The Use of Overseas Student Safety Management Assistance (OSSMA)

Osaka University has asked students who will study abroad to join the Overseas Student Safety Management Assistance (OSSMA).

What is OSSMA?

When you are in trouble and need some advice while traveling abroad, services will be available in Japanese 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more details, click here . (link in Japanese)

Before going abroad

  • Country safety information such as riots
  • Counseling services about overseas travel insurance
  • Questions about OSSMA services

While traveling abroad

1. Personal support

In the case of a flight delay, if you left your cell phone on a plane, or your passport, flight tickets, or credit cards are stolen, consultation services will be available. In these cases, you can receive services such as communication to related institutes and support for re-issuance of your passport.

2. Medical support

If you get sick or injured, you can use the following services over the phone in Japanese.

  1. Introduction to and/or reservations for doctors or medical institutes (if you want to go to a doctor while you are abroad)
  2. Interpretation services over the phone when you get medical attention overseas
  3. Advice on overseas travel insurance medical claims
  4. Dispatch of doctors, transfer of an emergency patient to a local hospital, arrangement of flight to Japan, and arrangement of a hospital in Japan that will accept the patient.

3. Safety confirmation

By request from your family or university, we will confirm your safety. If your safety cannot be confirmed, we will confirm it through communication with the embassy and police or by sending our investigator to your place in cooperation with your university.
In the case of an incident, accident, or disaster, we will confirm your safety.

4. Mental healthcare

We also provide consultation services about your mental health.

5. Support for your family members who want to visit you during your hospital stay abroad

We will support your family members or university staff who want to visit you in order to support you in hospital. We will help them so that they can get their emergency passports, visas, and make reservations of flights and accommodations and we will also make a payment for them.

6. Introduction of lawyers

When you need legal advice, regardless of whether it is about civil or criminal case, we will introduce you to a lawyer.

After returning to Japan

Compensation claim for incurred costs (to insurance companies)
Note: OSSMA is a membership-based risk management support service provider for students who are studying abroad and not an insurance company. Medical costs such as expenses for hospitalization, treatment, tests, and counseling should be borne by students, so they must buy overseas travel insurance.

Make sure to register your information on the Overseas Travel Registration System .)

Eligibility

Students who are going abroad to participate in the following programs.

Please confirm the host of the program if the participants of the program are required to register for OSSMA.

  1. Exchange student programs based on university-to-university and school-to-school agreements with Osaka University
  2. Short-term study abroad programs hosted by the university such as language programs and internships
  3. Study abroad while receiving financial aid such as scholarships through the university

For travel abroad for purposes other than those mentioned above, you don’t need to become a member of OSSMA, but if you want to join it, the membership fee should be borne by you. (You are not allowed to join for a trip for sightseeing, but please register your information on the Overseas Travel Registration System .)

Procedures (example)

The general procedures are indicated below. Procedures and application deadlines vary according to the program, so please complete procedures according to instructions from a person in charge of your program.

Note: A login code and password are needed when registering, so please confirm these with the department in charge of your program.

Those who wish to register for OSSMA when traveling abroad individually should contact the International Student Affairs Division by email at outbound<at>ciee.osaka-u.ac.jp .

1. Member Registration

After perusing the OSSMA Registration Handbook , please access the website below, enter your login code and password, and register your information until two weeks prior to the departure date. Payment can be performed either at a convenience store or by credit card.

OSSMA Registration Website: https://www.eaj.ne.jp/ossma

After applying, you should receive a confirmation email at your registered email address. Please confirm the information in the email and save your Member ID.

*The spring and summer seasons in particular see a lot of students studying abroad, so if you are planning to study abroad during this period, please register your information well in advance as processing may take more time during busier seasons.

*Medical costs such as expenses for hospitalization, treatment, tests, and counseling should be borne by students, so they must buy overseas travel insurance.

2. Downloading your Member's Card and OSSMA Service Guide

After completing your member registration, download and peruse the OSSMA Service Guide . Print and fill out the Membership Card on page 32 of the guide with your name and membership number. Make sure to carry your member's card with you while traveling abroad.

3. Registering itinerary with OSSMA LOCATOR

Seven to ten days after completing Step 1 of the Procedures section, login to OSSMA LOCATOR to enter your additional information and travel itinerary.

Membership Fees

1. Payment Methods

Payment at convenience store or by credit card

(Please pay your members fees as soon as possible after registering.)

2. Fees

Period overseas
Individual membership fees
1 month
¥ 3,300
2 months
¥ 5,500
3 months
¥ 11,000
4 months
¥ 14,850
5 months
¥ 18,710
6 months
¥ 22,000
7 ~ 9 months
¥ 26,400
10 ~ 12 months
¥ 29,700

3. Refunds due to shortening/cancellation of period overseas after registration/payment of membership fees

The cancellation policy can be found below. If necessary, please contact the OSSMA Office directly by email at students<at>emergency.co.jp .

<If itinerary changes take place before your departure...>

Membership fees will be refunded to you by the OSSMA Office minus the processing fees listed on the table below.

*The following processing fees for this refund must be borne by students.

Timing of report of itinerary changes to OSSMA

If period overseas is less than 6 months

If period overseas is more than 6 months

(1) By the 25th day of the month preceding your departure date

¥ 1,000 ¥ 1,000
(2) Between (1) and the day before your departure date
¥ ¥ 1,000 ¥ 4,000

(Not including tax)

<If itinerary changes take place after your departure...>

If the difference between the membership fees accounting for the decrease in the number of months abroad and the membership fees paid is greater than ¥ 10,000 (not including tax), OSSMA will refund your membership fees minus the processing fees listed on the table below.

*The following processing fees for this refund must be borne by students.

Timing of report of itinerary changes to OSSMA

If period overseas is less than 6 months

If period overseas is more than 6 months

After departure
¥ 1,000 ¥ 4,000

(Not including tax)

Handling of personal information

OSSMA's underwriting company Emergency Assistance Japan Co., Ltd. (EAJ) will not use OSSMA clients’ personal information (personal information) that Osaka University has provided or that EAJ obtained in their work beyond the scope that is necessary to achieve the purposes of use.

Any personal information held by EAJ will not be disclosed or provided to third parties except when: client consent has been obtained, its disclosure is required by law, or its disclosure is required for protecting the life and assets of OSSMA clients.

In addition, Osaka University will not provide personal information to third parties except when: information must be shared with a related school/institute, individual consent has been obtained, or its disclosure is required by law.

You are deemed to have agreed to accept this when applying online.

share !