OSAKA UNIVERSITYPROSPECTUS 2024

Contents
Osaka and Osaka University

02

Campuses

03

History04

Our Commitment

04

Organization06

Facts and Figures

08

Rankings

09

Prizes and Awards

09

Partner Institutions

10

Strategic Partnerships

12

About the CoverOsaka University Hall
Located on the Toyonaka campus, it was constructed in 1928
and registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2004.
Today, the building serves as a landmark of Osaka University.

More Information

Global Affairs

Study at OU

ResOU(Research at
Osaka University)

Global Outlook

Global Engagement

Published by: Osaka University
Produced by: International Affairs Division, Department of International Affairs
Created by: Creative Unit
01

Osaka, Japan

Campuses

Osaka is one of the biggest metropolitan areas inJapan and is the center of the Kansai region, which
consists of Osaka, Kyoto, and several prefectures.
Though the prefecture itself is the second smallest
nationwide, it ranks third economically and has thethird highest population.
About nine percent of all foreign
residents live in Osaka, and it is
the second most popular
destination to study abroad.
Osaka is proud to host Expo
2025 Osaka, Kansai,
Japan, under the theme;“Designing Future
Tokyo
Society for Our Lives.”

Suita Campus

Osaka

Suita campus is the largest of the three
campuses, the headquarters of Osaka University,and is adjacent to the north edge of Expo ’70
Commemorative Park. A large number ofindustry-university joint projects are conducted
here, and it also houses numerous worldrenowned research institutes, schools, andgraduate schools in addition to two university
hospitals. Based on the experience of the
COVID-19 pandemic, a research center was
established in April 2021 to amass knowledge
and talent for the purpose of protecting our life
and activity from the threat of infectious diseases.

Toyonaka Campus
The Main Library, the Museum of Osaka
University, five schools, and seven graduate
schools are located on our Toyonaka campus.
It is always bustling with students and isconsidered our most lively campus. It is a greatplace to find friends and get in touch with thecommunity. First and second-year undergraduate
students spend most of their time on this campus
studying general education at the Center for
Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences, anda number of graduate students and researchers
study and work at the numerous graduate schools
and research institutes on the campus.

Minoh Campus

Osaka University
Located in northern Osaka, Osaka University has three
campuses in the cities of Suita, Toyonaka, and Minoh.
All are just outside the center of Osaka city, and offer
easy access to Osaka (Itami) Airport and the bullet trainat Shin-Osaka Station. We welcome researchers andstudents from around the globe to our 11 schools; 15
graduate schools; 23 research institutes, centers, and02

facilities; four libraries; and two university hospitals.
Under the motto of “Live Locally, Grow Globally,” someof the most advanced research in the world is taking
place here at the university. With so many cultures,backgrounds, and ways of thinking all in one place,
Osaka University provides an enriching environment forpeople from all walks of life.

In April 2021, Minoh campus was moved to a newlocation directly connected to the new train station
scheduled to open in 2024. It is home to
25 language departments in our School of Foreign
Languages and is one of Japan’s two national
centers, a preparatory education institution forinternational students to learn Japanese. It is also
open to the public and enables citizens to interact
with our world and culture through the university’s
facilities. The International Studies Library of
Osaka University, a new type of library integrated
with the Minoh City Library, and a new student
dormitory opened on the campus as well.

03

History
Osaka University’s roots can be traced to
Kaitokudo and Tekijuku, two academies
that delivered front-line scholarship during
the Edo period (1603-1867). This tradition
is inherent in Osaka University today which
continues to achieve cutting-edge research
results worthy of international recognitionand provide society with distinguishedresearchers and professionals.

2021

1931

90th Anniversary of
Osaka University

Osaka Imperial University
Osaka Imperial University was founded in 1931 with passionate
support from the local government, the Kansai business community,
and the citizens of Osaka as a citizen-led imperial university.

2004

100th Anniversary of
Osaka University ofForeign Studies

National University
Corporation
Osaka University

1724

Kaitokudo

Kaitokudo was an academy
founded in 1724 by Osaka
merchants. It contributed tothe development ofeducation and businessmorality for the remaining
140 years of the Edo period,
playing an important role ineducation in Osaka as a civic
and liberal arts college.

