Scholarships
In Japan, only a few scholarships cover all the costs of study; and most aim to cover just a portion of the student's living expenses and tuition fees. Therefore, calculate the total expenses of studying in Japan to create a financial plan that does not rely solely on scholarships but rather your own funds as well.
Types of Available Financial Assistance
|
Type |
Eligibility / Ability to Apply |
|
|
Before coming to Japan / before entering a university, etc. |
After coming to Japan / after entering a university, etc. |
|
|
1. The Reservation Program for Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students |
△ Although it is not possible to apply, students with outstanding results on the EJU will be selected as "reservists" only for some academic courses. |
〇 Apply through the school. However, since the number of students who can be recommended varies from school to school, some schools may not be able to apply. |
|
2. Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Study in Japan under Agreement) |
△ Be enrolled in a host university with a concluded student exchange agreement. |
〇 Apply through the school. |
|
3. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) Scholarship |
〇 |
△ Individuals already in Japan as international students may also apply under certain conditions |
|
4. Scholarships from Local Governments, International Exchange Organizations, etc. |
△ Only a few allow applicants to apply before coming to Japan. |
〇 The majority of scholarships must be applied for after coming to Japan or after entering a university, etc. |
|
5. School Scholarships and Tuition Fee Reductions Systems |
〇 Some schools offer scholarships that students can apply for prior to enrollment. |
〇 Some schools offer scholarships that are available to students in Japan or can be applied for after enrollment. |
Scholarship Details and How to Apply
1. Reservation Program for Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students
This program offers scholarships to privately financed international students enrolled in universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, professional training colleges and educational institutions with preparatory courses for entering Japanese universities, as well as Japanese language institutions in Japan (hereinafter collectively referred to as "universities, etc."). To apply, such students must be outstanding in both academic achievement and character, while encountering financial difficulties in pursuing their studies.
* Only those whose status of residence is Student are eligible for the International Student Scholarship (Monbukagakusho Scholarship for International Students). Those who have a status of residence other than Student such as Dependent or Long-term Resident are not eligible.
|
Eligibility |
Monthly Amount |
Payment Period |
|
・ Graduate schools (doctorate, master's) |
48,000 yen |
In general, one year from April to March of the following year, or six months from October to March of the following year |
|
・ Japanese language institutions |
30,000 yen |
Application Requirements and How to Apply
[Applying before coming to Japan or admission to universities, etc.]
Privately financed international students achieving excellent results in the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) and planning to enroll as regular students in Japanese university undergraduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology (third year or above) or professional training college programs will be selected as reservation holders of the Reservation Program for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students.
Individuals selected as reservation holders this program and later admitted as regular students in undergraduate universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology (third year or above) or professional training schools within the designated period, as well as those recommended by the university or school to JASSO as being so accepted and receiving a decision from JASSO, may receive scholarships.
* Please click here for information on the reservation selection system.
How to Apply:
Taking the EJU in Japan: When applying for the EJU online (application), select "Apply " in the "Reservation Program for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Privately Financed International Student " column.
Taking the EJU outside of Japan: Enter a "〇" in the designated box on the EJU application form.
＊Please click here for information on how to apply for the EJU.
[Applying after coming to Japan / after entering a university, etc.]
Eligibility:
・ The applicant must be enrolled as a regular student in a Japanese graduate school or have an undergraduate degree or higher and be enrolled as a research student in order to conduct research activities at the graduate level.
・ The applicant must be enrolled as a regular student at a university, junior college, technical college, or special training college in Japan.
・ The applicant must be enrolled as a regular student in a major course or a special course for international students established by a Japanese university, junior college, or technical college.
・ The applicant must be enrolled as a regular student at an educational institution that offers preparatory courses for admission to a Japanese university.
・ The applicant must be enrolled in a Japanese language educational institution with the aim of entering a Japanese university, graduate school, junior college, technical college, or special training college.
Application requirements:
・ Applicants must earn grade point averages at least of 2.30 for the previous year, and are expected to maintain this level of performance during the period of the scholarship.
・ The applicant must meet the following language standards in Japanese or English. (* Excluding special courses for international students, preparatory courses, and Japanese language institutions.)
