University of Shimane: A Practical Study-Abroad Guide for International Students

Thinking about studying in Japan, but want a quieter, coast-side location with strong student support and approachable faculty? The University of Shimane (a public prefectural university in western Honshu) may be a great fit. With three compact campuses—Hamada (main), Izumo, and Matsue—Shimane blends international relations, regional policy, nursing & nutrition, and human culture into practical, community-connected programs. This guide collects verified facts, program highlights, campus life for internationals, climate & lifestyle notes, and study‑abroad options, so you can quickly judge whether Shimane matches your goals.

University of Shimane — Symbolic Photo Gallery (Free-to-use media)

Quick Facts — The University of Shimane (for International Applicants)

Numbers below are based on the latest official PDFs and government databases. Where available, I’ve included concise source links for verification.

Type	Public (Prefectural). Official site
Total Students	1,981 (as of May 1, 2025); international students: 9. Source: “学生数” PDF. Latest student numbers (PDF)
Campuses	Hamada (Main), Izumo, Matsue. Campus overview
Faculties / Schools	• Faculty of International Relations (Hamada) • Faculty of Regional Policy (Hamada) • Faculty of Nursing & Nutrition (Izumo) • Faculty of Human Culture (Matsue) • Junior College (Matsue) • Graduate Schools: North East Asian Development; Nursing; Midwifery (post‑licensure). Programs (site top)
Tasse scolastiche	Standard annual tuition (undergraduate) ≈ ¥535,800; admission fee typically ≈ ¥282,000 (resident category varies). See: Tuition (Hamada Campus page) e 学納金 (tuition & fees).
Gender Ratio	≈ 31% male / 69% female (May 1, 2025). Calculated from official totals. Source (PDF)
Intl‑Student %	≈ 0.45% (9 / 1,981). Source (PDF)
Students per Staff	≈ 14:1 (1,981 students ÷ 141 full‑time faculty). Faculty data: NIAD “University Portraits.” Faculty count (141)

Campus Maps

Hamada Campus (Main / Headquarters)

Address: 2433-2 Nohara-cho, Hamada, Shimane 697-0016, Japan

Izumo Campus

Address: 151 Nishihayashigi-cho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8550, Japan

Matsue Campus

Address: 7-24-2 Hamanogi, Matsue, Shimane 690-0044, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

The University of Shimane is a public (prefectural) institution with roots in local community needs and cross‑border learning. The original short college (1993) and the launch of the four‑year university (2000) were shaped by the region’s location along the Sea of Japan. Over time the institution expanded to three campuses—Hamada (main), Izumo, and Matsue—each aligned to local strengths: international and regional policy in Hamada; nursing & nutrition in Izumo; and human culture and teacher‑preparation pathways in Matsue. The university’s mission and structure emphasize practical education tied to regional revitalization and international exchange.

Today, Shimane balances liberal arts foundations with applied coursework and field placements. Students can access compact classes, approachable faculty, and a network of municipal and prefectural partners that provide internships and project‑based learning. Official publications—such as the latest University Guide (Prospectus)—present an accessible snapshot of faculties, programs, and campus character, and the “Education Information Disclosure” page (“教育情報の公表”) aggregates policies, staffing, and outcomes data in one place. For English‑readers, essential details are still best found on the Japanese pages, but navigation labels are straightforward and consistent across the site. See the campus overview and university information here: Campus overview, Education Information Disclosure, and the latest Prospectus 2025 (PDF).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

1) A Sea-of-Japan Gateway: Global Focus, Regional Impact

Shimane’s location on Japan’s west coast shapes a distinctive academic profile. The Hamada campus houses the Faculty of International Relations and the Faculty of Regional Policy, where students study diplomacy, area studies, development, public policy, and community design. The graduate school (North East Asian Development) further connects research to the Japan Sea rim with seminars on cross‑border issues. See “University Portraits” for staff and organization snapshots: University Portraits (Shimane).

2) Practical English & Communication: From CLIL to TOEIC Support

International programs are reinforced by communication‑focused coursework. Shimane has documented content‑and‑language integrated learning (CLIL) approaches and published faculty-led studies on English learning outcomes. One recent study explores integrating TOEIC L&R support into a non‑selective freshman course, aiming to raise confidence among learners who struggle with English. For background and examples, see faculty publications: TOEIC integration (2023) and earlier CLIL materials: CLIL case (archive).

