Financial matters

Preparing a solid financial plan is essential for successful studies in Japan. If you intend to study at Osaka University, before visiting Japan please seek substantial means to support your daily life in Japan.

1. Excepting school fees, monthly expenses of a single person in Japan amount roughly to 120,000 - 150,000 yen.
2. Osaka University does not provide any scholarship. Although several private foundations offer scholarships to international students studying at their own expense (called “privately funded students”), the number of students desiring such scholarships is always far greater than the number of scholarships available. (As of April 2006, 36% of the students studying at their own expense received such scholarships.)
3. Osaka University has a system for exempting either all or half the school fee for regular students of both graduate and under-graduate schools. However, not all applicants can be thus exempted. (During the first semester of 2006, full school fee was exempted for about 28% of the international students who applied, half the school fee was exempted for about 57% of the international students who applied, and the remaining applicants received no exemption. Please note that these figures are the average of the whole university. The percentage of students who were afforded a full fee exemption is significantly lower in undergraduate and Master's programmes.) There is no such system for research students.
4. International students can benefit from the Medical Fee Reimbursement Program for International Students, organized by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), provided that they are covered by the national health insurance system. If you are covered by the health insurance, 35% of the expenses you pay at clinics will be reimbursed. To apply for this health insurance, follow appropriate procedures at the local municipal office of your residence at the time of Alien Registration. The monthly premium is about 2,000 yen.
5. Side jobs are permitted for students who have received the "work permit for part-time jobs" from the Immigration Office. However, if you engage too extensively in side jobs, you will have little time to study.
6. Osaka University’s dormitories for international students do not have sufficient capacity to accommodate all such students. If you rent an apartment, in addition to monthly rent you will have to pay guarantee money (shikikin) and/or key money (reikin), amounting to roughly ten times the monthly rent. Although about half the guarantee money will be returned to you when you leave the apartment, the key money will not be returned. Monthly rents differ greatly depending on the location and condition of the property, and other factors. The monthly rents of the majority of apartments in the vicinity of the University range from 20,000 yen (usually with toilet but no bathroom) to 60,000 yen (with toilet and bathroom).

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