students accepted each year is limited by each agreement, and students are exempted from paying tuition fee. Depending on the agreement, one may be accepted as an undergraduate exchange student or a graduate student.
Exchange students are assigned to "Division of International Affairs". Kansai University evaluates grades for the courses taken and issue a CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC RECORD.
Undergraduate Exchange Students
Students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at their home universities are able to apply.
Undergraduate exchange students are able to take the courses explained in "2.Characteristics of the curriculum".
Graduate Exchange Students
Students who are enrolled in graduate programs at their home universities are able to apply.
During the exchange period, students who wish to take practicums at a Graduate School of Kansai University will be accepted as a graduate exchange student only if the graduate school of their choice approves.
Graduate Exchange Students are able to take the courses explained in "2.Characteristics of the curriculum" as well as practicums from a Graduate School.
2.Characteristics of the curriculum
Exchange students at Kansai University follow the “KUGF (Kansai University Global Frontier) Curriculum”. Students whose Japanese language proficiency is sufficiently high can also take undergraduate courses offered by each faculty.
KUGF curriculum
The purposes of the KUGF curriculum are to improve language proficiency and communication skills, develop a high level of cross-cultural understanding, and foster global leadership skills. The curriculum can be categorized into 2 courses.
Please refer to “KUGF Course Guide“ for contents of the courses and language requirements.
Global Frontier and Skill Up for Studying Abroad *taught in English.
Global Frontier courses consist of 8 Modules. The purpose of Skill Up for Studying Abroad courses is to acquire English language skills.
Courses for International Students
These courses are to support international students with Japanese language studies. We provide various levels of classes, from basic to advanced. You will be taking an appropriate level of Japanese classes after a language placement test. We offer not only Japanese language courses but also courses that provide basic knowledge on Japan, introduce cultures of Japanese companies, business Japanese and courses.
Undergraduate courses (courses offered by each faculty)
Exchange students whose Japanese language ability is sufficiently high as proven on the Japanese language placement tests can enroll in classes provided by each faculty.
Students can learn a wide variety of subjects from general cultural subjects to specialist ones through these courses, held in the 13 faculties of Kansai University. These are studied in Japanese and students can expect an improvement in their level of Japanese proficiency as well as learning at a higher level of specialty.
The following is used as a guideline for the level of Japanese proficiency required to enroll in undergraduate courses.
Test Name | Reference Score |
---|---|
JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) | N2 or higher |
J.TEST (Test of Practical Japanese) | Level C or higher |
CEFR | B2 or higher |
Number of courses required to be taken
Undergraduate exchange students are required to take more than 7 classes per week. Graduate exchange students do not apply to this requirement.
3.Study support
Japanese language support program*
Kansai University also provides support for exchange students to study Japanese outside of their classes. Students are encouraged to use this support program effectively to improve their Japanese proficiency.
* The programs and contents implemented are subject to change.
Japanese language tutor/tutee system
Tutors (Japanese students) advise and support international students regarding studies (mainly Japanese language) and daily life.
Conversational Japanese brush-up seminars
Practical training that helps exchange students learn Japanese conversational skills that are necessary in daily life in order to adapt well to Japanese society.
Academic advisors
A member of the teaching staff of the Division of International Affairs is assigned to each individual exchange student as an academic advisor to provide guidance in formalities such as course registration after the student arrives in Japan. We offer Office Hours to respond to consultations regarding study and life.
4.Grading
The results for each subject studied are graded as shown below.
Points | Graduate Level | Undergraduate Level |
---|---|---|
100~90 | A | S |
89~80 | A | |
79~70 | B | B |
69~60 | C | C |
~59 | F | F |
* If a course includes examinations to assess results and the examination was not taken, then 'I' (not taken) is displayed.
* Kansai University evaluates grades for the courses taken and issue a CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC RECORD.
* The CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC RECORD (in English) for each semester will be sent to the person responsible at the student’s home university. The schedule for sending this is as follows:
Fall Semester - planned to send at the end of March
Spring Semester - planned to send at the end of September
5.Credit system
Upper limit of credits
Both undergraduate and graduate exchange students have upper limit to credits that can be earned per semester. 24 credits for undergraduate exchange students, and 14 credits for graduate exchange students.
Credit accreditation
Based on the Certificate of Academic Record, credits will be accredited in accordance with the student’s home university’s standard. Please make sure to check with the responsible person at your home university concerning credit transfers beforehand.
We define 1 credit as equivalent to 45 hours of workload complying with the requirements of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s provision.
6.Academic year
Spring semester (April to September) | |
---|---|
April 1 | Start of spring semester |
April 5 | Start of spring semester classes |
July 23 | End of spring semester classes |
July 24 to 31 | Spring semester examinations |
September 20 | End of spring semester |
Fall semester (September to March) | |
---|---|
September 21 | Start of fall semester |
September 21 | Start of fall semester classes |
December 26 to January 6 |
Vacation |
January 21 | End of fall semester classes |
January 23 to 30 | Fall semester examinations |
March 31 | End of fall semester |
* Academic year may change a bit depending on a year
7.Recruitment notice
We will announce the application procedures to students' home universities separately. Notification time is as follows.
Please ask the person in charge of the university you belong to for details of the procedures there.
Start of the study abroad program | Notification time to students' home universities |
---|---|
Fall semester (September) | The end of March |
Spring semester (April) | The end of September |
Student dormitories
1.Requests for residence in student dormitories
Exchange students at Kansai University can apply to reside in a dormitory. The cost of dormitory fees and related matters are as follows.
Unless there are special circumstances, the decision on which dormitory the student will enter is made by Kansai University.
