Kyushu University: Institution Main

About Kyushu University:

The origin of Kyushu University (九州大学 Kyūshū daigaku or 九大 Kyūdai ) dates back to 1903 when Fukuoka Medical College was founded.  The school was affiliated to Kyoto Imperial University, and in 1911, the university became the 4th Imperial University in Japan.    In 1947, it was renamed Kyushu University.  In its history of nearly 100 years, Kyushu University has contributed to higher education in the Sciences as well as the Design field when the Kyushu Institute of Design was merged into Kyushu University in 2003.

Kyushu University has 8 campuses including the newly built campus in the Ito area, which is going to be the center of the university in the near future (some major changes will be expected on the university's research facilities). The Faculty of Engineering moved to the Ito Campus in 2006, and other faculties will be relocated over the next 10 years.  Kyushu University currently has 11 undergraduate schools, 17 graduate schools, 3 attached research institutions and a university hospital.

In order to meet today’s research and education needs, Kyushu University has initiated new reforms to accomplish and further develop world standards and advanced education and research. The reform aims at the establishment of Centers of Excellence (COE) , which allow the school to develop relationships with other Asian countries. The action plan emphasizes 4 fields including (1) education, (2) research, (3) social contribution, and (4) international cooperation.

Kyushu is one of the top research institutions in Japan.  Thomson Reuters rated Kyushu University the 6th best research university in Japan. Its research excellence is especially distinctive in Physical Science (6th in Japan, 49th in the world), Chemistry (6th in Japan, 41st in the world), Biology & Biochemistry (4th in Japan, 95th in the world), Immunology (4th in Japan, 68th in the world), and Pharmacology & Toxicology (4th in Japan, 76th in the world). In addition, the university was ranked 16th highest in Japan in terms of research funding per researchers in COE Programs.  In the same article by the Weekly Diamond, the university was also ranked 5th in terms of the quality of education by GP funds per student. Furthermore, Nikkei Shimbun (2004/2/16) ranked Kyushu University 11th for the research standards in Engineering studies based on Thomson Reuters, Grants in Aid for Scientific Research, and questionnaires completed by the heads of 93 leading Japanese Research Centers.

Kyushu University was designed as one of Japan's Global 30 institutions.