Osaka International University (OIU) Guide for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Admissions & Student Life

Thinking about studying in Japan but want campus life that’s friendly, practical, and close to Osaka’s business hub? Osaka International University (OIU) in Moriguchi is a private university that blends career-focused majors with a global mindset. This guide gives you a clear, source-backed overview of OIU—quick facts, strengths, student life, exchange options, climate, international student statistics, and career outcomes—so you can quickly decide if it fits your goals and budget. Links go straight to official pages in English (with some Japanese pages where helpful) and recent data is highlighted throughout.

Quick‑Facts Table

Numbers emphasize the most recent official releases. Where two sources exist (e.g., university “Data” vs. school‑corporation overview), the more current number is shown first with its date.

Type	Private University (uniRank profile)
Total Students	2,432 (as of June 2025, school corporation overview) — includes OIU and the Japanese Studies program. Source: OIEI Enrollment & Staff. For detail by faculty (May 1, 2024): Student Numbers (PDF).
Campuses	Moriguchi (Main; academic programs consolidated here). Official: OIU English. Note: Hirakata campus was closed in 2016 (consolidation). Evidence: JP Wikipedia (campus history).
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Business Administration & Economics; Faculty of Human Sciences; Faculty of International Liberal Arts; Graduate School of Management & Information Science; School of Japanese Studies for Foreign Students (Japanese‑language preparatory program/bekka); Osaka International College (junior college). See: OIU English.
Tuition Fees (1st Year)	¥1,258,410 (typical total with 30% tuition reduction applied for eligible student‑visa holders) — Entrance fee ¥280,000; Tuition ¥616,000; Facilities ¥260,000; Other ¥65,000; Insurance (4 yrs) ¥37,410. Source: First Year Admission for International Students 2025 (PDF).
Gender Ratio	Not officially published for students. (Teaching staff breakdown available: total 104 as of May 1, 2024.) Source: Teaching Staff Numbers (PDF).
Intl‑Student %	University & Graduate level: 56 students (≈2.2%) as of May 1, 2023; Bekka: 22 students from 6 countries/regions. Target policy aims for ~10% international share. Source: Self‑Evaluation 2024/25 (PDF, pp. 81–84).
Students per Staff	≈24:1 using OIU 2,454 students / 104 teaching staff (as of May 1, 2024). Sources: Student Numbers (PDF) + Teaching Staff Numbers (PDF).

Campus Maps

Moriguchi Campus (Osaka)

Address: 6-21-57 Fujita-cho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8555, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Osaka International University (OIU) is part of the Osaka International Educational Institution (OIEI), a private school corporation rooted in the Kansai region. OIEI’s lineage traces back to the prewar Impero schools and, after World War II, gradually expanded from secondary education into higher education, taking its current “Osaka International” identity over decades of reform and growth. Today the group encompasses OIU, its junior college, a dedicated School of Japanese Studies for Foreign Students (bekka), and affiliated secondary and early‑childhood schools in Moriguchi—providing a full pipeline from language preparation to undergraduate, graduate, and professional progression. See the group overview here: OIEI History (English) and current constituent schools: OIEI Constituent Schools.

Academically, OIU was established in 1988 as a comprehensive private university and now organizes teaching around three applied, outward‑facing faculties: Business Administration & Economics; Human Sciences; and International Liberal Arts. The campus consolidated at Moriguchi in the mid‑2010s, and the former Hirakata campus was formally closed in 2016 as programs moved to Moriguchi—part of a long‑term plan to concentrate academic resources and student services in one accessible site. (Reference for closure/consolidation: JP Wikipedia.)

The Moriguchi campus has seen steady renewal—Yasui Architects & Engineers designed facilities under the “Moriguchi Campus Master Plan 2011,” adding lab and teaching spaces to support newer faculties and interactive learning. See a representative project description: Yasui project page.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Global Liberal‑Arts Core

International Liberal Arts at OIU focuses on practical communication skills, global business literacy, and intercultural understanding. Students majoring in International Communication and International Tourism engage in a curriculum that explicitly links language training with business, media, and service‑industry practice—useful for Kansai’s tourism and MICE economy. Program outlines and structure are listed on OIU’s English site.

Hands‑On Health & Sports (Flagship)

OIU’s Faculty of Human Sciences is a standout in the university’s profile, merging human health, psychology/communication, and sports science. Labs, coaching‑oriented teaching, and club culture make this faculty highly active. The department‑level graduate and employment tallies (below) show consistently strong placement for Human Health Science and Sports Management. See the official outcomes table (2021–2023) here: Paths after Graduation (PDF).

