Study at Ehime University for International Students: Admissions, Tuition, Scholarships, Research Strengths, and Student Life in Matsuyama

Thinking about studying in Japan but want a city that’s warm, safe, and affordable—and a university that’s strong in science, engineering, medicine, and the environment? Welcome to Ehime University in Matsuyama, Shikoku. As a national (public) university with seven faculties and a tight student community of roughly 9,000+, Ehime University blends hands‑on research culture with a friendly, less‑crowded lifestyle. You’ll find world‑class labs (from proteomics to high‑pressure geoscience), supportive international‑student services, and direct access to the Seto Inland Sea. This guide collects quick facts, strengths, campus life tips, outbound exchange options, climate notes, and career outcomes—so you can gauge fit and plan your next steps with confidence.

Quick‑Facts Table

Item	Detail (with sources)
Type	National (Public) University. Ehime University – Outline
Total Students	9,262 (8,008 undergrad; 1,254 grad; as of May 1, 2024). Statistics (Ehime Univ.)
Campuses (main)	Johoku (Matsuyama – main); Tarumi (Matsuyama); Shigenobu (Tōon; Medicine & Hospital). Campus Life / Housing (location notes) · University Hospital (Toon)
Faculties / Schools	Faculty of Law & Letters; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation; Faculty of Science; School of Medicine; Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Agriculture. Faculties (official)
Tuition Fees (standard)	National‑university standard tuition: ¥535,800/year; Admission fee: ¥282,000 (typical). Confirm program specifics. JPCUP (School of Medicine) · IIR: Tuition & Scholarships · Entrance Examinations (overview)
Gender Ratio	Female:Male ≈ 39:61 (overall). THE profile · Undergrad split (2024): M 58.4% / F 41.6%. Statistics
Intl‑Student %	≈ 2% (rounded). THE profile · 224 international students enrolled (Nov. 30, 2024). IIR: DATA
Students per Staff	~11.3 students per staff. THE profile

Campus Maps

Johoku Campus (Matsuyama, Ehime)

Address: 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan

Shigenobu Campus — School of Medicine (Toon, Ehime)

Address: 454 Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan

Tarumi Campus (Matsuyama, Ehime)

Address: 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Ehime University was founded in 1949 as part of Japan’s postwar higher‑education reform, merging several pre‑existing institutions in Ehime Prefecture into a single national university in Matsuyama. Early pillars included the Faculty of Humanities & Science, the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Engineering—each rooted in predecessor schools that served the region’s teachers, scientists, and engineers. This “composite origin” shaped Ehime’s practical, community‑connected approach that continues today. History of Ehime University

Today, Ehime University spans seven faculties and multiple graduate schools, with university‑wide organizations to support education quality and student success. The mission emphasizes cultivating human resources who contribute to society “from a global perspective,” while strengthening research that serves both scientific discovery and regional revitalization. You’ll see this in interdisciplinary units (e.g., data science, disaster mitigation, coastal and marine science) and student‑support frameworks (health, counseling, career). Education & Student Support Organization

The School of Medicine (est. 1973) and Ehime University Hospital (est. 1976) in nearby Tōon City embody this ethos, combining patient‑centered care with training and research capacity. The hospital is an advanced treatment hub with 24 departments, 47 central medical facilities, and 644 beds—giving students exposure to comprehensive clinical environments while serving the region. Ehime University Hospital (Intro)

Ehime’s charter foregrounds student competencies (communication, problem‑solving, global mindset) alongside rigorous disciplinary training. It’s a “just‑right” scale—large enough to offer diverse labs and programs, small enough that undergraduates can join research groups early, and international students can get one‑on‑one attention from the Institute for International Relations (IIR), language instructors, and the Career Support Division. Ehime University from the Data · Employment Assistance

Key Strengths & Unique Features

High‑Pressure Earth & Planetary Science: Geodynamics Research Center (GRC) & PRIUS

Ehime is internationally recognized for research into Earth’s deep interior and planetary materials. The Geodynamics Research Center (GRC) runs theoretical and experimental programs (e.g., density‑functional theory simulations, large‑volume press / diamond‑anvil experiments) to probe ultrahigh‑pressure behaviors of minerals—work that informs plate tectonics, mantle dynamics, and exoplanet interiors. The companion PRIUS (Research Institute of Advanced EartH Science) provides shared equipment and collaborations. See the GRC divisions (including computational) for more. GRC divisions

Proteo‑Science Center (PROS): Vaccines, Proteomics & Translational Impact

The Proteo‑Science Center integrates structural biology, proteomics, and immunology with applications to vaccine and therapeutic development. For students aiming at biomedicine, biotechnology, or pharma, PROS offers a hands‑on environment bridging basic science with real clinical needs—a natural partner to the School of Medicine and University Hospital. Proteo‑Science Center

Coastal & Marine Environmental Science: CMES & LaMer

Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Ehime has developed deep strengths in coastal ecosystems, pollutant dynamics (e.g., mercury, microplastics), and fisheries sustainability. The Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES) and its LaMer joint‑usage center provide field access, monitoring platforms, and analytical cores that draw international collaborations. Recent outreach, including English video explainers, shows how marine science here maps directly to real‑world problems. CMES intro (English) · LaMer site

