Japan’s First Joint Degree Program (JDP) at the undergraduate level among national universities!

ISI was established in 2018 as the 12th undergraduate school at Kyushu University. In this school, students with diverse backgrounds work together to address complex global challenges through collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches.

To further advance this mission, ISI is developing a Joint Degree Program (JDP) targeted for launch in October 2028 with the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability at the University of Glasgow, one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions. This will be the first initiative of its kind at the undergraduate level among Japan’s national universities, and students will have the opportunity to study in both Japan and the UK.

In this program, students will deepen their understanding of real-world environmental issues through fieldwork in Asia and Europe.

It offers an exceptional opportunity for those who hope to work internationally in the future, such as serving as staff in the United Nations or other global organizations.

*Details are subject to change, as the program is currently under development.

【Start date】
Student admission is intended to begin in October 2028

【Participating schools】
・Kyushu University –School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation
・The University of Glasgow –School of Social & Environmental Sustainability

【Program name (provisional)】
Kyushu University and the University of Glasgow Joint Degree Program

【Enrollment capacity】
A total of 10 students
・Selected at Kyushu University: 5 students
・Selected at the University of Glasgow: 5 students

【Degree to be awarded】
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences

【Professionals the program aims to cultivate】
We aim to train future leaders who can contribute to the social and environmental sustainability of our world. More specifically, the program nurtures students who can:
・Understand real issues through fieldwork
・Work with diverse stakeholders across countries and cultures
・Propose and implement solutions that create sustainable social impact

【Career pathways】
International organizations (e.g., the United Nations), International development agencies (e.g., JICA), Global NGOs, Government agencies, ESG‑related fields in private companies, Graduate study (domestic or international), etc.

【Study locations】
The model is still to be approved through each institution but as an example:
Year 1: At the university where the student is originally admitted
Year 2: University of Glasgow
Year 3: Kyushu University
Year 4: Students choose either Kyushu University or the University of Glasgow based on their research theme.

【Tuition fees】
The current proposal is for students to pay tuition only to their home university. 

【Program significance】
The University of Glasgow’s School of Social & Environmental Sustainability is a distinctive academic unit in Europe that integrates the natural sciences with the humanities and social sciences to address environmental challenges.
Similarly, Kyushu University’s School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation is committed to fostering students who learn across disciplinary boundaries and apply diverse knowledge to address complex social issues.

Both schools share a deep commitment to:
・Interdisciplinary learning, and
・Field-based, real-world engagement with environmental issues

This Joint Degree Program brings together:
・Glasgow-SES’s strengths in field research and scientific analysis, and
・Kyushu University-ISI’s strengths in diverse academic methods and collaborative problem-solving

Through this integrated curriculum, the program seeks to develop students who can tackle the environmental challenges facing the international community.
We expect this program to foster next‑generation leaders who will contribute to social and environmental sustainability worldwide.

●What’s JDP?
A special program in which two or more universities jointly design a shared curriculum, and upon graduation, students are awarded a degree that carries the names of both universities.