Kyushu University was selected to participate in the Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization (Global 30) to develop centers for internationalization, instigated in 2009 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Since then, we have pursued further internationalization in education, and we have been undertaking initiatives aimed at strengthening the university's function as one of Asia's leading universities offering world-class education and research. Moreover, under the “Top Global University Project”, which was adopted in AY 2014, we have been promoting further internationalization. We are aiming to increase the number of Japanese students who study abroad while increasing the number of international students. Based on the results up till now, the University has a goal for the fourth mid-term - “Train people to experience different values and to have a cosmopolitan outlook”. In addition to this, having in mind the producing of people who become leaders in global society in terms of Kyushu University VISION 2030, we are sending Japanese students abroad and accepting international students strategically and systematically.

○Promoting the internationalization of education

We are implementing the following measures to ensure the increase of international students.

(1) Establishment of English courses in two undergraduate schools and all graduate schools

As of April 1, 2025, a total of 69 international courses in which students can obtain a degree through education entirely in English have been established in the two faculties of Engineering and Agriculture, and in all 18 graduate schools (excluding the Graduate School of Law, the Graduate School of Mathematics for Innovation, and the Graduate School of Humanities and Information Science).

(2) International Student Guidance & Counseling

At the Counseling Room of the International Student Center, specialized faculty members (counselors) provide a variety of counseling services for international students, including advice on study and research (tuition, scholarships, promotion, human relations in the laboratory, etc.), daily life (accidents, illness, housing, family, etc.), and mental health in cooperation with faculty members in charge of international students in each undergraduate and graduate school. (Contents of counseling are kept strictly confidential.)

Although the International Student Counseling Room is located at Ito Campus, counseling is available at each campus as needed. Counseling is also available in English and Chinese in cooperation with the Center for Health Sciences and Counseling. For more information, please access the websites of the International Student Center and the Counseling Health Sciences Center.

(3) Emergency support system for international students

Kyushu University has established the "Kyushu University Emergency Support Guidelines for International Students" to provide support to international students in the event of an accident, illness, or other emergency in Japan. International students pay 1,650 yen as an annual membership fee.

Under this system, international students can receive an interpreter service over the phone, arranged by the hospital, when visiting a medical facility during emergencies and at normal times.

○Overseas offices etc.

＊Overseas offices

＜Office spaces with local staff, established to undertake activities in other countries＞
　・Beijing office
　・Cairo office
　・Hanoi office
　・Stockholm Liaison Office

＜Offices that provide a point of contact in other countries＞
　・Seoul office
　・Washington, D.C. office
　・Taipei office

(Details of activities)

The different offices are engaged in different activities, but they are mainly designed to increase the recruitment of high-quality students, as well as to collect information relating to trends in education and academic research in those countries, and to support the activities of University faculty members and students located in those areas.

＊Branch offices

　・Branch office within Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)

(Details of activities)

These universities provide office space for coordinating the educational/research aspects of joint projects between Kyushu University and the respective universities, and implementing PR activities with the aim of acquiring high-quality international students.

＊Project Offices

・UQ-KU Educational and Research Exchange Project Center (Australia)
The project promotes educational and research exchanges between Kyushu University and the University of Queensland

○Intake of international students

Kyushu University hosts a large number of international students through student exchange agreements, government-sponsored international student programs, and short-term study abroad programs.

＊No.of international students

The University currently hosts 2,691 international students from 111 different countries (as of November 1st, 2025).

＊Government-sponsored international student system

The government sponsorship system for international students is a system administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Culture, with the intention of promoting the acceptance of international students.

There are two main application methods for this program: embassy recommendation (for those newly coming from overseas to study) and university recommendation (for those newly coming from overseas to study, as well as some who are already residing in Japan).

＊Financial assistance for privately-funded international students

Financial assistance available for privately-funded international students includes the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students offered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and scholarships provided by various foundations.

International Student Center
＊Japanese Language Education

・JACs: Japanese Academic Courses/ KIKAN Education, Basic Language and Culture Course "Japanese”

Credit Courses for Japanese Learners（Ito Campus）

These courses are designed for the following students to study Japanese for credit as part of KIKAN Education. International students enrolled in regular undergraduate courses at Kyushu University (including the International Course of the Bachelor's Program), students belonging to the International Student Center who are studying abroad at Kyushu University based on inter-university and inter-departmental student exchange agreements, and exchange students belonging to each faculty. Four courses are offered throughout the year: General Japanese, Conversation, Kanji, and Writing, and eight levels of classes are offered from introductory to advanced.

