12 Best Scholarships in Japan for International Students (With Real-Life Examples)

Japan has a well-developed higher education system and attracts international students from around the world. International students can enter five main types of higher education institutions: universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, and specialized training colleges offering postsecondary courses. These institutions include national, local public, and private schools, although admission availability and requirements vary by institution and program.

The tuition fees at many Japanese universities are comparatively lower than those charged by universities in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. Japan also offers scholarships and tuition exemption or reduction programs that can make studying there more affordable.

If you are interested in studying in Japan but are concerned about the cost, consider the following scholarship and tuition-support options.

Top Scholarships in Japan for International Students

1. MEXT Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full tuition, round-trip airfare, and ¥117,000–¥145,000 monthly stipend
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.

MEXT is a comprehensive scholarship offered by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Depending on the scholarship category, it may cover tuition, provide a monthly stipend, and pay qualifying travel expenses. MEXT has undergraduate, research, teacher-training, Japanese-studies, college-of-technology, specialized-training-college, and Young Leaders’ Program categories. Application routes and eligible institutions vary by category, and applicants should follow the current guidelines issued by MEXT or the relevant Japanese embassy or university.

Lim Zi Heng’s path to MEXT: Lim Zi Heng went through four selection stages for the MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship: document screening, written exams, an interview, and final screening. More than 100 applicants reached the written-test stage in his Malaysian cohort, more than 10 advanced to interviews, nine passed that stage, and seven ultimately received the scholarship; despite starting with no Japanese proficiency, he said his strong academic record and preparation beyond the A-Level syllabus helped on the written tests. After a year of intensive Japanese preparation, he progressed to Chemical Engineering at the University of Tokyo, where his undergraduate classes are primarily in Japanese, supported by the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship. View More MEXT Scholarship recipients →

Outcomes of Students Who’ve Received MEXT Scholarships: Iqra Ali, who followed her MEXT-funded master’s in Japan with a fully funded PhD in the UK; Ilma Kreka Zeolita, who continued at Yamaguchi University after completing her MEXT-funded architecture program at Syusei Technical College; and Sofia Rodriguez Nuñez, who later pursued a second bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies in Argentina.

2. JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students (Japan Student Services Organization)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: ¥48,000 per month for graduate and undergraduate-level students; ¥30,000 per month for students at Japanese language institutes
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s and Masters

The JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students is offered by the Japan Student Services Organization to privately financed international students in Japan who demonstrate strong academic and character records and financial need. Eligible students must hold “Student” residence status and may include full-time undergraduate and graduate students, as well as eligible students at junior colleges, colleges of technology, specialized training colleges, preparatory courses, and Japanese language institutes.

Applicants must meet JASSO’s academic and language requirements, including an accepted Japanese proficiency level or English proficiency at CEFR B2 or higher where applicable. Other conditions include limits on private financial support and a financial supporter’s income in Japan. Applications are made through the student’s educational institution, and recommendation opportunities may be limited by each institution’s allocation. The scholarship is generally provided for 12 months from April to March or six months from October to March.

One scholar’s journey: Muhammad Rayhansyah Jasin received the JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students after placing in the top five on the Fall 2019 Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. He used the JASSO support while completing his bachelor’s in International Relations at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, graduating in 2024. He then moved to Europe for an Erasmus Mundus master’s in Public Policy, studying in Vienna and Barcelona. View More JASSO Scholarship recipients →

Outcomes of Students Who’ve Received JASSO Scholarships: Aruzhan Kaisar, who went from her JASSO-supported undergraduate studies in Japan to an MSc in Biotechnologies for Food Science in Italy; Banu Keikina, who worked in Japan after her bachelor’s before beginning a master’s in Forensic Science at the University of Amsterdam; and Indranil Enkhtuvshin, who followed her JASSO-supported bachelor’s period at Nagoya University with a master’s in East Asian Studies in Finland.

3. Waseda University Scholarships (Waseda University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Varies by scholarship
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D., depending on the scholarship.

Waseda University offers internal scholarships and provides information about external and government-funded awards available to international students. Certain schools also offer awards such as the Partial Tuition-Waiver Scholarship.

Eligibility, application timing, and benefits vary significantly by scholarship and school. Awards may be based on academic performance, financial circumstances, or other selection criteria and may provide a tuition reduction, a fixed grant, or a monthly stipend. Applicants should review the scholarship information for their specific undergraduate or graduate school.

