ISST（International Student Support Team）:
The ISST is a volunteer group of OGU students who support the international students in their daily lives. This group’s role is to promote the exchange of language and culture between OGU students and international students.
OGU will introduce you to a Japanese “buddy” who will help with your initial settling in. Many of these buddies are ISST members.
Airport pick up on arrival
The ISST welcomes students at the airport and escorts each student to his/her host family’s house or dormitory.
International students must cover necessary transportation fees.
Off-Campus support
The ISST may assist international students in: obtaining their Alien Registration card, purchasing of cell phones, opening bank accounts, and other related matters.
Arrival Orientation
The ISST helps the International Center with the arrival orientation, campus tours, finding out information and answering questions that the international students may have.
Event planning and management
The ISST helps plan and host events such as the welcome party.
INSURANCE:
Japanese National Health Insurance
All international students are required to purchase Japanese National Health Insurance while living in Japan. Applications are submitted at the city hall nearest the student’s living residence. The average costs are about ¥2000 per month. The Japanese national health insurance plan pays 70% and students pay the remaining 30% of any health care expenses.
Liability Insurance
All international students are required to purchase liability insurance upon their arrival at OGU. Depending on your length of study, you will purchase either a one semester or one-year policy. Costs are about ¥1,000 per month, the liability insurance total costs for your entire stay will be collected after you arrive at OGU. Liability insurance is to protect you from damage and injury expenses when an international student accidently causes damage or injury to someone else and/or their property. The liability insurance does not cover your own personal injury and damage to your personal items.
* Whether you have your home country health/liability insurance or not, it will be mandatory for all international students to purchase the Japanese National Health Insurance Plan in Japan (city hall) and liability insurance (OGU) after arrival into Japan. Failure to do so may result in the student being sent back home.
HOUSING:
Both dormitory and home stay availability are limited and it is necessary to indicate both your 1st and 2nd choices when completing the home stay form. Due to a recent increase in the number of incoming international students, there is no guarantee that your 1st preference will be given.
Home stay
In contrast to many other Japanese study abroad and exchange programs, living with a Japanese host family in a long-term home stay living arrangement is considered to be one of the most valuable opportunities while studying at OGU. The long-term home stay experience offers the unique opportunity for international students to gain invaluable experience and insight while observing, living, and understanding Japanese daily life and customs.
- Monthly charge: ¥50,000
- Private room/includes a desk and bedding
- Two meals per day
- Shared bath/toilet
Private Off-Campus Dormitory
Some off-campus non co-ed dormitory options are also available. Also please keep in mind that some aspects of dormitory living in Japan, which may not be familiar to other cultures, are the concept of established dormitory curfews and less interactions among the residents. After coming to Japan, students may find an apartment and move out of the dormitory. However, the minimum length of stay is one month after the arrival in September.
Male Dorm: Park Residence
- Monthly charge: ¥49,000 with shared bathroom (not including electricity)
- Meals: 2 per day (Except December 26-January 5)
- Curfew: 11:00 pm
- Student must purchase own bedding/futon (approx. ¥15,000)
- About 30 minutes from the university by train & walking
>>To download a fact sheet on “Park Residence”.
(PDF: 151kb)
Female Dorm: Hill Court
- Monthly charge: ¥40,000 with private bath/toilet unit (not including electricity and water)
- Meals: cooking on your own
- Curfew: 11:00 pm
- Student must purchase own bedding/futon (approx. ¥15,000)
- About 20 minutes from the university by train & walking
- Only available from September to February. Extension to July is possible only if there is sufficient number of available rooms.
- The dormitory is mainly for OGU athletes who do not spend much time at the dorm.
Therefore, the interaction with the Japanese students is limited.
>>To download a fact sheet on “Hill Court”. (PDF: 156kb)
Guesthouses
Occasionally, students have rented guesthouses or furnished living quarters, which are usually occupied by foreigners traveling or living in Japan. These types of housing situations are advertised throughout the internet. Students who choose to use this type of housing are independently responsible for their own living arrangements and OGU is exempt from any housing responsibility thereof.
*All recipients of the OGU student exchange scholarship are required to live in home stays (Trier, St. Thomas, and Orlean scholarship students). The scholarship covers only the number of exchange students specified in the respective exchange agreement. Any additional students attending from these universities will be responsible for their own home stay/housing fee.
PART-TIME JOBS:
Students who desire to engage in part-time work may do so from December 1, 2010, but must not allow their jobs to interfere with their studies at OGU. Students should not rely on part-time work as their only source of financial support. Prior to partaking in part-time work, students must apply for a work permit issued by the Regional Immigration Bureau. Applications must be obtained and submitted through the International Center at OGU. Work permits allow students to work for the same number of hours per week as enrolled academic class hours during academic semesters. For example, if the enrolled academic class hours is 10 hours per week, you are allowed to work up to 10 hours per week, provided the job is not illegal or prohibited. However, it is allowed to work up to twenty-eight hours per week during the winter and spring vacations.