・JTCs: Japanese Training Courses(Non-credit courses) Japanese language supplementary courses (Ito)

Non-credit Courses for Japanese Learners（Ito Campus）

Supplementary Japanese language courses are offered throughout the year at the Ito Campus for exchange students (excluding students affiliated with the International Student Center of Kyushu University) and international students enrolled in graduate schools (including non-degree students) who wish to learn Japanese while pursuing their professional studies. Seven levels of general Japanese language classes are offered, from beginner to advanced.
Students who wish to take the courses are required to take the online placement test within the designated period.

Japanese Language Supplementary Courses (Maidashi)

Non-credit Courses for Japanese Learners (Hospital(Maidashi) Campus)

Students studying at the Hospital (Maidashi) campus can take the JTCs’ online courses offered at the Ito campus. Students who wish to take the courses are required to take the online placement test within the designated period (same schedule as JTCs).

Japanese Language Supplementary Courses (Ohashi)

Non-credit Courses for Japanese Learners (Ohashi Campus)

At the Ohashi Campus, there are four levels of general Japanese language classes, Beginner 1 and 2, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Students who wish to take the courses are required to take the online placement test within the designated period.

Japanese Language Supplementary Courses (Chikushi)

Non-credit Courses for Japanese Learners (Chikushi Campus)

At the Chikushi Campus, there are five levels of general Japanese language classes, Beginner 1, 2 and 3, Intermediate, and Advanced. Students who wish to take the courses are required to take the online placement test within the designated period.

＊Short-term exchange programs

(1) Kyushu University Short-term Exchange Program (JTW: Japan in Today’s World)

The International Student Center has been implementing the JTW course for students from overseas since 1994. The program lasts for 11 months or a semester, and offers lessons, in English, from a range of areas such as the humanities and social sciences in Japan. Students also have the opportunity to implement research in their own field.

Most of the students on this course are exchange students from the universities with which we have exchange agreements.

(2) JLCC: Japanese Language and Culture Course

The International Student Center has been implementing this course in Japanese Language and Culture since 2000 for students from　international universities (departments).

The course lasts for 11 months, and is mostly attended by government-sponsored international students (recommended by their embassies or universities), or privately-funded students on exchange programs from universities with which we have exchange agreements.

(3) Kyushu University / ASEAN educational exchange program (AsTW: ASEAN in Today’s World)

AsTW is a two-week spring program conducted in collaboration with leading universities in ASEAN countries. This program aims to educate students from all over the world, especially from ASEAN and Japan, to obtain international commonality with ASEAN as the keyword, and to develop human resources who will lead Asia in the next generation.

○Placement of students overseas (including exchange students)

Kyushu University has entered into agreements with overseas universities regarding international student exchange, based on which it implements student exchanges, short-term language study trips, in order to ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to spend time at universities overseas.

＊Number of students overseas

In AY 2024, 1,903 students were sent to overseas universities and other institutions in 82 countries and regions, and an additional 202 students participated in online programs at overseas universities and other institutions in 15 countries and regions.

＊Student exchange program between universities

Based on agreements between universities, we both accept and dispatch students from and to our partner universities. Students can apply for this program through the International Student Exchange Division. Advantages of this program include non-collection of tuition fees, transfer of credits, and priority access to student dormitories.

In addition to this, departments sometimes enter into student exchange agreements, which allow their students to engage in exchanges with students from other university departments.

＊Short-term exchange programs

(1) Kyushu University/ASEAN educational exchange program (AsTW: ASEAN in Today’s World)

AsTW is a two-week spring program jointly organized by our university and leading universities in ASEAN countries of Southeast Asia, aimed at developing the next generation of leaders for Asia. Students will study the dynamics and culture of the region, including social issues in Southeast Asian countries. Faculty from both our university and the local universities teach classes in English, with leading universities in ASEAN countries serving as host institutions. Students form teams with international participants from ASEAN countries. In addition to lectures centered on group discussions and workshops, they also engage in field trips and cultural experiences, providing opportunities to build cross-border networks. On the final day, a presentation competition will be held by student teams.

(2) College of Asia Pacific (CAP)　

The College of Asia Pacific (CAP) is an interdisciplinary short-term overseas program that integrates lectures and fieldwork, based on Team-Based Learning (TBL), in which teams of students work together to address issues common to the broader Asian region, such as migration, religion, and social integration. The program will be held for approximately two weeks during the summer break at leading universities in the Southeast Asian region.
Under the CAP scheme, in addition to short-term dispatch, we provide our courses to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), an international university consortium to which our university belongs, and implement the COIL program.