1838

1949

Osaka University

Tekijuku

04

Presently, universities are confronted withgrowing anticipation from society tocultivate talent and foster innovation ina major reorientation of social systems totackle global challenges such as the
pursuit of the SDGs and carbon neutrality.

100th Anniversary of
Osaka University

2007

Integration of Osaka University andOsaka University of Foreign Studies

Tekijuku was a private academy in
Osaka founded in 1838 by OGATA
Koan, a physician and renowned
educator. Young minds from all overJapan gathered there to learn, andmany of them later played leadingroles in the modernization of Japan
during the Meiji period.

Our
Commitment

2031

Celebrating the approval of Osaka Imperial University Foundation Planby the House of Peers (March 1931, at Tokyo Station)

Established originally as Osaka School of Foreign
Languages in 1921, it was founded with the money
donated to the government by an Osaka-based
businesswoman who was passionate about establishinga “school capable of nurturing internationally-mindedpeople in Osaka.” Thus, Osaka School of Foreign Studies
shares a similar background to that of Osaka University.

In order to respond to these momentous
changes in society, Osaka University has
resolved to take a step beyond simply
making “social contribution,” and to
pursue “social creation,” specifically, tocreate a society where each member
leads a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Inheriting our historical legacy, theuniversity remains deeply rooted in the
Osaka region, while valuing its
relationship with the free and unfetteredcivic society of Osaka and nurturing thespirit of a “university in society, university
for society.”

With this vision, Osaka University willcontribute to the achievement of theSDGs and the promise of leaving no
one behind.

05

Organization
Schools/Faculty

Graduate Schools

Research Institutes,
Centers and Facilities

Education andResearch Support Organizations· Letters· Humanities· Human Sciences· Human Sciences· Research Institute for Microbial
Diseases· SANKEN (The Institute of Scientificand Industrial Research)· Museum Links- The Museum of Osaka University- Tekijuku Commemoration Center- Osaka University Archives· Foreign Studies· Law and Politics· Law· Economics· Economics· Science· Institute for Protein Research· Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies· Science· Medicine· Medicine· Dentistry· Institute of Social and Economic
Research· Institute for Transdisciplinary Graduate Degree Programs· Dentistry· Pharmaceutical Sciences· Engineering· Joining and Welding ResearchInstitute· Pharmaceutical Sciences· Institute for Datability Science· Engineering· Engineering Science· Institute of Laser Engineering· Engineering Science· International Public Policy· Core Facility Center· Research Center for Ultra-High
Voltage Electron Microscopy· Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences· Research Center
for Environmental Preservation· Center for Student Success Research and Practice· Information Scienceand Technology· Frontier Biosciences· Law School· Child Development

University Libraries· Main Library· Life Sciences Library· Science and Engineering Library· International Studies Library· Center for International Educationand Exchange· ASEAN Center
for Academic Initiatives· East Asian Center
for Academic Initiatives· Center for Multilingual Education· Center for Diversity & Inclusion· Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues· Health and Counseling Center· Center for Global Initiatives· Global Center for Medical
Engineering and Informatics· Co-Creation Bureau· Center for Mathematical Modelingand Data Science· Osaka University Nakanoshima Art Center· Intellectual Property and Legal
Practice Center· European Center
for Academic Initiatives· Institute for Radiation Sciences· Social Solution Initiative· R³ Institute for Newly-Emerging
Science Design· North American Center
for Academic Initiatives· Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives· International Center for
Biotechnology· Center for Japanese Language andCultureOverseas Centers· Center for the Study of Co* Design· Kaitokudo for the 21st Century· Office for Information and Communications Technology
Services· Office for Information Security· Campus Sustainability Office· Department for the Administration of Safety and Hygiene· Office of the General Counsel· Research Center for Nuclear
Physics

Institute for Advanced
Interdisciplinary Research· Center for Information and
Neural Networks· Osaka University-RIKEN Center
for Science and Technology· Cybermedia Center

University Hospitals· Osaka University Hospital· Osaka University Dental Hospital

Osaka University
Nakanoshima
CenterInternational Advanced Research Institute· Immunology Frontier Research Center· Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology· Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine

06

07

Rankings

Facts and Figures80(3)*

Faculty and Staff

Students*female staff (as of May 1, 2023)*female students (as of May 1, 2023)

3,827

3,316
660*

Academic Staff

14,986

2,621*

5,155*

Researchers,
Administrative Staff,
Medical Staff, etc.