Flagship Faculties for International Talent

Engineering

Engineering clusters in materials science, mechanical systems, applied chemistry, and infrastructure, with English‑capable laboratories and an active international student pipeline. Look for project‑based learning and disaster‑mitigation tracks relevant to Asia. Engineering: programs & faculty

Medicine & Nursing

With a dedicated graduate school and a large university hospital, Ehime is strong in life‑science research and clinical training. The hospital’s scale (24 departments, 644 beds) and status as an advanced treatment center create rich clinical‑research pathways. Graduate School of Medicine · Ehime University Hospital

Agriculture & Food Systems

From agro‑biological science to biomechanical systems and food production management, the Faculty of Agriculture connects labs to local producers and global food‑security agendas. A joint doctoral school with Kagawa and Kochi universities expands research supervision options. Faculty of Agriculture · United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences

Global Liberal‑Arts & Service Learning (SUIJI)

Ehime participates in SUIJI (Six Universities Initiative Japan–Indonesia), enabling collaborative service‑learning and fieldwork experiences across Japan and Indonesia. For students who want cultural immersion plus community impact, SUIJI is a distinctive outbound/inbound pathway that strengthens cross‑cultural teamwork. Example report (UGM) · Support for International Students (Ehime)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Campus clubs (“circles”) are a highlight of student life in Japan, and Ehime’s are active in both sports and culture—from football and martial arts to music, tea ceremony, and community volunteering. International students can join freely, practice Japanese in context, and build local networks. See the English “Support for International Students” gateway for circle information and links. Support for International Students

Dedicated Support Offices: Visa, Housing, Counseling

The Institute for International Relations (IIR) supports visa status (including Certificate of Eligibility procedures), orientations each semester, and information in English/Chinese. For health and wellbeing, the Comprehensive Health Center provides medical checkups and counseling in English, and the Life & Career Counseling Office is available for academic and career concerns. Student housing includes university dormitories near the main campus and guidance for private apartments. Visa / Residence · Health Center · Housing & Dorms · Guide for International Students

Language‑Exchange & Career Programs

IIR offers comprehensive Japanese courses (regular, “survival,” preparatory), some open online or to spouses if space allows. On the career side, Ehime’s long‑running government‑supported program promotes employment of international students through internships, mentoring by local companies, and job‑hunting guidance—all in collaboration with the Employment Career Support Division. Japanese Language Classes · Employment Support Program (IIR) · University Career Support

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

Ehime maintains a solid global network: as of May 1, 2025, it lists 88 inter‑university and 71 inter‑departmental agreements across 38 countries/regions, with 250 students dispatched overseas and 224 international students accepted in 2024. For specifics (semester abroad, language prerequisites, scholarship options), browse IIR’s exchange portals and the partner list (English). IIR: DATA · Student Exchange (How it Works) · List of Partner Schools (PDF)

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Matsuyama)

Matsuyama enjoys a mild Seto Inland Sea climate: lots of sunshine, relatively low precipitation compared with many Japanese cities, and hardly any snow. The city promotes a safe, compact urban layout—easy access to campus, castle, hot springs (Dōgo Onsen), and coastline. Matsuyama City (FAQ: climate) · Matsuyama at a Glance

Recent temperature patterns (last ~5 years). The Japan Meteorological Agency’s Matsuyama station (WMO 47887) shows monthly mean daily maximum temperatures in August typically around the low‑to‑mid‑30s °C, and January monthly mean daily maximum around 10–12 °C. Monthly mean daily minima in January tend to be around 3–4 °C, while August minima are in the mid‑20s °C. These values align with independent climate summaries. JMA Monthly Climate Tables · Weather‑Atlas: Matsuyama climate

Safety & Cost of Living

Compared to Japan’s megacities, Matsuyama’s rents and daily costs are lower, bike commuting is common, and campus areas feel relaxed. Ehime University provides dorm options within cycling distance and guidance for apartment brokerage; the IIR guide also covers practicals like health insurance, banking, and part‑time work rules. Housing & Dorms · Guide for International Students

International Student Statistics

As of late 2024, Ehime University enrolled 224 international students across undergraduate, graduate, and non‑degree categories. Most come from Asian countries, with growing links to Indonesia and Vietnam through SUIJI and faculty‑level partnerships; you’ll also meet peers from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The IIR “DATA” page publishes current counts and partner‑agreement totals; the partner list gives a country‑by‑country view of active exchanges. IIR: DATA · Partner List (PDF)

Career & Graduate Prospects

Ehime’s career services emphasize individualized guidance, internships with local and national companies, and job‑hunting workshops adapted to Japan’s recruiting calendar. For international students, the university has been selected by MEXT for programs that promote employment in Japan—offering mentoring by “support cooperating companies,” career counseling, and placement support in collaboration with prefectural industry groups. Graduate schools highlight career data and counseling options (see Humanities & Social Sciences for an English example). Career Support (University) · Graduate School of H&SS: Careers

How to Use This Guide

1) Start with the Faculties page to confirm your major and lab fit. 2) Check fees and scholarships (note the national tuition standard and program‑specific notes). 3) If you plan exchange, review the partner list—then contact your home university’s study‑abroad office and Ehime’s IIR. 4) Budget for living in Matsuyama (dorm vs. apartment) and look at health, counseling, and language‑support services. 5) For climate, pack for hot, humid summers and cool winters—see monthly highs/lows to plan. Faculties · Tuition & Scholarships · IIR: DATA · Matsuyama FAQ