At Okinawa International University, a wide variety of faculty, staff and students are involved in a broad array of international activities that promote peace and understanding in Okinawa and the wider world. These activities take place in our four undergraduate faculties, the Graduate School, our three research centers, our student clubs, and the International Relations Center and include activities both on and off campus and in a number of different countries and regions. In addition to providing quality discipline-based training to Japanese and international students in both undergraduate and graduate programs and special support to international students, OKIU is also involved in internationally recognized research on Ryukyuan studies, longevity, peace and security, law, management, economics, environmental economics, information technology, and other interdisciplinary fields. Taking advantage of Okinawa's unique circumstances, the teaching and research work carried out at OKIU have broad international implications. In acknowledgement of our efforts, OKIU was one of ten universities in Japan cited by the Japan University Accreditation Association for exemplary compliance with its University Standards.

　Situated off the coast of China in the middle of the Ryukyu Archipelago halfway between Kyushu and Taiwan, Okinawa has over the past several hundred years absorbed influences from China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and the United States to create a culture and way of life which is open to the outside world while at the same time celebrating its own unique heritage. Okinawa's location at a crossroads in East Asia means that we are closer in flying time to Shanghai and Taipei than to Tokyo, and easily accessible from many points in the Asia Pacific region and all major destinations in mainland Japan. With its subtropical climate (average annual temperature 22C. 72F.), vacation resorts, convention facilities, coral reefs and turquoise ocean, Okinawa offers an excellent human and physical environment to pursue international studies and research.

　Due to this inviting academic and physical climate, OKIU has been able to attract a diverse faculty from throughout Okinawa and Japan and from the United States, the U.K., China, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore and create a nurturing and supportive educational experience which has drawn students from China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, the United States, the U.K., and Russia, in addition to visiting scholars from an even wider circle of countries and regions. We invite you to choose Okinawa International University as your place for research or study and experience firsthand the hospitality for which Okinawans are world-renowned.

International Relations Center

　The International Relations Center is responsible for managing the official exchanges between Okinawa International University and our sister schools and provides a variety of services to international students on our campus.

Official Exchanges

　Okinawa International University currently has official exchanges with six universities in China, Egypt, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, the United State, France, and the United Kingdom. The International Relations Center handles the hosting of participants on official exchange programs and the sending of participants to official programs held at these sister institutions. At OKIU, this can entail hosting joint international symposiums, receiving visiting researchers from sister schools on programs sponsored by OKIU and receiving students from sister schools on either three week language and culture seminars or one year exchange programs.

　In addition to hosting students and visiting faculty, the International Relations Center is also responsible for assisting faculty and students who are preparing to participate in official exchanges at our sister institutions. Here again, we support the sending of visiting researchers on one-month programs, the sending of students on two to four week overseas language and culture seminars and the sending of students on one-year exchange programs.

Foreign Language and Culture Seminars

　In order to promote international exchange and foster students with an international outlook, the various departments of our four colleges, the College of Law, College of Economics and Environmental Policy, College of Industry and Information Science, College of Global and Regional Culture, offer Foreign Language and Cultural Seminars I to V. These seminars count as general classes on international understanding, and students who complete the designated course requirements recieve four credits toward graduation. The seminars are held during summer break (for U.S and South Korea) and spring break (for Taiwan and Australia) , for a period of apporoximately three weeks, during which the OKIU participants stay in a university dormitory or home-stay with a host family. Focusing primarily on foreign language study and providing firsthand cross-cultural experiences, the seminars are stimulating programs that include English, Chinese, or Korean classes; lectures on local culture; various extracurricular activities that provide insight into the local area; and numerous exchange activities with local people.

OKIU Sister Schools

• Tunghai University (Taiwan)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 1989
• Hannam University (South Korea)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 1991
• University of Ulster (United Kingdom)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 1995
• University of Macau (China)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 1997
• Cairo University (Egypt)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 2003
• University of Rennes 2 (France)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 2005
• Macquarie University (Australia)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded in 2006
• Henderson State University (U.S.A.)
  Academic Exchange Agreement concluded on 2008

OKIU students are currently abroard at Tunghai University of Taiwan, Hunnam University of South Korea, University of Macau, and University of Rennes 2 in France.

Acceptance of International Students for Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Study

　Based on the international exchange agreements with our overseas sister schools, we accept approximately 30 students from Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea for intensive Japanese language and culture training programs which run for approximately three weeks. Through this unique program, students deepen their knowledge of Okinawa and the Japanese language. Additionally, sightseeing and various exchange activities with faculty and students are included.

International Student Admissions

　Applications for the admission of international students seeking to become regular, full-time students at OKIU are taken by the Admissions Office of the Academic Affairs Department. Students from sister schools and special auditing students should apply through the International Relations Center.

　All students applying for admission as regular, full-time students and special auditing students are required to provide test results for the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students.

International Student Support

　The International Relations Center at Okinawa International University is exclusively dedicated to international programs and offers several different types of support to international students on campus. This includes the awarding of scholarships and assistance in applying for loans, help and advice with visa changes and renewals, counseling services, and a place to meet Japanese and other international students. In addition, the IRC works regularly and closely with the OKIU International Student Association to support their formal and informal activities both on and off campus.

　The International Relations Center provides a warm and friendly atmosphere and is always open to students and faculty who wish to drop by for assistance or find ways to assist us in our work.

Financial Support for International Students

　Presently, ,there are 65 international students, including students from Taiwan, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam, studying at Okinawa International University. These students are provided with financial support through the following scholarships: 1.) the OKIU Alumni Association International Student Scholarship, 2.) Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology / Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Student Services Organization), 3.) Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship, and 4.) Heiwa Nakajima Foundation Scholarship for Foreign Students Living in Japan, as well as other scholarships. In addition, OKIU offers all privately financed, regular full-time international students a special 50% tuition reduction.