, also known in the Kansai region as , is a national 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 has a total enrollment of about 16,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. International students accounted for 1,179 members of the student body as of 1 May 2021. The university has 3,102 staff members, including professors, associate professors and administrative officials.

The university is the only 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

left|thumb|200px|Kobe College of Commerce main gate in 1930s

The roots of the university can be traced back to 1902, when the was established. Its first president was . In 1929 this school was renamed , and it was further renamed in 1944, .

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:

  • Japanese Government Scholarship System
  • JASSO/ Honors Scholarship
  • Hyogo Prefecture Private Foreign Student Scholarship
  • Kobe/Sugawara Scholarship

Notable alumni

<gallery>

Sosuke_Uno_19890603.jpg|Sōsuke Uno,<br>75th Prime Minister of Japan

Shigeru Ishiba and Sanae Takaichi 20241211 (cropped).jpg|Sanae Takaichi,<br>104th Prime Minister of Japan

Sazō Idemitsu.jpg|Sazō Idemitsu,<br>founder, Idemitsu Kosan

Rizaburo Toyoda.jpg|Rizaburo Toyoda,<br>The first president of Toyota

Masato_Sagawa_March_3,_2014-.png|Masato Sagawa,<br>the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering laureate

PM_Modi_during_a_visit_to_the_stem_cell_research_centre_at_Kyoto_University_(cropped).jpg|Shinya Yamanaka,<br>the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner

脇田晴子.jpg|Haruko Wakita,<br>historical researcher, Order of Culture

</gallery>

  • Politics
  • Sōsuke Uno, 75th Prime Minister of Japan
  • Masayuki Naoshima, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
  • Sanae Takaichi, 104th Prime Minister of Japan
  • Technology
  • Sazō Idemitsu, founder, Idemitsu Kosan
  • Rizaburo Toyoda, founder, the first president of Toyota
  • Tadahiro Sekimoto, recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honor, ex-CEO, NEC.
  • Academic
  • Masato Sagawa, Neodymium magnet researcher, awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in 2022
  • Shinya Yamanaka, stem cell researcher, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012
  • Haruko Wakita, historical researcher, Order of Culture in 2010
  • Arts
  • Shirin Nezammafi, Iranian writer
  • Shijaku Katsura II, Rakugo performer
  • Kuranosuke Sasaki, Japanese actor
  • Kumi Tanioka, Japanese video game music composer and musician
  • Yasuo Mizui, Sculptor, awarded Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur)

Notable faculty

  • Yasutomi Nishizuka, biochemist, awarded the Lasker Award in 1989
  • Ichiro Fujimori, visiting professor, electrical engineer

See also

  • :Category:Academic staff of Kobe University

References