Kyushu University

Overview

Kyushu University is one of the leading universities in Japan. Situated in Fukuoka, it is known for the strength of its research and academic programs and its low teacher-to-student ratio of 9:1. The institution was selected by the Japanese government to be part of the Top Global University Project, a funding initiative that aims to enhance globalization. It is also a member of the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities, which is composed of some of Asia’s top universities.
Kyushu is organized into 15 undergraduate and 22 graduate faculties and schools. It offers numerous programs across a wide range of fields, many of which are taught in English. As such, the university has one of the largest international student contingents among Japanese universities. Kyushu’s most popular courses include Mineral Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Architecture, Biological Sciences, Physics, and Art and Design.
Research in Kyushu is mainly conducted in its 56 institutes and condensed into eight knowledge zones: Humanities and Social Sciences, Art and Design, Life and Health, Math and Data, Physics and Chemistry, Materials Science, Technology, and Environment and Sustainability. It has amassed over 82,300 research citations, 300 patent applications, and 520 patent licenses. Furthermore, Kyushu’s research team has been involved in more than 900 funded projects and over 840 collaborative projects.
Kyushu is one of the largest universities in Japan in terms of land area at 75.71 million square meters. Its Ito campus is likewise one of the biggest campuses in the country, with a measurement of 2.72 million square meters. Besides the Ito campus, the university has campuses in Maidashi, Hakozaki, Chikushi, Ohashi, and Beppu. Kyushu also has an extensive library network composed of seven libraries and carries around 4.2 million books. Meanwhile, its museums collectively house approximately 7.5 million items.
Established in 1903, Kyushu University’s earliest incarnation was the consolidation of medical schools in the Fukuoka Domain in 1867. Reorganization led it to become a university college in 1903 and an independent university in 1911.
As of 2020, Kyushu welcomes more than 19,000 students and 2,000 faculty members. It has over 2,300 international students and 100 foreign professors coming from more than 97 countries and regions. It has forged more than 120 partnerships with foreign universities for its foreign exchange program and collaborative efforts in research.
Kyushu’s notable alumni include Koichi Wakata (astronaut), Hakaru Hashimoto (doctor), Shozaburo Jimi (politician), Robert Huang (business executive), Tetsu Nakamura (physician), and Hirofumi Yoshimura (Osaka Prefecture governor).
Kyushu aims to be a world leader in various disciplines and the educational abode of international learners to further stimulate the growth of Fukuoka City. It also provides employment support services and events to boost the employability of its graduates.