History, Affiliations and Rankings

Shinshu University was founded in 1949 as a national university after integrating seven institutions of higher education within Nagano Prefecture into one. The University gets its name from the Shinano province in Japan and is grounded in the many traditions of the region, the Nagano Prefecture, including its enterprising spirit and a sense of scholasticism. The original division of the present day Shinshu University was the Matsumoto Higher School, established in 1919. In 1949, after the establishment of the post-war university system, the School took the form of Shinshu University’s Faculty of Arts and Science. This, along with several other mergers and reorganizations, gave birth to a comprehensive university in Japan. Shinshu University ranks at #878 in US News and World Report Best Global Universities, #1202+ in Times Higher Education World University Rankings and in the bracket #801-1000 in QS World University Rankings 2022. 

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

The main campus is located in the Nagano Prefecture in central Japan, known for its stunning natural landscapes. A wide range of education and research is carried out on the campuses at Matsumoto, Nagano, Ueda, and Ina, with a total number of staff of 1,100 and a total number of students of about 11,000. A comprehensive national university, Shinshu is academically divided into 8 faculties and 8 graduate schools, which are, the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, and the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology. Programs at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels are offered. The University offers unique programs called training and competency programs, including Strategy Design, Life Creator, Environmental Awareness, Local Innovator Development programs and more, which are centered around building practical skills. 

Accomplishments and Alumni

Shinshu University is a comprehensive national University that falls among the top 300 universities in Asia and among the top 50 in Japan. It was the first ever University to host the Winter Olympics in 1988. It is also the only University to have a Textile Science Faculty in Japan. It ranks #1 for Outreach and has been ranked as the #1 Environment-Friendly University for three years in a row, in the UI GreenMetric in recognition of its sustainability and environment conservation practices.  UAE Ambassador visits Global Aqua Innovation Center at Shinshu University in search of collaboration opportunities. Some of its outreach projects are Crowdfunding and the Hanasaka Gunti Project and the Apple project. Notable personalities have graduated from Shinshu University, including the likes of Kei Kumai - a film director, Kyoko Ishida -  Olympic Medalist in Volleyball, Sohei Miyashita - Head of the Japan Defense Agency and the Environmental Agency, Koji Kobayashi (Computer Scientist) and novelist, Morio Kita. In all, the University has graduated over 1,04,538 students till date, a majority of whom continue to stay in touch with the University and its students.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

Shinshu University has a student community of nearly 11,000, out of which 360 are international students. Out of the overall student body, 8,880+ are undergraduates, while 1950+ are graduate students. The University has partnerships with universities globally, including in Central and South America, Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, that offers international exposure through study abroad programs to the students. Shinshu University offers academic advising, Japanese language courses, job search assistance, part-time work or volunteering opportunities, as well as opportunities to interact with the local community. Many reputed companies visit this university for placements.