Hi, I am Archit! I am a part of the Complex Fluids Laboratory in the Department of Physics, where I joined as a master’s student in April 2021, and where I’ll be continuing with my doctoral studies, starting April 2023.

What attracted you to Kyushu University?

I was attracted to Kyushu University as my research interests strongly aligned with those of my current laboratory; at the end of my undergraduate studies, I wanted to pursue research with the broad theme of “physics of biological systems.” One of the research areas in our lab is “biophysics of artificial cells,” in which we use simple, artificially created cells as a model system to understand how different processes in a real cell work. I found such research to be highly fascinating, and therefore I applied to Kyushu University.

What’s the most interesting part about your program?

The most interesting part about my program is the freedom it provides me in my research. I can choose which research problem I want to work on depending on my interests, and I have complete freedom regarding how I want to approach my chosen problem.

How’s student life at Kyushu University?

Student life at Kyushu University is great. For the coursework, there are many interesting courses to choose from, but the course load is never too high. For life after graduation, the university offers help with career consultations and job hunting. For extracurricular activities, there are a wide variety of clubs one can join, as well as many facilities available to the students on campus, ranging from libraries to gymnasiums and facilities for different sports. All things considered, student life here doesn’t leave much to be desired.

What do you like about Fukuoka?

I think the best thing about Fukuoka, and in particular, the campus is its proximity to both the countryside and the urban centers. The campus is located close to the sea, in a quiet and peaceful area with few distractions, making it very conducive for study and research. However, just a few train stations away are the more metropolitan areas where one can enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life. Everyday life here is convenient, and there are lots of things to do, both in and away from the city.

Any advice to prospective international students?

While Japanese language proficiency is not required for studying here, it is highly recommended to have some knowledge of it to make everyday life outside the university smoother. Also, this may be common advice, but I think it is still worth repeating: you’ll get as much out of your student life as you put in, so give it your all, seek out new experiences, and enjoy your time as a student. All the best!