Kobe University

Kobe University (神戸大学, Kōbe daigaku), also known as Shindai (神大), is a public research university located in the city of Kobe, in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. The university was founded in 1902 as one of the country’s first six imperial universities. Kobe University is organized into 11 graduate schools and 12 undergraduate schools. The graduate schools include: Letters, Economics, Law, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Human Development and Environment, Nursing Science, Agriculture, and Business Administration.

Kobe University has been ranked consistently as one of the top 100 universities in Asia and among the top 300 universities in the world by various university ranking organizations. In 2019 alone, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked Kobe University at #96 in Asia and #287 globally while Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed it at #93 in Asia and #351-400 globally. Furthermore, U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Ranking has listed Kobe University at #82 in Asia and #355 globally for 2020.

The main campus is located on Mount Rokkō overlooking Osaka Bay about 30 minutes from downtown Osaka by train or car; campuses are also located throughout Hyogo Prefecture including Himeji City to the southwest of Kobe City proper. Most faculties are within walking distance from each other on the main campus while some are slightly further such as those related to agriculture which are based near Arima Onsen hot springs to take advantage of its cooler temperatures compared to urban areas like downtown Kobe. In total there are approximately 17 kilometers worth of buildings spread across all campuses belonging to Kobe University making it one of Japan’s larger universities by physical size despite having a student body that ranks around average when compared to other Japanese national universities