A recipient’s path: Shuen received Waseda University’s Partial Tuition-Waiver Scholarship during her first two years of a bachelor’s in International Liberal Studies. She says there was no additional application: the award was automatically given to students with strong academic records whose household income met the relevant criterion. After completing her degree at Waseda University, where she specialized in sociolinguistics, she stayed in Japan and is now working in Tokyo. View More Waseda University Scholarship recipients →

4. Japan Foundation for UNU (jfUNO) Scholarship (UNO-IAS)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: ¥120,000 monthly allowance for up to 24 months, with possible tuition fee waiver
• Eligible Degree(s): Ph.D. in Sustainability Science

Applicants admitted to the UNU-IAS Ph.D. in Sustainability Science may be considered for the Japan Foundation for UNU scholarship. There is no separate scholarship application form, but applicants must provide the requested scholarship information and documents as part of the program’s online application. Selected recipients receive a monthly allowance of JPY 120,000 for up to 36 months, and their tuition may be waived.

Applicants must be nationals of an official development assistance recipient country and demonstrate financial need. Applicants living in Japan under a working visa, those already enrolled in another doctoral program, and those who have previously earned a Ph.D. are not eligible. Admission to the program does not guarantee receipt of the scholarship because the award is competitive.

5. KUAS E-Scholarship (Kyoto University of Advanced Science)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: 20%–100% reduction or exemption of tuition and admission fees.
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D., depending on the program and intake.

Kyoto University of Advanced Science offers the KUAS-E and Super KUAS-E scholarships to a limited number of outstanding applicants. Current undergraduate KUAS-E awards provide 100%, 50%, or 20% reductions in school and admission fees, while postgraduate KUAS-E awards provide 100%, 50%, or 30% reductions.

The Super KUAS-E Scholarship provides a 100% exemption from school and admission fees and a stipend of JPY 1,200,000 per year. Scholarship recipients are selected during the admission process through a comprehensive evaluation and must continue to meet KUAS academic requirements. Eligible programs and award levels can change by admission intake, so applicants should consult the current scholarship and application guidelines.

6. Yokohama National University Scholarships (Yokohama National University)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full, 50%, or 30% tuition waiver, with additional university-recommended scholarships and monthly stipends available depending on the scholarship
• Eligible Degree(s): Varies by scholarship; the current YNU tuition-waiver program primarily supports privately financed graduate international students.

Yokohama National University is a national university established in 1949 under Japan’s National School Establishment Law. It developed from several predecessor institutions and offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education.

YNU provides a tuition-waiver program for eligible privately financed graduate international students. Successful applicants may receive a full, half, or 30% tuition waiver based on academic performance; doctoral students may receive a full or half waiver. The waiver is generally assessed by semester, is subject to limited quotas, and is not guaranteed to every eligible applicant.

Other university, government, and private scholarships may also be available, often after enrollment. Application documents and language requirements depend on the applicant’s academic program and the individual scholarship. Applicants should not use a general JLPT point requirement because the JLPT reports proficiency by level rather than through a universal 80-point admission standard.

7. Hokkaido University Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full or partial tuition waivers, monthly stipends, and other financial support depending on the scholarship.
• Eligible Degree(s): Undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D., depending on the scholarship.

Hokkaido University is a national research university whose origins date to Sapporo Agricultural College, founded in 1876. Its official institutional profile lists 12 undergraduate schools, 21 graduate schools, and 18,344 students, including international students, based on the university’s most recently published profile data.

The university lists several competitive scholarships for prospective and current international students, including MEXT scholarships and awards from university or private sources. Eligibility, duration, and coverage vary. Some awards provide tuition support and a monthly stipend, but applicants should not assume that every Hokkaido University scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, and living expenses or is restricted to students from developing countries.

8. JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: ¥362,000 monthly maintenance allowance, ¥200,000 settling-in allowance, round-trip airfare, and overseas travel insurance
• Eligible Degree/s: Postdoctoral Research

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard Program) is offered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to give early-career researchers from overseas the opportunity to conduct collaborative research at eligible universities and research institutions in Japan. The fellowship is open across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Candidates must generally be citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan and must have obtained their doctoral degree within six years of the relevant fiscal-year cutoff or expect to receive their PhD before the fellowship begins.

The Standard Program provides funding for 12 to 24 months, including a ¥362,000 monthly maintenance allowance, a ¥200,000 settling-in allowance, round-trip airfare under JSPS regulations, and overseas travel insurance. For the open-call route, the prospective fellow and eligible host researcher in Japan must establish contact and develop a research plan in advance, with the host researcher submitting the application through their Japanese host institution. Selection considers factors including the candidate’s research achievements and potential, the proposed research, the value of the collaboration, and the suitability of the host research environment.