Undergraduate
Students*Rank among universities in Japan.

*Rank among universities in Japan.

QS World University
Rankings 2024

THE World University
Rankings 2024

THE Impact Rankings
2023

8,137
2,513*
Graduate
Students

27 *(2)**35(2)**Rank among universities in Japan.

* Rank among educational institutions.
**Rank among educational institutions in Japan.

Reuters Top 100:
The World’s Most Innovative Universities 2019

Number of International Patent Applications
World Intellectual Property Organization Rankings 2022

Prizes and Awards

International ExchangeInternational Researchers(Inbound)International Students(Inbound)Students Studying Abroad(Outbound)(April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023)(as of May 1, 2023)(April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023)

Nobel Prize

Lasker Award

YUKAWA
HidekiHANAFUSA
Hidesaburo

AKIRA
ShizuoSAKAGUCHI
Shimon

1982

2011

2015

1949
Physics

Asia 
672
Europe 
293
North America 
98Middle East 28
Oceania 26
Africa 
26
Central and South America  18

101 –200(3)*175(4)**Rank among universities in Japan.

Asia 
2,307
Europe 
252
Central and South America  64
Africa 
53
Middle East 
45
North America 
45
Oceania 
15Inter-University
Academic Exchange Agreements

Inter-Faculty
Academic Exchange Agreements(as of December 1, 2023)(as of December 1, 2023)

Europe 
355
Asia 
294
North America 
210
Online 142
Oceania 41
Africa 
28
Middle East 24Central and South America  7

Budget FY2023

Gairdner International Award

Wolf Prize

Crafoord Prize

HAYAISHI
Osamu

SATO
Mikio

1986
Medicine

2002-2003
Mathematics

KISHIMOTO
Tadamitsu
HIRANO
ToshioSAKAGUCHI
Shimon2017

2009

Income186,718

Claude E. Shannon Award

Japan Prize

Kyoto Prizein millions of yen

Asia 
68
Europe 
53
North America 
20
Oceania 
5Central and South America  4
Middle East 3Africa 
108

Asia 
362
Europe 
185
North America 49
Oceania 
16Middle East 
12Africa 
11Central and South America  9

Expenditure

186,718
in millions of yen

KASAMI
Tadao
1999

KISHIMOTO
Tadamitsu
HIRANO
ToshioOKAMOTO
YoshioMIMURA
Takashi

2019

2017

2011

09

Partner Institutions

Inter-University Academic Exchange Agreements (as of December 1, 2023)
EuropeAustria· The University of Vienna· RWTH Aachen University· Technical University of Munich· Technische Universität Berlin

Middle East
Israel· Peking University

Myanmar· Shanghai Jiao Tong University· University of Yangon· Shenzhen University· Ateneo de Manila University· TRIUMF· De La Salle University· The University of British Columbia· University of the Philippines· University of Toronto· Wuhan University

SingaporeUSA· Xi’an Jiaotong University· Nanyang Technological University· Cornell University· Zhejiang University· National University of Singapore

AfricaIndia· Indian Institute of Technology,
Hyderabad· Singapore Management
University· Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory· Tongji University· Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica
Centrum vzw (IMEC)· Universität Hamburg

Qatar· Tsinghua University· University of Augsburg· Qatar University· The University of Hong Kong

Saudi Arabia· The University of Copenhagen

Hungary· University of Southern Denmark· Eötvös Loránd University

Finland

The Netherlands· Åbo Akademi University· Delft University of Technology

Egypt· University of Helsinki· University of Groningen· Alexandria University

FranceNorway· Aix-Marseille University· University of Oslo

· École polytechnique· The National Center
for Scientific Research· Sciences Po· Sorbonne University· Université Grenoble Alpes· Université Paris-Saclay· University of Bordeaux· University of Strasbourg· King Abdulaziz University

Oceania

Indonesia· Institut Teknologi Bandung

Taiwan· National Cheng Kung University· National Taiwan University· National Tsing Hua University

