According to Koichi Seko, Kinki University's first president, "The mission of this university is to throw open its lecture halls and laboratories to the young people of the world and to encourage the development of truly international attitudes." Committed to making these words a reality, in 1953 the university accepted 15 scholarship students from Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, former Burma, and India. About 300 international students are studying in graduate programs or standard university courses.
In 1991, the International Student Center was established to offer detailed advice about studies and daily life in Japan. Supplementing their academic studies, overseas students learn much about Japanese culture and language through interaction with Japanese students and the local community. Kinki University provides a Japanese language course for students who do not have sufficient competence in Japanese.