Classes and exams
1 Lessons (Faculty)
Education at Okayama University consists of ‘General Education’, where students learn an educational curriculum which is guided by the needs of society and so looks beyond the disciplines of faculties, thus promoting a deeper understanding of the ‘Specialized Curricula’ unique to each faculty or department.
General Education Courses
General Education Courses are mainly conducted in the classrooms of the General Education Building. Notification of any cancelled classes will be posted on the appropriate noticeboard in the General Education Building, Gmail etc.
Special Education Courses
Special Education Courses are mainly conducted in the classrooms of the appropriate faculty. Notification of any cancelled classes will be posted on the appropriate faculty or departmental noticeboard, Gmail etc.
50 & 60-Minute Classes
At Okayama University the‘50-Minute Class’or‘60-Minute Class’has been introduced in all faculties (except Law and Economics Faculties Evening Courses) The aims of the‘50-Minute Class’and‘60-Minute Class’are to encourage students to focus on their studies and to provide maximum learning opportunities during classes.
By providing better learning-effective content for classes, students also may improve their 'learning attitude', 'learning skills', and 'critical thinking skills'. This aim helps us to mold content into many different types of classes.
Regular class hours at Okayama University are as follows: -
| Start time - End time | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8:40-9:30 |
| 2 | 9:40-10:30 |
| 3 | 10:45-11:35 |
| 4 | 11:45-12:35 |
Lunch break ( 50 minutes) |
|
| 5 | 13:25-14:15 |
| 6 | 14:25-15:15 |
| 7 | 15:30-16:20 |
| 8 | 16:30-17:20 |
| 9 | 17:30-18:20 |
| 10 | 18:30-19:20 |
| Start time - End time | |
|---|---|
| 9 | 18:00 - 19:30 |
| 10 | 19:40 - 21:10 |
Shikata Campus
| Start time - End time | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8:40 - 9:40 |
| 2 | 9:50 - 10:50 |
| 3 | 11:00 - 12:00 |
Lunch break ( 50 minutes) |
|
| 4 | 12:50 - 13:50 |
| 5 | 14:00 - 15:00 |
| 6 | 15:10 - 16:10 |
| 7 | 16:20 - 17:20 |
| 8 | 17:30 - 18:30 |
* Please note that the time schedules of day courses and evening courses differ. Please carefully read the Student Handbook appropriate to your faculty, note the number of units required for graduation, note which courses are compulsory courses, make a study plan for four years from admission, and do your best to learn well.
Four Term System
At Okayama University, we have introduced a four term system in all faculties.
Altogether, during the academic year there is a maximum of about 4 months vacation, (comprised of summer and spring vacations). This time, together with terms when compulsory courses are not offered, can be used by students to gain valuable experiences as students that they may not be able to have otherwise. Please use this time for meaningful experiences such as club activities, long-term study abroad, internships and volunteer activities.
The periods for various classes during the academic session of 2024 are
each detailed in the attached 'Academic Year 2024 Schedule'.
※ For enquiries about 'Courses', please consult with your own faculty's or department's Academic Affairs and Student Office (see B1, Academic Affairs and Student Offices Counters under Academic Affairs).
2 Class Attendance in Difficult Conditions
1. Weather Warnings
All classes will be cancelled when a storm warning, snow storm warning, heavy snow warning, or other special warning is issued, or if the Director of Education decides it is necessary. Make-up classes will take place at a later date. Cancellation notices will be announced on the university homepage and Gmail. (Classes to be cancelled within a given day will vary depending on the time of the weather warning. For further information, please read the section entitled 'Management of classes when foul weather warnings are announced (Cancellation / Authorized Absence).'
2. Transportation cancellation, compassionate leave, infectious diseases, etc.
If it is difficult to come to school due to weather warnings or other causes such as transportation shutdowns, condolence leave (due to the death of a close relative), infectious diseases (e.g.,influenza, measles, and COVID-19), and others, your absence will be treated as approved（Authorized Absence) if you submit a ‘Authorized Absence Form’ to the Academic Affairs Section appropriate to your faculty or graduate school. Please check the section entitled 'Approach toward classes when foul weather warnings are announced (Cancellation / Authorized Absence)' for more information.
3. Other Difficulties
Some matters will be treated as Authorized Absence or Quasi-Authorized-Absence, such as disaster-relief volunteer activities. For details, please check the flow charts and the section entitled 'In Case of Quasi-Authorized-Absence'.
4. Exceptions to 'Authorized Absence' or 'Quasi-Authorized Absence'
If you are absent from class due to matters that are not recognized as Authorized-Absence or Quasi-Authorized-Absence, you can submit a 'Class Absence Report Form' (欠席届) to the teacher in charge. For details, refer to the section entitled, 'Absence from classes that are not recognized as 'Quasi-' or 'Authorized Absence'' .
