Kumamoto University
Kumamoto, Japan • Founded 1949 • World Rank #878
Overview
Founded in 1949, the Kumamoto University (Kumamoto Daigaku) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Kumamoto (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants).
Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Kumamoto University is a medium-sized coeducational Japanese higher education institution. Kumamoto University offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
This 75-year-old Japanese higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations. The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this Japanese higher education organization an extremely selective institution.
International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
Kumamoto University also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Kumamoto University's campus address and the ways prospective students can reach the institution. For visa queries, contact the international student services office directly rather than central admissions.
Academic Details
The basic academic profile of Kumamoto University, including enrolment and faculty composition. Total student count fluctuates intake-to-intake; treat the figure as approximate rather than precise.
Academic Structures
Kumamoto University's academic units, organised by type. Recently formed faculties (post-merger or post-split) often have updated curricula and may carry less institutional history than older units.
Unit 13 items
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Science
- Graduate School of Education
- Graduate School of Health Sciences
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Graduate School of Social and Cultural Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Pharmacy
Degrees
Pick your degree level at Kumamoto University from the breakdown. Late-entry and transfer options vary by level and country — fewer universities accept mid-degree transfers at master's than at bachelor's.
Other 12 programs
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Education
- Educational Technology
- Health Sciences
- Law
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Public Administration
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.
AIDS Research (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Medicine
Environmental Safety (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
- Safety Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Environmental Consultant
- Sustainability Officer
- Climate Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Globalization (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- International Studies
Marine Environment Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Marine Science and Oceanography
Multimedia and Information Technologies (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Information Technology
- Multimedia
Common Career Paths
- Media Producer
- Content Strategist
- Broadcast Journalist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Policy Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Public Administration
Education (Faculty) 18 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Education
- Education
- Foreign Languages Education
- Health Education
- Home Economics
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Industrial Arts Education
- Mathematics Education
- Nursing
- Physical Education
- Primary Education
- Psychology
- Science Education
- Special Education
- Sports
- Teacher Training
- Vocational Education
- Welfare and Protective Services
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Engineering (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Chemistry
- Architectural Restoration
- Biochemistry
- Building Technologies
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Maintenance
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 13 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Administrative Law
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Economic and Finance Policy
- Fiscal Law
- International Economics
- International Law
- Labour Law
- Law
- Political Sciences
- Public Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Letters (Faculty) 18 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Archaeology
- Arts and Humanities
- Cognitive Sciences
- Communication Studies
- Cultural Studies
- East Asian Studies
- Ethics
- Folklore
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- History
- Information Sciences
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Regional Studies
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
Life Sciences (Faculty) 32 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Applied Chemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biomedicine
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
- Environmental Studies
- Gastroenterology
- Haematology
- Hepatology
- Histology
- Medical Technology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Nephrology
- Neurological Therapy
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Organic Chemistry
- Orthopaedics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Radiology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Social Sciences
- Surgery
- Urology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Physics
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Education (Graduate School) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Education
- Education
- Foreign Languages Education
- Health Education
- Home Economics Education
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Mathematics Education
- Music Education
- Native Language Education
- Pedagogy
- Physical Education
- Psychology
- Science Education
- Special Education
- Technology Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Health Sciences (Graduate School) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Health Sciences
- Laboratory Techniques
- Medical Parasitology
- Nursing
- Radiology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Graduate School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medical Sciences (Graduate School) 52 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Anatomy
- Behavioural Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Cardiology
- Cell Biology
- Child Care and Development
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Computer Science
- Dermatology
- Embryology and Reproduction Biology
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
- Haematology
- Health Sciences
- Hepatology
- Histology
- Immunology
- Information Sciences
- Medical Technology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Nephrology
- Neurological Therapy
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Rheumatology
- Social and Preventive Medicine
- Sociology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Virology
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Clinical Researcher
- Healthcare Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Graduate School) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Embryology and Reproduction Biology
- Environmental Studies
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Treatment Techniques
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science and Technology (Graduate School) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Chemistry
- Architecture
- Biochemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Natural Sciences
- Technology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social and Cultural Sciences (Graduate School) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Management
- Business Administration
- Communication Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Foreign Languages Education
- Law
- Management
- Native Language Education
- Peace and Disarmament
- Public Administration
- Social Sciences
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
E-Learning Development (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Educational Technology
Molecular Embryology and Genetics (Institute) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Resource Development and Analysis (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
Bioelectrics (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Buried Cultural Properties (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Heritage Preservation
Higher Education (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Educational Research
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Magnesium (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
Shock Wave and Condensed Matter (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Physics
Medicine (School) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Health Sciences
- Laboratory Techniques
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Radiology
- Treatment Techniques
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Pharmacy (School) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Chemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
Common Career Paths
- Pharmacist
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Pharmaceutical Researcher
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Kumamoto University's programme finder filters by name across all degree levels. Departmental admissions criteria sometimes differ from institutional minimums — verify against the programme page before relying on either.
Bachelor's Degree
8 programmes
Kumamoto University lists 8 programmes that award a bachelor's degree — the foundational tier where students establish a discipline before narrowing their focus later.
Faculty of Letters Humanities & Cultural Studies 4 years On-campus Japanese
Faculty of Education Education & Teaching 4 years On-campus Japanese
Faculty of Law Law 4 years On-campus Japanese
Faculty of Science Natural Sciences 4 years On-campus Japanese
School of Medicine Medicine 6 years On-campus Japanese
School of Pharmacy Pharmacy 6 years On-campus Japanese
Faculty of Engineering General Engineering 4 years On-campus Japanese
School of Informatics Information Systems & Technology On-campus Japanese
No programmes match your filter in this level.
Master's Degree
4 programmes
Explore 4 programmes of postgraduate study at Kumamoto University. A master's degree sharpens specialist knowledge and often carries a dissertation or major project.
Graduate School of Social and Cultural Sciences Natural Sciences 2 years On-campus Japanese
Graduate School of Medical Sciences Medicine 2 years On-campus Japanese
Graduate School of Health Sciences Health Sciences 2 years On-campus Japanese
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Pharmacy 2 years On-campus Japanese
No programmes match your filter in this level.
Professional Doctorate
1 programme
There are 1 programme to choose from at Kumamoto University for doctoral candidates. A PhD or equivalent typically takes three or more years of supervised, independent research.
Graduate School of Education Education & Teaching 2 years On-campus Japanese
No programmes match your filter in this level.
Doctorate
1 programme
There are 1 programme to choose from at Kumamoto University for doctoral candidates. A PhD or equivalent typically takes three or more years of supervised, independent research.
Graduate School of Science and Technology General Engineering 2 years On-campus Japanese
No programmes match your filter in this level.
How to apply to Kumamoto University
What applying to Kumamoto University typically involves — research, eligibility check, document prep, submission, and follow-up.
- 1 Research programmes at Kumamoto University
Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. Kumamoto University runs 14 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.
- 2 Review admissions criteria
Before applying to Kumamoto University, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for Japan.
- 3 Gather supporting documents
Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with Kumamoto University's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.
- 4 Lodge your application
Lodge your application through the official website (www.kumamoto-u.ac.jp). Online forms are the standard route. Save your draft frequently and submit before the programme deadline.
- 5 Confirm receipt and track progress
Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +81 (96) 344 2111. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kumamoto University
A short Q&A covering Kumamoto University's essentials — founding, location, scale, ranking, and academic structure.
When did Kumamoto University open?
Kumamoto University traces its founding to 1949 (approximately 77 years ago).
Where is Kumamoto University located?
Kumamoto University is located in Kumamoto, Japan.
Is Kumamoto University a public or private institution?
Kumamoto University is a public institution.
What is the student enrolment at Kumamoto University?
Student enrolment at Kumamoto University is around 9,000-9,999.
How is Kumamoto University ranked?
Kumamoto University is ranked #878 globally and #17 in Japan.
How is Kumamoto University organised academically?
Kumamoto University has 13 academic units.
Is Kumamoto University officially recognised?
The institution holds recognition from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Where can I learn more about Kumamoto University?
The institution's website is www.kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
Top-Ranked Universities in Japan
Looking for the strongest names in Japan? These are the highest-ranked institutions nationally — useful context for benchmarking Kumamoto University against the country's most established universities. National benchmarks also signal the upper bound of academic prestige in Japan.
Faculties at Nearby Universities
Climate and seasonal factors apply consistently across universities near Kumamoto University, but campus altitude or coastline exposure can shift the experience meaningfully even within a cluster.
Where Else to Study Education & Teaching
Supervision quality at the Education & Teaching programme level is hard to assess externally but affects research output and graduate-school placement. Talk to current students or alumni where possible.
Universities Often Compared with Kumamoto University
Looking at Kumamoto University through a comparison lens? These universities share similar academic positioning and are commonly considered against Kumamoto University during the application process. Cross-comparison helps clarify the institutional fit beyond ranking signals.