Human Health Science

In 2023, 84 of 85 graduates entered employment (≈98.8%). Applied coursework ranges from human biology and nutrition to well‑being and community health. (Source: Placement data PDF.)

Sports Management

A pipeline for fitness, coaching, and sports business. In 2023, 103 of 117 graduates secured employment (≈88.0%). The faculty’s research and instructor profiles show active publication and fieldwork in leisure, tourism, and sports studies (example instructor page: Prof. Yokoyama).

Career‑Integrated Business & Economics

The Faculty of Business Administration & Economics emphasizes employability from year one. In 2023, Business Administration saw 73 employed out of 77 graduates (≈94.8%); Economics 57 of 62 (≈91.9%). Data come directly from OIU’s official outcomes table: Paths after Graduation (PDF). Support is coordinated by the Career Placement Center (see OIU “Data” and career pages linked from OIU English).

Language Support & Everyday English

OIU runs conversation‑practice initiatives like “English Island” with external partners (ECC) as part of its “internal internationalization” efforts—alongside short‑term outbound study programs. These are documented in the university’s latest institutional self‑evaluation (see pp. 77–84 for exchange/English activities): Self‑Evaluation 2024/25 (PDF).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Expect the usual Japanese university mix: sports, culture, volunteering, and communication circles. A long‑running example is the English Study Society (ESS), featured in university news even prior to the Moriguchi consolidation—an indicator of club‑level English activity: ESS mention (OIU news).

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

The International Exchange Center at Moriguchi handles admissions guidance, COE documentation, and general advising. Contact details and fee tables for international applicants are in the official PDF: First Year Admission 2025 (PDF). Campus‑wide “English Island” sessions and seasonal events (e.g., hanami, sports exchange, Halloween/Christmas mixers) are listed in the self‑evaluation report (pp. 81–84): Self‑Evaluation (PDF).

Language‑Exchange & Buddy‑Style Interaction

Although OIU doesn’t brand a “buddy program” by that name on the English site, the International Exchange Center runs frequent small‑group events where domestic and international students socialize and practice language together—functionally similar to buddy schemes. See event list and photos in the self‑evaluation (pp. 83–84): Self‑Evaluation (PDF).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

As of the latest institutional report, OIU maintains exchange agreements with 47 universities. In 2023, OIU dispatched 13 exchange students, and over 150 joined short‑term overseas programs (mainly in East/Southeast Asia and the Pacific). Evidence and examples (pp. 77–81): Self‑Evaluation 2024/25 (PDF).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Moriguchi sits just northeast of central Osaka, so weather mirrors Osaka City. Over the past five years, August days typically top out in the low‑to‑mid 30s °C and winter mornings hover near 2–4°C. For station‑level monthly stats: JMA Osaka (Station 47772) and recent daily/annual summaries: Meteostat.

Safety and affordability are solid by big‑city standards. Numbeo’s current Safety Index for Osaka is ~67 (high by its scale): Numbeo: Osaka Crime/Safety. In Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living ranking, Osaka placed 146th (cheaper than many Western cities): The Japan Times summary and Mercer’s overview page: Mercer Cost of Living. For quick price checks, see: Expatistan Osaka.

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2023, OIU (university + graduate) had 56 international students (≈2.2%) from 7 countries/regions (China, Korea, Cambodia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia). The Japanese‑language preparatory School (bekka) hosted 22 students from 6 countries/regions (including the U.S.). The university’s policy target is around 10% international representation going forward. All figures are stated in the university’s institutional self‑evaluation: Self‑Evaluation 2024/25 (PDF, pp. 81–84).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Department‑level outcomes are published annually. For 2023 graduates, official totals show 508 employed out of 567 across the seven undergraduate departments (≈89.6% overall), with department highlights such as Business Administration (≈94.8%), Economics (≈91.9%), Human Health Science (≈98.8%), and Sports Management (≈88.0%). See the full table (2021–2023): Paths after Graduation (PDF). Graduate School intake/employment numbers are also listed in the same document. Career advising and job‑hunt coaching are run by the Career Placement Center (linked via OIU English).

Admissions & What It Costs

For April 2025 entry, the “First Year Admission for International Students” PDF outlines application windows, JLPT/EJU requirements, screening dates, and fee details, including the 30% tuition reduction for eligible visa holders. Annual first‑year total is ¥1,258,410. Always rely on the current PDF here: First Year Admission 2025 (PDF). General university data (student headcounts, staff, and enrollment tables) are available from OIU’s “Data” hub: OIU English (Data section).