Shimane University (島根大学, Shimane Daigaku) — colloquially known as Shima-dai (島大) — is a national university in Japan. Although formally established as a university in 1949, Shima-dai's origins date back to the late 19th century. In 2003 it merged with the Shimane Medical University (established in 1975). It is a multi-disciplinary university, with faculties in law and literature, education, medicine, science and engineering, and life and environmental science.