※Minami-Senri International Plaza International Students Dormitory and Affiliated International Students Dormitory (KU I-House) are not open to exchange students.
※The dormitory allocation will be made based on the gender indicated in the passport or other official documents.
2.Requests for residence other than in student dormitories(homestay/apartment)
Homestay
Placement fee:20,000 yen *Applied from Spring 2025
Homestay charges*:4,000 yen/stay *Applied from Spring 2025
* application available from a 4-week stay (28 days stay).
* Breakfast and evening meals are included in above charges. Homestay charges also include linen, light and heating charges, and Internet connection fee. (Tax will be added separately to the home stay expenses.)
Apartment
The costs depend on the apartment, but on an average, it costs more than 40,000 yen a month to rent an apartment around Kansai University.
Kansai University works in partnership with the Kansai University Cooperative Society ("Kandai Co-op" hereafter) to assist foreign students (limited to students recognized as an incoming foreign student) who have difficulty finding a co-signer for housing by having the Kandai Co-op sign the housing lease in place of the student. There is also a system that has the Kandai Co-op be the cosigner, under the prerequisite that the foreign student become a member of the Comprehensive Coverage System for Foreign Student Housing. Kandai Co-op will also be responsible for paying the premium (4,000 yen per year) for the Comprehensive Coverage System for Foreign Student Housing.
However, students with dual citizenship (including Japanese citizenship) are not eligible for this coverage because the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act requires them to enter Japan as Japanese nationals. If you wish to sign a housing contract, please confirm the terms and conditions with Kandai Co-op well in advance.
Student life
Living expenses
The living expenses necessary to live a normal life in Osaka are roughly around 100,000 yen to 150,000 yen per month, including dormitory fees. When coming to Japan, please establish a sufficient funding plan.
Scholarships
Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Short-Term Study in Japan)
This is a scholarship paid by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). If our university's program has been adopted, we will notify the details to subjects. The details are not decided at the time of application for exchange study, so please note that we cannot respond to enquiries in advance.
Scholarships limited to specific universities
There are cases where a scholarship may be paid to exchange students from some specific universities, based on an agreement between them and Kansai University. Please check the details of this with the person responsible at your home university.
Insurance
National Health Insurance (paid by the student)
If you get sick or injured during your stay in Japan, National Health Insurance makes it possible to receive medical treatment with only a part payment of the medical expenses (partial obligation). In principle, you can receive medical treatment with a payment of just 30% of the total medical care expenses. Exchange students are obligated to buy the National Health Insurance.
Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (PAS) (paid by the university)
The Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (PAS) is taken collectively to ensure a minimum level of insurance benefits in case of injuries resulting from an unexpected accident or disaster that occurs during education or research(Illnesses are not covered).
The insurance contents are as follows.
Type of benefit / Applicable case | During regular curriculum activities and school events | During recess on campus and extracurricular activities |
---|---|---|
Death benefits | 12,000,000 yen | 6,000,000 yen |
Permanent disability indemnity | 720,000 yen to 18,000,000 yen depending on the severity | 360,000 yen to 9,000,000 yen depending on the severity |
Medical benefits | 3,000 yen to 300,000 yen Applicable from the first day of treatment and depending on the number of days required for the treatment |
・6,000 yen to 300,000 yen Applicable from the 4th day of treatment and depending on the number of days required for the treatment (during recess on campus) ・30,000 yen to 300,000 yen Applicable from the 14th day of treatment and depending on the number of days required for the treatment (during extracurricular activities) |
(Additional hospitalization coverage) 4,000 yen per day hospitalized |
Others
Students are obligated to purchase “National Health Insurance (paid by students)” while studying abroad in Japan. “Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (PAS) (paid by Kansai University)” could be applied for curricular activities and injuries that occur on campus. However, the insurance mentioned above may not provide sufficient coverage. Please make sure to purchase insurance (traveler’s insurance) for sickness, injuries, and unexpected contingencies during your stay in Japan.
Kansai University recommends to purchase 「Comprehensive Insurance for Students Lives Coupled with “Gakkensai”」 (only international students can purchase this insurance) for international students who would like to purchase insurance in Japan.
International exchange
Global Buddy Program
KU students become a buddy of international students, help them get rid of their worries for Japanese customs, making new friends, and support them to adapt to a new life smoothly. Students can start interacting with Kansai University students and other exchange students before coming to Japan, and participate in various events together after coming to Japan to make life at Kansai University fulfilling.
Multilingual Immersion Room (Mi-Room)
International students from all over the world gather in the Mi-Room which can be used freely at any time, and various languages can be heard in the room.
At the reception desk, friendly student staff (DIASS) will help you rent a computer and connect to the Internet. Sessions concerning languages, presentation, writing, and TOEIC preparation are held in the Mi-Room, and you can join any time. In addition, you can learn many languages besides English, such as Chinese, Korean, and etc. Mi-Room is the place where international students can relax, learn, and make many friends from all over the world.
GTA (Global Teaching Assistants)
Mi-Room’s sessions are held by highly motivated international students from all over the world or Kansai University students with a wealth of international experience. GTAs help local students improve their language skills, adaptability to cultural differences, and improve their discussion skills.
Students who contributed as a GTA will be issued the Award Certificate depending on the level of contribution. Not only can you pass your culture, language, perspectives and experiences to local students but also gain practical and valuable experiences through teaching and meeting new students.
Activities
At Kansai University, we prepare many activities which international students can join, and look forward to your participation.
In addition to events that promote students’ interaction, you can also experience Japanese culture by participating in field trips and traditional festivals. There will be welcome party for international students at the time of arrival, and completion ceremony and farewell party when returning home. Please make many great memories at Kansai University.