Osaka University
Osaka, Japan
Osaka University (officially The University of Osaka) is a national research university in Osaka, Japan, established in 1931. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as medicine, engineering, science, and the humanities, with campuses in Suita, Toyonaka, and Minoh. The university admits international students through both Japanese-taught pathways and a selection of English-taught degree programs.
Last updated

Location
Osaka
Established
1931
Degree levels
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Instruction
English-taught
Rankings
Rankings are published annually by their respective organisations and change every year. Confirm the current-year position on the official ranking website before relying on it.
How to apply
Direct via university
Region
East & Southeast Asia →Admission tests
SATDigital SAT
Listed for this university: SAT / IB Diploma / GCE A-Levels (for English-taught degree programs)
College Board · 8 weekend test dates a year (2026–27: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Mar, May, Jun; same for U.S. and international)
TOEFL / IELTS (English proficiency)JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test, for Japanese-taught programs)Requirements change from one intake to the next — confirm the current ones on Osaka University’s official site (opens in a new tab) before you apply.
Applying to universities in East & Southeast Asia
- Application platform
- Direct via each university (no single regional platform; Japan via university portals/JASSO, Hong Kong undergraduate via JUPAS for local students)
- Intakes
- Varies by country — Japan: April & Sept/Oct; Singapore & Malaysia: Aug/Sept; South Korea & China: March & Sept
- Student visa
- Student visa / pass (varies by country)
- Working while studying
- Varies by country — many allow limited part-time work during term (for example Japan up to 28 hrs/week with permission; Singapore restricted); verify current rules on the official source before relying on them.
Official sources: Study in Japan — Government of Japan · Study in Korea — Government of Korea · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Visa and work rules change — verify on the official source before relying on them.
Popular fields of study
Source: Osaka University official website. Details here are for guidance only — tuition, deadlines, rankings and eligibility change every academic year, so confirm on the official university site before applying.
Related / Next steps
Kyoto University
Kyoto
The University of Tokyo
Tokyo
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
National University of Singapore
Singapore
Admissions guides
9 min read
Ritsumeikan University Admission Guide for International Students
Ritsumeikan University admission guide for international students: its five English-medium undergraduate programs, including the Global Studies major and ANU dual degree.
9 min read
Okayama University Admission Guide for International Students
Okayama University admission guide for international students: the Discovery Program for Global Learners, its four clusters, and the April vs October language rules.
10 min read
TUAT and Yokohama National University Admission Guide
How international students apply to TUAT and Yokohama National University: English-taught STEM degrees, the Japanese EJU route and research-student routes.
10 min read
Hokkaido, Kyushu and Tsukuba University Admission Guide for International Students
Admission guide to the English-taught degree routes at Hokkaido, Kyushu and Tsukuba universities for international students, with each screening explained.
9 min read
Japan University Intakes and Application Timeline Planning
Japan admits in April, and some universities also admit in autumn. How to choose an intake, sequence the EJU and a faculty exam, and verify every date officially.
9 min read
Tohoku University Admission Guide for International Students
Tohoku University admission guide for international students: the English-taught undergraduate route (the new Gateway College, replacing FGL) and graduate research.
Thinking about Osaka University?
Ask GSB how to build a competitive application for this university.
Ask GSB →Studying in East & Southeast Asia
Continue exploring East & Southeast Asia
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for East & Southeast Asia — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
Popular topics · East & Southeast Asia
Popular guides
View all →