Japan, Osaka
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Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin is an English-instruction K–12 school in Minoh, an Osaka suburb near Minoh National Park, around 30 minutes from Umeda. The school offers the IB continuum. This includes Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). OIS states that the school has approximately 270 students represents 34 nationalities. A distinctive feature is its shared-campus model with sister school Senri International School, including shared PE, arts/music, sports teams and student government. The school highlights a renowned music program and competitive sports opportunities, plus student involvement in service projects. Boarding is also noted through its Global Futures Program.
4 Chome-4-16 Onoharanishi, Minoh, Osaka 562-0032, Japan
Osaka International Schools of Kwansei Gakuin has 285 pupils, instruction in English.
The Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin is located in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, in the foothills near Minoh National Park. The area offers parks and green spaces, plus a mix of Western and traditional Japanese culture with nearby shops, cafes and amenities. Train stations are a short bus ride or walk away, and it takes about 30 minutes to reach downtown Umeda. Itami Airport is a roughly 20‑minute drive or monorail ride away, with Shin-Osaka offering convenient Shinkansen access to Kyoto, Kobe and Tokyo.
OIS is a K‑12 school that offers IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in elementary, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in middle school, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in high school. The school's IB framework supports progression from early years through to pre-university level.
The school is co‑educational. It operates as a day school with no boarding facilities.
Approximately 270 students are enrolled with 34 different nationalities represented. Public materials do not specify which nationality is most represented or the local versus international ratio.
The Learning & Language Support provision includes Learning Support, English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Social‑Emotional Counseling. The Learning & Language Support team comprises staff across elementary to high school, including Cary Mecklem, Melissa Lamug, Jessica Richards and Maricar Ronidel.
There is no formal country affiliation stated for OIS. The school is administered by the Kwansei Gakuin Educational Foundation in Japan.
No explicit religious affiliation is stated for Osaka International School.
The OIS academic year runs from late August to late June and is divided into three trimesters (Fall, Winter, Spring) of approximately 60 days each.
The school offers a bus option via Hankyu Bus 78. From Senri Chuo Station, the bus ride to the school takes about 25 minutes; from Kita Senri Station it takes about 15 minutes. Hankyu Bus timetable updates are available, and directions explain how to access the service from Senri Chuo and Kita Senri.
Annual tuition at Osaka International Schools of Kwansei Gakuin ranges from JPY 2,187,000 to JPY 2,723,000 for 2026/27.
Osaka International Schools of Kwansei Gakuin teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 4 to 18.
Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin offers a full International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP in Elementary, MYP in Middle, and DP in High School) across a K-12 program on a shared campus with its sister school, Senri International School. Elementary School uses the IB Primary Years Programme for ages 4–11, with Early Years KA/KB and Grades 1–5, organized around six transdisciplinary themes, and includes a mandatory second language; Grade 5 culminates in a PYP Exhibition. Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) follows the MYP with eight subject groups, includes Approaches to Learning, and culminates in a personal project, with progression to the Diploma Programme in high school. Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) core comprises Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS; six DP subject groups offer courses such as English A, Japanese A, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Language Acquisition options (English B, Japanese B, Japanese ab initio, Spanish ab initio, Mandarin ab initio via Pamoja); students typically take five of the six groups and 3–4 HL subjects, with DP results showing strong outcomes and a notable proportion earning bilingual diplomas. The academic year runs from August to late June with three approximately 60-day trimesters.
1. Academic year and entry timing. The Osaka International School (OIS) academic year runs from late August to late June, and the main intake of new students begins at the start of the year, though admissions are accepted throughout the year to accommodate the international community. This means that families relocating at different times can still be considered, subject to space and program needs. Space availability and grade-level balance are key factors in deciding admissions.
2. Initial inquiry and response. To begin, families should use the Enquiry Form
3) Scholarships. Osaka International School offers financial aid, with an application process and forms available in the school's admissions materials. The regular OIS financial aid application form is accessible in the forms section, and applications should be submitted by the end of June. New students in Grade 10–12 may also be eligible to apply for government tuition support (“Tuition Support for High School Students”); additional documentation may be required to verify household income for this program. In principle, the school assumes families have resources to meet fee payments, but limited financial aid can be granted if circumstances change, with an annual application required. Forms for financial aid are available in the downloads section. The school also notes it can provide further financial support for families affected by COVID-19.
2) Waitlist/Pool. Osaka International School does not publish a formal waitlist or admissions pool. Admissions decisions are described as being based on space availability, grade-level balance, past achievement, motivation, and language support at home, and they may also use a Deferred Acceptance option for applicants outside Japan or those requiring testing. Overseas applicants may have a deferred acceptance arrangement if spaces are held while tests or interviews are completed. In short, there is no publicly described waitlist or pool; decisions are made as space allows and via the stated procedures.
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