OGU Kokusai Center

Life at OGU

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.

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.Therefore, driving motor vehicles is prohibited.

* 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:

As availability of student apartments and homestay families is limited, please ensure you state your first and second choices clearly on the admission application. Please be aware that due to the large numbers of applications that OGU receives, your first choice may not always be available.

Homestay

In contrast to many other Japanese study abroad and exchange programs, living with a Japanese host family in a long-term homestay living arrangement is considered to be one of the most valuable opportunities while studying at OGU. The long-term homestay 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 or table to study at and a bed or futon.
  • Two meals per day
  • Shared bath/toilet

>> My Homestay Experience

OGU Student Apartments

Searching for an apartment in Japan can be very difficult for international students due to the Japanese system requiring reikin (gift money for the landlord), shikikin (deposit) and hoshinin (Japanese Guarantor). For that reason, Osaka Gakuin University has arranged a selection of apartments for its exchange students that do not require any deposit, gift money or guarantor. Students who wish to take advantage of this accommodation option must fill in and return the Housing Questionnaire together with their admission application.
These apartments are contracted to Osaka Gakuin University and the minimum period of stay is 1 month. In the event that a student wishes to move out during the first month, one months rent and the futon charge will be collected. The OGU student apartments will vary depending on their location.

  • Monthly rent: ¥50,000 or less
  • Meals not included
  • No curfew
  • A futon mattress (¥10,000) must be purchased
  • A kitchen, mini-bathroom, bed, TV, microwave, fridge, desk and chair.
  • Plates, pots, kitchen utensils and curtains are not included

>> Example of one OGU student apartment type

Guesthouses

Occasionally, students have rented guesthouses or furnished living quarters, which are usually occupied by foreigners traveling or living in Japan. Further information about these types of accommodation can be found online; for example Osaka Guest House: http://guesthouseosaka.com/en/index.html .
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, 2011, 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.