※ For details of procedures please contact the Academic Affairs and Student Office in your faculty or graduate school.
※ Please refer to ‘Okayama University Website’ → ‘Student / Parent / Guardian’ → ‘Student Life’ → ‘Authorized Absence / Quasi-Authorized Absence / Other Absences’.
- Okayama University Homepage on Authorized Absence, Semi-Authorized Absence and other absences
You can also gain access from the Okayama University Website ‘Students / Parents’ → ‘Authorized, Quasi-Authorized and other Absence Leave’
≪Flow Chart: Authorized Absence≫
≪Quasi-Authorized Absence Flow Chart≫
Approach toward classes when foul weather warnings are announced (Cancellation / Authorized Absence)
1. Class Cancellation Weather Conditions
’Windstorm warning’, ‘snowstorm warning’, ‘blizzard warning’ and all other special warnings are eligible for class cancellation.
※ Classes will not be cancelled solely due to a heavy rain warning. However, the Director of Education may decide to cancel classes depending on the severity of the weather or public transport cancellations.
2. Regional Differentiations between Weather Warnings (which cause class cancellation)
| Campus | Areas where weather warnings will lead to class cancellation |
|---|---|
| Tsushima, Shikata, Higashiyama, Hirai, Hachihama, Tsudaka, Haga, Ushimado | Okayama Area, Okayama Prefecture Southern Area, Okayama Prefecture All Areas |
| Kurashiki | Kurashiki Area, Okayama Prefecture Southern Area, Okayama Prefecture All Areas |
| Misasa | Region including Misasa Town, releases its weather warnings from Misasa Tottori Regional Meteorological Observatory * ‘Blizzard warnings’ on the Misasa campus are not eligible for lecture cancellation |
| All other regions and warnings as mentioned above | Parts of the university campus that are within the areas announced by the local meteorological agency |
3. When Specific Lectures may be Cancelled
| Time of Weather Warning Announcement | Cancellation Time Limit (Class or Lecture) | |
|---|---|---|
| From 6:00a.m.to 8:40 am Announcement prior to start of 1st Period |
Periods 1 to 8 | All lectures from periods 1 to 8 on that day will be cancelled * Even if the previously announced weather warning is then cancelled before 8:40 am, all classes from 1 to 8 will nevertheless be cancelled. * Based on our general rules, Online classes (On-demand Classes) will not be cancelled at all. |
| If the weather warning is announced after the start of 1st Period, or at any time thereafter | Any subsequent classes following the Period where the warning occurred, to 8th Period will be cancelled. (All lectures in mid session will be immediately canceled upon announcement of a special warning) * Based on our general rules, Online classes (On-demand Classes) will not be cancelled at all. |
|
| 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Announcement prior to start of 9th Period |
Periods 9 to 10 | All classes from 9th Period to 10th Period on that day will be cancelled. * Even if a weather warning is cancelled prior to 6 p.m., both Period 9 and Period 10 classes will be cancelled. |
| Announcements after classes start in Period 9 (at 6 p.m.) | All Period 10 classes will be cancelled (All classes will be cancelled immediately upon announcement of special alarm) |
|
※ In either case, all regular extracurricular activities will be prohibited.
※ If you decide that going home is too dangerous due to floods or mudslides, please evacuate to a safe place on campus following the instructions of the faculty and/or staff.
4. Confirmation Method
We will inform you about cancellations (including advance notice) through Gmail, bulletin boards, the university homepage, and other media. If you are in a class, your teacher will inform you.
5. Additional Occasions where it is difficult to go to school
When it is difficult or dangerous to go to school due to traffic conditions, your absence will be regarded as an authorized absence. Please fill in the necessary documents for an authorized absence at the Academic Affairs and Student Office in your faculty at a later date. Refer to the university homepage for more information on authorized absences.
6. Preparations for Special Weather Warnings and for Weather Disasters
Please make it a habit to pay attention to meteorological information. Make sure you know where the nearest evacuation shelter is and the evacuation route that should be taken there. Stay calm and act appropriately when a disaster occurs. Read the following homepage for more information:
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
Okayama Disaster Prevention Portal
Okayama Prefecture Disaster Prevention Map
Disaster Prevention Guidebook for Foreign Residents
Absence from Lectures on Death of Relatives (Authorized Absence)
1. Compassionate Leave
Regarding absence from lectures due to the death of a relative, funeral, mourning, etc, a Authorized Absence application is required. The teacher of the absented class will require supplementary work from the student.
