This course was established in 2004 as a special graduate school Doctoral course (combined Master's and Doctoral program) for foreign students, in which lectures and research instruction are given in English. The purpose of this course is to apply the international-level naval architecture and ocean engineering which have supported a world-leading shipbuilding industry in Japan in order to train young talented individuals, primarily from Asia, and supply researchers from Japanese universities to maritime fields throughout the Asian region. Doing so will enable Japan to take a leading role in contributing to the development of global-scale international commerce in support of the world economy, and to the protection of the marine environment. Beginning from 2006, three preferential slots were established for foreign students to receive Japanese Monbukagakusho government scholarships for this special English course.

Beginning from 2007, all courses in the graduate school Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering course for ordinary Japanese students have been conducted in English. As a result, it is now possible for Japanese and foreign students to receive identical global top-level education, delivered in English, in the same classrooms. While internationalism is taken for granted, there are still few divisions and departments at the Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering where the graduate school courses are conducted entirely in English. Our department is therefore playing a leading role in the internationalization of Osaka University.

Nearly all graduates of the Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Department have found employment on the global stage. Through education and research instruction in an international atmosphere at the graduate school, the faculty is also striving to send graduates into the world who have full international competitiveness and strong practical English skills in specialized fields.