The Kyushu University Q-Fund Scholarship is the umbrella name for Kyushu University's portfolio of international graduate student scholarships, combining a partial-to-full tuition reduction with a monthly living-cost stipend of ¥100,000 to ¥150,000 depending on degree level and specific scholarship stream. Kyushu University, located in Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu, is one of Japan's seven imperial universities and a major destination for international graduate students from across Asia. The Q-Fund was established to consolidate the university's international scholarship offerings under a single brand. For the 2027 cycle the Q-Fund continues its existing structure with selection through the standard admission cycle in autumn 2026.
The Q-Fund streams
The Q-Fund is not a single scholarship but a portfolio of streams, each with slightly different eligibility and stipend levels. The general international fellowship covers master's and doctoral applicants across all disciplines with a standard stipend of ¥100,000–¥120,000/month. The Yangtze River Bursary specifically targets applicants from China and selected Asian countries with strong economic ties to Kyushu — historically Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea — with a higher stipend of ¥130,000–¥150,000/month. Discipline-specific streams within Engineering and Sciences add further support for STEM doctoral candidates. Applicants are considered for the appropriate stream based on their program and country of origin during admission review.
How selection works
Selection is integrated into the standard Kyushu University admission process. There is no separate Q-Fund application. Outstanding international applicants identified during admission review are nominated for Q-Fund consideration by the host graduate school. Selection criteria include academic record, research plan quality, recommendation letters, and alignment with the host graduate school's research priorities. Applicants should apply to Kyushu University with strong supporting materials and signal interest in scholarship consideration in their application form. The standard Kyushu admission cycle runs autumn 2026 for April 2027 entry; some programs accept September entry with separate spring 2026 deadlines.
Kyushu's research strengths
Kyushu University is particularly strong in Engineering, Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Medical Sciences. The university's location in Fukuoka — a major gateway to East Asia — supports strong international engagement, particularly with China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. For applicants planning to study in Kyushu specifically, our overview of the cheapest universities in Japan for international graduates shows how Kyushu compares on cost of living against Tokyo and Osaka. Browse all scholarships to compare against alternative funding routes, and see our MEXT scholarship 2027 complete guide for full strategy.