2. Period of Leave for Travel to Distant Funerals
| Range of Relatives for a Authorized Absence | Allowable Period for a Authorized Absence |
|---|---|
| spouse | From the date of death or from the funeral of spouse: 7 consecutive days including funeral date, (weekends or public holidays shall be counted as part of these 7 days). |
| 1:Immediate Relatives (Parents, children) | From the date of death or funeral of relative: 7 consecutive days including funeral date (weekends or public holidays shall be counted as part of these 7 days). |
| 2:Other Relatives (grandparents, brothers and sisters, grandchildren) | From the date of death or from the funeral of the relative: 3 consecutive days including funeral date (weekends or public holidays shall be counted as part of these 3 days). |
* If a funeral is in a remote place, the number of days travel by round-trip plus the number of days at the ceremony will be added together.
3. Notification Method
After returning from the funeral, please submit a 'Authorized Absence Form' to the Academic Affairs and Student Office in your faculty or graduate school, along with funeral cards. The Academic Affairs and Student Office will contact the instructor in charge of the lesson on your behalf.
Absence due to Infectious Diseases (Authorized Absence)
1. Absences due to Influenza, Measles and COVID-19 etc.
Infectious Diseases(Attendance Suspension, Authorized Authorized Absense etc)
2. Duration of Suspension of Lectures
The duration of attendance suspension varies depending on the type of infectious disease. For details, please check the link above.
3. Notification Method
The method of notification differs depending on the type of infectious disease. For details, please check the link above.
Approach Toward Lectures in case of Infectious Diseases
If you have an infectious disease (influenza etc), please follow the flow chart below.
In case of Quasi-Authorized Absence
1. In case of Quasi-Authorized Absence
Any absence for the following reasons will be treated as a 'Quasi-Authorized Absence'.
- Where a student is required to appear in court under the Lay Judge System.
- Where a student is required to appear in court or other public office as a witness, a person of reference etc.
- When donating bone marrow for a transplantation
- When engaging in disaster volunteer activities. Click here for eligible disasters
2. Period Allowable as Quasi-Authorized Absence
Period of absence is granted case-by-case.
3. Notification Method
Please submit a 'Quasi-Authorized Absence Form' to the Academic Affairs Group and Student Office in your undergraduate department or graduate school along with the documents certifying the facts of your case.
Absences from classes that are not recognized as 'Quasi-' or 'Authorized Absence'
A Class Absence Report Form can be used when you are absent from classes due to reasons are not recognized under 'Quasi-' or 'Authorized Absence' (mainly listed in the table below). However, your own faculty or graduate school's class absence rules take precedence should there be any differences with anything written here.
Attach the related documents as necessary and submit your Class Absence Report Form directly to the teacher in charge of the course, class or lecture. Regardless of the submission of the Class Absence Report Form, it is at the discretion of each faculty in charge to decide whether or not such absences will adversely affect your grades. The teacher in charge may decide that the absence will affect your grade regardless of your submission of a Class Absence Report Form.
Please download the Class Absence Report Form (欠席届) from the Okayama University Website and print it on both sides.
‘Okayama University HP’ → ‘Student life’ → ‘About Authorized Absence, Quasi-Authorized Absence and other absences’
Please do not use the Class Absence Report Form when you are absent from a periodic General Education Course examination. Instead, please follow the procedure for a Request to Postpone an Exam (Make-up Exam) in the General Education Enrollment Guide.
The Class Absence Report Form is the most common procedure to request Authorized absence from classes
- Teaching Practice (necessary for acquisition of Educational Staff License or Childcare Professional Qualification)
- Experience of Nursing Care (necessary for acquiring Education Staff Certificate, Elementary School and Junior High School License)
- Internship Practical Training to obtain adequate units for certification in the classes offered by our university
- Off-Campus Training and Overseas Facilities Tours conducted in undergraduate and graduate schools
- Intensive lecture during the regular teaching period
- Sickness or injury other than infection such as influenza and measles
* Please refer to the above-mentioned website for the name of diseases to be targeted. - Participation in any event organised by any Okayama University Certified Circle.
- Any job hunting activities during the regular teaching period
3. Examinations
Term-End Examinations
For General Education Courses, details of the examination schedule will be posted on the noticeboards on the first floor of the General Education Building A, and on the Okayama University website by the end of each term. As a general rule, exams are held at the end of each term.
Major Education Courses are handled differently by each undergraduate school.
Request to Postpone an Exam (Make-up Exam)
In General Education Courses, Students who wish to postpone a scheduled exam due to illness, accident or for other compelling reasons must submit a Request to Postpone an Exam (prescribed form), along with the following documentary evidence, to the Education Support Group (Counter No. 2) of the School Affairs Planning Section on the 2nd floor of the Building for General Education-A.
- In the case of illness: A medical certificate issued by a doctor.
- In other cases: A document verifying the reason for the postponement
Upon approval of the request, students can take a make-up exam. However, whether a make-up exam is offered or not is entirely at the discretion of the instructor in charge of the course.
Make-up exam must be completed within two months from the originally scheduled exam date. For the final exam in the fourth term, the make-up exam must be taken by the end of the academic year (March 31).
Major Education Courses are handled differently by each undergraduate school.