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Program Overview

International Exchange Subjects are offered by a variety of faculties and are designed mainly for 3rd year undergraduate students. Exchange students for OUSSEP are expected to earn at least 14 credits each semester mostly from International Exchange Subjects (28 credits in an academic year). This includes Independent Study Course, Internship Course, and Japanese language classes. Students can then transfer the credits to their home institutions.

International Exchange Subjects
The University of Osaka tries to balance the number of students majoring in the natural sciences (including engineering and medicine), the humanities, and the social sciences. Students may select their subjects according to their majors and interests. At the same time, students are encouraged to take subjects outside their own majors as this will help them to broaden their perspective and gain a deeper understanding of Japanese society and culture.

Independent Study Course
One of the unique features of the Full-year and Half-year OUSSEP programs is the Independent Study (2-4 credits per semester). Students can propose a study topic and are then assigned to a supervising professor in an appropriate school/faculty/graduate school. Students may study a particular subject that is not found in the International Exchange Subjects (Individual Study) or conduct a research project on a particular theme (Independent Research). Students and their supervising professor will agree upon the scope and depth of the study at the beginning of the program*. For Full-year OUSSEP students, the Independent Study usually continues for two semesters. At the end of each semester students submit their report on the topic to the supervising professor. Refer to the Guide to Independent Study found on the OUSSEP Website for further details. Those who wish to undertake Independent Study must fill out the Independent Study Proposal along with the other application documents.

• NOTE: When the amount of work required for the Independent Study is particularly large in scope, the supervising professor and the International Affairs Committee may decide to grant up to 4 credits per semester for graduate students, instead of the usual 2 credits.

OUSSEP Internship Course
From October 2020, OUSSEP launched a new Internship Course to provide an opportunity for participants to gain practical work experience and earn academic credits. In this course, OUSSEP cooperates with partner in the private sectors.

CIEE Japanese Language Course
In addition to the aforementioned courses, OUSSEP students may take any of the six levels of Japanese courses(4 credits each semester) according to their proficiency level.