Introduction From Kyushu to Lund From Lund to Kyushu Information Contacts
Kyushu University started the DDP with Lund University in 2010, which enables students to obtain Master’s degrees from both universities after they spend a total of three years at Kyushu University and Lund University. The program provides opportunities for students to obtain Master’s degrees from universities in two different countries as well as to have higher education in a different cultural area, in Sweden in Northern Europe (for Kyushu University students) and in Japan in the Far East (for Lund University students), and it aims to train students to become highly-skilled people who will take a proactive role in the international society in the future.
Lund University, as well as the majority of European universities, has introduced a five-year course system combining a Bachelor’s degree course and a Master’s degree course, in which it offers stand-alone two-year international courses for Master’s degrees in some areas (e.g., Water Resources Engineering, an international course for Building & Environmental Technology). Kyushu University students can apply for the international courses only.
While Kyushu University has introduced a two-cycle course system consisting of a four-year Bachelor’s degree course and a two-year Master’s degree course, Lund University students can apply to all international courses (where applicable) for a Master’s degree provided in the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyushu University.
Lund University, as well as Kyushu University, has two-year Master’s degree courses. To compare with Kyushu University, Lund University focuses on classwork, tends to be classwork-oriented and introduces many practices and exercises during class, while Kyushu University tends to be research-oriented, and students spend more time on research.
Since Kyushu University started the Double Degree Program (DDP) with Lund University, it has sent its students only to Water Resources Engineering, an international course for Building & Environmental Technology at Lund University. This is because the course has a similar course structure to the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering and the Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering (and part of the Department of Earth Resources Engineering) in the School of Engineering at Kyushu University. There has also been long-term research cooperation between Kyushu University and Lund University in the field, so that supervisors from both universities can work together closely.
If you wish to take other courses, please contact the International Student Section, Student Affairs Division of Engineering.
Students wishing to undertake the DDP should notify their intention to apply to the faculty in charge of the DDP after consultation with their supervisor at Kyushu University. They should submit application materials to the International Student Section, Student Affairs Division of Engineering. At the same time, pre-registration on the web site designated by Lund University is required of their supervisor (usually by April 15). Registration on the web site designated by Lund University is required of the applicants who pass paper screening at Kyushu University (the first stage) (usually by April 25). Applicants will receive notification of results by email after screening at Lund University (the second stage).
Students (successful applicants) spend the first semester in the first year of the Master’s degree course at Kyushu University, and then they go to Lund University in time for the orientation held in late August. (Students who are required to take English preparation classes need to go to Lund University in the middle of August.)
After studying at Lund University for a minimum of three semesters (90ECTS-credits), students come back to Kyushu University to resume their study for a Master’s degree. *) They do not have to worry about timing of job hunting since they come back to Kyushu University in the second semester of the first year of the Master’s degree course. After having an interview for their Master’s thesis at Kyushu University, they have another interview at Lund University. When they pass the interviews and submit the thesis, they can receive Master’s degrees from both universities.
* Students must earn 90ECTS-credits (combining compulsory subjects and elective subjects) over the course of three semesters during their stay at Lund University. 30ECTS-credits (equivalent to 10 Japanese credits) earned at Lund University are transferrable to Kyushu University, and 10 Japanese credits (equivalent to 30ECTS-credits) earned at Kyushu University are transferrable to Lund University.
i. Applicants must be enrolled in a Master’s degree course in the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyushu University.
ii. Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic performance. (Paper screening and interviews will be conducted.)
iii. Applicants must have adequate English language skills to take classes at university overseas.
iv. Applicants must meet other requirements of the host university (Lund University).
i. Double Degree Program Application Form (Please obtain an application form from the department office you belong to.)
ii. Reasons for Applying to the Double Degree Program (both in Japanese and English/1 page of A4 size paper)
iii. Proof of English Language Proficiency (TOEFL iBT of minimum 79 or IELTS academic module of minimum 6.0 overall) **)
iv. Research and Education Plans (both in Japanese and English)
v. Letter of Recommendation from Supervisor (both in Japanese and English)
**) If applicants do not have proof of English Language Proficiency or the required English language proficiency, they may be interviewed in English by Lund University via Skype or may be required to take English preparation classes before the program starts in September.
ii. Second Stage
Registration on the web site designated by Lund University is required of the applicants who pass the paper screening (the first stage) by April 25.
