With roots dating back to 1870 by the family of Lord Ikeda who already founded the domain school for the samurai that continued for 200 years. Today, Okayama University is renowned as a top-class national research university. It has 11 faculties, 8 graduate schools, and offers a variety of stimulating programs for students interested in all fields of study.  
 
There two campuses, Tsushima campus (main campus) and Shikata campus. The Tsushima Campus is located 10 minutes from Okayama central station and 20 minutes from Okayama Momotaro Airport.  
  
Okayama University has many cultural and athletic clubs and circles. To join one gives you a chance to get acquainted with Japanese students making your campus life more fruitful. Further information about clubs and circles is available at the Student Affairs Division in the Academic Affairs Department. The Center for Liberal Arts and Language Education offers Japanese language classes to international students enrolled in the university. The Japanese language course offers seven levels of classes.  

Okayama, which is located between Osaka and Hiroshima, is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chugoku region of Japan. The city is home to one of the top three traditional gardens in Japan as well as Okayama Castle which is ranked among the best 100 Japanese castles. The climate is very mild with low rainfall, and the area has a thriving agriculture industry, specializing in fruit  products such as Muscat grapes and white peaches.  Okayama is also known for its craftsmanship – the town of Imbe is the home of Bizen pottery, one of Japan’s oldest forms of pottery with a history going back 1,000 years.

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of the Asian continent. It is a member of the ASEAN Plus mechanism, UN, OECD, G7, G8 and G20.

Approximately 97% of Japan's 126 million people live on the four largest islands and the capital city of Tokyo is the largest city in the world at 37 million people – a third of Japan's total population. More than 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language, but younger Japanese are usually familiar with English, particularly in tourist-heavy areas such as Tokyo.

Japan has a very high standard of living, with the population enjoying one of the highest life expectancies in the world. It has the third-largest economy in the world and is the world's fourth-largest exporter and importer. It’s little surprise that Japan is very popular with tourists. The country is very safe, clean, beautiful, modern and easy to navigate. You're likely already aware of some of the more popular attractions such as Mt. Fuji, bamboo forests, cherry blossom season, as well as the cuisine that includes favourites such as ramen, sushi and tempura.

Japan seems to have a reputation for being expensive, however it's more budget friendly for tourists than many think. Despite having the largest city in the world, two thirds of Japan is actually covered by forests and mountains. You could visit various animal islands and parks to get up close with deer, foxes, and cats. During the winter season, try skiing in the mountains, with the enticing option of a hot spring to relax in after a day on the slopes. If you're into anime, J-pop, gaming, or fashion, Japan is a must-visit location to see the cutting edge of these trends. Alternatively, you could visit a traditional shrine, participate in an ancient festival, stop by a country town or wander through old castles and estates, and get a taste for the other side of Japan.

Did you know?

Japanese trains are among the world’s most punctual: their average delay is just 18 seconds! There is even a train that “floats” above the tracks by magnetism. In 2015, this train hit a record-breaking top speed of 603 kph (374mph) on an experimental track. Geisha means “person of the arts” and the first geisha, who appeared around the year 1730, were actually male!

All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions.

Okayama does not offer postgraduate courses for exchange. However are happy to accept postgraduate students into their undergraduate courses. Please ensure you discuss this with your Program Director prior to applying.

• UniSA academic transcripts 
• Passport 
• A completed EPOK application form  
• 2x  recommendation letters written by faculty members/staff of the home institution using the designated form.  
• A completed Certificate of Health  
• 2x passport size (4 cm x 3 cm) photos taken within 3 months with your name written on the back of each photo 

Students must take a minimum 15 Okayama credits per semester equivalent to 18 UniSA units Students cannot take fewer than 15 Okayama credits. 

Candidates from non-English speaking countries must be able to provide decent evidence that their command of the English language is adequate. EPOK accepts internationally acknowledged qualifications such as TOEFL (500 PBT score/ 61 iBT score), IELTS5.5 or TOEIC with a test score of 580. Please note that EPOK does not accept any national qualifications.  

For Spring semester courses, please look at Term 1 and Term 2 course list. For Fall semester courses, please look at Term 3 and Term 4 course list.

Find courses at Okayama

Okayama University does not offer airport pick up. You will need to make your own way to the campus from Okayama Momotaro Airport. 

More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

All exchange students stay at the International Share House conveniently located five minutes’ walk from the Tsushima Campus of Okayama University (main campus). Students share a unit with one Japanese student and two other international students. Every unit is single sex, has a common room with kitchen facilities, a bathroom, a toilet and four private rooms. This offers great opportunities to experience customs and cultures of Japan as well as other parts of the world. 

More information on accommodation can be found here.  

As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to Okayama University, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur: 

More information can be found here.

You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.

Where possible, Okayama University will nominate high achieving students for the JASSO Scholarship (JASSO), a Student Exchange Support Program which offers successful applicants a monthly stipend of ¥80,000. More information will be provided by Okayama University if deemed eligible. Click here for more info on the JASSO scholarship. 

Living tab, insurance – incorrect information, please change to,

UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.

Please click  here  to read the travel insurance policy.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found  here.

If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the  UniSA Insurance Office  on 08 8302 1678.

As an exchange student at Okayama University, you must purchase compulsory additional health insurance. See here for more information.