Shimane University was established as a national university in 1949. Since its establishment, Shimane University has continued to expand and now consists of six faculties on two campuses. The Matsue campus is home to the Faculty of Law and Literature, the Faculty of Education, the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, along with all of the Graduate Courses in these faculties, and the Faculty of Human Sciences (established April 1, 2017). Its newest faculty fosters students who will contribute to society by focusing on psychology, social welfare, and health science. On the Izumo campus, it has the Faculty of Medicine and its graduate courses.

Shimane University’s goal is to enable students to develop international perspectives and their ability to be leaders in each region of the world. While studying in the campus, students are equipped with the ability to cope with diverse problems like those they encounter in modern society. There are also empowered to take advantage of their accumulated knowledge, their cross-cultural awareness, and their technological skills. Furthermore, it is an important mission of Shimane University to contribute to international society through creative research that is of an international standard.