3) Flagship Faculties

Faculty of International Relations (Hamada)

Courses emphasize international relations, policy, and communication. Students join exchange programs, short programs, or language‑partner activities and can interact with inbound students on campus (see “International Exchange” pages below).

Faculty of Nursing & Nutrition (Izumo)

The Izumo campus concentrates on nursing and nutrition, serving regional hospitals and public health agencies. Many graduates work locally, reflecting strong ties with community and prefectural employers (see career links below).

4) Friendly Scale, Access to Faculty, and Student–Staff Ratio ≈ 14:1

With roughly 1,981 students and 141 full‑time faculty across three campuses, Shimane offers a small‑to‑mid scale environment where you can actually meet your professors, get feedback, and build a project team around your interests. Sources: Student numbers (2025, PDF); Faculty count (NIAD Portraits).

5) Clear Tuition & Support for Study Abroad

As a prefectural public university, Shimane follows national-standard tuition levels, with detailed breakdowns by category. For current figures and examples, see the campus tuition page and the university’s tuition & fees page: Tuition (Hamada) / Tuition & fees (学納金). For outbound mobility, dedicated pages centralize scholarship and travel‑support information: Travel support e Study abroad (overview).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Student clubs range from debate and arts to sports and local culture. Many circles are active at the Hamada campus (home to International Relations), and several have an international or language‑exchange flavor. Browse the latest list here: Hamada Clubs & Circles. Matsue campus student union activities are posted here: Matsue Student Union.

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

International students in Hamada can live at the on‑campus International Exchange Hall—essentially a “mini international society” dorm five minutes from campus with private rooms and shared facilities. See details and capacity here: International Exchange Hall (Hamada). Support pages for international students, including scholarship application advice at the graduate school, are posted here: Support for International Students.

Language‑Exchange & “World Wise” Online Events

Shimane runs regular international exchange events, including online sessions branded “World Wise,” making it easy to connect across campuses and with partner institutions. See the event page here: World Wise (Online). Broader international exchange pages for Hamada are here: Inbound exchange (Hamada).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Focus)

Shimane maintains bilateral exchange partnerships across Asia, the U.S., and beyond. The official list (as of March 2025) is published in PDF format and includes U.S. institutions (e.g., Central Washington University; Wenatchee Valley College), Korean partners (e.g., University of Ulsan, including double‑degree), Taiwan, and others. See: Partner Institutions list (2025, PDF). For outbound study paths and categories (協定留学、交流県留学、休学留学), start here: Study Abroad (overview), and for Hamada-specific inbound pages (useful for seeing how exchanges are managed): Exchange (Hamada).

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Hamada (main campus) sits on the Sea of Japan with mild winters (some rain/snow) and warm summers. For up‑to‑date climate tables (monthly means and extremes), use the Japan Meteorological Agency’s English climate dashboard for the Hamada station (WMO 47755): JMA climate tables (Hamada, EN). Expect typical summer daytime highs in the upper 20s °C to low 30s °C, with winter daytime highs in mid‑single to low double digits °C, and cool nights. For general living costs and area overview, Japan‑Guide’s San’in region pages are helpful: Japan‑Guide: San’in. Rental options in Shimane Prefecture are usually more affordable than major metros; sample listings can be browsed here: Shimane rentals (sample). For public safety and crime statistics, consult the prefectural police dashboards: Shimane Police: Crime stats.

International Student Statistics

According to the latest university totals (as of May 1, 2025), Shimane reports 1,981 students overall and 9 international students across the university and junior college, which is roughly 0.45% of enrollment. Gender distribution is about 31% male / 69% female. These figures come from the annual student-count PDF: 学生数 (2025, PDF).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Career pages are maintained by campus and faculty. You can review job fields, placement snapshots, and representative employers each year. For Hamada (International Relations / Regional Policy), start here: Career data (Hamada). For Matsue (Human Culture & Junior College): Career data (Matsue). The top‑level career portal is here: Career & Employment (top).

Useful Primary Sources (For Further Reading)

• Prospectus 2025 (PDF)
• Campus overview / Education Information Disclosure
• Study Abroad (overview) / Travel Support
• NIAD University Portraits: Shimane
• JMA Climate Tables (Hamada, EN)