Kobe University (神戸大学, Kōbe daigaku), also known in the Kansai region as Shindai (神大), is a leading national university located in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan. It was established in 1949, and comprises nine graduate schools and eleven faculties. The university holds a total of about 15,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. The institution welcomes oversea students, which accounted for a total of 963 students, as of 2005. It also has 2,800 staff members, including professors, associate professors and administrative officials. Located beside the foothills of Mount Rokkō, the university provides a view of the city and port of Kobe, providing an environment for the pursuit of academic studies, especially social science areas. Kobe University is one of the oldest and largest national universities in Japan. 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, and Kobe University of Economics. Kobe Higher Commercial School was one of the oldest institution with business and economics majors in Japan.