Notification of results will be emailed to the applicants by Lund University.
Lund University has introduced a two-semester system. The academic year is divided into two semesters, and each semester is divided into two periods. Students have examinations when each period ends.
Summer holiday starts in June and ends in August. Students can travel around Europe during the long holiday.
Since Kyushu University started the Double Degree Program (DDP) with Lund University, it has accepted Lund University students only into the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering and the Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering. This is because these departments have been working in similar research fields to Water Resources Engineering at Lund University. There has also been long-term research cooperation between Kyushu University and Lund University in this field, so that supervisors from both universities can work together closely. If you wish to enroll in other departments, please contact the International Office for Engineering and Information Science, Kyushu University.
[Syllabus]
English courses in Civil Engineering
[Websites]
Department of Civil Engineering
Students who are enrolled in Civilingenjörsutbildring (Master of Science in Engineering Program) and have completed a minimum of 3.75 years of study at Lund University are eligible to undertake the DDP at Kyushu University. The students spend three or four semesters at Kyushu University starting on April 1 or October 1. During this period, the students must earn 30 Japanese credits. 30ECTS-credits (equivalent to 1 0 Japanese credits) earned at Lund University are transferrable to Kyushu University. Credits earned at Kyushu University can be transferred to Lund University up to 75ECTS-credits on a case-by-case basis. A Master’s thesis (30ECTS-credits) must be written in English including a summary in both Swedish and English, which should be overseen by their supervisors at both universities. After earning the required credits and completing the thesis, students must have interviews at both universities. The students will receive the Master’s degrees of both universities when they pass the interviews.
i. Double Degree Program Application Form (Please obtain an application form from the International Office of Engineering at Lund University.)
ii. Reasons for Applying to the Double Degree Program (1 page of A4 size paper)
iii. Transcripts
iv. Research and Education Plans (include any research already conducted, and research plans for Kyushu University and, if relevant, any future research plans upon return to Lund University – 1 page of A4 size paper)
v. Letter of Recommendation from Supervisor (If you do not have a supervisor then from the department chair.)
vi. Proof of English Language Proficiency (such as TOEFL score or IELTS score)*)
*) Not required, but attach if possible.
ii. Second Stage
The Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University will select applicants based on application materials and (if necessary) teleconference interviews. Screening of applicants will be completed by the second stage.
[Kyushu University Friendship Scholarship]
Kyushu University offers a scholarship to undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a non-Japanese university that is recognized as a leading university in that country and has been producing graduates playing an active part as leaders within every sector of society.
Lund University students can apply for the Kyushu University Friendship.
Kyushu University, celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2011, was founded in 1911 as one of the seven imperial universities in Japan. It has been a leader in the academic field not just in Japan but also throughout Asia, and it is one of the nation’s top centers for education and research with approx. 19,000 students (including approx. 2,000 international students) and approx. 8,000 staff members.
Kyushu University is located in Fukuoka City (population: approx. 1.5 million), on the north coast of Japan’s main southern island, and is only a few hours from Shanghai by air. Fukuoka City is called a “Gateway to Asia”.
Video Tour of Kyushu University
Lund University was founded in 1666 and it has always been at the forefront of innovation with its modern and dynamic approach. Today, Lund University is an international center for research and education. It has evolved into one of the most internationalized universities in Sweden, cooperating worldwide with a great number of universities and research institutions. Lund University has approx. 33,000 students (including approx. 3,500 international students) and approx. 6,800 staff members.
Lund, which is located in the southwest part of Sweden, is about 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen and about 4 hours by train from Stockholm.
International Office for Engineering and Information Science, Kyushu University
744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 JAPAN
Phone +81 92 802 3873
Fax +81 92 802 2556
E-mail: kotio@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp