Kyushu University is the largest public university on the island of Kyushu. It is located in Fukuoka, Fukuoka. There are a total of 1,292 foreign students (as of May 1, 2008) enrolled in the University. It is among the top 3 (after Tokyo University and Osaka University) destinations for foreign students. On October, 2003, Kyushu University and Kyūshū Institute of Design officially amalgamated into a single university, with Kyushu Institute of Design becoming Kyushu University's Ohashi Campus.
In 2004 Kyushu University was incorporated as a national university corporation under a new law which applies to all national universities
The university has been ranked 8th in 2010 and 2009 in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai. In another ranking, Japanese prep school Kawaijuku ranked Kyusyu as the 7th best university in Japan.
In 2011 QS World University Rankings ranked Kyushu University 122nd in the world. Its subject rankings were: 123rd in Engineering & IT, 170th in Life Sciences & Biomedicine, and 150th in Natural Sciences. It is also the 18th best university in Asia, according to QS Asian University rankings.