A male student from India, who was enrolled in a doctoral program at Kyushu University’s Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, has sued the university claiming that the cancellation of his admission, based on the allegation that his recommendation letter was forged, lacks legal grounds and is therefore illegal. The student asserts that he did not forge the letter and wishes to graduate. He was informed around October 2023, shortly before his graduation, that disciplinary procedures had been initiated against him, culminating in a formal notification of admission cancellation on December 23, 2023.

The student began his studies in April 2023 and was engaged in research in the field of energy. According to the lawsuit, this abrupt decision has significant implications for his career, as he was set to graduate in the upcoming spring and had secured a position as a postdoctoral researcher at another national university. The student contends that the recommendation letter, which forms the basis of the allegations, was authentically written by his advisor from a prior master's program. The advisor has submitted a statement to Kyushu University confirming this fact.

Furthermore, the student argues that the recommendation letter was not a mandatory document for admission and that the university lacks a clear protocol for cancelling admissions on such grounds, rendering their actions without legitimate foundation. He expressed deep concern regarding the impact this situation has on his dreams of pursuing a research career, emphasizing the suddenness of the decision and the substantial losses he faces as a result. In response, Kyushu University stated that the cancellation was based on a thorough assessment, including a personal meeting with the student, while also indicating that they would refrain from commenting on the specifics of the lawsuit until they have reviewed the formal documents.