The University of Osakawas founded in 1931 and has approximately 25,000 students, with 10% being international students.

The university is located in northern Osaka and has three campus areas in the cities of Suita, Toyanaka, and Minoh, all situated just outside the central part of Osaka city. Osaka University offers four programs for exchange students from Åbo Akademi University:

• OUSSEP –the Osaka University Student Exchange Program, is suitable for exchange students who wish to study in English. The program primarily consists of International Exchange subjects, which offer a range of courses in English across various disciplines. It also includes several elective course units, such as Japanese language courses, self-study in a chosen subject, and a practical-oriented course. In addition to these options, participants have the opportunity to take some courses from Osaka’s regular English-language curriculum. The program also includes various field trips designated to familiarize exchange students with local culture (available only for bachelor’s students). OUSSEP primarily targets bachelor’s students, as courses at the masters’ level are not part of the program. Studies can last for one or two terms, starting either in April or September.

• Maple is aimed at exchange students who wish to develop their Japanese language skills and learn more about Japanese culture and society. Through project-based learning, the program also seeks to enhance students’ abilities to acquire knowledge, convey information, and discuss it with others. The program runs for a full academic year from September to August and requires prior knowledge of Japanese at level N4 (JLPT). Students should ideally be at least in their third year of study, and the program is also well-studied for master’s level students.

• Frontier Lab is a program where exchange students have the opportunity to join one of Osaka’s research groups in the fields of science and technology and engage in full-time research with academic supervision. The program is suitable for students who are at least in their third year of bachelor’s studies as well as for master’s level students. It can be conducted in both English and Japanese. The studies last for one or two terms and start in April or September.

• iExPOis for exchange students who have strong Japanese language skills (JLPT N1 or N2). The program includes courses in a chosen major subject offered within the regular Japanese curriculum at The University of Osaka. It is suitable for both bachelor’s and master’s students. Master’s students in iExPO also have the opportunity to conduct research with academic supervision. Studies can last for one or two terms, starting either in April or September.

ÅA-students who are accepted to The University of Osaka can apply for a scholarship through The University of Osaka (in addition to the scholarship granted by ÅA to students going on exchange), but only a few students are awarded this scholarship.

For information about exchange studies at Osaka, see here.

Also, see Osaka’s information brochure about the various exchange programs here.

Ryukoku University, Japan

Ryukoku University is one of the oldest institutions in Japan, with a history dating back to 1639. The university is located across three campuses in Kyoto and Shiga. The campuses are close to train lines, making the easily accessible. The university has approximately 20 000 students in the fields of humanities, economics, law, social sciences, natural sciences, technology and agriculture.

Exchange students are offered various versions of a so-called JEP-Japanese Exchange Program:

• JEP-E program is aimed at exchange students without prior knowledge of Japanese and is conducted entirely in English. The program includes courses on Japanese society and culture, such as Japanese history, economics and administration, technology, literature and film, law and politics, etc. Students learn about Kyoto’s rich culture and traditions as well as Buddhist thinking. The program also includes an introductory Japanese course held three times a week. Exchange students may also take a few courses from Ryukoku University’s regular course offerings (limited availability in English), as long as they do not conflict with the program’s mandatory courses. For more information about the JEP-E program, see here.

• JEP-J program is aimed at exchange students who already have Japanese language proficiency at the N4 level in the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The courses in the program are primarily conducted in Japanese and include both Japanese language courses and elective courses on Japanese society and culture. The program’s objective is for exchange students to practice using Japanese in practical situations (e.g., during field trips) and to study various aspects of Japanese society and culture, such as Japanese religion, history, literature, education, economics and administration. Exchange students may also take some courses from Ryukoku University’s regular course selection in English or Japanese. For more information about the JEP-J program, see here.

All JEP programs are located at Ryokoku University’s central Fukakusa campus in southern Kyoto.

The academic year at RU is divided into two semesters. Exchange students can choose to study for one or two semesters. The spring semester runs from April to September, and the autumn semester runs from September to March. Note that the exchange period begins with a mandatory orientation week and ends with an examination period.

For information about exchange studies at Ryukoku University, see https://intl.ryukoku.ac.jp/english/examination/exp/.

