Okinawa International University (OKIU): Complete Guide for International Students — Admissions, Tuition, Student Life, Exchanges

Thinking about Japan for your degree but want a warm climate, friendly campus culture, and strong ties to Asia? Okinawa International University (OKIU) in Ginowan City might be your match. A private university founded in 1972, OKIU blends liberal-arts foundations with career-focused programs in law, economics, business & IT, and global/regional culture. The school’s Global Education Support Center provides visa, scholarship, and daily-life support, while exchange agreements open doors to study in Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and North America. Below is a practical, evidence-based guide to help you evaluate OKIU from overseas.

Quick-Facts Table

Item	Details (Evidence)
Type	Private University Official Outline (EN)
Total Students	5,257 (Undergraduate 5,206; Graduate 51) as of May 1, 2025 Students (JP)
Campus	Ginowan Campus (Main) – Ginowan, Okinawa
Faculties / Schools	College of Law; College of Economics; College of Industry & Information; College of Global & Regional Culture Colleges (EN)
Tuition Fees (Year 1)	Undergraduate: ¥971,160 / Graduate: ¥624,430 Fee Tables (JP)
Gender Ratio	Approx. 54% male / 46% female (reference data) Kei-Net (JP)
International Students	16 students (0.3% of total) as of May 1, 2025 Foreign Students (JP) / 2025 Roster PDF (JP)
Students per Staff	38.86 (as of May 1, 2025) Students per Teacher (JP)

Notes: English pages are cited where available; otherwise, official Japanese pages are used. Yen figures are before any individual scholarships/waivers.

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Ginowan)

Address: 2-6-1 Ginowan, Ginowan City, Okinawa 901-2701, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

OKIU’s core philosophy emphasizes “peace and coexistence,” “individuality and creativity,” and “autonomy and development,” reflecting Okinawa’s history as a crossroads between Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific. The university was formally approved on February 24–25, 1972—just before Okinawa’s reversion to Japan—and opened its doors to the local community the same spring. Its establishment was supported by public funds to consolidate higher education capacity in Okinawa, and OKIU has since grown into a comprehensive private institution with four colleges and multiple graduate programs. For an English summary of its history and values, see the official pages below.

Historical outline and founding details (English): History (EN) / University overview (English): General Information (EN). Additional institutional statistics and annual data are available on the public information pages and annual reports (JP): Students & Staff (JP), FY2023 Annual Report (JP, PDF).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Global Liberal-Arts Core & Okinawan Studies

OKIU combines a liberal-arts core with hands-on learning tied to Okinawa’s culture and society. Research centers such as the Institute of Ryukyuan Culture support fieldwork and comparative studies across the Ryukyu arc and nearby regions—ideal for students interested in heritage, language, and island studies. Research Centers (EN)

Career Support & Local-Industry Linkages

The Career Support section provides counseling, workshops, employer events, and internship pathways to help students transition to jobs in Okinawa and beyond. Programs include career-design courses and interview practice embedded in the curriculum. Examples of typical employers—including banks, public sector, and service industries—are shown in faculty pages and news items. Career Support (JP) / Sample employer lists (legacy page): Career Plan (JP)

Student Support for Internationals (Visa, Scholarships, Daily Life)

OKIU’s Global Education Support Center is a one-stop office for international students—covering visa paperwork, enrollment certificates, scholarship guidance, events, and a friendly space to ask for help in English or Japanese. Global Education Support Center (EN) / Scholarships overview: Scholarship (EN)

Flagship Departments in Languages & Area Studies

Language- and region-focused programs are a highlight at OKIU—connecting English and other world languages with Okinawan/Asian studies and fieldwork. Explore department pages for curriculum and outcomes: Society & Regional Culture (EN), British & American Language & Culture (EN). These tracks pair well with exchanges and language contests hosted by the Center. Language Programs (EN)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

From cultural and sports circles to volunteer groups, clubs are a major part of campus life at Japanese universities. At OKIU, student organizations welcome motivated international participants—great for building language confidence and local friendships. See the clubs/circles portal (JP): Clubs & Circles (JP)

Dedicated Support Offices

The Global Education Support Center offers visa guidance, scholarship info, and everyday-life help. The office also runs international exchange events throughout the year. Global Education Support Center (EN)

Language-Exchange & Buddy Programs

The Center organizes language events and contests in multiple languages (English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese as a foreign language, and Ryukyuan). These are easy entry points to make friends and practice daily Japanese. Language Study Programs (EN)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

OKIU runs exchanges with overseas partner universities and supports outbound programs through its Global Education Support Center. Details and current partner count are published on the English site: International Exchange Programs (EN). For outbound statistics/updates (JP): Outbound Students & Results (JP)

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Okinawa’s climate is subtropical oceanic: winters are mild and summers are hot and humid, with a rainy season (roughly May–June) and typhoon risk in late summer/early autumn. In Naha (near Ginowan), typical winter days are around the high teens °C, while summer highs sit around 30–32°C with warm nights. See official monthly normals (1991–2020) via the Japan Meteorological Agency and choose “Naha”: JMA Climate Normals (EN)

Cost of Living & Safety

Living costs in Naha/Ginowan are generally below Tokyo’s, especially for rent and dining out. For ballpark comparisons, you can browse crowd‑sourced indices: Naha Cost of Living / Ginowan Cost of Living. As always, confirm latest prices with landlords and student groups before you budget.

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, OKIU reports 16 international students with “Student” residence status. Top nationalities include China (9), Taiwan (3), plus smaller cohorts from Vietnam, Myanmar, the UK, and Argentina. See the official summary page and the current PDF roster: Foreign Students (JP) / 2025 Roster PDF (JP)

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career services provide 1‑on‑1 counseling, seminars, employer sessions, and internship support. Many graduates go into public administration, banking/finance, education, welfare, IT/services, and local industries. For services and current initiatives, start with the official pages: Career Support (JP). Historical employer examples are compiled here: Career Plan (JP). Broader institutional outcomes appear in public information/annual reports: FY2023 Annual Report (JP, PDF)

Admissions Snapshot (for International Applicants)

OKIU offers a dedicated selection track for foreign nationals. Requirements typically include EJU/JLPT or J.TEST results, an interview, and document screening. Always confirm the latest schedule and criteria: International Applicants (JP)