Academic Challenge(AC)
Academic Challenge (AC)
AC is a research grant intended for students who are enrolled in a graduate school at Kyushu University.
Participating students carry out all the processes of research by themselves, from designing their research plan and searching for funding to carrying out their research activities.
In doing so, they will develop their skills in “research management,” which is what AC aims at.
In order to nurture students’ research ideas in the embryonic stage for future innovation, AC provides students with an opportunity to generate their own idea, engage earnestly in research, and express their creativity and adaptable thought processes.
◆The list of selected projects in 2020
(656KB)
Schedule in 2020
| Application Deadline | May 8th（Fri.） |
| Academic Challenge review board convened. | Mid of May |
| Briefing on procedural matters | Early of June |
| Mid-term presentation | Mid of October |
| Final presentation | Around February, 2021 |
Applicable projects
■ Eligibility
Applicants must be a graduate student at Kyushu University, and be under the age of 30. Individual applications only.
*Only one applicant shall be chosen from the same research lab.
Therefore, the applicant should receive approval from his or her supervisor as well as submitting a letter of recommendation from the supervisor.
*Students are asked to refrain from duplicating their application for the Academic Challenge (AC) with that of the same research themes for other granted projects.
■ Themes of call for applications
(1)Academic research related to the applicant’s own field of study.
(2)Themes can be related to the applicant’s master’s thesis or doctoral thesis.
Amount of grants
Each proposal is planned to receive up to 500,000 yen (scheduled)
*The funds will be granted in line with the Kyushu University accounting regulations. It will not take the form of a one-off cash payment.
■ Application method
Download and complete the application forms and submit them ‘REGISTER NOW’.
i）QREC Academic Challenge Research Grant Application Form（Form14）
ii）Curriculum Vitae（Form8）
iii）Kyushu University QREC A letter of recommendation（Form15）
Applications have been closed.
■ Screening
The application forms will be examined by the QREC steering committee and will be prioritized. Then, the ones near the top of the list will be adopted by the end of May（Provisional）.
Below is the criteria of the screening.
1. Research performance
2. Compatibility with the progressive research, practical application of the research and the incubation by QREC
3. Specifics of the research plan.
■ Final presentation and submission of reports
Around February, 2021
*Presentations are required by each project.
*Group data must be submitted.
Other requirements
1. Take the QREC New Business Creation course.（Date: Saturday June 27th and Sunday, June 28th, 2020）
2. Present a summary of research during a class of the QREC Idea Evaluation course.
*Awardees of this grant may be required to repay it if they do not satisfy requirements 1 and 2 above.