Japanese language proficiency: Pass the JLPT N2 level or higher, score 200 or higher on the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language (Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, and Listening-Reading Comprehension), or score at least at the level of language proficiency otherwise recognized by JASSO
English proficiency: B2 level or above in the CEFR
・ The applicant must be willing to cooperate with the survey on their academic career conducted by ETIC through their university or other institutions after receiving the scholarship.
・ The average monthly amount of remittances (excluding entrance and tuition fees, etc.) must be less than 90,000 yen.
・ If the applicant has dependents living in Japan, their annual income must be less than 5 million yen.
・ The applicant must not be a recipient of a scholarship or other benefits that are restricted from being paid in conjunction with the scholarship.
・ Applicants must not be receiving assistance or other support under the JASSO Support Scholarships for Study in Japan.
・ The applicant must be aiming to enter a university or other higher education in the year following the year in which they receive the scholarship. (Japanese language institutions only)
How to apply:
Confirm with the person in charge at your university, etc.
* Because the number of students who can be recommended varies from school to school, some schools may not be able to apply
2. Student Abroad Support Program (Scholarship for Study in Japan under Agreement)
Please contact the university you are currently enrolled at for information on applying for this program, etc.
|
Eligible Recipients |
Eligible Countries and Regions |
Monthly Amount |
Payment Period |
|
・ Individuals who are permitted by the host university based on the agreement on student exchange, etc. ・Individuals with academic performance character |
Countries with diplomatic relations with Japan (However, Taiwan and Palestine are eligible) |
80,000 yen |
From 8 days to 1 year. |
3. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) Scholarship
There are two ways to apply for a Japanese Government Scholarship: by applying to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) with a recommendation from a Japanese embassy or other Japanese diplomatic mission in your country, or by applying to the MEXT with a recommendation from a Japanese university.
The method of receiving a recommendation from an embassy or consulate abroad is called an "embassy recommendation," while the method of receiving a recommendation from a university and applying for a position is called a "university recommendation."
The contents differ slightly depending on whether you apply through the "embassy recommendation" or the "university recommendation," so the information is divided into two categories depending on the application method.
Please note that in order to receive a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) scholarship, you must obtain the Student status of residence.
3-1. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) Scholarship <Embassy Recommendation>
Some application requirements are more detailed than those listed here, so please check with the Japanese embassy or other Japanese diplomatic mission in your country.
The type and field of application may vary from country to country. Please check with the Japanese embassy or other Japanese diplomatic mission in your country to see if there are any openings in the type and field you wish to apply for.
In addition, all required documents and interviews will be conducted by the Japanese embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad in your country.
> List of Overseas Diplomatic Establishments (external link)
|
Type |
Fields and Conditions |
Age |
Preparatory Training |
Monthly Amount |
Payment Period |
|
Young Leaders Program |
[Areas] ・ University graduate ・ Young administrative official from Asian county/region with practical experience |
Generally under 40 |
None |
242,000 yen |
1 year |
|
Research students |
Field of study at university or related field |
35 and under |
6 months |
143,000 to 145,000 yen |
Degree students: |
|
Teacher training students |
・ Graduates from a university or teacher training school |
35 and under |
6 months |
143,000 yen |
Within 1.5 years |
|
Undergraduate students |
(1) Humanities A: Law, Political Science, Education, Sociology, Literature, History, Japanese Language, etc. |
25 and under |
1 year |
117,000 yen |
4 years, in addition to 1 year of preparatory training (excluding medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and veterinary programs) |
|
Technical college students |
Machinery, Electrical/Electronics, Information/Communication/Network, Materials/Materials, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Merchant Marine, etc. |
1 year |
3 years (3.5 years for merchant marine only), in addition to 1 year of preparatory training |
||
|
Specialized training college students |
Industry, Sanitation, Education and Social Welfare, Commercial Practice, Clothing and Home Economics, Culture and Liberal Arts |
3 years |
|||
|
Japanese studies students |
・ Applicants must be enrolled in a university undergraduate program and have majored in a field related to Japanese language and culture for at least one year |
18 to 30 |
None |
Within 1 year |
* Tickets will be provided for travel to and from Japan. There is no need to pay an entrance fee, examination fee, or tuition.
