The university was established in May 1949, as a national university with three Faculties : Humanities and Science, Education, and Engineering, by consolidating the Matsuyama National High School (established 1919), the Ehime Prefectural Teachers School (1876), the Ehime Prefectural Youth Teacher's School (1927), and the Ehime Prefectural Niihama Technical School (1939).

In 1954, the Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Agricultural College (1900) joined as the Faculty of Agriculture. The Faculty of Humanities and Science was divided into the Faculties of Law and Letters, of Science, and of General Education in 1968. The School of Medicine was founded in 1973. On April 1, 2004, when all national universities were privatized, Ehime University became the National University Corporation Ehime University and began anew as an independent management body.

Graduate Programs for master's and/or doctoral degrees were established in all the faculties between 1967 and 1993. Ehime University also acts as the host university of the United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, jointly run with Kochi and Kagawa Universities since 1985.

The university has grown rapidly since its foundation in 1949, and now ranks among the top 20 of the 87 national universities in Japan. There are about 10,000 students, both undergraduate and graduate, and 2,000 people on the academic and administrative staff. The university now consists of six Faculties: Law and Letters, Education, Science, Medicine, Engineering, and Agriculture, and in 2005 it initiated a Super Science Special Course for undergraduate students. Every Faculty has a Graduate School for post-graduate students.

The university is especially active in science, as seen in its three world-class centers: the Center for Marine Environmental Studies, the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Studies on Environmental Chemistry, the Geodynamics Research Center and the Cell-free Science and Technology Research Center.

We have international academic exchange agreements with universities and institutes on all continents and welcome students, researchers and faculty members from abroad. As of April, 2009 the university's commitment to international cooperation is seen in the establishment of an Institute for International Cooperation which includes the Center for International Education, the Asia-Africa Center and the Office of International Planning.

Every effort will be made by Ehime University to assist your undergraduate and graduate studies and research in up-to-date academic facilities in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.