Kobe University (神戸大学), also known in the Kansai region as Shindai (神大), is a public research university located in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan. The university was established in 1949, but the academic origins of Kobe University trace back to the establishment of Kobe Higher Commercial School in 1902, which was renamed as Kobe University of Commerce in 1929, and Kobe University of Economics in 1940. It comprises 14 graduate schools and 11 undergraduate faculties, and holds about 16,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. International students accounted for 1,179 members of the student body as of 1 May 2021. It also has 3,102 staff members, including professors, associate professors and administrative officials. The university is known to be the sole university in Japan to have a faculty dedicated to maritime sciences. It was also the first university to establish a faculty dedicated to business administration in the country.

History

The roots of the university can be traced back to 1902, when the Kobe Higher Commercial School (神戸高等商業学校) was established. Its first president was Tetsuya Mizushima (水島銕也). In 1929 this school was renamed Kobe University of Commerce (神戸商業大学), and it was further renamed in 1944, Kobe University of Economics (神戸経済大学). In 1949, under Japan's new educational systems, the university was merged with Hyogo Normal School, Hyogo Junior Normal School, Kobe Technical College and Himeji High School, all of which were in Hyōgo Prefecture, leading to the creation of Kobe University. The university has since been expanded and has created new faculties to complement its main academic foundations, which have been strongly established in the fields of economics and commerce.

Organisation

Undergraduate faculties

Graduate schools

Research institutes

Campuses

The university comprises four campuses: Rokkodai, Kusunoki, Myodani, and Fukae. Rokkodai Campus is the main campus of the university, and nine out of the eleven faculties are located there.

Rokkodai area

Kusunoki area

Myodani area

Fukae area

Academic reputation and rankings

QS World University Rankings ranked the university 465th in the world in 2024. In 2023, THE World University Rankings categorised the university within the 601-800th tier globally, without specifying an exact rank.

Popularity and selectivity

Shindai is a popular university in Japan. Its admission process is usually considered as selective. It is ranked in top 20 in Japan.

International education

Scholarships for international students

Kobe university encourages international students to study at the university through a number of scholarships for eligible students. Some of them are:

Notable alumni

Notable faculty