Kurume University for International Students: Programs, Fees, Scholarships, Student Life, and Careers

Thinking about studying in Japan but want a place that blends strong academics, an approachable city, and hands-on support? Kurume University in Fukuoka Prefecture offers exactly that. With two compact campuses (Mii and Asahi), clinical excellence in medicine and nursing, and a friendly community, it’s a practical choice for overseas applicants who value quality teaching and real-world outcomes. This guide walks you through facts, strengths, student life, study-abroad options, climate, international student stats, and career prospects—so you can judge whether Kurume University fits your goals.

Quick-Facts: Kurume University

Below is a compact snapshot of Kurume University you can scan in seconds. Sources are linked to official pages where possible, and amounts are shown in Japanese yen (¥).

Type	Private University
Total Students	≈ 6,755 (Undergrad 6,554 + Graduate 201, as of May 1, 2024) — Official “Business Report” (R6)
Campuses	Mii Campus (main for humanities, law, economics, commerce, human health); Asahi Campus (School of Medicine & University Hospital)
Faculties/Schools	Letters (Psychology / Information Society / Intercultural Studies / Social Welfare); Human Health (Child Studies / Sports Science); Law (Law / International Politics); Economics (Economics / Cultural Economics); Commerce; Medicine (Medicine / Nursing / Medical Technology). Overview in English: Faculties & Graduate Schools
Tuition Fees (examples)	Humanities/Law/Econ/Commerce first-year package ≈ ¥1,127,000 (reference) — Fee table (R6); Nursing program fees — Nursing tuition; Medicine (MD) — Prospective students: tuition
Gender Ratio	~39% female : 61% male — THE profile
Intl‑Student %	≈ 1.7% (117 students across categories, Nov 1, 2024) — International students (2024)
Students per Staff	~7.1 — THE key stats
Official Site (EN)	Kurume University (English)

Campus Maps

Asahi-machi Campus (Headquarters, Kurume)

Address: 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan

Mii Campus (Kurume)

Address: 1635 Mii-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-8502, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Kurume University traces its roots to a medical training tradition that has grown into a multi-faculty private university serving the Chikugo region of Fukuoka. Today, Kurume strives to cultivate practical, humane professionals—people who pursue truth and justice while contributing to local culture and global society. That ethos shows in its structure: a comprehensive set of arts and social sciences at Mii Campus alongside the School of Medicine, Nursing, and the University Hospital at Asahi Campus. Facilities such as the Advanced Cancer Therapy Research Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute reinforce a mission that blends education, clinical service, and community impact. For an English overview of faculties and graduate schools, see the university’s official site. Faculties & Graduate Schools (EN) | Selected research centers: Research Centers & Institute.

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship: School of Medicine & University Hospital

Kurume’s medical education is closely integrated with its teaching hospital and specialty research institutes, creating strong pathways for clinical exposure and research-led instruction. English pages highlight the School of Medicine and its clerkship programs, with departments and labs that regularly collaborate across oncology, cardiovascular science, neurology, and public health. School of Medicine (EN)

Applied Research Hubs Tied to Community Health

Beyond the hospital, dedicated research centers drive translational work—from advanced cancer therapy to biostatistics and brain disorders—supporting both regional healthcare and student opportunities. These institutes are summarized on the English “Research Centers & Institute” page. Research hubs (EN)

Global & Practical Communication Training

Kurume emphasizes practical language education and cultural exchange. The Institute of Foreign Language Education provides mission-driven language support and cross-cultural programming that complements faculty curricula and outbound study. Institute of Foreign Language Education

Data Transparency & Student Numbers

Kurume releases enrollment and capacity figures in its annual Business Report (Japanese). As of May 1, 2024, undergraduate enrollment totals 6,554 across six faculties; graduate enrollment totals 201 across programs; and select certificate/“Bekka” programs are reported separately. R6 Business Report

Cost Clarity & Scholarships

Tuition varies by faculty. Reference tables for humanities/social sciences (first-year package), nursing, and medicine are available online; the International Exchange Center also lists tuition-reduction and scholarship options for eligible students. R6 fee table (JP) | Nursing tuition | Medicine tuition (prospective site) | Support for international students

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles That Welcome Overseas Students

Kurume has a wide range of athletics and cultural circles—music, orchestra, tea ceremony, volunteer groups, and more. Newcomers can browse official lists and “real voices” articles on the prospective student site to find communities that match their interests. Clubs & Circles (JP) | Clubs on DO MY BEST.

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

The International Exchange Center provides assistance with residence status, fee reductions, scholarships, and everyday student life. It also introduces Japanese language classes and exchange activities that help you connect on campus. International support (JP)

Language‑Exchange & Buddy Opportunities

Kurume runs regular “International Exchange” meetups and volunteer language partner initiatives. These activities are great for practicing Japanese/English and meeting peers across faculties (including medical students hosted for clerkships). International Exchange (JP)

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

Kurume maintains agreements with partner universities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Students can join language training (e.g., Austria, the Philippines, Taiwan), semester exchanges, or short programs—with some scholarship support for independent short-term study. Browse partner lists and program pages here: Partner schools list | Language training abroad | Study abroad programs | Short-term Study Scholarship

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Snapshot

Kurume has mild winters and hot, humid summers. Typical winter lows hover just above freezing, with daytime highs around 10°C; August highs often reach the low 30s °C. Official monthly climatology data are available from the Japan Meteorological Agency (station: Kurume). JMA monthly normals (JP)

Lifestyle, Safety, & What to Do

Kurume City is known for tonkotsu ramen, riverside festivals, and easy access to downtown Fukuoka. The city’s tourism and international exchange sites share events, volunteer programs, and living support for residents and international students. Kurume Tourism (EN) | International Exchange Bureau (EN)

International Student Statistics

As of November 1, 2024, Kurume University reported 117 international students across categories (graduate, undergraduate, exchange, Bekka, research). The largest cohorts were from China and Nepal, with additional students from Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, the U.S., Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Sweden. Source: International Students (2024) PDF

Career & Graduate Prospects

Kurume supports career readiness through structured guidance and faculty-linked advising. Recent outcome summaries (by department) and career support pages outline employment rates, further study pathways, and typical destinations in government, education, healthcare, finance, and industry. See: Latest outcomes by major (PDF) | Career support (prospective students) | Employment examples