Also, see Ryokoku University’s guide for exchange students in English: https://intl.ryukoku.ac.jp/zx_documents/application_Form/00_1_sagguide_eng.pdf.

For information about the JEP programs, see: https://intl.ryukoku.ac.jp/english/examination/exp/jep_program.html

Saitama University, Japan

Saitama University is located in Saitama Prefecture, about an hour from central Tokyo by public transport. The university has approximately 8,000 students.

Exchange students are offered the STEPS program, the Short-Term Exchange Student Program of Saitama University. This program provides a limited selection of courses in English, primarily focusing on Japanese society, culture, and language, as well as economics, natural sciences, and engineering. Courses are available at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. Learn more about the STEPS program and see the current course offerings here.

In addition to the STEPS courses specifically designed for exchange students, they also have the opportunity to take English-taught courses from Saitama’s regular curriculum. However, these courses may have some restrictions, and students need the instructor’s approval before enrolling.

The academic year at Saitama University is divided into four terms. Exchange students can begin their studies in April or September and stay for either two or four terms. For more detailed information about the academic year, see here.

Saitama requires that exchange students be at least in their third year of study (master’s students are also eligible) and have a GPA of at least 2.4 on a 4.0 scale.

Tsuru University, Japan

Tsuru University is one of Japan’s leading universities for teacher education. It is a smaller university with approximately 3,500 students. The university is located at the foot of Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, in Yamanashi Prefecture, about an hour and a half by train from central Tokyo.

Exchange students at Tsuru University are offered the Tsuru Study Abroad Program (T-SAP), which is conducted in English. The program focuses on educational issues as well as Japanese culture and society. Additionally, exchange students have the opportunity to participate in an internship to familiarize themselves with Japanese primary education.

Exchange students can participate in T-SAP from August to December.

For more information about exchange studies at Tsuru University, see here and feel free to contact Julia Fredman.

Chonnam National University, South Korea

Chonnam National University is located in the city of Gwangju in southwestern South Korea. The university has approximately 30,000 students and has received several national and global accreditations.

Exchange students are offered courses in Korean and English and can take courses in all subjects available at CNU, except those offered in medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, nursing, or education (Department of English Education). English-taught courses are available in various fields, such as business administration, natural sciences, and engineering. Most courses are at the bachelor’s level, but master’s level courses are also available. Additionally, Korean language courses at various levels are offered.

One Korean credit equals 2 ECTS credits at Åbo Akademi University.

Chonnam University has several campuses, but most courses for exchange students are located at the Gwangju Campus. Exchange students can choose to study at CNU during the spring semester, autumn semester, or for an entire academic year.

For more information about exchange studies at CNU, see here.

Hallym University, South Korea

Hallym University is located in Chuncheon, northern South Korea, about an hour from Seoul. The university has approximately 8,000 students. Hallym offers a limited selection of courses in English across various subjects, including Korean society and economics. Korean language courses are also available for exchange students. Exchange students can participate in all courses regardless of their major at their home university.

Hallym University provides on-campus accommodation and a vibrant campus life for exchange students. Exchange students can choose to study at HU during the spring semester, autumn semester, or for an entire academic year. One Korean credit equals 2 ECTS credits at Åbo Akademi University.

For more information about Hallym University, see here..

For detailed information regarding courses, etc., you need to download the “exchange pack,” which can be found here.

Kyung Hee University, Sydkorea

Kyung Hee University in Seoul has approximately 25,000 students. The university offers courses in English for exchange students in various fields, including economics, natural sciences, international studies, as well as Korean culture, society, and language.

Courses at KHU are offered at two different campuses, which are relatively far apart: the Seoul Campus in Seoul and the Global Campus in Yongin-si. It takes about an hour and a half to travel from one campus to the other by car. Below, you will find the faculties available for exchange students for the academic year 2025-2026 and the respective campuses they are located at.

Seoul Campus

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China

SWUFE is one of China’s leading universities in finance, economics, and business. The university has approximately 20,000 students and is located in Chengdu, in the Sichuan province of western China. It has two campuses: the main Liulin campus and the Guanghua campus. The two campuses are 22 km apart and connected by a metro line.

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics offers studies primarily in business-related subjects, and the exchange program is particularly suited for students from Handelshögskolan

Exchange students can choose to study at SWUFE for either one or two semesters.