* For the above-mentioned upper age limit at arrival in Japan (excluding YLP), only those whose birthday is on or after April 2 are eligible.
* Undergraduate and technical college students may select up to a third field of their choice.
* Specialized training college students may select only one major field of study of their choice. Your major field of study will be decided by MEXT in consultation with the accepting university, etc., taking into consideration your preferences and the evaluation of your test and interview.
3-2. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) Scholarship < University Recommendation>
For university recommendations, not all universities in Japan are able to recommend international students.
Only a select number of universities approved by the MEXT can make recommendations to the MEXT, and only those universities that are judged to be outstanding and deserving of the scholarship can make recommendations to the MEXT.
Therefore, if you are interested in applying for a scholarship with a recommendation from a university, you need to check first whether the school you are interested in has a recommendation quota.
Application requirements and academic standards vary depending on the accepting university.
In addition, the scholarship period and eligibility may vary depending on the type of recommendation framework a university has, so please check with the university you wish to enroll in for details.
|
Type |
Language and Application Requirements |
Age Restriction |
Monthly Amount |
Payment Period |
|
Research students |
English: CEFR B2 equivalent or higher Japanese: JLPT N2 or equivalent*1 |
35 and under |
143,000 to 145,000 yen |
6 months to within the standard completion period |
|
Undergraduate students |
25 and under |
117,000 yen |
||
|
Japanese studies students |
・ JLPT N2 or higher |
18 to 30 |
117,000 yen |
Within 1 year |
*1: Japanese or English proficiency is required depending on the language of instruction at the university or other institution you wish to enter.
* Tickets will generally be provided for travel to and from Japan. However, airfare may not be provided depending on the type of recommendation quota held by the host university.
* There is no need to pay an entrance fee, examination fee, or tuition.
* For the above-mentioned upper age limit at arrival in Japan, only those whose birthday is on or after April 2 are eligible.
For the selection process for university recommendations, each university will conduct its own screening of documents, examinations, interviews, etc. Please inquire directly with the university to which you wish to apply for information on the selection process.
3-3. Cautions for Students Currently in Japan Receiving Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships through Recommendations
<Embassy Recommendations＞
Caution 1: Students must complete studies at their current school of enrollment and return to their native countries before the Japanese government scholarship period begins.
Caution 2: Students must obtain new residence status for "Student."
<University Recommendations＞
While as a general rule individuals residing in Japan are not eligible to apply for university recommendations, there are certain exceptions to the recommendation quota. Those wishing to apply for Japanese government (Monbukagakusho MEXT) scholarships with a university recommendation are requested to confirm the details with the university to which they hope to enroll.
4. Scholarships from Local Governments, International Exchange Organizations, etc.
Application requirements and selection procedures differ depending on the organization providing the scholarship, so please check the "Scholarship for International Students in Japan 2023-2024" for details.
|
Eligibility |
Number of scholarships available to apply to before coming to Japan |
Number of scholarships available to apply to after coming to Japan |
|
Doctoral Program |
12 |
107 |
|
Master's Program |
18 |
113 |
|
Professional Degree Program |
1 |
13 |
|
Graduate-level Research Students |
6 |
17 |
|
Undergraduate Universities |
11 |
89 |
|
Auditing Undergraduate Students |
0 |
3 |
|
Junior Colleges |
2 |
32 |
|
Colleges of Technology |
0 |
19 |
|
Specialized training colleges |
2 |
16 |
|
Private University and Junior College Programs for International Students |
1 |
4 |
|
Japanese Language Institutions Other than Programs for International Students |
2 |
8 |
Reference: JASSO "Scholarship for International Students in Japan 2023-2024"
5. School Scholarships and Tuition Fee Reductions Systems
There are many schools that offer scholarships and tuition reductions for international students.
Please check the list below or the school search system for scholarship data provided by universities.
> University scholarship data
> Scholarship and Tuition Fee Reduction System Search System
* For the most up-to-date scholarship data, we recommend that you check the website of the school you wish to enroll in or contact the school directly.
You can also search for scholarship information on the following website.
> Search for scholarship information (Japan Study Support)