Okayama University

Okayama University

Okayama University

Location
Okayama, Japan 

Website
okayama-u.ac

Availability
Available university-wide 


  • University overview minus-thick plus-thick

    With roots dating back to 1870 by the family of Lord Ikeda who already founded the domain school for the samurai that continued for 200 years. Today, Okayama University is renowned as a top-class national research university. It has 11 faculties, 8 graduate schools, and offers a variety of stimulating programs for students interested in all fields of study.  
     
    There two campuses, Tsushima campus (main campus) and Shikata campus. The Tsushima Campus is located 10 minutes from Okayama central station and 20 minutes from Okayama Momotaro Airport.  
      
    Okayama University has many cultural and athletic clubs and circles. To join one gives you a chance to get acquainted with Japanese students making your campus life more fruitful. Further information about clubs and circles is available at the Student Affairs Division in the Academic Affairs Department. The Center for Liberal Arts and Language Education offers Japanese language classes to international students enrolled in the university. The Japanese language course offers seven levels of classes.  

  • City overview minus-thick plus-thick

    Okayama, which is located between Osaka and Hiroshima, is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chugoku region of Japan. The city is home to one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan as well as Okayama Castle which is ranked among the best 100 Japanese castles. The climate is very mild with low rainfall, and the area has a thriving agriculture industry, specializing in fruit  products such as Muscat grapes and white peaches.  Okayama is also known for its craftsmanship – the town of Imbe is the home of Bizen pottery, one of Japan’s oldest forms of pottery with a history going back 1,000 years.

  • Key attractions minus-thick plus-thick
    • Korakuen Gardens 
    • Yumeji Art Museum 
    • Kibitsu Shrine 
    • Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
    • Okayama Castle 
    • Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival) 
    • Hayashibara Museum of Art 
    • Sapporo Okayama Winery 
  • Country overview minus-thick plus-thick

    Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of the Asian continent. It is a member of the ASEAN Plus mechanism, UN, OECD, G7, G8 and G20.

    Approximately 97% of Japan's 126 million people live on the four largest islands and the capital city of Tokyo is the largest city in the world at 37 million people – a third of Japan's total population. More than 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language, but younger Japanese are usually familiar with English, particularly in tourist-heavy areas such as Tokyo.

    Japan has a very high standard of living, with the population enjoying one of the highest life expectancies in the world. It has the third-largest economy in the world and is the world's fourth-largest exporter and importer. It’s little surprise that Japan is very popular with tourists. The country is very safe, clean, beautiful, modern and easy to navigate. You're likely already aware of some of the more popular attractions such as Mt. Fuji, bamboo forests, cherry blossom season, as well as the cuisine that includes favourites such as ramen, sushi and tempura.

    Japan seems to have a reputation for being expensive, however it's more budget friendly for tourists than many think. Despite having the largest city in the world, two thirds of Japan is actually covered by forests and mountains. You could visit various animal islands and parks to get up close with deer, foxes, and cats. During the winter season, try skiing in the mountains, with the enticing option of a hot spring to relax in after a day on the slopes. If you're into anime, J-pop, gaming, or fashion, Japan is a must-visit location to see the cutting edge of these trends. Alternatively, you could visit a traditional shrine, participate in an ancient festival, stop by a country town or wander through old castles and estates, and get a taste for the other side of Japan.

    Did you know?

    Japanese trains are among the world’s most punctual: their average delay is just 18 seconds! There is even a train that “floats” above the tracks by magnetism. In 2015, this train hit a record-breaking top speed of 603 kph (374mph) on an experimental track. Geisha means “person of the arts” and the first geisha, who appeared around the year 1730, were actually male!

  • Further resources minus-thick plus-thick

Okayama University Factsheet

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Okayama University webinar

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UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

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How to apply

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Fall semester (SP5)
October to February

Spring semester (SP2)
April to August


  • Available study areas in English minus-thick plus-thick

    Undergraduate

    • Business
    • Economics
    • Finance
    • Foreign Perspective of Japan
    • Engineering
    • History
    • Intercultural Communication
    • Management
    • Model United Nations Preparation Class
    • Sociology
    • Science

    Postgraduate

    Not available for exchange. Please see note in Academic Requirements.

  • Academic requirements minus-thick plus-thick

    All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions.

    Okayama does not offer postgraduate courses for exchange. However are happy to accept postgraduate students into their undergraduate courses. Please ensure you discuss this with your Program Director prior to applying.

  • Required documentation minus-thick plus-thick
    • UniSA academic transcripts 
    • Passport 
    • A completed EPOK application form  
    • 2x  recommendation letters written by faculty members/staff of the home institution using the designated form.  
    • A completed Certificate of Health  
    • 2x passport size (4 cm x 3 cm) photos taken within 3 months with your name written on the back of each photo 
  • Credit Equivalencies minus-thick plus-thick

    Students must take a minimum 15 Okayama credits per semester equivalent to 18 UniSA units Students cannot take fewer than 15 Okayama credits. 

  • Language requirements minus-thick plus-thick

    Candidates from non-English speaking countries must be able to provide decent evidence that their command of the English language is adequate. EPOK accepts internationally acknowledged qualifications such as TOEFL (500 PBT score/ 61 iBT score), IELTS5.5 or TOEIC with a test score of 580. Please note that EPOK does not accept any national qualifications.  

  • Find courses minus-thick plus-thick

    See here for a list of courses offered at Okayama.
    For Spring semester (SP2) courses, please look at Term 1 and Term 2 course list.
    For Fall semester (SP5) courses, please look at Term 3 and Term 4 course list.

    See here to find the detailed course outlines. 

Okayama University Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

Weather
Autumn/Winter: 1°c to 11°c 
Spring/Summer: 19°c to 30°c 

Currency
¥ Yen   

Local language/s
Japanese  


  • Getting there minus-thick plus-thick

    Okayama University does not offer airport pick up. You will need to make your own way to the campus from Okayama Momotaro Airport. 

    More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

  • Accommodation minus-thick plus-thick

    All exchange students stay at the International Share House conveniently located five minutes’ walk from the Tsushima Campus of Okayama University (main campus). Students share a unit with one Japanese student and two other international students. Every unit is single sex, has a common room with kitchen facilities, a bathroom, a toilet and four private rooms. This offers great opportunities to experience customs and cultures of Japan as well as other parts of the world. 

    More information on accommodation can be found here.  

  • Living costs minus-thick plus-thick

    As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to Okayama University, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur: 

    Items Approximate Cost (AUD)
    Return flights from Adelaide $2100
    Health Insurance $26 per semester
    Accommodation (not including deposit)  $350 per month 
    Meals/Groceries  $400 per month 
    Transportation $30 to $130 per month 
    Entertainment and incidentals including phone, laundry ect $400 per month

    More information can be found here.

  • Funding minus-thick plus-thick

    You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.

    Where possible, Okayama University will nominate high achieving students for the JASSO Scholarship (JASSO), a Student Exchange Support Program which offers successful applicants a monthly stipend of ¥80,000. More information will be provided by Okayama University if deemed eligible. Click here for more info on the JASSO scholarship. 

  • Insurance minus-thick plus-thick

    Living tab, insurance – incorrect information, please change to,

    UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.

    Please click  here  to read the travel insurance policy.

    A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found  here.

    If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the  UniSA Insurance Office  on 08 8302 1678.

    As an exchange student at Okayama University, you must purchase compulsory additional health insurance. See here for more information.

Okayama University Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

Visa information

It is your responsibility to apply for your visa for your overseas study experience. You can refer to the relevant consulate regarding a specific countries visa requirement. UniSA is legally unable to provide visa advice. Please see below links for more information.  
 
Australian Government DFAT brief on Japan is available here.  
  
Japan embassy website can be found here.  
 
Okayama University student visa FAQ is available here

Register your travel

To participate in an exchange experience, you must register your travel with International SOS (iSOS). We will provide instructions on how to do this throughout the process. 
 
UniSA has partnered with iSOS to offer our students medical, safety and security advice, referrals, emotional support and routine and emergency assistance when travelling or living abroad. 
 
For more information please visit the Travel Health and Safety Webpage
 
Before your departure, we strongly encourage you to visit the Smartraveller website.
 
The website contains important information you need to know about travel documents, up to date travel advisories on destinations you may be travelling to on behalf of the University, travel tips and more. 

Okayama University Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

NO AVAILABLE SUMMER/WINTER SCHOOL

Okayama University is not an exchange partner for Summer/Winter school. To see other current short-term opportunities, please click here

Okayama University website

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Hear from our past students

Want to know more about studying overseas? Check out our returned student reports.

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