Shinshu University (信州大学, Shinshū Daigaku, abbreviated as 信大 Shindai) is a national university in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The University has five campuses in Matsumoto, Nishi-nagano (Nagano), Wakasato (Nagano), Ueda and Minami-Minowa, and 8 faculties with a total of around 10,000 students. The university was founded at the start of the Japanese new university system in 1949, by integrating the following preceding academic schools and institutions: Matsumoto Higher School, Matsumoto Medical School, Nagano Teachers' College, Nagano College of Engineering, Ueda College for Textile Manufacturing. Shinshu University has since 2004 been incorporated as a national university corporation under a new law which applies to all national universities in Japan. Despite the incorporation, which has led to increased financial independence and autonomy, The University is still practically controlled by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.