Australia· National Research andInnovation Agency· The Australian National University· Universitas Airlangga· Monash University· Universitas Gadjah Mada

ThailandSpain· The University of Adelaide· Universitas Indonesia· Chiang Mai University· Universidad Autónoma de
Madrid· The University of Melbourne

Korea

Russia· Saint Petersburg University· University of Valladolid
Sweden· Karolinska Institutet

Germany· KTH Royal Institute of Technology· Bielefeld University· University of Gothenburg

Canada· McMaster University· Southeast University· Technische Universität Darmstadt· The University of Göttingen

North America

The Philippines· The Hebrew University ofJerusalem

Belgium

Denmark· The University of Queensland

Asia· Changwon National University· Chonnam National University· Chung-Ang University· National Yang Ming Chiao Tung
University· Chulalongkorn University· Purdue University· Rice University· Texas A&M University· University of California· University of California, Berkeley· University of California, Davis· University of California,
San Diego· University of California,
Santa Cruz

· Department of Medical Sciences,
Ministry of Public Health· University of Georgia· Kasetsart University· University of Oregon· University of Washington

Brunei Darussalam· Chungnam National University· King Mongkut’s University ofTechnology Thonburi· Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University· Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of
Science and Technology· Mahidol University· Universiti Brunei Darussalam· Nazareth College of Rochester· University of Hawai’i at Mānoa· Wesleyan College· Gyeongsang National University· National Science and Technology
Development Agency

Central and South America· Hanyang University· Thammasat University

Brazil· Frankfurt University of Applied
Sciences

Switzerland· Universiti Teknologi Brunei· Friedrich-Alexander Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg· École Polytechnique Fédérale deLausanne

China· Korea University· Goethe University Frankfurt· ETH Zurich· Beijing Normal University· Pusan National University· Seoul National University· Can Tho University

UK· The Chinese University ofHong Kong· Yonsei University· Hanoi Medical University

Mexico· King’s College London· Dalian University of Technology· University College London· Fudan University

Malaysia· Hanoi University of Science andTechnology· National Autonomous Universityof Mexico· Heidelberg University· University of Birmingham· University of Durham· Vietnam Academy of Science andTechnology

Peru· Heinrich Heine University
Düsseldorf· The Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology· Vietnam Japan University· Pontifical Catholic University of
Peru· Karlsruhe Institute of Technology· The University of Manchester· Leibniz University Hannover· The University of Nottingham· Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München· The University of Sheffield· GSI Helmholtzzentrum für
Schwerionenforschung GmbH,
Facility for Antiproton and
Ion Research in Europe GmbH10

· Ruhr University Bochum· University of Leeds· Hunan University· Nanjing University· Northeastern University· Northwest University· Universiti Malaya· Universiti Sains Malaysia
Mongolia· National University of Mongolia

Vietnam· Vietnam National University,
Hanoi· Universidade de São Paulo· University of Campinas· Vietnam National University,
Ho Chi Minh City

11

Strategic Partnerships to
Challenge Global Issues
Global Knowledge Partners

ASEAN Campuses

Osaka University explores deeper routes of collaboration through joint research and education with our Global
Knowledge Partners and four of our Overseas Centers to approach global issues, synergize through discovery acrossall fields of academia, and make an impact on resolutions to those issues worldwide.

Osaka University established Osaka University ASEAN Campusesin cooperation with universities and institutions in the region.
Together with the ASEAN region, we will carry and nurture the next
generation of global individuals, and to move forward in our
mission to contribute to the quality growth of the ASEAN region,
Osaka University will implement international co-creation platforms
with local and Japanese businesses in each country holding one of
our ASEAN Campuses.

Mahidol University
Thailand

Vietnam Academy of
Science and Technology
VietnamCollaboration fields
Bioengineering, Applied Physics,
Infectious Diseases, Environmental
Engineering, Halal Science,
Biodiversity and Bioresource,
Japanese Language and Culture,
and Area Studies

Institut Teknologi
BandungIndonesia

Universiti
Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam

Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic
University

Universiti
Teknologi Brunei

Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam

Universiti
Sains Malaysia
Malaysia

12

13

OSAKA UNIVERSITY
1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
www.osaka-u.ac.jp