Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT) — International Student Guide: Admissions, Programs, Tuition, Campuses

Thinking about studying engineering, computing, or design in Japan—and want a campus in the heart of a world-class city? Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT) blends century-old engineering roots with hands‑on maker culture at its Umeda “vertical campus.” This guide walks you through OIT’s mission, standout programs, international support, campus vibe, exchange options, and what life is like in Osaka. Wherever you’re starting from, you’ll get the essentials you need to decide if OIT should be on your shortlist.

Quick Facts

Item	Details
Type	Private University (OIT at a Glance)
Total Students	8,154 (as of May 1, 2024)
Campuses	Omiya (Main), Umeda, Hirakata (OIT Campuses)
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Robotics & Design; Faculty of Information Science & Technology; Faculty of Intellectual Property; Graduate Schools (Engineering; Robotics & Design; Information Science & Technology; Intellectual Property). Sources: Degrees Offered, Undergraduate & Graduate Schools
Tuition Fees (UG)	Tuition ¥1,290,000/year; Admission fee ¥250,000 (faculty-specific extras apply). Enrollment / Tuition (EN) ・ 学費（JP）
Gender Ratio	Undergraduate Female 14.6% (May 1, 2024). Source
Intl‑Student %	~1% (77 international students out of 8,154 total; May 1, 2024). Source
Students per Staff	27.7 : 1 (overall; May 1, 2024). Source

Campus Maps

Omiya Campus (Osaka City)

Address: 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka 535-8585, Japan

Umeda Campus (Osaka City)

Address: 1-45 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8568, Japan

Hirakata Campus (Hirakata City)

Address: 1-79-1 Kitayama, Hirakata City, Osaka 573-0196, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Osaka Institute of Technology began in 1922 as the Kansai Engineering Technical School and became a four‑year university in 1949, taking on the name used today. From the start, OIT’s identity has been tightly aligned with the needs of industry—training engineers who can apply science to real problems. That “science-based practical skills” ethos remains the school’s core founding spirit: “For the world, for the people and for the community.” Official profile

Today OIT spans three campuses in the Osaka metropolitan area: Omiya (the main campus in Asahi‑ku), Umeda (a 21‑story “vertical campus” opened in 2017 in downtown Osaka), and Hirakata (on the foothills between Osaka and Kyoto). This geography matters: Umeda sits steps from Osaka Station and the city’s startup scene, allowing students—especially in robotics, design, and information science—to build prototypes, meet companies, and pitch ideas without leaving the neighborhood. Campuses

Academically, OIT is organized into four undergraduate faculties (Engineering; Robotics & Design; Information Science & Technology; Intellectual Property) and corresponding graduate schools. It also runs cross‑disciplinary programs and project‑based learning (PBL) that emphasize prototyping and teamwork, from drones and autonomous systems to smart energy and urban design. Degrees Offered ・ Undergraduate & Graduate Schools

Outcomes are a point of pride: OIT publishes detailed placement data by department, with undergraduate employment rates around the mid‑ to high‑90% range in recent years, and strong results across graduate courses as well. For a practical, career‑oriented student, this combination of hands‑on teaching and Osaka’s employer network is the attraction. Career path data

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship: Robotics & Design (Umeda Campus)

Three Departments Under One Roof

The Faculty/Graduate School of Robotics & Design integrates robotics, systems design, and design & architecture—encouraging engineers and designers to co‑create. Students ideate in the Learning Commons and prototype in the Innovation Lab on Umeda’s 9th floor (3D printers, machine tools, staff support). Faculty of Robotics & Design (EN)

Studio + Lab Culture

Coursework mixes studios, PBL, and joint classes across departments—so an HMI prototype might pair robotics students with product designers and systems engineers. That blend is a differentiator within Japan’s tech‑focused institutions. Design & Architecture

Information Science & Technology: AI, Data, Real‑World Computing

From first‑year drone programming and IoT labs to media‑AI and cybersecurity, OIT’s Information Science & Technology programs emphasize applied skills and teamwork. A new “Real World Computing” track highlights AI + robotics + edge computing with practical projects. Faculty overview ・ Real World Computing ・ Media Science

Engineering Depth: Classic to Cutting‑Edge

Mechanical, electrical & electronic systems, applied chemistry, environmental, biomedical, and urban design engineering anchor OIT’s traditional strengths. The culture is experiment‑heavy, with labs focused on materials, power electronics, urban infrastructure, and more. Faculty of Engineering (EN) ・ Electrical & Electronic Systems

Unique in Japan: Faculty of Intellectual Property (IP)

Few universities offer an undergraduate faculty dedicated to IP. OIT’s program blends law, management, and technology, and the Graduate School runs courses taught in English by practitioners and attorneys. If you’re curious about patents, licensing, or content business, this is a rare pathway in Japan. IP Faculty (EN) ・ Graduate School of IP (EN)

University–Industry Collaboration in Osaka

At Umeda, OIT’s CIDRe/Robotics & Design Center promotes open innovation with companies—workshops, prototyping, and joint projects just minutes from Osaka Station. For students, this means frequent touchpoints with industry and easier internships. CIDRe (EN) ・ Open‑innovation platform

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

International Friendship Club and E.S.S. (English Speaking Society) regularly support exchange students (airport/travel help, first‑day campus commute, excursions). There’s also an International Student Organization built by students for students. Support for International Students ・ OIT 2024–2025 Digital Brochure (PDF)

Dedicated Support Offices

OIT’s International Center coordinates inbound/outbound exchange, housing (International House), and general counseling. Pages are consolidated under “For Overseas Partners.” International Center ・ For Overseas Partners

Language‑Exchange & Buddy

A free Basic Japanese Course (18 sessions, 90 minutes each) for exchange students launched in Fall 2024, alongside culture activities and excursions. Details

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

OIT partners with 80+ institutions worldwide; exchange students typically receive tuition waivers at OIT, and OIT students can join semester or year‑long overseas coursework, research, and short‑term language/culture programs. Overseas Partner Institutions ・ Student Exchange (for Partner Universities) ・ Study Abroad Programs (for OIT students) ・ IAESTE & UMAP

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather (Recent 5 Years Reference)

Osaka has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Expect peak summer daily highs around the low‑to‑mid 30s °C and winter lows near 3–5 °C. To check monthly averages and extremes, use the Osaka station dataset (WMO 47772) on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s English site. JMA Monthly Climate (Osaka)

Cost of Living & Safety

Japan’s national guidance suggests typical student budgets for housing, food, and transport; Osaka is generally cheaper than Tokyo while still offering big‑city convenience. Study in Japan: Living Costs For broad safety benchmarking, Japan routinely ranks among the world’s safer countries (see the Global Peace Index). GPI 2025 (PDF)

Practical Prep (Emergencies & Local Info)

Bookmark Japan’s official emergency guidance for travelers and the City of Osaka’s English disaster‑prevention map. JNTO: Emergencies ・ Osaka Disaster‑Prevention Map

International Student Statistics

OIT (as of May 1, 2024): Undergraduate 61; Master’s 9; Professional (IP) 5; Doctoral 2; Total 77. That’s ~1% of total enrollment. Source
Osaka Prefecture: 29,465 international students (of Japan total 279,274) based on the 2023 JASSO survey. Study in Japan – Osaka

Career & Graduate Prospects

OIT reports strong employment outcomes (department‑level published figures). In 2023, undergraduate totals show ~96% employment, with many engineering departments at or near 100%. Graduate courses also trend high. Explore recent data and alumni stories here: Career Path (data) ・ Graduate Voices