International Joint Degree Doctoral Program for
Interdisciplinary Science
The University of Antwerp is a young university which has its origins in three educational institutions in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. In the early 1970s, the three institutions formed a university confederation, and they merged to establish what is now known as the University of Antwerp in 2003. This Joint Degree program is jointly organized by the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences at Kyushu University and the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Antwerp, which has one of the world's leading electron microscopy research centers, called EMAT (Electron Microscopy for Materials Science). On the other hand, Kyushu University also has excellent electron microscopy facilities comparable to EMAT. Over its 50- year history, it has developed into one of the leading electron microscopy research hubs both domestically and internationally. Given this shared expertise, Kyushu University and the University of Antwerp have maintained long-standing academic collaboration in electron microscopy. Kyushu University was selected for the JSPS's Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visit Program in 2012, enabling our young researchers and graduate students to study abroad at the University of Antwerp and conduct international joint research. This program led to the implementation of the Joint Degree program framework, ultimately resulting in its successful establishment.
Kyushu University and the University of Antwerp occupy comparable positions in the World University Rankings. Both universities demonstrate exceptional international competitiveness in the field of materials and materials science research, distinguished by unique research directions and methodological approaches. We believe that by collaborating, the two universities can achieve synergistic, complementary, and mutually reinforcing educational and research outcomes. In this Joint Degree (JD) program, students are required to participate in international collaborative research and present their findings and results, without the requirement to earn credits through lectures or seminars. This approach is designed to maximize the time to spent on joint research with partner universities, which we consider the most effective method to enhance advanced knowledge and skills in nanostructure analysis, problem-solving skills for related challenges, and international competency – the fundamental goals of our JD program. Preliminary surveys have revealed a significant interest in this JD program from multiple companies. We look forward to welcoming your enrollment in the JD program as a promising career path for those who will lead the next generation of research in electron microscopy and materials science.
The environmental and energy problems on a global scale are becoming increasingly severe due to worldwide
population growth, economic development, and fossil fuel depletion since the late 20th century. To address these
challenges and realize sustainable international development, innovative materials and research techniques that
contribute to creating new energy sources, energy storage, hydrogen utilization, and environmental remediation
are essential. At the forefront of these efforts is nanomaterials and nanoscience, crucial for achieving a
decarbonized society. There is a pressing need to cultivate outstanding research talent capable of leading
international contributions in this field.
Under such circumstances, Kyushu University’s Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences
(IGSES-Kyushu-U) and the University of Antwerp's Faculty of Science (SC-UAntwerp) launched a new joint
degree program, called the "Kyushu University-University of Antwerp International Collaborative Program in
Engineering Science," with the aim of nurturing globally-minded science and engineering professionals who can
lead innovative materials and substances research and development based on nanomaterials and nanoscience
to solve environmental and energy challenges.
About the University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is located in the city of Antwerp, and is one of the leading universities in Belgium. It
ranked in the 3rd place nationally and 131st worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
2023 and the 5th place nationally and 248th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2024, highlighting its
strong international reputation. Our collaborative partner, the SC-UAntwerp has the NANOlight Center of Excellence which consists of six research groups. Among these groups, EMAT (Electron Microscopy for
Materials Science) is one of the preeminent electron microscopy centers in the world.
2 person / per academic year
This program aims to realize a sustainable society on a global scale through innovative materials development from both scientific and engineering perspectives. It also aims to nurture academic researchers and highly specialized professionals with strong international and independent perspective toward various issues related to structural analysis and control in nanomaterials and nanoscience. These individuals will be capable of proposing and conducting innovative solutions from a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective.
※for Kyushu University students
1st Year: Preparation of research proposal and
presentation at joint seminar
2nd Year: International collaborative research at the
University of Antwerp for six months
3rd Year: Doctoral thesis review and public defense
Please refer to our Global Gateways website(Japanese Only) to find more about scholarships for study abroad.
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