Kumamoto University
Kumamoto, Japan • Founded 1949 • QS 2027 #1001-1200
Updated May 2026 · Source: kumamoto-u.ac.jp
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
Geographic and contact information for Kumamoto University is listed below.
Academic Details
Kumamoto University's key academic numbers — student body size, staffing, and accreditation context.
Academic Structures
The academic units of Kumamoto University are listed below.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Science (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Physics
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
Health Sciences (Graduate School) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Health Sciences
- Laboratory Techniques
- Medical Parasitology
- Nursing
- Radiology
Law (Graduate School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Law
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
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Graduate School) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Embryology and Reproduction Biology
- Environmental Studies
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Treatment Techniques
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
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
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
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
Pharmacy (School) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Chemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
Programs Offered
Search and filter Kumamoto University's available programmes by degree level.
14 programmes on record. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Japan
Bachelor's Degree 8 programmes
Master's Degree 4 programmes
Professional Doctorate 1 programme
How to apply to Kumamoto University
How to apply to Kumamoto University — a five-step structure.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Concise answers to common questions about Kumamoto University.
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 QS 2027 #1001-1200.
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.
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