A recipient’s path: Ali Ahsan secured a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Nagoya University by building his proposal around testable mechanistic questions, preliminary evidence, alternative strategies for experimental problems, and a close match between his skills and the host laboratory. He recommends identifying and engaging the prospective host PI months before applying, and says he would have started discussions about preliminary data and proposal framing even earlier. After his MEXT-funded PhD at Osaka Metropolitan University, he is set to begin the JSPS fellowship at Nagoya University in March 2027, continuing his structural-biology research on bacterial motility systems. View More JSPS Fellowship recipients →

9. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: 30%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 100% tuition reduction for the standard period until graduation.
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is a private university in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Japan. APU opened in 2000 through a collaboration involving the Ritsumeikan Trust, Oita Prefecture, and the City of Beppu. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a multicultural learning environment.

International applicants who will obtain a student visa may apply for the APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship as part of their admission application. Current award levels cover 30%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 100% of tuition for the standard period required to complete the degree, subject to the scholarship’s continuation requirements.

One scholar’s journey: Justin Manual Adhinegara prepared his essays and recommendation letters to reflect his motivations, then attended an in-person interview in Jakarta where two APU interviewers assessed his goals, academic background, and suitability and determined his scholarship percentage. Because the APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship is evaluated with the university application, he focused on academic consistency, leadership and volunteering, a clear reason for choosing APU, and interview preparation; he ultimately received a 65% tuition reduction while completing his bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. He graduated in September 2024 after completing the four-year program. View More APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship recipients →

10. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full tuition, basic medical insurance, round-trip economy airfare, a US$600 travel allowance per trip, and a monthly living stipend that varies by host country.
• Eligible Degree(s): Master’s

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program is funded by the Government of Japan and administered through the World Bank’s Development Economics Vice Presidency. It supports eligible citizens of specified developing countries who have relevant professional experience and are applying to an approved, development-related master’s program.

Applicants must be admitted unconditionally, except for funding, to a participating master’s program for the applicable application cycle. The program is not limited to universities in Japan and does not accept applicants from every academic discipline. Current eligibility rules generally require a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the deadline and at least three years of qualifying paid development-related work completed after that degree, subject to limited exceptions for applicants from designated fragile and conflict-affected states.

The scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, a travel allowance, and health insurance. There is no general 3.5 out of 4.0 GPA requirement stated in the current World Bank eligibility criteria. Participating programs and application dates change each year, so applicants should check the current cycle before applying.

11. Global 30 Undergraduate Scholarship at Nagoya University

• Scholarship Link
• Scholarship amount for a bachelor’s degree: Full tuition for four years, reimbursement of the registration fee after enrollment, and a total stipend of JPY 500,000 over four years.
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s

The Global 30 Undergraduate Scholarship at Nagoya University covers four years of tuition, reimburses the registration fee after enrollment, and provides a total stipend of JPY 500,000 over the four-year scholarship period.

Applicants who want scholarship consideration must submit the scholarship application form and an income statement with their Global 30 program application. Applicants who submit the required scholarship documents during the admission period are considered for the award, and selection considers academic and nonacademic achievement, extracurricular activities, and financial need. The relevant program-application deadline also serves as the scholarship-document deadline.

Indranil Enkhtuvshin’s path to the Global 30 Undergraduate Scholarship: Indranil Enkhtuvshin says that for the Humanities track, she focused on narrowing her research interests, establishing a clear academic direction, and writing a compelling motivation letter that showed her fit with the program. She received the Global 30 Undergraduate Scholarship to study Japan-in-Asia Cultural Studies at Nagoya University. After completing her bachelor’s, she shifted toward social sciences and policy and received another scholarship to pursue a master’s in East Asian Studies at the University of Turku in Finland. View More Global 30 Undergraduate Scholarship recipients →

12. Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship for Overseas Candidate

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: ¥100,000 per month for undergraduate students or ¥140,000 per month for master’s and doctoral students, plus up to ¥250,000 toward travel expenses to Japan.
• Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.; research students are not eligible.

The Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship for Overseas Candidates supports international students who plan to enroll in an eligible Japanese university or graduate school. Applicants must identify and apply to their intended Japanese institution themselves before applying for the scholarship. Graduate applicants must also submit a recommendation from a prospective supervisor or professor at the targeted graduate school.

For 2026 enrollment, the scholarship provides JPY 100,000 per month to undergraduate students and JPY 140,000 per month to master’s and doctoral students. Research students are not eligible. The foundation may also reimburse eligible economy-class travel expenses to Japan up to JPY 250,000 after the recipient arrives and submits the required receipts. Applicants are expected to have basic Japanese proficiency, approximately JLPT N4 level.

The foundation commemorates Umekichi Yoneyama, who lived from 1868 to 1946. The scholarship program became the Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation in 1967 and supports non-Japanese students studying or conducting research at Japanese higher education institutions. It is not named for a person called John W. Yoneyama.

We hope this article helps you identify scholarships that match your academic plans and financial needs. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!