＊APRU Online Study Abroad Program

APRU offers the Virtual Student Exchange Program (VSE), an online study abroad program. The VSE Academic Course allows undergraduate students at our university to take online courses (taught in English) offered by APRU member universities free of charge. These courses span from introductory to advanced levels and cover a wide range of fields, including the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields.
In addition to the Academic Course, non-credit Co-curricular Programs are also offered. Our students can participate free of charge in diverse programs hosted by APRU member universities, covering themes such as cultural experiences, leadership development, career development, and student exchange. Language courses are also offered for language training. Both the Academic Course and the Language Courses may be recognized for credit at our university upon completion of the required procedures. Additionally, faculty members of this university may also offer courses for the VSE Academic Course.

Provision of Courses for the APRU VSE Academic Course
https://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/Qdai-only/strategy/vseacademicteacher.php

＊Short-term language trainings

Overseas language training programs are as follows;

(English)

・English Language Training: three to four weeks during summer and spring vacation (country to be determined)

(Chinese)

・Chinese Language Training: A 3–4 week program during the summer and spring breaks in Taiwan

＊Study abroad on our campus

The JTW and SIJ classes offered by the International Student Center are open to the general students as KIKAN Education courses. This provides a valuable opportunity for students to study specialized subjects in English side by side with international students from famous overseas universities while being on the Kyushu University campus.

＊Supports students to be sent abroad

The university as a whole is working closely together to develop a system for strategically and effectively sending Japanese students abroad. Students can seek advice on studying abroad from the staff or experienced students at the International Student Exchange Division and Student Exchange Salon on the 1F of Center Zone 6.

○EU Centre (EUIJ‐Kyushu)

In 2010, the EU Centre was established with the aim of deepening knowledge and understanding of the European Union (EU) as the operating body of the EUIJ Kyushu, which was active until March 2016. Since June 2016, the Center has been working under a new term based on the Education Programs (EU-DPs) to further expand research and education on the EU, building on the rich results of its previous activities.

In September 2016, we were selected for the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (Jean Monnet CoE) under the EU’s education funding program, Erasmus+. Following “Jean Monnet CoE Kyushu (2016–2019)” and “Jean Monnet CoE Kyushu – Phase II (2020–2024),” “Jean Monnet CoE Kyushu – Phase III” commenced in December 2024. As Japan’s only Jean Monnet CoE, we disseminate EU studies to the world. We conduct research and outreach activities to promote broad understanding of the EU among researchers, students, the general public, and business professionals. These include providing systematic learning opportunities on the EU through the EU Studies Diploma Program (EU-DPs); educational activities such as summer camps, EU study tours, and overseas study through short-visit scholarships; research support through funding for participation in international conferences related to the EU; and organizing EU-related symposia, lectures, and public courses.

＊EU Centre Educational Programmes
EU Studies Diploma Programmes (EU-DPs)

The EU Centre offers EU Studies Diploma Programmes (EU-DPs) to our students. The EU-DPs are interdisciplinary and unique educational programs for EU studies at the undergraduate and graduate (master’s) levels, providing students with a broad and in-depth understanding of the EU’s pursuit of economic and social development through regional integration, as well as the European history, philosophy, science, and technology underlying such integration.

○International Education Navigation Center

The "International Education Navigation Center" was established on April 1, 2024, with the goal of centralizing information related to international education both inside and outside the university, and providing seamless international education navigation. The center aims to offer recommendations to the university's executive team for the development of international strategies and to promote and support the internationalization of education within departments.
The center functions as both a think tank and a do tank, sharing the extensive experience and knowledge related to international education accumulated by various faculties, graduate schools, and centers, as well as the latest trends in international education both domestically and internationally, in a timely manner across the entire university. By doing so, we aim to comprehensively expand both inbound and outbound student programs, systematically producing 'outstanding global talent,' such as excellent international students and Japanese students with a global mindset, both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, we will extend these efforts to other universities in Japan and aim to contribute to improving the quality of sending students abroad and accepting international students, as outlined by J-MIRAI (the Initiative to Promote Study Abroad for Youth Creating the Future).
Specifically, we will centrally consolidate information related to the achievements and experiences of international education programs developed by each faculty and graduate school to effectively utilize the university's internal resources for international education. We will also gather information on initiatives aimed at creating an environment that fosters campus internationalization and share it within the center. Additionally, we will expand existing educational programs and know-how laterally to other departments. In addition, we will provide academic guidance and various forms of support to students and international students, overseeing their entire journey from pre-admission, through their studies, to post-graduation/network building, ensuring seamless navigation throughout this process.